Of course some people never actually master it

[threemonkeys]

They say that once you have mastered it, that you never forget how to ride a bicycle. I really think that the same can be said of driving a manual transmission car. I took my car in for new tyres today and they offered me their courtesy car while the work was being done. Despite not having driven a car with a clutch for well over 10 years (coincidentally the age of the courtesy car), I had no trouble at all adjusting. The only time I have had an issue adjusting to a manual transmission was when visiting the states and having to deal with the novelty of changing gear with my right hand.

On the other hand, adjusting to a car that doesn't have remote central locking - that took some concentration. The fact of it not having central locking of any sort at all was almost too much to contemplate.