Can You Drive A Standard

[comrade]

29. Yes, learned right from drivers ed at 16. Taught my girlfriend how to drive one when she was 27.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i'm surprised there are as many standards available as there are. there's no real advantage to a stick other than the fun factor, and the fewer options car manufacturers have to make available the more money they can save by streamlining everything

They're easier to fix as well but outside of that, with todays modern automatic trannys you're correct. But if you're looking at cars that are bottom of the barrel (accent, versa...etc) or +6 years old, a standard will most likely be a bit quicker and a bit better on fuel.

Fun trumps all in my books though.

Like I said, I don't care if that GT-R was .5 seconds faster down the quarter mile with that double clutch gear box. I'd gladly sacrifice that half a second for a standard 6-speed.

[sa226]

I grew up working for farmers, so learned at a young, illegal age.

I think when I was 13 my boss put me in a 3 ton split shift to haul grain during the harvest.

I'm quite certain that truck needed a new clutch when I was finished with it.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Muffins

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

Nope. Doesn't count. Not the same.

[Tinordi]

Yes

[wooohooo]

I'm 24 but learnt how to when I was 20. My girlfriend taught me... walk of shame... haha

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

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....

Yeah, sometimes our bodies don't really follow along the path set out by our brains! I have crappy knees myself, and can see why that would be an issue.

[First Lady]

Turning 50 later this year....

Learned to drive standard as soon as I was tall enough for the tractor, so +/- 12 yrs old.
Wasn't too hard to learn since I had already been riding mini-bikes with clutch/gears for couple years prior.

Had to relearn later in life after driving automatics for 20+ years.

[Nuje]

I'm on the "I only drive standard unless it's absolutely unavoidable" side. Learned working at a dealership when I was 16, and bought my first car at 18. I don't mind driving it in any traffic density, and when there is no traffic, it's about 8000 times more satisfying.

[sclitheroe]

In addition to manual transmissions, I also prefer rotary phones, tube televisions, AM radio, and leaded gasoline.

[polak]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I'm 24 but learnt how to when I was 20. My girlfriend taught me... walk of shame... haha

As long as you didn't freak out and cry that's not too embarassing.

At least you know now.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

In addition to manual transmissions, I also prefer rotary phones, tube televisions, AM radio, and leaded gasoline.

$20 says you own a Toyota.....


Neither myself or my fiancee have ever owned an automatic. The last time I regularly drove one was when I was still driving my parents cars.

[undercoverbrother]

How many standard drivers can double clutch or have had to drive a vehicle that needed double clutching.

[wooohooo]

Originally Posted by polak

As long as you didn't freak out and cry that's not too embarassing.

At least you know now.

For sure. I tried to learn on my friend's TL but I was scared to mess up his clutch. But I went all out on my GF's car and learnt it pretty fast. It really is that much more fun... so much more I trade cars with her all the time.

The whole sentiment of 'manual bad in stop in go' is over rated. It's not that bad, and it gives you something to do...

[Old Yeller]

It used to be when buying a new car, standards were cheaper than automatics... is that still the case?

[burn_this_city]

My first car at 16 was a stick, I forced myself to drive it to school despite stalling a lot the first few days. Right now I have an auto because my wife stopped driving our last manual and took my truck all the time. The auto manual debate has been largely settled by dual clutch autos that out perform the very best manual drivers. I prefer the feel of driving standard, but its not for any performance or fuel economy benefit like it once was.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

How many standard drivers can double clutch or have had to drive a vehicle that needed double clutching.

After 10 years of double clutching every single down shift and getting made fun of by all of my friends, I finally forced myself to stop (current car is known for a weak slave cylinder). After driving a forklift without a synchronized gearbox for a bit during a summer job I've done it perpetually.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

How many standard drivers can double clutch or have had to drive a vehicle that needed double clutching.

Haha yep, the old Dodge at a landscaping company in '94. The last day for that truck was when some dude left the transmission on MacLeod Trail under Glenmore. What a POS that was.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

The whole sentiment of 'manual bad in stop in go' is over rated. It's not that bad, and it gives you something to do...

I would much rather spend that time sipping on my latte and reading the New Yorker than shifting

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

The whole sentiment of 'manual bad in stop in go' is over rated. It's not that bad, and it gives you something to do...

I hate driving automatics in traffic as I find it highly annoying to leave my foot on the brake the entire time you're stopped. I'm giant and in a lot of cars it takes some awkward maneuvering to get at the brakes due to the steering wheel and it gets uncomfortable fast sitting like that.