I found out about a month ago that my doctor drives a late 90's Passat and it has a manual. Honestly, he would be one of the last people on this earth that I would expect to drive a manual. It really did surprise me. The next time I go in for an appointment, I'm gonna bring it up.
Other people do a double take all the time when they find out my Wife DD a manual until last year.
Unless the person talk to me about unique cars, everyone.
I'm still surprised that after 5 years my sister still drives a manual & refuses to own an automatic. The reason I am surprised is that to this day she still rides the clutch more than someone who has started learning to drive a stick.
Yeah, my best friend's 85 year old mum used to drive a manual Scamp!
When I was growing up, everybody in my family drove a manual. Other than trucks, we had mostly manuals, so in my stupid child brain, driving = knowing how to use a clutch. oh how naive I was... Now i'm surprized every time I see a manual when i'm walking through parking lot, or see one driving around. I don't actually know anybody out here that drives one (except for the local autox people)
Lesley: I've noticed that older people seem to be more likely to drive stick (or at least be able to drive a stick) than younger people. I wonder if it has anything to do with the greater number of manaul cars "back in the day."
I currently have 5 vehicles mobile, and they are all sticks. I didn't even know a 2000 V8 Silverado 4WD was available with a stick until I bought this one from insurance salvage. Its pretty rare I don't have at least one car around with an automatic.
Last year, wifey and I were leaving a big orchid show in Homestead FL. Walking beside us, and talking with us, were two 60+yo Grannys, carrying their loot.. As we approached our car, they slipped into a nice newer Miata. I commented about it and then noticed it was a stick. Go Granny, go!! I told the driver that I loved a chick that handled a stick, got giggles in response.
Even more so when I find out someone reads one.
My grandmother drove a stick well into her 80's, when she bought a slushbox civic. Color me impressed.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Even more so when I find out someone reads one.
I was impressed to find the evidence of Bill Clinton teaching Chelsea to drive stick at Camp David circa 1997-8. I was all "way to go Bill!"
The evidence looked a little like this.
I was disappointed to find out it happened with a new Beetle. I was all "WTF, Bill?"
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Even more so when I find out someone reads one.
I dun geddit.
My high school friend's mother, who was quite a matronly woman very reminiscent of Bea Arthur, had her choice of 2 vehicles for her grocery trips: a '70 Catalina wagon or a '76 Ramcharger, both of which sported factory 3-on-the-tree manuals.
Any cute female. Otherwise, I don't really pay attention/care.
The 83 year old Pastor of our church drives a 2005-ish four door Accord - 5-speed.
And he flies around too.
Anyone surprises me. This is the US.
I had to teach my wife how to drive stick when we bought her current daily driver. She hates driving automatic now. Her biggest protest against me buying a van is that it would be an automatic.
My wife drives a 5-speed Diesel Beetle, that surprises most people. The manual transmission is also good in a college situation as an excuse why someone cannot borrow your car.
guy I work with.. he might be in his late 20s now. I have known him since he was in college and worked with him.
He drove a manual shifted Civic back then. Now that he graduated, got married, and got a "real job" he bought a slush box accord because he was "done with that" in regards to shifting
as some have said i'm surprised to see pretty much anything newer or anything non sporty that lets you row your own gears... seems no one does it anymore even if they can... and in my experience even most of the people that "can" drive a stick they don't do it well... well at least those from the US... so that means i'm surprised when I see anyone driving a stick... even more so when done smoothly.
I haven't driven one in a few years outside of the little driving I got to do in Panama and Europe (all diesel at that)... unless you hold out specifically for a stick it's just so much easier to find an automatic :( already looking for cheap 5spd parts for my volvo powered s10...
people who dont know me from the car world are completely surprised that im into cars and drive a stick note for backround im the type of girl who never leaves the house without makeup and hair done. and always have my nails done. so it surprises the hell out of people
I do have to say it impresses me when I see people that I don't normally associate with any sort of enthusiasm, much less car geekdom, seek out the 1% of any given vehicle that came with a manual.
I do want to point out a car that had a lot of manuals available somewhat recently. The Saturn Astra. Somewhere around 30% have manuals, possibly more. Ours has every option but upgraded radio (including leather, moon roof, and other high-buck items) and still has a manual. Cars like this are out there if you look. You just have to go to a niche manufacturer to find them.
I remember being really surprised when I found out the 2004 Civic Si at church with all the HFP stuff belonged to a lady in her 70's.
I asked her about it, and she cross-shopped the Cooper S, Mazda 3 and the Civic hatch, and said she liked the Civic best. She claimed it looked pretty, and had the most comfortable seats of any car she'd ever owned.
She must be a car gal at heart, because a few months ago she asked me about when the new Fiat 500 was coming out. 
Twin_Cam wrote: Anyone surprises me. This is the US.
Got to agree with this one.
Sometimes I'll be strolling through a big parkinglot and find an interesting vehicle, only to be disappointing that it has an automatic and is most likely just for show.
When waiting at lights, I look to see how many brake lights are not on, as in, the clutch is in. Damn few.
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