Does anybody else drive a stick shift?

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Replies

  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Why would anyone have that silly left foot exerciser and stirry stick any more? Unless of course they like black and white TV and filofaxes. Stick shift is so last century.

    The good lord gave you two feet, one for brake and one for accelerator, if he'd meant us to have stick shifts he'd have given us three feet! And as you know, three feet is a yard, and that is where your stick shifts should be stored, permanently, to rot.

    Just my not so humble opinion.

    Even if I drive an automatic I still use my right foot for both brake and accelerator, and my left ankle gets a little rest. In the uk, its mostly old people or nervous young women who drive automatics. I prefer to drive manual, and even miss the [/b]manual choke in certain weathers.

    the first stick I drove had a choke... I have never met anyone who drove a car with a choke before.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Whenever I drive my mom's automatic car I always get whiplash when I mistake the brake for the clutch and slam on it lol

    Ha! Driving automatics make me nervous... that is a horrible feeling.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Hi, Europe here.

    Most of us drive manual transmission.

    then I'll think of myself as continental
  • RonnieLodge
    RonnieLodge Posts: 665 Member
    Am I the only person in the world who drives a stick?

    No, I drive a manual car. Always have. I feel much more connected to the vehicle driving stick shift/manual.

    Automatics just feel like driving a go-kart. Good for nanas who want to drive below the speed limit and never overtake.

    As for fun, how many driving simulation games in arcades are manual gearboxes?

    And as for them being last century - I don't have a tv but I do have a filofax. No doubt fitter and better organized for it.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    I can drive one and have a car that's manual but that's the fun car. My main car is automatic.
    Why would anyone have that silly left foot exerciser and stirry stick any more? Unless of course they like black and white TV and filofaxes. Stick shift is so last century.

    The good lord gave you two feet, one for brake and one for accelerator, if he'd meant us to have stick shifts he'd have given us three feet! And as you know, three feet is a yard, and that is where your stick shifts should be stored, permanently, to rot.

    Just my not so humble opinion

    For one, manual transmissions are better on gas.

    For two, they're better in snow.

    For three, they're easier to maintain than automatic transmission

    For four you have a lot more control over the car

    For five they're really fun to drive

    For six I can't imagine buying a really sweet sports car and having it be an automatic transmission. That's almost blaspheme.

    And I really hope you're not driving with two feet, unless you're a cop.

    The difference in gas mileage nowadays is minimal. How you drive, auto or manual makes a bigger difference.

    Who says a manual is better in snow? In fact you have less control particularly pulling away from stationary.

    Easier to maintain? Where on earth do you get that. Autos are more reliable than manuals and clutches.

    How does a manual give you more control exactly? Have you ever driven an auto?

    Fun to drive? How exactly? More to think about and get wrong maybe, more to distract you away from the road which is what you should be concentrating on.


    High end sports cars from Ferrari to Aston Martin have had semi or full autos for years.

    No I'm not a cop and yes I drive with both feet, I'll guarantee my reactions are quicker than moving right foot off accelerator and onto brake.
    For the bolded points:
    wrong.gif

    And yes, I have driven both auto and manual. On the last two points, the automatics used in Ferrari's and the like are not like most autos, and they are still clunky in slow stop and go traffic, and left foot braking is a bad habit for road driving. People tend to rest their foot on the brake, wearing the brakes and having the brake lights always on or flickering on/off while driving.
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    I used to drive a manual. I kind of miss it.

    And as a person who has driven both automatics and manuals in the snow, I overall prefer the manual. I feel that I have better control that way.

    Gas mileage? Comparable.

    Fun to drive? Yes, by far.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I drive manual. 94 Toyota corolla. Learned when I was in undergraduate. Hated...with a passion...having to stop going up a hill. There was one stop light on the edge of our campus that I had to go through to go home. One time I stalled 3 times in a row and scared the crap out of the guy behind me. I let everyone go and waited til I had like 50 yards behind me (steep hill) before I got going again. From then on I took the longer route home.

    I've driven a stick in San Fransico.... Sounds like that might not be your idea of fun.

    Dude, in a pinch pull up the emergency brake and release it just as your clutch engages... yes, that's right foot on the gas, left onthe clutch, left hand on the steering wheel and right on the brake... (My old boss used to get irritated because I wouldn't pick up the cell phone when I was driving)
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    OP, I hope you get the opportunity to travel to other countries, one day.

