I drive a '74 firebird with a 455 and a 3 speed auto, an 86 pickup with a 454 and a 3 speed auto, and a 94 mondeo (when i was in britain) with a 1.8L and a 5 speed manual. My 2 cents worth: if it's got a displacement under 2.5L, go manual, I'd much rather have the control of the gears when i'm dealing with a car that has less power, but when i've got more than 2.5L, auto because I'd rather not have to shift all the time when i don't have to, due to the extra power at my disposal i can get way with the taller gears an auto has, and when i've got V8s, I simply don't wanna be changing a clutch every 20 feet when i put my foot down at the stop lights
Poll
Can You Drive a Stick Shift?
| Yes, Without Issue/Problems | 70% | 70% - 140 | ||||
| Yes, I can get around but still have problems | 4% | 4% - 9 | ||||
| Yes, Poorly, I stall all the time | 4% | 4% - 9 | ||||
| No, I don't know how | 12% | 12% - 25 | ||||
| I can't/don't Drive | 7% | 7% - 15 | ||||
| Total: 198 | ||||||
That's the mostly flat midwest, such as Iowa, not the more interesting part that actually has hills and trees which one can experience after sliding off the icy/snowy/slushy road. If it was just me, I'd probably look into a manual transmission car because I'd likely be driving something with only 2 doors. However, I have a family so I need more doors and there aren't many sedans or suvs that have a manual anymore.Morpheus1229 wrote:
Out in the midwest, I wouldn't be worried about hitting anything but cornStingray24 wrote:
Nope, learned on an automatic and owned all automatics. Living in the Midwest I want to concentrate on the road, not what gear I'm in.
Anyway, yea, I can drive stick, and drive it well. I wish the car I owned was manual, but, alas damn cheaper used cars......
Anyway, Stingray, driving a stick doesn't take that much concentration once you learn how to drive one, the only time is when you go to shift and miss a gear, but it's usually not a problem, just try putting it in gear again, and not be ZOMG WTF DO I DO?
I love manual
Taught my wife how to drive manual, too, and now she's pro, and loves it
Taught my wife how to drive manual, too, and now she's pro, and loves it
Volatile wrote:
My tranny lasts longer.
I can drive manual no probs at all, I always wanted to learn a manual because I didn't want to be one of those guys that can't.
automatic is for retarded people...
You wont when you learn how. A manual gives you much better feel and control of the car.Roger Lesboules wrote:
Still havent learned to drive manual...prefer automatic over manual anyway.
Last I checked, cost about $50 in Australia, but I think they're changing the rules to have mandatory professional lessons, so might cost a little more these days (or soon).PBAsydney wrote:
It's around $1300 here....not exaggerating a bit.Ender2309 wrote:
@PBA: i think its usually around 2-300 USD.
Yes, without problems/issues - like the OP, finally being able to drive manual was one of my most proudest moments in my life, followed by learning how to squeal/chirp/smoke the tires Still drive the car I learned in: '93 Honda Civic 5-speed 102 hp
Edit: btw, about the manual/auto tranny debate, click here: Wikipedia awsm-ness
Edit: btw, about the manual/auto tranny debate, click here: Wikipedia awsm-ness
Last edited by commandochristian (2008-02-14 22:04:01)
what a steaming pile of poo that article is.commandochristian wrote:
Edit: btw, about the manual/auto tranny debate, click here: Wikipedia awsm-ness
Ah. yea I had cousins in Iowa, so Midwest = flat to me....Stingray24 wrote:
That's the mostly flat midwest, such as Iowa, not the more interesting part that actually has hills and trees which one can experience after sliding off the icy/snowy/slushy road. If it was just me, I'd probably look into a manual transmission car because I'd likely be driving something with only 2 doors. However, I have a family so I need more doors and there aren't many sedans or suvs that have a manual anymore.Morpheus1229 wrote:
Out in the midwest, I wouldn't be worried about hitting anything but cornStingray24 wrote:
Nope, learned on an automatic and owned all automatics. Living in the Midwest I want to concentrate on the road, not what gear I'm in.
