Is driving stick still relevant to youngsters?

Many of us who learned to drive in the 90s were most likely taught by our parents to operate a stick-shifted automobile.

But in an age where most vehicles on the market come fitted with an automatic gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT), is it still relevant to teach youngsters the art of manual driving?

That’s what we’re going to find out today, which also happens to be World Youth Skills Day.

Why drive stick?

Most drivers will agree that operating a vehicle with a manual transmission, at first, can be challenging. After all, the use of a clutch pedal combined with knowing when and what gear to select — all while paying attention to what’s happening on the road — isn’t easy to master.

It takes some getting used to and a certain amount of calm to think and execute before it all becomes muscle memory. And trust me, it will.

But why go through all that trouble when you can simply get a ride that will do all the shifting for you? Let's be honest, today’s smart pieces of tech on automobiles mostly do the driving for you.

As someone who learned how to drive a car with a manual transmission, having to use a third pedal and operate a stick gear shifter taught me that to achieve a smooth drive, I must understand the car and, as the saying goes, “be one with the machine.”

If I were to romanticize the phrase, I would say that I have developed a strong bond with my sedan, as I feel that it communicates well with me, which makes our relationship more personal.

Further, it makes driving more fun as you know that you are in total control of the vehicle.

A good example is that when I feel like I need more “oomph”, I simply drop a gear and get the “grunt” that I’m after. It helps in certain scenarios, like overtaking.

Moreover, a manual car will force you to integrate various skills, like low gear driving coupled with manual parking brake handling, when crawling on an uphill road — in traffic.

In a nutshell, using a manual car unlocks so many levels for a driver to enjoy his or her time behind the wheel. As a result, teaching youngsters to drive stick allows them to enjoy these levels and ultimately learn these skills. Skills that could prove useful once they hit the road. After all, our role as parents and guardians is to equip our children with the tools they need in life — and what better way to prepare them for the road than to teach them how to drive a manual car.

Benefits of driving a manual car

Aside from having fun and learning a useful skill-set, driving a manual car has several other benefits that we believe today’s youngsters can appreciate. 

Here are a few:

They can be more efficient

Cars with a manual transmission can be more efficient than those with an automatic slushbox or CVT.

For instance, shifting below 2,000 revolutions per minute (preferably at 1,500) is generally considered a more economical way to drive. Likewise, shifting to neutral and cruising to the stoplight when signaled to halt can be fuel efficient.

They can be cheaper

Automobiles that come with a manual transmission are generally cheaper. That said, car buyers can save money when shopping for a new car if they know how to drive a stick.

They will keep you occupied

A driver is less likely to be distracted when operating a manual car. Since one needs both hands — and both feet — to drive, it’s much harder to look at one’s phone or take a chug from one’s water flask while sitting behind the wheel.

They help build routine

There’s much more routine involved when driving a manual car.

For one, a driver can’t just simply start the engine. The car needs to be placed on neutral with one foot preferably on the brake pedal and the manual parking brake engaged.

Likewise, one must make sure that the manual parking brake is activated and that the shifter is in first gear (especially when parked on an incline) before leaving the car.

So, is driving stick still relevant?

Driving a car with a manual transmission is still definitely relevant for youngsters in this day and age.

Like we talked earlier, a manual car can give a pleasurable driving experience and make one feel in unison with the vehicle they’re driving.

It can help build character and confidence, as well as reinforce routines, which might help them along the way. It can instill patience and situational awareness, which will prove useful even outside the car’s cabin. 

Also read: 

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