Stick shifts?????

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Ronni mentioned "stick shift" in her post. I think semi trucks still have them, but most everything else is "automatic, today. From the google answers, sticks are more popular in Europe. Did you learn to drive a "stick"? Do you still drive one? Which would you rather drive? Which don't you like to drive? I guess with electric cars, it won't matter anymore.
 

I've heard people who drive a stick shift prefer them. I remember in the 80's going with a friend to San Francisco. She had no problems with her stick shift auto doing the hills during rush hour.

Me, never. Automatic only. Never learned.
 
I learned to drive on a stick shift, because at that time I lived in a macho town where automatics were for sissies. (Some muscle cars being the exception.)

I remember my driving instructor saying, "What's the FIRST thing you do after coming to a stop?" I'd just look at him. The Socratic method doesn't work on me.

After my first driving test, the tester grumbled, "Well miss, I'm afraid I have to grant you your licence." (Never had an accident or a speeding ticket though.)

Since then, I've had mostly automatics, and a couple of standards. Whatever was available given my budget.
 
My first car was a 1952 Mercury with a stick. After a few autos, I got a 1969 Ford Torino with a stick. Worst car ever. I remember going home after work during a snow storm in stop and go traffic going up a hill. It was slip the clutch and go a few feet then do it again. Since then it's been automatic. It's fun to drive a stick once in a while but not daily.
 
I learned to drive on one, and had stick shift cars until about 30 years ago.
I think theyā€™re partly responsible for the arthritis in my right shoulder from having to ā€œrowā€ the car along in city traffic. Gear shifts were on the center console between the seats.
 
Many modern "big trucks " do have automatic transmissions, but with a number of gears that can be selected as required. That innovation has opened up long distance truck driving to more women. With power steering, automatic transmissions and electronic log books, driving a 70,000 pound truck is a lot easier than it used to be . I see quite a number of "Mother and Daughter " driving teams doing long haul driving. With 2 drivers, a truck can be moving almost 24 hours a day, and still be legal on their "hours of service " requirements. A single driver running from Toronto to Los Angles is looking at a 5 day drive, because of the required hours of sleep . A 2 person team can do that same run in about half the time. The transport companies like female drivers because they tend to be more cautious, and safer drivers ( after the training period with a company driver trainer ). They also keep their truck interiors cleaner, too. Husband and Wife teams are also common in long haul trucking. Jimb.
 
I learned to drive on a primitive "gooey go" equipped Chevrolet back in the dim dark ages. I took my driving test on that "trouble glide" vehicle but when I bought my first car (1953 Ford Victoria hard top) it had a three on the tree. I preferred stick stirrers through my 30's and 40's. Since the 1990's my rigs have all had "automagic" transmissions.

I guess in my heart of hearts the old stick is what I enjoy driving the most.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Ronni mentioned "stick shift" in her post. I think semi trucks still have them, but most everything else is "automatic, today. From the google answers, sticks are more popular in Europe. Did you learn to drive a "stick"? Do you still drive one? Which would you rather drive? Which don't you like to drive? I guess with electric cars, it won't matter anymore.
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I learned with a stick shift, but haven't driven one for years and wouldn't care to. The next step will be Level 4 automation -- a self driving car with a steering wheel and the ability of a human driver to take over if a situation warrants it. Level 5 will lack a steering wheel -- presumably unneeded. Musk keeps promising Level 4, but to date has failed to deliver -- maybe from some manufacturer in the next 2 - 4 years. They are all scrambling to be first. As for Electric, I look forward to it, but the source of all that electricity charging cars and trucks night and day is already becoming worrisome.
 
I have always driven a manual gear shift car, and semi trucks,
the automatic geared cars of to day might be a lot better and
more efficient, but in the beginning they were very heavy on
fuel.

I still drive a manual car.

Mike.
 
I learned on a manual transmission, a little Fiat. It was my older brothers car that was reduced to junk so I made it into a field buggy, I was probably 12 or 13 years old. I traded it to a neighbor for a couple boxes of shotgun shells. Funny the things we remember.

I have had a few manuals since but not in over twenty years, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Ronni mentioned "stick shift" in her post. I think semi trucks still have them, but most everything else is "automatic, today. From the google answers, sticks are more popular in Europe. Did you learn to drive a "stick"? Do you still drive one? Which would you rather drive? Which don't you like to drive? I guess with electric cars, it won't matter anymore.
Click to expand...
Two of our three vehicles are manual transmissions, my Jeep Cherokee that I drive everyday and love, bought it new in '96, and our Dodge diesel truck which is still running strong, bought that new in '92. I prefer an automatic in stop and go city traffic and the manual in snow, the Jeep in 4-wheel low is like a tank.
 
I loved my VW bug/s. I could do almost all the work on them. Not the fastest little things, but I have had two I like them so much. My step Mom had an MG sports car and the floor shift transmission was seamless. I would take it to the store when she wanted something, then race around the nearby mountain roads. Wild time. :)
 
hollydolly said:
I drive a Manual ..
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Me too, I remember you know what double declutch is. The vintage MG has no synchromesh, without double declutching the gears would not only crunch, they would be damaged very quickly.
It's not difficult when you do it regularly. My wife was taught to double declutch in the ambulance service, slowing the vehicle in such a way gives an injured patient a much smoother ride.
 
Learned on a stick shift when I got my license in 1950. Had a '41 Mercury Coupe. After another Merc most of my remaining cars have been autos. I did buy a '63 Corvette Coupe in 1965 and it was a stick. Kept it for 13 years and sold it for a bit over twice what I paid for it. (Should have kept it) Later, I had a pair of VW Rabbit diesels (as second cars) which were fun in their own way but accelerating or going up grades was like rowing in molasses.

Sticks can be fun but for driving in heavy traffic and hilly country they can be a pain in the a##. :D
 
The last stick I owned was a 1991 Honda Accord. Before that, I had an '81 240D with a stick. Are they even making them anymore?
 

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