Can You Drive A Standard

[Table 5]

A true gentleman knows how to operate a mochine, not steer a couch. Your father sounds like my mother.

[woob]

This is how I feel sometimes, driving my automatic.

[You Need a Thneed]

When I bought my first car at age 23, I bought a manual, and forced myself to learn.

Had to get rid of that car when my wife was pregnant, and couldn't handle that bumpiness and start stop of the bus anymore. She started taking the car, but she couldn't drive manual, and didn't have the patience to learn at the time. (probably needed a bit more space for the coming baby anyway)

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by polak

Nah, as long as it's legal to manually drive a car I think some brands will stay pure with at least a model or two. For example I can't see Subaru making an auto-only STI

I hope so...Ford releasing their Focus/Fiesta ST models with only manual is a glimmer of hope

[burnin_vernon]

I've had about 6 cars and 5 of them have been standard. I recently traded in my 5 speed pickup for something with an automatic transmission.

I feel less like a driver.

[RichKlit]

Yup. Not my first car but i learned on an old 4 speed 1970something chevette not a corvette a 4 speed chevette, chick mag...i mean repellent.

[#22]

God, how I miss my standard car(s). I wanted my 4-Runner to be stick, but the closest I could get (all I could get) was tiptronic, which is not the same. At least I have the bike to shift with in the non-winter months

My Porsche will be stick shift.....

[BloodFetish]

42 now, learned on a stick-shift Chrysler K car when I was 17. Mom could teach me everything but how to start on an upslope. My older brother was the one who explained how to position the clutch just shy of the engaging point before tromping on the gas, and ever since then hills are not a problem.

We bought a manual Acura EL in 2005, and so I had to teach my wife standard. Thanks to the Tao of elder brother I was able to teach her hill skillz with no problems.

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?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

Mom could teach me everything but how to start on an upslope. My older brother was the one who explained how to position the clutch just shy of the engaging point before tromping on the gas, and ever since then hills are not a problem.

The easiest way to get over starting on a hill is to engage the parking brake, and then slowly ease off the parking brake as you move forward. Prevents you from rolling back if you can't do the pedal action quickly enough.

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?

Personally, in most regular driving situations, I just throw it into neutral and brake. Most driving instructors, and I'm sure some people here too, frown on that because its technically not as safe (you'd need to get back into gear to accelarate), but I'd rather put wear on my brakes than my clutch/engine.

[VO #23]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, in most regular driving situations, I just throw it into neutral and brake. Most driving instructors, and I'm sure some people here too, frown on that because its technically not as safe (you'd need to get back into gear to accelarate), but I'd rather put wear on my brakes than my clutch/engine.

I do the same thing - neutral and brake.

This thread makes me miss my Jeep with a stick shift. Godawful on the highway, but so much fun to drive around the city (especially in the snow)...

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The easiest way to get over starting on a hill is to engage the parking brake, and then slowly ease off the parking brake as you move forward. Prevents you from rolling back if you can't do the pedal action quickly enough.

I remember trying that in the past, but found that adding another thing requiring coordination was too much for my simple brain.

Thanks for your answer on braking vs. downshifting. Frankly, I always thought downshifting was good for control and to prevent wearing the brakes. Never did I consider that I'm adding wear elsewhere on the car!

[polak]

When I was learning I did the handbrake thing for hills. It helped ease the fear of stalling which was always the main worry back then.

[TorqueDog]

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?

I always down-shift and let the engine slow the car and use the brakes as I need them.

I just loved the sound, though.

[polak]

I only do that when I think the light is about to change before I come to a full stop. Otherwise it's neutral and brakes.

[schteve_d]

Years ago when I was 17 or so I had a standard Volkswagen and spent a lot of very frustrating hours trying to teach my then-girlfriend to drive it because she wanted to learn. That poor car took many hours of undeserved beating at her hand.

Finally I took her to where I worked - Canadian Tire. I pulled a clutch and flywheel out of the box and showed her what was actually happening when she pressed the pedal and such. She was a pretty smart girl and we walked outside, she drove that car home and never had another problem.

[Vulcan]

When coming to a stop, I use the brake but I'll run through the gears with the clutch depressed as I lose speed. This way I'll be in the right gear if I need to accelerate.

Speaking of loving the sound, I use to like going through my town's underpass with my Ducati thumper.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

When coming to a stop, I use the brake but I'll run through the gears with the clutch depressed as I lose speed. This way I'll be in the right gear if I need to accelerate.

I cannot understand why you would do this. Don't you just know which gear you would need based on how fast you're going?

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I cannot understand why you would do this. Don't you just know which gear you would need based on how fast you're going?

Sure but in an emergency, it's one less thing to do, especially if you've momentarily spaced out. On a motorcycle you have to do this anyways.

[Violator]

My brother was gonna teach me how to drive standard but died from drinking and driving

anybody know any places were you can learn to drive standard

[prarieboy]

I bought a 1978 Monza which had a 305 4 speed in it. I taught myself how to drive standard on the way home. Lots of burned rubber and stalls on that trip.



I loved that car.