Do you still drive a stick shift? Did you ever?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Years ago, I learned to drive a stick shift in the US Navy. I had a Toyota Tercel with a stick for a few years. Supposedly, I got better milage with a stick. But today, it's hard to find a stick passenger car. Maybe sticks still work for trucks, but I think, otherwise sticks are vanishing.
Do you still drive a stick shift? Did you ever?
 

At age 16 learned to drive on a beater car that had stick. Taught my sons to drive on a beater of a work car that had stick. Paid off in the Navy to be able to drive stick.

Later part time job to pay for kids dental & health care drove a tri axel dump. That gave me confidence to apply for a job with a non union company really in need of tractor trailer drivers. Lied about experience & taught myself how to drive an 18 wheeler. Nice ride it had a 400 hp cat engine & 13 speed road ranger transmission.

Can't drive a stick now due to crippled left arm. Even have to have power windows since cranking a window up & down isn't possible.
 
Yes I drive a Manual...I have always driven a manual except with rental cars abroad on holidays on occasion ..which I hated tbh. Much slower than Manual cars, and less easy to control... bit like playing with a grown up toy car..than a real car....and boring..I can see how people could easily fall asleep while driving..

Both my estranged husband and my daughter have semi automatic cars, and they prefer them to manuals now.. and are always trying to convince me to get one ... but naaaa.. I don't like 'em
 
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At around 12 started driving grandpas 8N tractor, by 14 a Suburban. Ran 2 different fire trucks with 2 speed rear end.... nothing like split shifting and double clutching running emergency traffic! Over the years have drove many different sticks, including a couple 3 on the tree. Wife and both kids also have drivin sticks.
 
I've driven both over the years but only automatics the last twenty years. It's not a skill you lose though, my son has a stick shift and I drove it last summer, felt like I had been driving a manual every day.

I'm currently searching for an old truck (pre 1972) and am only considering manual transmissions.
 
I learned in a 1966 VW Bug, then owned one for 10 years. Drove several 3 on the tree vehicles. BUT, the most memorable was the MG sportscar my step-mother owned. She would ask me to go to the store in it. Our store was 4miles from the Stephens Creek Dam, and the steep moutain road around it. I would go up to the dam and race around the mountain. The MG had a automatic clutch to downshift into 1st, so I really got this baby going. :) Then I would stop by the store and pick up what she wanted. Her :"What took you so long?" Me : "I met a couple friends I talked with." I know, I was very bad. :)

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fuzzybuddy said:
Years ago, I learned to drive a stick shift in the US Navy. I had a Toyota Tercel with a stick for a few years. Supposedly, I got better milage with a stick. But today, it's hard to find a stick passenger car. Maybe sticks still work for trucks, but I think, otherwise sticks are vanishing.
Do you still drive a stick shift? Did you ever?
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I drove my '96 Jeep Cherokee 4WD manual almost every day until last year, when I could no longer pass the eye exam due to failing vision. Also our '92 Dodge Cummins diesel 4WD W250, both vehicles were bought new and have low mileage. Having a stick in winter snow is a benefit if stuck. I agree that these days a lot of people can't drive a manual, makes our vehicles not so desirable to steal, LOL.
 
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