AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Apr 25, 2016 15:53:44 GMT
I suppose I "know" how to drive a stick... I mean my brain totally gets it. But coordinating my hands & feet & brain along with the stress of it being a moving vehicle with other cars around and it doesn't go as well in reality. I can totally handle it in my husband's dune buggy so I suppose there would be hope for a vehicle in an emergency!
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Post by giatocj on Apr 25, 2016 15:54:14 GMT
Yes, I can. I had a hell of a time learning how, but once I did I absolutely loved it.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Apr 25, 2016 15:57:10 GMT
Yep. I learned when my father gave me a stick shift (awfully nice of him ) and I figured it out on the 350 mile drive home to Seattle. It's pretty easy once you get the mechanics of it.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Apr 25, 2016 15:57:16 GMT
Definitely. Many countries don't have automatic - or if they do the're ridiculously expensive to rent. But I learned in high school. It was handy to know and I used the skill a few times when a friend wasn't able to drive home. I'd like to teach my kids, but I'll have to borrow a friend's car as neither of ours is manual.
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
Jun 26, 2014 18:51:17 GMT
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Post by perumbula on Apr 25, 2016 16:02:51 GMT
Our first car as a married couple was a stick and we've had a couple of others in the meantime that were as well. It's handy to know. Especially since I very close to losing the chance to date my husband because I didn't know stick. Long story, but true.
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Post by Patter on Apr 25, 2016 16:04:08 GMT
Yes, I learned on a manual over 34 years ago. Hubby LOVES a manula so his sports car is a manual. He has to special order it though because most people don't want them anymore.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 12:30:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 16:11:42 GMT
Manual transmission cars are far better to drive in snow & ice. You use the brake far less to slow the car down and in turn have far less skids and sliding. You control the car through the gears and clutch rather than the brake.
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Post by Patter on Apr 25, 2016 16:15:06 GMT
Manual transmission cars are far better to drive in snow & ice. You use the brake far less to slow the car down and in turn have far less skids and sliding. You control the car through the gears and clutch rather than the brake. Oh yes, for sure! That's why that's all we had in Germany. LOVED our manual cars. Now I prefer an automatic just because my short legs have trouble pushing the clutch all the way in.
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,702
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
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Post by Anita on Apr 25, 2016 16:17:53 GMT
Yes, I can. I didn't learn until after I got married, though.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Apr 25, 2016 16:17:59 GMT
I know how in theory and have done it before, but I avoid it at all costs. To me, it just makes driving more complicated than it needs to be and it's for boys Sexist! Sorry, but I hate to hear a woman speaking this way! I personally love driving a stick shift!
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Post by ntsf on Apr 25, 2016 16:18:20 GMT
I learned to drive on a 1958 truck with a manual transmission..not synchronized..so I can double clutch with the best of them. it also had a truck starter...a little button on the floor near the gas pedal and it also had a compound low gear. I have driving manuals since...I have a 13 yr honda ..my clutch lasted 100,000 miles... and my dh drives a mini..he has 175,000 miles on his clutch. only one of our kids drive..and he knows how to drive a stick..my dad taught him. I have driven manual transmission trucks when I worked for the forest service.
maybe my next car will be an automatic.
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Post by ntsf on Apr 25, 2016 16:18:30 GMT
I learned to drive on a 1958 truck with a manual transmission..not synchronized..so I can double clutch with the best of them. it also had a truck starter...a little button on the floor near the gas pedal and it also had a compound low gear. I have driving manuals since...I have a 13 yr honda ..my clutch lasted 100,000 miles... and my dh drives a mini..he has 175,000 miles on his clutch. only one of our kids drive..and he knows how to drive a stick..my dad taught him. I have driven manual transmission trucks when I worked for the forest service.
maybe my next car will be an automatic.
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Post by ilikepink on Apr 25, 2016 16:27:40 GMT
So, many years ago, when I "knew it all" in my early 20s, I saw a Fiat X1/9 on the road, and thought I have to have that car. Found a dealer about 40 min from my house, and 20 min from work, and my big girl self arranged for financing all on my own. I realized I didn't know how to drive it, but a friend I worked with had a manual, so she was going to teach me. On the way to pick up my car . She talked through the process for about half the ride, and I drove her car for the remainder of the ride. In my head, I've got this. Get to the dealership, and the salesman takes me around the parking lot, just to be sure. Never got out of 2nd gear, but I've got this Friend and I leave, and go on a major road - lots of lights, lots of traffic. I get stuck in the middle of the intersection and cannot get the *#*+^ car to go for a few minutes. Friend told me later she thought I was going to be hit. I manage, somehow, to get the car home. Next morning, I leave for work. There is an underpass beneath train tracks that is easiest way to work. Again, my big girl self says go ahead, you got this - and of course, I get the light at the worst possible part of the upside, and stall out. As I'm trying to work brakes and peddles and do it quickly, I look in the mirror, and my mother is behind me. Laughing at me (all in good fun) which makes me laugh, and harder to get the car going. Anyway, people drive around me, and 7 light changes later (yes, 7!) I get through and make it to work. (but wait, there's more)..... While driving home from work, I pushed the clutch in and it didn't come back. It stayed down. I needed two feet to pull it, and of course, use the gas and brake. Made it home. Call the dealership (way before cell phones were even thought of). He says to bring it up there-are you crazy? I barely made it home!!! But, big girl self drives all the way back up there, still pulling the clutch up with two feet, and trying to drive and not stall out. I make it there - somehow the spring unwound on the clutch?? - and they fixed it. I've never had a problem since driving a stick. In fact, my next car (small, red convertible) will be a stick (I hope)
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Post by gmcwife1 on Apr 25, 2016 16:30:05 GMT
Yes I can and have driven a manual/stick shift. The first car I had was a stick I also agree with you and we want our dd to learn to drive one too. We just need to find one or rent one for her to drive since all our vehicles are automatics
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Post by Zee on Apr 25, 2016 16:31:02 GMT
I know how in theory and have done it before, but I avoid it at all costs. To me, it just makes driving more complicated than it needs to be and it's for boys Sexist! Sorry, but I hate to hear a woman speaking this way! I personally love driving a stick shift! Oh good God...that's what the winking smiley was for. You can't even crack a joke around here without offending someone. I can assure you I'm not a sexist against my own sex. Now go clean the dirt out from under your mannish fingernails and make me a sandwich.
