Can You Drive A Standard

[indes]

I'm 23 and my 20yr old girlfriend knows how to drive standard - I had to teach her because her first car was standard...it was a nightmare but now shes better at it than I am, since I only own automatics....including my 74 charger

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

When stopping at a light my wife tends to rely solely on the brake pedal, whereas I always downshift and engine brake. Is this a common thing?

Above 80km/h I'll downshift until about 3rd (50 km/h), then neutral and brake. Cruising around town (50 or lower) it's just neutral and brake. I try to rely on my brakes only when I have to.

It's funny how few people use the parking brake technique on hills. I did this once when an ex was in the passenger seat and she looked at me like I just grew a second head.

[calgaryred]

I learned to drive on a standard, took my test with an automatic, then drove standard for a long time. I've had an automatic since 2008, happy don't think i'd want to change back now, but I think it's important to drive both. My girlfriend can't drive a standard at all.

[annasuave]

I can drive both, and it doesn't fuss me much which. That having been said, I don't think I could bring myself to date a man who couldn't drive stick. It would be like dating a man with no testicles.

[missdpuck]

My first 2 cars were manual. The only "hills" around here really are overpasses and ramps. Looking back, I keep wondering how I came out of a stop on those without rolling back into anyone. It's just been such along time I just can't comprehend that. Silly, I know.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

It's funny how few people use the parking brake technique on hills. I did this once when an ex was in the passenger seat and she looked at me like I just grew a second head.

Yeah, it's a neat little trick that you'd think everyone would know considering it's effectiveness. A newbie could drive in SF with ease.

Funnily enough, new manual cars have started coming with this fancy new feature called "Hill Assist", which basically does the exact same thing, but electronically. I'd kind of hate that, I kind of like the option being able to roll back.

[worth]

I have hill assist in my car but i've never had the balls to use it. It applies the electronic park brake and is supposed to disengage when you let out the clutch or something. Maybe it would work well in San Francisco.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, it's a neat little trick that you'd think everyone would know considering it's effectiveness. A newbie could drive in SF with ease.

Funnily enough, new manual cars have started coming with this fancy new feature called "Hill Assist", which basically does the exact same thing, but electronically. I'd kind of hate that, I kind of like the option being able to roll back.

Never ever have I used a barking brake. MY old man thought it was better to teach me to have fast feet through loud yelling.

Hill Assist, what a bunch of softies, next you will want a vehicle that actually changes gear for you.........

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Never ever have I used a barking brake. I old man thought it was better to teach me to have fast feet through louf yelling.

I haven't used it myself in a really long time, but it's a pretty good tip for someone learning. Taking off on a hill with a car right behind you is probably the biggest fear of a new manual driver.

[Tinordi]

What do you think of the statement that standard drivers are on average better drivers because they are more engaged in the act of driving?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

What do you think of the statement that standard drivers are on average better drivers because they are more engaged in the act of driving?

I think the driver is more important that the type of vehicle.

I think the driving is something that some have a easy time doing. I found it very easy to learn to drive, it just came natural. The flip side is some people really struggle with driving, see "Canada's Worst Driver".


Natural skill, and training is more important than type of vehilce.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I think the driver is more important that the type of vehicle.

I think the driving is something that some have a easy time doing. I found it very easy to learn to drive, it just came natural. The flip side is some people really struggle with driving, see "Canada's Worst Driver".


Natural skill, and training is more important than type of vehilce.

But my point is that with a standard there is more action to the act of driving potentially engaging the driver more, at least in city traffic. The analogy is that automatics may be too 'easy' to drive allowing the driver to switch off easier. The counter argument is that automatics allow the driver to think about one less thing therefore making them more aware. I know that when I'm driving a standard I'm more aware as a driver.

[Ryan Coke]

Both my wife and I have had mostly standards, and we both prefer them. However right now we have 3 vehicles that are auto. The 2 SUV's it makes sense, but my regret is getting an auto BMW. I was deciding between 2, one a standard and the auto. The auto was better in several ways, so I went with it and have regretted it ever since.

If it is a vehicle that you buy to enjoy driving (any kind of performance/sports car) then it should definitely be a stick. Not to mention the power that the auto robs you of. And I haven't driven a tiptronic/shifttronic that replaces it in anyway.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Both my wife and I have had mostly standards, and we both prefer them. However right now we have 3 vehicles that are auto. The 2 SUV's it makes sense, but my regret is getting an auto BMW. I was deciding between 2, one a standard and the auto. The auto was better in several ways, so I went with it and have regretted it ever since.

If it is a vehicle that you buy to enjoy driving (any kind of performance/sports car) then it should definitely be a stick. Not to mention the power that the auto robs you of. And I haven't driven a tiptronic/shifttronic that replaces it in anyway.

I am interested to know in what ways the auto was better at the time of buying, yet now you regret it?

[Ryan Coke]

They were a couple of years old, and the auto was lower km's, had warranty, and was a local car. But I really noticed the difference in power driving the standard with exactly the same engine.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

They were a couple of years old, and the auto was lower km's, had warranty, and was a local car. But I really noticed the difference in power driving the standard with exactly the same engine.

That's probably gearing more than anything else.

[ryangb]

Im 37. I learned when I was 14 on a 1971 Ford 1 tonne farm truck. Getting that beast into 3rd was a challenge.

[Winsor_Pilates]

No, I'm 28 and never learned to drive standard.
I'm not happy about it, and it's been on my to do list for years but I've never gotten around to learning. Perhaps I should make it my New Years resolution and finally get it done.

[To Be Quite Honest]

My first car was a standard at 16.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Both my wife and I have had mostly standards, and we both prefer them. However right now we have 3 vehicles that are auto. The 2 SUV's it makes sense, but my regret is getting an auto BMW. I was deciding between 2, one a standard and the auto. The auto was better in several ways, so I went with it and have regretted it ever since.

If it is a vehicle that you buy to enjoy driving (any kind of performance/sports car) then it should definitely be a stick. Not to mention the power that the auto robs you of. And I haven't driven a tiptronic/shifttronic that replaces it in anyway.

I sort of agree, but I don't regret buying an auto BMW.

Going from a 6 speed manual V8 to a 6 speed automatic twin-turbo I6 was certainly an adjustment, but the auto changes gears so damn quickly during acceleration that you feel like the car is propelled by a rocket.