Can You Drive A Standard

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

Yup, I'm 42. Have always been able to drive a stick. But I can see it dying out. It's getting to be a bugger finding manual cars.

As for the traffic argument, I drove a manual Mini Cooper S in Toronto in 401/427 traffic for a year and it was never really a problem. Guess I'm just used to it.

The only downside is my current S4 is a stick and my GF can't (won't) drive standard.

Until she wants you to teach her..... Cheaper to go buy a $500 beater than to burn out the S4 clutch.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bunk

My wife, who doesn't drive, but is learning curses me. She wants an automatic.

I'm convinced that the only thing that takes more years off your life than a newborn baby, is trying to teach ones wife to drive stick.

I tried for a month, but after all the multiple bouts of crying, frustration, and smoking clutches.....we gave up and bought an automatic for her.

One day.....

[Canehdianman]

I can.

I'm 34. The majority of my friends cannot however.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

Yup, I'm 42. Have always been able to drive a stick. But I can see it dying out. It's getting to be a bugger finding manual cars.

As for the traffic argument, I drove a manual Mini Cooper S in Toronto in 401/427 traffic for a year and it was never really a problem. Guess I'm just used to it.

The only downside is my current S4 is a stick and my GF can't (won't) drive standard.

To me it just seems like it would be a problem, when I want to shift I would have to put my electric shaver in my left hand with my cigarette and my coffee, all while eating a cheeseburger, seems dangerous.

[_Q_]

I find the guys that settle down early in life, listen to their wife/girlfriend all the time, like practical things and lead boring lives drive automatics. Then they go out and buy an automatic sports car when they're 35 and think they're living life on the edge all of a sudden. They will also point out how cool it is to have a tiptronic transmission because it allows them to change gears!

In short, cool guys only drive manual transmissions.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm 31, and I am vehemently pro manual transmission. Have yet to buy a car without one, and will hold out for as long as humanly possible.

Out of most of my friends, about half the guys seem to be able to, and the other half I make fun of. In terms of the girls, it seems pretty rare that girls can drive them....I'm always a little surprised when I run into a girl who can.

It's getting more and more rare though to find people who drive them....but I gotta admit, I instantly respect people more when I find out they drive a stick. I also lose a lot of respect for anyone who has a fantastic sports car, and goes automatic.

Exactly. You're losing out on all the fun, and the control. An automatic sports car is an abomination and it's driver is a tool.

Don't even get me started on those tiptronic shifters.

[ah123]

Nope. I started learning on a standard many many many years ago but switched to automatic once I moved to Canada and haven't driven standard since. I would not trust myself anymore with a standard, since I would spend more time focussing on shifting as opposed to traffic.

[Kybosh]

31, yep. My truck is auto though.

[KTrain]

Our previous car was a standard but with our latest car purchase I decided on automatic instead. We drove an auto on our trip to Italy and enjoyed it much more than I would a standard. All those hills and narrow roads would have been a nightmare for me.

Being stuck on Deerfoot traffic with a standard is painful.

[Sliver]

Yeah I think it's pretty unmanly if a guy can't drive a stick; however, my current daily driver is an auto. I like it a lot more in stop and go traffic than a manual. My fun car is stick, though, and both my wife and I love driving that.

Up until I was in my 30s I always owned manual. Now as I get older and lazier, I can appreciate autos.

BTW, paddle shift/tiptronic/manumatic/etc. is not the same thing as a manual with a clutch. They're not much different than shifting your Ford Tempo out of D and into 3 or 2.

[polak]

Oh to add, all of my guy friends can drive stick. It's a european thing. Our dads would be embarassed to have a son that can't drive stick. Same will go for my son if I ever have one. My girlfriend and mom can drive stick too.

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Learned on a standard (I remember shifting from 2nd to 5th a few times and my dad yelling at me) and have never owned anything but a standard.

Oh man, I remember my dad trying to teach me and it was a disaster. I just couldn't understand what he ment by "find that magical spot where the clutch pulls the car, then add gas". I knew what he ment but I just couldn't do it. It wasn't until my buddy got an old standard hyundai that was so loud and such a bucket that I could hear what he was doing with the gas and clutch, that I figured it out. After that I learned in a day or two.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

All my vehicles with the exception of 2 have been standard. My last car was a 6 speed. A lot of fun. But I'm working with an auto now. I'm ok with that. Standard was fun, but at some point you just get a bit tired of the daily commute and traffic having the clutch rev, clutch rev on first or second in stop and go traffic.

I will probably get standard again some day, but today I'm very happy with my 330hp auto. So I guess that makes me a tool who drives a fast car in auto, am I right?

[The Yen Man]

Yes, and I'm 32. I didn't learn until I bought my first manual car 6 years ago (so when I was 27). I was convinced by my friends to give it a try. Let me tell you, the first month was awful. I regretted my purchase daily. After I got used to it though, I learned to love it. Now I don't know if I want to ever switch back. I find it's way more responsive driving stick.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Until she wants you to teach her..... Cheaper to go buy a $500 beater than to burn out the S4 clutch.

rent a wreck

[Phanuthier]

yes, learned on one when i was 16... i even drive around san francisco no problem on the hills... also pointing out the obvious, but i have to on my motorcycle as well.

i also taught my girlfriend to drive manuel... mom, sister, and most of my friends who are girls can drive manuel as well.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I'm 31, and I am vehemently pro manual transmission. Have yet to buy a car without one, and will hold out for as long as humanly possible.

Out of most of my friends, about half the guys seem to be able to, and the other half I make fun of. In terms of the girls, it seems pretty rare that girls can drive them....I'm always a little surprised when I run into a girl who can.

It's getting more and more rare though to find people who drive them....but I gotta admit, I instantly respect people more when I find out they drive a stick. I also lose a lot of respect for anyone who has a fantastic sports car, and goes automatic.

Agree with everything you said, but I find as i age it is hard on my knees and hips. I have bad knees and my hips are no better, sadly I think I will be handing in my mancard next purchase....

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

yes, learned on one when i was 16... i even drive around san francisco no problem on the hills... also pointing out the obvious, but i have to on my motorcycle as well.

i also taught my girlfriend to drive manuel... mom, sister, and most of my friends who are girls can drive manuel as well.

I'd be concerned if my girl was driving a Mexican gardener. I'm old fashioned like that though.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Until she wants you to teach her..... Cheaper to go buy a $500 beater than to burn out the S4 clutch.

If it ever comes up, I'll pay for her to learn at a driving school. Saves my clutch and our relationship. (I suck at teaching anything)

[handgroen]

27 and yes i learned when i was 15
really enjoy it.

[Muffins]

learned at 16 in driver ed.....never ended up driving a stick but have always been able to decently

opted for the twin clutch "automated" manual for my car. Get the feel of a manual when I want it (sans clutch pedal), and get to let it do all the work during that annoying stop and go traffic