RoswellGrey

I learned to drive (at age 12, with my old man screaming at me the entire time) on a 1950 Ford with a 3-speed column shifter and a flathead 6-cylinder.
Over the years, the weight of the oil-bath air cleaner had loosened the carburetor enough that every time you came up to a stop, the engine would die. Being cheap, my old man had figured out that instead of getting it fixed, he could clutch start the engine again as he was still rolling to a stop, so I had to learn to do that, too. (In fact, the first time the old man ever used the F-word in my presence was screaming at me to step on the F-ing clutch as we got back into the driveway and I let the engine die. Of course, he didn't realize I had my window rolled down and all the neighbors were out in their lawns. He didn't speak to me for a week or two after that little show)
The car didn't get fixed till I took it over at age 16, tightened up the base of the carb and got rid of the oil-bath air cleaner in favor of a small, paper-element model.

I also had a '70 Maverick and a '77 Maverick with 3-speed column shifters.

kramtrah

not a proud point, but I was a kid without a permit or license, so driving was the fun of it, even if in a Powder Blue (yes, I said powder blue) AMC Spirit. Not slick, not quiet, not cool, but it was a car I drove.

Dodge Favre ever

Yep, I learned on a '68 VW filled the tank for $2.50. I taught my daughter how to drive a manual in Blue S-10 off a new car dealers lot. Salesman wasn't to happy.[:@] We came back an hour later, she said she'll take the Silver one.

mac

Three on the tree. 67 ply belvadere was my first car.

dodgedriver

Took my drivers test in one (4 speed) passed first try.....

tdub2112

I'm in the same shoes. I've always been too small for a clutch dirtbike. Finaly got a '94 Honda XR 100 that would fit me last year. I picked it up in a week. Still getting used to the feel for letting the clutch out slow though.
I've driven my grandpa's ol;d tractor around with a manual.
Push down on the right brake+gas=COOKIES!

DSkippy

Learned when I was 10 or 11, drove on roads when I was 12 once, my dad was dating a woman with a big plot of land, she had a 3/4 mile to the road and 3/4 back to the house on another driveway (forming a big oval). My dad tought me to drive his toyota SR5 (rotted out rocker panels, but I figured it out.

I will teach my kids on a dirt bike, it is more intuitive, a wet clutch is more forgiving and allows you to get a knack for the feel of a clutch more quickly I think.

Yankee

The car I learned to drive a stick on was a friend of the family's 78 VW Rabbit diesel (remember those?)

Until late 06 I had always had a car with a stick shift at one time or another, I also drove a Freightliner big rig for 2 years (got double-clutching down to a science). When I get my Challenger next year you can bet it'll be a manual - can't wait.

TechmanBD

I learned when I was 15 with a permit. Actually I had one lesson in Toyota Celica from a family friend. The next time I drove a stick, I was 16, and had no choice as it was my first car. 72 VW Bug. Cost $400. My mom drove it home the day I got it, but after that, I just took it and did fairly well.

RLSH700

Can I drive a manual? Here is the list of cars I have driven with manuals: 1971 Ford Pinto (its a parade car), 1985 F-150, 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 1995 Dodge Avenger, 1998 Dodge Avenger, 2004 Mustang Mach 1, 2004 GMC Serria 2500, etc. (shall I go into the farm equipment that I have used that have manuals?) Yes, I can and I plan on it for the Challenger.