    Drove a VW stick in Mexico
  • SummerLovesPhil
    SummerLovesPhil Posts: 242 Member
    Yes. I'd like to say it's because I'm cool enough to prefer it, but it's really because this is the truck that was available when I needed one and so I bought it. That said, it does outperform an automatic when off-road.
  • xvxCelticWandererxvx
    xvxCelticWandererxvx Posts: 2,890 Member
    Though I do not drive a manual now, I do prefer them over automatic. Great in snow but better overall. I've driven 1940s 10 wheeler trucks for a couple years - two sticks! Weeeeee!
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I'd own zero automatic vehicles if I could. It was impossible to find my Silverado with a stick though so that's my one exception currently.

    From 17- 21 I was driving either my Dad's car or my Boyfriend's car. Moved to NYC when I was 21 got my first car when I was 44, Dad's 20 y.o. 5-sp MT Toyota Corolla.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    We should make a non US equivalent saying "Does anybody else drive an automatic?" :laugh:

    But yes, I drive a "stick shift", and a toe shift if referring to the motorbike :glasses:

    you're right! I so narrow minded of me. thank you for broadening my world view!
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    My Dart is 3 speed on the column. :glasses:

    I love a manual transmission!

    3 on a tree, my sis had a royal blue plymouth duster, with 3 on a tree.:smokin:
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Am I the only person in the world who drives a stick?


    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhQm8N34SVq4NKYDUUeOtiVXK0mIz818DW2uODfcRpZ_HXcRTw

    Lol
  • abberbabber
    abberbabber Posts: 972 Member
    Yes! And it's absolutely my preference!
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Though I do not drive a manual now, I do prefer them over automatic. Great in snow but better overall. I've driven 1940s 10 wheeler trucks for a couple years - two sticks! Weeeeee!

    I'm impressed you go girl!
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I can drive one and have a car that's manual but that's the fun car. My main car is automatic.
    Why would anyone have that silly left foot exerciser and stirry stick any more? Unless of course they like black and white TV and filofaxes. Stick shift is so last century.

    The good lord gave you two feet, one for brake and one for accelerator, if he'd meant us to have stick shifts he'd have given us three feet! And as you know, three feet is a yard, and that is where your stick shifts should be stored, permanently, to rot.

    Just my not so humble opinion

    For one, manual transmissions are better on gas.

    For two, they're better in snow.

    For three, they're easier to maintain than automatic transmission

    For four you have a lot more control over the car

    For five they're really fun to drive

    For six I can't imagine buying a really sweet sports car and having it be an automatic transmission. That's almost blaspheme.

    And I really hope you're not driving with two feet, unless you're a cop.

    The difference in gas mileage nowadays is minimal. How you drive, auto or manual makes a bigger difference.

    Who says a manual is better in snow? In fact you have less control particularly pulling away from stationary.

    Easier to maintain? Where on earth do you get that. Autos are more reliable than manuals and clutches.

    How does a manual give you more control exactly? Have you ever driven an auto?

    Fun to drive? How exactly? More to think about and get wrong maybe, more to distract you away from the road which is what you should be concentrating on.


    High end sports cars from Ferrari to Aston Martin have had semi or full autos for years.

    No I'm not a cop and yes I drive with both feet, I'll guarantee my reactions are quicker than moving right foot off accelerator and onto brake.
    For the bolded points:
    wrong.gif

    And yes, I have driven both auto and manual. On the last two points, the automatics used in Ferrari's and the like are not like most autos, and they are still clunky in slow stop and go traffic, and left foot braking is a bad habit for road driving. People tend to rest their foot on the brake, wearing the brakes and having the brake lights always on or flickering on/off while driving.

    thank you rallyengr, I concur
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    * nevermind
  • robindina
    robindina Posts: 157 Member
    I do :)
  • I used to but the fun factor fadded. Much more convienent driving an auto in the city. I do occasionaly hire a 4wd for some bush bashing and then its always a manual.
  • ron2e
    ron2e Posts: 606

    And yes, I have driven both auto and manual. On the last two points, the automatics used in Ferrari's and the like are not like most autos, and they are still clunky in slow stop and go traffic, and left foot braking is a bad habit for road driving. People tend to rest their foot on the brake, wearing the brakes and having the brake lights always on or flickering on/off while driving.

