Can You Drive A Standard

[Bunk]

A lot of people that don't drive standard think it's something one needs to actually think about or concentrate on. No, it just simply becomes second nature and is awkward not to drive with it if you're used to it.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Of course. An essential skill. I'll be teaching my daughter as soon as she is old enough.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by valo403

(just balancing out Table 5 et al's losing respect for people who drive autos )

I lose some respect for people who drive automatic sports cars, not everyone who drives automatics. Big difference. Even I understand the benefit of an automatic in certain situations.

But thanks for the shot.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

A turn on, amirite?

Bingo!

I find that because my commute is so short and really never have to face much traffic I don't get the frustration a lot of people do with driving. To me, driving is a fun thing to do and it's fun to shift gears. I often just go for drives for fun.

I think perhaps if I lived in Okotoks and had to commute downtown, even though it's only 15 minutes, it would be a tiresome 15 minutes on a manual transmission.

Yeah, I'm like you, I have a non existent commute, so for me driving is usually not part of a daily grind. I'm pretty sure life would suck no matter what you're driving if you had to do 2 hours in rush hour every work day. I love driving, but hate being stuck in traffic. I don't see myself ever living so far away from work though, so hopefully I'm never forced to be in that position where it makes a big difference in what I drive.

[Dentoman]

My Dad taught me when I was 12 (grew up in the country) .... still have nightmares of that day, he made me stop going up hills ... he was not a patient man. Took my drivers in a standard. Had one until I was 30. Automatics since then .... in my 40's.

There are times that I miss it, but not very often.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I lose some respect for people who drive automatic sports cars, not everyone who drives automatics. Big difference. Even I understand the benefit of an automatic in certain situations.

But thanks for the shot.

Easy buddy, note the smiley face, was all good natured

[albertGQ]

Driving a stick is like riding a bike. You don't have to think about balancing your bike when you ride it just like you don't have to constantly think about shifting gears.

You just do it!

[polak]

I wouldn't say there's "no point" to knowing how to drive a stick.
Outside of North America, standards are still far more common than automatics. It's definitely something that could come in handy in a ton of scenerios.

As for the traffic thing... I used to commute across the entire city during both rush hours. Didn't bother me once. I have a car with a notoriously tricky and heavy clutch too.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

I've been driving a standard truck for the last four years. It really does become second nature. It took about three hours in the Wal-Mart parking lot to get it down pat. Now I don't really want to ever change from a stick shift.

[octothorp]

I grew up on a farm and spent most of my teens driving around big farm trucks that were all manual, but I haven't had to drive one on a regular basis in about 15 years. Last time I did need to drive one was on a trip to BC about five years ago, and I found it all came back to me right away.

To me, it's one of those things where it's really silly for anyone to feel elitist about it one way or another. Given that there seem to be so many people who don't know how to use a traffic circle, or a four-way stop, or how to merge onto a freeway correctly, and a whole host of other basic driving skills, manual transmissions are way down the list of skills that young drivers need.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bunk

A lot of people that don't drive standard think it's something one needs to actually think about or concentrate on. No, it just simply becomes second nature and is awkward not to drive with it if you're used to it.

The best is getting into an automatic and slamming on the brakes with your left foot.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

You just do it!

Over and over and over, hundreds of times a week, thousands of times a year, who knows how many times in a lifetime.

[the-rasta-masta]

You should double clutch on every downshift, or at the very least blip the throttle before you let the clutch out to match the higher revs of the lower gear you are entering. In the end this will save you tons of money by reducing wear on the clutch, synchro-mesh and your flywheel. This makes for a way smoother shift, and sounds cooler too.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

in the uk if you take your test in an automatic that is all you are allowed to drive.

That's the way it was here when I took my license. I took my high school driver training on a three on the tree 6 banger dodge. I did my test on the hills of New Westminster which was fun as it was tough learning to move from a red light uphill. I've owned about 20 cars and half have been standards. I've preferred standards especially with 4 cylinder engines. I had to double clutch when I owned my Austin Healey. Synchronized gears were just an after thought with them. I've also owned 5 motorcycles (still have a Honda VFR) which I sometimes changed gears without bothering with the clutch.

A standard transmission gives way more control when driving on winding and or mountainous roads although with an automatic you can use left foot braking for great control in heavy city traffic.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The best is getting into an automatic and slamming on the brakes with your left foot.

The phantom clutch?

[Russic]

I was technically taught how to do it when I was a teenager, but I've never come across a manual in the 14 years since, so I would probably have to put myself in the "no" category.

People who enjoy driving have always been confusing to me. Not because they're wrong of course, I just don't get it.

[polak]

Originally Posted by octothorp

To me, it's one of those things where it's really silly for anyone to feel elitist about it one way or another. Given that there seem to be so many people who don't know how to use a traffic circle, or a four-way stop, or how to merge onto a freeway correctly, and a whole host of other basic driving skills, manual transmissions are way down the list of skills that young drivers need.

White yields to black. Boom. Done.

Much easier than driving stick.

[bossy22]

Yes, learnt when I was 15. A ford f150 with 3 on the tree. Then I owned a regular 5 speed standard when I was 16.

[polak]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

You should double clutch on every downshift, or at the very least blip the throttle before you let the clutch out to match the higher revs of the lower gear you are entering. In the end this will save you tons of money by reducing wear on the clutch, synchro-mesh and your flywheel. This makes for a way smoother shift, and sounds cooler too.

Oh man, one time I let my friends gf drive us home from the bar in my car and I asked her beforehand if she could drive stick, she said yes and all was well until she downshifted to merge on to deerfoot. I thought my clutch was going to explode. From 6th to 4th with no blip of the throttle what so ever.

Her body is still missing.

[Tiger]

I was 16... My parents bought me a Standard, and said the best way to learn is go out and drive. I drove a standard a couple times before that with my learners.

If you want to drive in other countries (europe, S.A, etc) you should learn stick