Knowing How to Drive a Stick Shift, Decline in # of Stick Shifts, etc.

[powerboy]

I can drive a stick. I prefer not too. But that is just me.

[Pagan]

As others have said, I can drive a stick....if I have to. I can't remember the last time I needed to.

The last person I can remember having a stick is an ex-boyfriend....and we broke up in 1992 (I think).

[BookstoreEscapee]

I don't know how to drive a stick. My mom has back problems and fibromyalgia so she really can't drive one comfortably, so by the time I learned to drive it had been a long time since they had owned a stick. I never had reason (or opportunity, really) to learn.

On that note, I may not know how to drive a stick now, but I will learn before I get a new car because there's no way in hell I'm buying a muscle car that isn't stick. That'd be blasphemy.

I briefly dated a guy once whose mother drove an automatic Corvette.

[Nyoibo]

On that note, I may not know how to drive a stick now, but I will learn before I get a new car because there's no way in hell I'm buying a muscle car that isn't stick. That'd be blasphemy.

There are automatic muscle cars?

[Greenday]

I briefly dated a guy once whose mother drove an automatic Corvette.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are automatic muscle cars?

Yea, it's an unfortunate event. Muscle cars being made these days are being given the option of an automatic transmission. A part of me dies every time I think about it.

[wolfie]

There are automatic muscle cars?

You obviousyly haven't watched enough "Dukes of Hazzard" - don't know about other episodes, but the one where the "fine print" on the entry form for a race sponsored by Boss Hogg has the losing cars being forfeit to him, near the end of the race you can see that the General Lee has a slushbox.

Count me in as a fan of manual transmissions - and if you think finding ANY car with one is a problem, try finding one in a station wagon. I get mid-to-high 30s with a 5-speed in mine, but my "other car" also has a manual transmission (13 speed), and I typically get around 5 1/2 MPG with it. Of course, hauling a 53 foot trailer loaded with 20 tons of cargo doesn't help much.

Part of why people should learn to drive a stick is that it involves learning what a car is capable of (i.e. how to keep the engine in its "happy" RPM range). An automatic hides the details, so people wind up not knowing what the car can do easily, and what is actually abusing it.

[AFPheonix]

I learned how to ride a motorcycle before I learned how to drive a stick. It made it a lot easier to figure out the timing though, so yay, I guess?

[Nyoibo]

Yea, it's an unfortunate event. Muscle cars being made these days are being given the option of an automatic transmission. A part of me dies every time I think about it.

If you need an auto you have no right driving a muscle car.

[Tanasi]

Yes there are muscle cars with auto trannies. I have a few muscle cars and so far all are four speed straight shifts the next one will have a programable 6 speed auto trannie hooked to a 460 Super Cobra Jet with a super charger. I just need to make up my mind on what it's going into. I'm thinking a 39 Ford business coupe all steel body.

BTW: Autos on tractors aren't necessarily a bad thing. If you spend all day on one stopping and starting then by the day's end you're left knee will be aching. I have a friend with a programmable John Deere tractor with a front end loader. He buys fertilzer 20 tons at a time and loading a spread is a lot easier when all you have to do is drive the tractor when loading. He just puts it in learn mode and goes through the motions and from that point on it does exactly what it taught it freeing him from all the repetitive motions. My tractors aren't auto because they're old (the newest is a 1979 John Deere 2020) but I still don't think I would want an auto just wouldn't seem right. Now if you want something difficult to drive try on a John Deere tri-cycle with a two-cylinder engine. Hard to start, harder to stop and everything in-between is difficult to say the least.

[AdminAssistant]

BTW: Autos on tractors aren't necessarily a bad thing.
*snip*
Now if you want something difficult to drive try on a John Deere tri-cycle with a two-cylinder engine. Hard to start, harder to stop and everything in-between is difficult to say the least.

Dad's complaint is that it makes the tractors more expensive to buy and repair - i.e. yet another example of implement companies screwing over farmers. Dad never had knee problems. His biggest issue was his neck, from years and years of looking over his shoulder to make sure his rows were straight. Luckily he's been out of the game for nearly 10 years, but it's sad to see more and more small farmers going under because they can't afford the latest, greatest $300,000 combine.

I might suggest that Case-International cotton pickers are harder to drive; it's very hard to drive something that's on fire. (The running joke in the area was that the company added an extra seat for the fireman.)

[HYHYBT]

If you need an auto you have no right driving a muscle car.

It is not necessary to *need* an automatic transmission to prefer one, regardless of the type of car.

I can't imagine how anyone who regularly drives in stop-and-go traffic would ever prefer a manual.

[Fashion Lad!]

I learned when I was learning to drive. My first two cars were stick. My last two are automatic. I prefer driving stick, it's a bit more fun. Of course, with my left ankle being all jacked up, I wouldn't be able to drive stick right now.

It is something it'd be good to learn how to do, but I don't think it's imperative for your survival. Who knows, it may at one point be a life or death situation, but I doubt it.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hehe. He and his sister drove Corvettes, too (they were both stick). Oddly enough, his dad was the one with the 'Vette fetish and he was the only one who didn't drive one as his every day car.

He told me he would teach me to drive it but he never did.

[Nyoibo]

I can't imagine how anyone who regularly drives in stop-and-go traffic would ever prefer a manual.

I do drive in stop and go traffic regularly, I also drive one freeways and winding roads even more regularly, I love my manuals.

[fireheart17]

I do drive in stop and go traffic regularly, I also drive one freeways and winding roads even more regularly, I love my manuals.

I love mine as well. I drive a 2000 kia rio that I named after a norse god. Givn that my area is moreor less calmer and less windy than the hill region, the only real challenges I have are maintaining the speed limit and well...maintaining the speed limit