    Yes Ferrari and some others have a semi-automatic, however true automatics are used by Aston Martin, Mercedes SLS AMG, Porsche with their Tiptronic, the list of auto high end sports cars is large. And left foot braking has been used for many years both in motorsports including rallying and for driving automatics where during low speed traffic conditions reactions are much faster. You may not like it, but it is not a bad habit. As for wearing the brakes, most manual drivers hover over or rest their foot on the clutch pedal thus burning out clutch plates. It is resting your foot on the pedal, whichever one, that is a bad habit.

    And copying a funny gif into your post doesn't make you right!
  • vtmoon
    vtmoon Posts: 3,436 Member

    And copying a funny gif into your post doesn't make you right!


    tumblr_m6f13pbekP1rziwwco2_500.gif
  • hopefaithlove24
    hopefaithlove24 Posts: 454 Member
    I can drive one and have a car that's manual but that's the fun car. My main car is automatic.
    Why would anyone have that silly left foot exerciser and stirry stick any more? Unless of course they like black and white TV and filofaxes. Stick shift is so last century.

    The good lord gave you two feet, one for brake and one for accelerator, if he'd meant us to have stick shifts he'd have given us three feet! And as you know, three feet is a yard, and that is where your stick shifts should be stored, permanently, to rot.

    Just my not so humble opinion

    For one, manual transmissions are better on gas.

    For two, they're better in snow.

    For three, they're easier to maintain than automatic transmission

    For four you have a lot more control over the car

    For five they're really fun to drive

    For six I can't imagine buying a really sweet sports car and having it be an automatic transmission. That's almost blaspheme.

    And I really hope you're not driving with two feet, unless you're a cop.


    ^^^^ This, especially the driving with two feet part hahah
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    At the age of 52 got my first car without stick. I LOVE driving standard!
  • 1985Andy
    1985Andy Posts: 161 Member
    I can drive one and have a car that's manual but that's the fun car. My main car is automatic.
    Why would anyone have that silly left foot exerciser and stirry stick any more? Unless of course they like black and white TV and filofaxes. Stick shift is so last century.

    The good lord gave you two feet, one for brake and one for accelerator, if he'd meant us to have stick shifts he'd have given us three feet! And as you know, three feet is a yard, and that is where your stick shifts should be stored, permanently, to rot.

    Just my not so humble opinion

    For one, manual transmissions are better on gas.

    For two, they're better in snow.

    For three, they're easier to maintain than automatic transmission

    For four you have a lot more control over the car

    For five they're really fun to drive

    For six I can't imagine buying a really sweet sports car and having it be an automatic transmission. That's almost blaspheme.

    And I really hope you're not driving with two feet, unless you're a cop.


    ^^^^ This, especially the driving with two feet part hahah

    I've always driven stick until I got my new car yesterday. It is apparently better on fuel consumption than the manual version and as the box on it is so good I thought I'd go automatic for a change. So far so good!
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    My first car was manual but I do prefer automatics. It's true that it's better to fully control the car this way but I'm too lazy.
  • Joannesmith2818
    Joannesmith2818 Posts: 438 Member
    I drive a manual.....but with my back issues atm it kind of hurts to change gear. However, I do prefer the control of the gear stick!!
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    This makes me miss my RX-8... which of course was a manual.

    I now drive an auto Mazda 3 because it's easier on my commute to work (which is mostly heavy traffic).

    If rumors are true, then 2017-2018 I'll be getting the new rotary powered car from Mazda... with a manual transmission, of course.
  • JeninBelgium
    JeninBelgium Posts: 804 Member
    I do as does nearly everyone else I know (I live in Europe) but even in the US my dad and many of my aunts drove manual transmission. Funnily enough my husband (Belgian) does not. He regularly has to drive to various parts of the Netherlands, France and Germany for work and though he drove manual transmission vehicled for years, being stuck in stop and go traffic with a manual car is no fun (ok, being stuck in traffic is generally not fun). Once we had to back up a ramp for a parking garage (we thought it was a public pay garage turns out it was private) the entry ramp was spiral and backing up and out of the spiral was such a pain in the backside with the stick (especially as the car had an electronic hand break button) that we decided his next car would be an automatic and we are so glad for our decision too - it's nice having one of each :-)
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
    Almost every car I've owned has been a manual (95' Saturn SL base & 05' Pontiac Sunfire) - only the 91' Geo Prism (which I bought @ 200k - ran it for 6 months until the auto transmission died, 6k miles later).

    It's becoming a bytch finding good used manuals, I refuse to go auto unless I 100% have to - i'm WAY TOO ROUGH on my cars keep an auto happy - LOL

    *edit - spelling*