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Post by compeateropeator on Apr 25, 2016 16:32:00 GMT
Yes. I have been driving for 36 years and have always had a standard until my last car (and my new one that I just bought in Dec). The reason I finally decided to get an automatic was because I wanted a car starter...hahaha.
i will add that I don't understand why anyone who goes on the amazing race doesn't learn to drive s stick. There is always someone who can't and that is just an idiotic move in my opinion.
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Post by cath4k on Apr 25, 2016 16:32:34 GMT
Yes. I learned to drive on a manual and the first three cars I drove were manual. Even now, one of our cars is a manual. My girls did not learn to drive manual, but I am tempted to only allow my boys to drive manual while they live at home (once they become old enough to drive.) My reasoning? Now that texting is such a thing (it wasn't when my girls started driving), it is a whole lot more difficult to text while driving a manual.
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Post by winogirl on Apr 25, 2016 16:33:08 GMT
Dh and I always say that if we were on The Amazing Race at least we could both drive
I've had two manual cars and that's what I learned to drive on. I have an automatic now but I kinda miss the stick shift.
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Post by withapea on Apr 25, 2016 16:34:56 GMT
I do. I drove a stick for years. I think they're more fun to drive but if you live somewhere where there's a lot of traffic ( which I do ) it's not pleasurable. I've made sure my daughters know how to drive a manual as well.
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Post by katlady on Apr 25, 2016 16:36:08 GMT
Yes, and I miss it. But, with the stop and go traffic I drive in everyday it got to be too hard on the transmission (and me). So, it is automatic for now. Maybe one day when I no longer have a horrendous commute I will get one again.
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Post by gar on Apr 25, 2016 16:36:45 GMT
I've driven and owned only manual cars until my current car which I got 3 years ago.
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Post by belgravia on Apr 25, 2016 16:36:54 GMT
I love driving a stick unless I'm stuck in traffic! I think it's a valuable skill for sure.
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Post by leannec on Apr 25, 2016 16:37:56 GMT
Dh and I always say that if we were on The Amazing Race at least we could both drive
I've had two manual cars and that's what I learned to drive on. I have an automatic now but I kinda miss the stick shift.
I don't miss mine at all
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
Jun 26, 2014 23:17:22 GMT
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Post by LeaP on Apr 25, 2016 16:45:18 GMT
I can! I'm always amazed at how much variation there is in the "feel" of the clutch. I once drove a Corvette and I had no idea I was driving 60 mph in third gear. That car wanted to go!
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Post by femalebusiness on Apr 25, 2016 16:46:09 GMT
I learned to drive on a stick when I was nine. My dad took me to an old road behind our house and taught me. My mother wouldn't learn to drive and he said in an emergency someone needed to know how to drive so he taught me. Silly man, a few years after that I used to steal the car after my parents went to sleep. If I were dictator I would make everyone learn to drive a stick if they wanted a license. It isn't that difficult. It takes about ten or fifteen minutes to learn.
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Post by Woobster on Apr 25, 2016 16:49:36 GMT
Yes. My dad taught me before I got my license. Most of the vehicles my parents owned when I was a kid were manual... We had to know.
I enjoy the convenience of my automatic, but manuals can be really fun to drive.
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Post by ntsf on Apr 25, 2016 16:52:31 GMT
yeah..if you are on the amazing race, know how to drive a stick, keep good notes and have no fear. and know how to swim and speak another language. If you are on survivor, be cunning and know how to light and maintain a fire and catch a fish
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 12:30:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 16:58:11 GMT
Yep. I drive an SUV with a 5-speed every day.
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Post by 505scrapper on Apr 25, 2016 16:59:19 GMT
Yes, I learned to drive on a manual. Eventually I moved to automatic but then I got a Miata and it was a manual. I loved driving that Miata. I'm back to automatic, but it seems to be something you don't lose so if I had to, I could easily do it. The one thing I hated is that I live in a town with a lot of hills and I'd get so nervous if I had to stop at a light at the top of a hill and other cars pulled up behind me.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 12:30:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2016 17:02:28 GMT
Nope. Dad says everyone should know how to. I said, then why didn't you teach me back then? He said you had a boyfriend to teach you. Ha, yeah, right. The "boyfriend" sold his stick shift because he didn't want to teach me and wanted me to stop asking him to teach me. The ex-h told me he didn't trust me with a stick shift so he refused to buy a car with one. Another ex-bf said the same thing.
WTF? I'm a good driver. Hell, my record is better than DH's! I haven't had an accident or ticket since I was 19. DH rolled his truck and got a couple tickets as a results just a few years ago. Dad still won't teach me. I'm not even sure if DH even knows how to either.
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