Should I learn to drive a standard shift?

[Bonami]

Do most car makers have standard shift now? And is it worth learning?

[stretch1967]

I had no problem learning it.

[bigfoot951]

I have never felt the need to learn.  It just doesn't seem like a necessity these days.  At the same time, it certainly wouldn't hurt to know how to.

[tnshpalmer85]

That's great! I wouldn't mind learning how to drive a standard shift. It seems like more work but you can buy cars much cheaper when they are standard shift and it never hurts knowing how to do something.

[southernhorizons]

That is a question I should ask myself, because I need to get a vehicle, and I've been seeing mostly standards for sale around here. But I just can't figure out how to use my hands and feet at the same time!

[schoolvan]

That is how I learned to drive I would really like to have another truck that is a standard

[rghvac69]

I'm glad I learned to drive a standard shift. It's not that hard to learn.

[kathleenkleinhans]

Learn on a standard and you can drive anything!

[gaylasue]

It wouldn't hurt to learn to drive a standard shift even though you don't see many cars (unless they are sports cars) with standard transmissions.  You never know when you may have to drive one.  I love to drive standards.  Unfortunately, as you get older, it isn't as easy...

[yikes77]

Probably would be an idea to learn especially if you want to go on the Amazing Race.  The amount of people who have trouble using a standard car is high.

[natashaspy]

I think most cars are automatic these days but it never hurts to learn to drive a car with manual transmission.  Never know when it will come in handy.

[oldbuddy]

It paid off for me, since I had a job after I retired shuttling cars and trucks for a used car dealer and a lot were stick shift.

[jkhanson]

I learned how to drive with a standard stick transmission. 

I don't mind driving stick, but when there is a lot of stop and go traffic or hilly terrain, then I do NOT like the stick transmission.

I read that stick/standard transmissions are kind of a "anit-theft" in and of itself because car thieves will by pass the stick transmission vehicles and go for the easy automatic transmission vehicles.

[dwggs]

I now drive an automatic but for years I drove a stick shift.  It came in handy when we went on a diving trip to Bonaire and the place that we stayed at included a small pickup truck which was a stick shift.  You would be surprised how many could not drive it.

[ktheodos]

It probably doesn't hurt. I think it's rare to see them these days, but I drive an older car that is one, so you never know when you would need it.