I’m 70. I learned how to drive on a manual but I refuse to drive one now. I grew up poor and we were lucky to have a car at all. When I was young, the parents of all my peers had cars with V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, deluxe radios, etc etc. I vowed that when I was on my own I would NEVER have a manual transmission car. Even these new DSG transmissions are too close to a manual.
Darsan54, I just bought a 3-year old “Company Car” and it’s a 6-speed manual. I LOVE it. I have driven everything from pushbutton, fluid drive, auto and manual. I love my manuals. And I love the pushbuttons too!
I love driving a stick shift, but they are hard to find these days in an ordinary sedan. Whenever I visit my son, I always drive his stick shift Golf. It takes me about 30 seconds to get used to it again. VW had a really cute ad when the beetle first came out with only a stick shift. “After a while, it becomes automatic!”
My mom made me learn on a stick (4 speed VW mini-van) with the idea if I could drive a stick, I could drive anything! She was so right! I LOVE driving a stick. However, they are now hard to find on anything I can afford or use. Sigh. Also, they are not fun to drive in DC rush hour traffic.
My father got drunk one night and was driving home when he decided to find out what would happen if you pushed reverse button when going 50 MPH. It completely destroyed the engine and transmission
I bought a series of cars with stick shifts; had never driven one before those. One can learn pretty fast if one has to. The worst problems I had were at stop signs on hills. I know for a while I sounded like a 747 about ready to take off.
About a hundred years ago, I failed manual transmission in high school driver’s ed. (I stalled the simulator during that section, and sat there helplessly until the class ended). My dad subsequently tried to teach me on his manual drive. We both gave up after nearly getting whiplash as the car went JERK—JERK—JERK— around the parking lot. (I swear there was an imprint left in the dash where my Dad was bracing to avoid doing a face plant! Finally got my driver’s license at 18, driving an automatic. Have driven automatics ever since and never looked back.
Learned on Army duece and a half, and jeeps. Lots of fun. Best stick I ever drove was VW Bus. Real fun standard shift? Try a motorcycle, Especially the older ones that had different shift patterns or different patterns, or different patterns on different sides.
I “learned” by watching my father growing up, when I was 16 and had a summer job I had to drive a four speed cargo van a couple times a week. Didn’t have any problems, nor with the 5 speed old used subaru I bought later.
The last company car I drove with a stick was back in the 60’s. It was a Rambler station wagon with a three-on-the-tree and a dual axle. It was pretty cool, as you can do some shifts without the clutch, though I don’t recall which ones. I drove a stick for years, but really only miss it when I have to drive in the snow.
Quantum Leaper almost 8 years ago
Should have played more of those driving games in the Arcade, “Hard Driving”, even had a manual and automatic.
Olddog1 almost 8 years ago
If you can’t coordinate your left foot and right hand, should you be driving? Special needs excepted.
Flash Gordon almost 8 years ago
I’m 70. I learned how to drive on a manual but I refuse to drive one now. I grew up poor and we were lucky to have a car at all. When I was young, the parents of all my peers had cars with V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, deluxe radios, etc etc. I vowed that when I was on my own I would NEVER have a manual transmission car. Even these new DSG transmissions are too close to a manual.
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 8 years ago
What company car anytime in the last 40 plus years has had a manual shift?
garcoa almost 8 years ago
It is more likely he will put Rita’s head through the front windshield if he doesn’t know how to shift properly.
Elizabeth Wieland Premium Member almost 8 years ago
Darsan54, I just bought a 3-year old “Company Car” and it’s a 6-speed manual. I LOVE it. I have driven everything from pushbutton, fluid drive, auto and manual. I love my manuals. And I love the pushbuttons too!
sbwertz almost 8 years ago
I love driving a stick shift, but they are hard to find these days in an ordinary sedan. Whenever I visit my son, I always drive his stick shift Golf. It takes me about 30 seconds to get used to it again. VW had a really cute ad when the beetle first came out with only a stick shift. “After a while, it becomes automatic!”
contralto2b almost 8 years ago
My mom made me learn on a stick (4 speed VW mini-van) with the idea if I could drive a stick, I could drive anything! She was so right! I LOVE driving a stick. However, they are now hard to find on anything I can afford or use. Sigh. Also, they are not fun to drive in DC rush hour traffic.
Great Wizard Nala almost 8 years ago
My father got drunk one night and was driving home when he decided to find out what would happen if you pushed reverse button when going 50 MPH. It completely destroyed the engine and transmission
Great Wizard Nala almost 8 years ago
@contraltoI also learned on a VW (beetle in my case). She also taught me how to slip the clutch to control my speed when driving in traffic.
Map_One almost 8 years ago
I learned to drive a stick using a 3-speed Rambler with the stick on the column.
sfrench almost 8 years ago
Rita’s face is fantastic! lol
rshive almost 8 years ago
I bought a series of cars with stick shifts; had never driven one before those. One can learn pretty fast if one has to. The worst problems I had were at stop signs on hills. I know for a while I sounded like a 747 about ready to take off.
roberta.forbes.pyle almost 8 years ago
About a hundred years ago, I failed manual transmission in high school driver’s ed. (I stalled the simulator during that section, and sat there helplessly until the class ended). My dad subsequently tried to teach me on his manual drive. We both gave up after nearly getting whiplash as the car went JERK—JERK—JERK— around the parking lot. (I swear there was an imprint left in the dash where my Dad was bracing to avoid doing a face plant! Finally got my driver’s license at 18, driving an automatic. Have driven automatics ever since and never looked back.
1956monkey almost 8 years ago
the clouds of grinding clutch smoke… somebody tell the kid to use the clutch pedal
ursen almost 8 years ago
Learned on Army duece and a half, and jeeps. Lots of fun. Best stick I ever drove was VW Bus. Real fun standard shift? Try a motorcycle, Especially the older ones that had different shift patterns or different patterns, or different patterns on different sides.
Dragoncat almost 8 years ago
Poor Kathy… Her baby is going to grow up without a father.
corpcasselbury almost 8 years ago
No doubt, but most of us who took Driver’s Ed in school learned on an automatic.
corpcasselbury almost 8 years ago
Rita’s expression is priceless, Scott; nice work!
RalphZIggy almost 8 years ago
I “learned” by watching my father growing up, when I was 16 and had a summer job I had to drive a four speed cargo van a couple times a week. Didn’t have any problems, nor with the 5 speed old used subaru I bought later.
Bob. almost 8 years ago
I got a rental car in Memphis back in 1980 something that was a stick shift.
Carl R almost 8 years ago
The last company car I drove with a stick was back in the 60’s. It was a Rambler station wagon with a three-on-the-tree and a dual axle. It was pretty cool, as you can do some shifts without the clutch, though I don’t recall which ones. I drove a stick for years, but really only miss it when I have to drive in the snow.