When I was 13 my dad gave me the keys to our Volvo 164, and said "wanna have a go?" ... and i said "HELL YAH!"... so on the streets around my house I drove for 30 mins ... no probs whatsoever. He was so proud. Now, 7 years on ... I am hooning around in an ITR and he's stuck with a Neon!

 

Always. ok watch my feet, look what I'm doing. No you're doing it all wrong. It feels like a bronco. What are you doing. Stop. Stop. Listen. Are you listening. Get out.

 

Heh heh... when I was a freshman in college, I had to teach my boyfriend how to drive a stick (on my '86 Spectrum/IMark)! I still laugh about that! I also taught my little brother to drive a stick too, but on my '92 Integra. You've never seen me so nervous!

 

Can you get your license without knowing how to drive a manual car in the US?

 

Yes. Many don't know how to drive stick. My wife is living proof.

 

Some people I know, even thought they had been learning on a stick, found an automatic to take to the driving test. One less thing to go wrong.

BTW, it doesn't take much (compared to Europe) to get a drivers license in the US. It's been a while, but I seem to remember only a few hours on the road with a driving instuctor, and it cost something like $150 for the course. Other than that, go down to the DMV, fork over your money for the test, take the written part, go for a spin around the block, parallel park, and you're an oficially licensed driver - wooohooo!

 

That's bad and kinda funny. I don't know any ppl like that. But I know some pretty dumb ppl.

 

WHOA!!
Just for your info, getting your license in france involves :
- getting the theory part : it's a 40questions long test, and you must get 35 good answers at least. Many people have to pass it 3 times or more to get it.
- taking a minimum of 20 hours of driving with an instructor in a specially prepared car (passenger pedals), which costs about $800
-then passing the rather difficult final exam, a 20minutes city and highway driving course, where they track down the slightest errors, for example not looking long enough in your mirrors (all of them) or not putting your signal on while parking.

If you miss it, you have to pass the exam again, but you must also take more driving lessons before doing so...

Many people try at least 3 times before getting their license, and there's even a rising phenomenon of violence, as young and nervous guys punch the examiner if they don't get the exam.

I got it first try

 

I'm not so lucky to have someone teaching me. When I was 15, my uncle owned a celica gt 5speed. One time when everyone is out, I took the car out, drove it for 30ft. And push the car all the way back home.

 

I believe I saw a write up about getting a license in Germany. By the time you were done, it took 2 1/2years and $3750. But look at Michael and Ralf!!!! Some of it must be good!!