JOHN CURLEY AND SHARI ELLIKER

Washington ranks fifth in the nation for stick shift usage

Oct 20, 2018, 2:24 PM | Updated: Oct 22, 2018, 5:44 am

Depending on where you live, not being able to drive a stick shift can elicit looks of judgment. There are plenty of people who drive manual in Washington according to a new vaguely scientific poll, so it may be best to keep quiet if you can’t.

“My mom said that there were four things that you needed to know how to do to be a man: Tie a bow tie, ride a horse, drive a stick shift, and fire a rifle,” joked KIRO Radio’s John Curley.

RELATED: 94 percent of Northwest drivers say they will never give up their car

A recent CarMax survey found that Washington placed fifth in the nation for purchase of manual transmissions by its customers, clocking in at 4.87 percent behind Utah, Rhode Island, Idaho, and New Mexico at number one. There isn’t exactly a wide margin on the survey. New Mexico won the photo finish with 5.65 percent, and Illinois placed last with 2.04 percent manual usage.

“I love driving a stick shift, except in downtown Seattle in the bad traffic, or when I want to read my text messages and play with my phone while I’m driving,” said co-host Feliks Banel. “My theory would be that in mountainous states where you have curvy, two-lane roads, it’s great to have a stick shift. It’s safer, it’s faster, it’s more efficient.”

Stick shift drivers decreasing nationally every year

Automatic drivers have no need to worry about being in the minority anytime soon. A report from U.S. News and World found that only 18 percent of U.S. drivers know how to operate a stick shift, and merely 5 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. today come with one.

“I want my kids to learn to drive it because I want to give that Porsche to my son or my daughter. Neither one is motivated in any way to learn to drive stick,” Curley said. “I told them I will give you this car. When I’m dead and gone you can have it, but learn how to drive a stick.”

“You know you’re not doing well when you can smell something burning, or my dad yelling, ‘Gas! Gas! Gas! Gas!'”

Do you know how to drive one?

John Curley and Shari Elliker on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to tom and curleyTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.

John Curley and Shari Elliker

John Curley and Shari Elliker

Photo: Scott Fitzsimmons' "I-1THIS" license plate....

KIRO Newsradio staff

‘I didn’t even feel it’: John Curley shares astonishing story of local winner

The "I-1THIS" license plate is more than creative, it comes with a story of triumph. John Curley told the story who won the winning plate.

12 days ago

seattle nightmare tenant...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle homeowner’s ‘nightmare tenant’ situation resolved one year later

A Seattle homeowner's "nightmare tenant" situation, causing him to live in a van instead of his home for a stretch of time, has finally been resolved one year later.

13 days ago

curley dancing naked...

John Curley

John Curley’s life advice: Start your day by dancing naked to Andrea Bocelli

This has been a part of my regular morning routine for some time now: getting up in the morning and dancing naked every day.

14 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Let’s Talk About Eagles

John and Shari discuss the hatch watch for a bald Eagle named Jackie as she sits on her eggs. Then, the conversation goes in a different direction about snakes eating eggs and eagles eating cats. You want to listen to this one! Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm […]

20 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: Bradley Cooper Walks Around His House Naked

Apparently, Bradley Cooper walks around his house naked a lot. The John and Shari Show talks about their experiences growing up with their parents. Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM or go to MyNorthwest.com to learn more! […]

26 days ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: The Naked Man Festival Is No More

If you had travelling to Japan for the annual Naked Men Festival on your bucket list… we have some bad news. After more than 1000 years, the festival has been permanently canceled. Listen to the John Curley and Shari Elliker Show every weekday at 3pm on KIRO Newsraio 97.3 FM Listen to KIRO Newsradio 97.3 […]

1 month ago

Washington ranks fifth in the nation for stick shift usage