Relatively few manuals are sold these days. DW and I both prefer shifting on our own. Anyone else?
My husband refuses to own a car with automatic transmission, although he will drive mine! The same for my 33 year old son; two peas in a pod. 
Never learned manual. Oh well. Turns out, I never had to.
We have manual cars. I think it helped my not so attentive son pay more attention to his driving because he had to concentrate on changing gears.
I know how to drive a stick shift. But I don’t feel a need to buy a car specifically for that feature.
OTOH, I have read that car thieves tend to stay away from them because they often don’t know how to drive them!
It’s easier to rent a car abroad if you can drive a manual. My H is good at it. I learned how when I was in my 20’s. I suppose I could drive one but it wouldn’t be pretty.
We had manual for eons but lately just automatic. Both my young adult children have learned to drive stick - good skill for everyone to know.
Agree that it comes in handy in other parts of the world.
I learned to drive using a stick shift, and the first car I ever bought was a stick shift. My husband had a manual when we first got married but then when we replaced that car, we had automatics from then on. Then last year dh bought himself a Jeep (he had one years ago when we were dating) and got a stick shift. We only have two kids driving (one still on permit) and they were so excited when he came home with it…until they realized they have to learn to drive stick if they ever want to use it! I must admit, it is fun to drive! I hadn’t driven a stick shift in 15 years.
I second Mom60. Sometimes it’s difficult to find an automatic in Europe. My first car was manual; supposedly it was more economical on gas mileage. But yea, PITA. I prefer automatic.
I learned on a stick but haven’t driven one in several years. H just acquired what he calls our “empty nest” car, a 1999 2 seater Benz with a stick. He had S17 and S14 out for lessons today, though not at the same time. S12 isn’t much of a driver, but will learn as well. Oldest son learned to drive stick on a car we had when he was the only other driver in the house. If D wants to learn, she will have to visit. I remember when my dad bought our first new family car in 1967. He was ranting and raving about paying more for an automatic transmission until he learned he could get it with a stick. That was the car I learned on 8 years later.
I learned on a stick and H drove one until 5 years ago. Prefer automatic as we have stopNgo traffic and hills.
Both our cars are stick. We are in our 60s. I am ready for an automatic. I need two knee replacements, and by the time I get around to the left knee, I will have one!
When I met DW she ate her steak WD and had never driven a stick. I taught her the proper way to eat meat and drive and there’s no way at she’ll ever go back to her old ways.
DS prefers an automatic but DD really likes to shift.
I’m frustrated that all the hybrids are automatic. Fortunately I found an older Honda Insight hybrid from back when they made them in a manual. 65 mpg and I get to shift. I’m in heaven.
Of course, if you buy an electric vehicle, it will probably have a 1-speed (+ reverse) transmission, with no need to disengage a clutch in normal driving due to electric motors not needing to idle at non-zero RPM.
i love my manual jeep!
I insisted my teenage children own manual transmission automobiles simply because it’s much more difficult to text and drive. We all hope our children don’t text and drive but this was an intentional decision on my part knowing the temptation could be there to answer a friend’s text while driving.
@sherpa Volvo makes a hybrid that has paddle shifters.
And now I want to know what your spouse changed about you.
@ucbalumnus - You’re right about electric vehicles, and I also thought the point you’re making is also much of the reason that there aren’t (m)any manual hybrids: but the 2001 Insight I just picked up has the “auto off” feature where it turn off if you’re stopped and in neutral, and instantly restarts when you put it in first gear. I wish all hybrids had a manual option.
@doschicos - Paddle shifters don’t count. As to how she’s changed me, the list is very long, and almost all of those changes have made me a better person. Also, she taught me to appreciate a gin martini.
I like to drive a manual, and always had standard. Yet we just bought a new car - with an automatic transmission. The reason: automatics are better than they used to be; while klutches do wear out. (At least when I operate them 
) I’m glad I know how to drive a manual since, as others pointed out, it’s a good skill to have. But since reliability/costs aren’t as much of an issue today, we just bought what was on the lot. And that wasn’t a manual!