Modern cars and transmissions have become more complex, and perhaps drivers have become so advanced that they have abandoned the need to press the clutch. However, in this young cohort, which is moving away from manual control, 56% of people regret not having mastered this skill.
The Extreme Terrain study surveyed drivers of different age groups in the USA regarding their skills in driving cars with a manual transmission. According to the survey data, 35% of Generation Z drivers have never been taught to drive a stick shift car. This figure is significantly higher than among baby boomers, where this share is only 9%.
A substantial difference is observed between generations. When participants were asked if they could confidently drive a manual car right now, the results were quite unexpected. 91% of baby boomers stated their confidence, while 82% of Gen X, 71% of millennials, and 65% of Generation Z drivers reported their ability to drive such vehicles. Among drivers under 30, however, only 58% are confident in their skills.
Most people who learned to drive a manual transmission car received training not in driving schools, but at home. 56% of manual transmission drivers reported learning from their parents, older relatives, or family members. Another 27% indicated that friends or partners assisted them.
Instructors and experts believe that baby boomer, Gen X, and millennial generations grew up with manual cars, as these were the cars used in most homes during that time, whereas automatic cars were rare. Today, people learn to drive manuals only through instruction from older family members, but this practice is gradually declining, especially outside the country.
The reasons for learning manual driving have also changed over time. In the baby boomer generation, 55% learned this technique out of necessity, while only 23% did so by choice. Conversely, in Generation Z, 55% stated that they learned the skill by choice, and only 22% due to necessity.
Driving a manual transmission requires constant coordination between the clutch pedal, gear shifting, accelerator, and steering wheel, which many drivers find difficult. Experts explain that beginners often avoid it because they have to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Interestingly, even among those who can drive a manual, the use of such cars has decreased: 64% of such drivers admitted to using a manual car only occasionally or not at all. Moreover, 31% of people capable of driving a manual do not actually use it.
Driving with a manual transmission also affects people's personal lives. According to the study report, 43% of Americans noted that a partner who can drive a manual seems more attractive to them. This trend was more pronounced among women (45% found it attractive) compared to men (41%). Furthermore, 40% of respondents stated they would be impressed if someone mentioned in their dating profile that they could drive a manual, although 17% viewed this as showing off.
Despite this, it is not that Generation Z dislikes manual cars. In the study, 54% of respondents expressed a desire to learn to drive a manual or have the opportunity to do so, and this desire was most noticeable in Generation Z. 56% of Generation Z drivers would like to master manual driving or improve their skills. In comparison, only 26% of baby boomers expressed a similar desire.