Anyway, yea, I can drive stick, and drive it well. I wish the car I owned was manual, but, alas damn cheaper used cars......
Anyway, Stingray, driving a stick doesn't take that much concentration once you learn how to drive one, the only time is when you go to shift and miss a gear, but it's usually not a problem, just try putting it in gear again, and not be ZOMG WTF DO I DO?
Anyway, yea the whole practicality over transmition type makes sense.
EE (hats
i've driven a stick since i've had a license. My parents even made me take my drivers test in a stick because the car I would be driving (as well as all their others) was a stick. I would never own just an automatic car or truck. maybe if i lived in the city i would but an auto if i also own a stick. I look at the fun of a stick as well as the money side: manual cars are usually cheaper, get better gas mileage (if you drive it right) better performance and usually only need the clutch replaced where getting a broken auto fixed can be very expensive and not easily done by most people.
My Uncle is a Full Bird Colonel in the Army and he drives a Wrangler....hmm...GunSlinger OIF II wrote:
throughout your career, have you ever noticed this phenomena?FEOS wrote:
Don't know. Never owned one.
Yes I can drive a stick shift.
Like most people here. I don't know anyone personally that drives an automatic.
Like most people here. I don't know anyone personally that drives an automatic.
Sadly no I can't. 5 years ago when I first started driving, my parents told me they'd teach me. But then a few years pass and I ask them to and they say that pretty much all cars nowadays are automatic, and we don't own a manual anymore. I really wanted to learn!
yea, this same thing happened to me, actually. But my girlfriend has a manual, so I learned on that. I was a quick learner. And am addicted to manuals transmissions.mtb0minime wrote:
Sadly no I can't. 5 years ago when I first started driving, my parents told me they'd teach me. But then a few years pass and I ask them to and they say that pretty much all cars nowadays are automatic, and we don't own a manual anymore. I really wanted to learn!
EE (hats
Yes, Without Issue/Problems
Alothough I do admit that the Sport button you get on some automatics can be fun. Just floor it
Alothough I do admit that the Sport button you get on some automatics can be fun. Just floor it
I can, with minimal problems
i drive manual, i got my licence in auto, because i didnt have a manual,
then i bought a manual it was easy, im self taught, been driving manual since 26th of october' 07
dont call it stick shift though thats gay
then i bought a manual it was easy, im self taught, been driving manual since 26th of october' 07
dont call it stick shift though thats gay
dont listen to your parents, they are shitting out their mouthsmtb0minime wrote:
But then a few years pass and I ask them to and they say that pretty much all cars nowadays are automatic
Last edited by Nappy (2008-02-14 23:23:25)
my own car is manual transmission and when i goto work i drive a van that is manual transmission
i think manual transmission is a lot better than automatic
automatics is for lazy drivers that dont know shit
i think manual transmission is a lot better than automatic
automatics is for lazy drivers that dont know shit
Mm the same here with the exception you can take your test with automatic but then your only eligible to drive automatic cars. This should be standard everywhere pretty obvious a person who hardly ever drive on manual will be a worse driver when doing so.Major.League.Infidel wrote:
That actually sound's like a really good idea. Everyone should know how to.PBAsydney wrote:
You have to take your driver's exam on a manual here, and yes.
Not really imagine living in a great city lets say LA for instance where you might be in traffic jams for hours a day driving back and forth to work. Then it´s pretty convenient.Richard2000 wrote:
my own car is manual transmission and when i goto work i drive a van that is manual transmission
i think manual transmission is a lot better than automatic
automatics is for lazy drivers that dont know shit
It's like that here. You take the test in auto you drive auto, take it in manual and drive both.madmurre wrote:
Mm the same here with the exception you can take your test with automatic but then your only eligible to drive automatic cars. This should be standard everywhere pretty obvious a person who hardly ever drive on manual will be a worse driver when doing so.Major.League.Infidel wrote:
That actually sound's like a really good idea. Everyone should know how to.PBAsydney wrote:
You have to take your driver's exam on a manual here, and yes.
I can do okay on stick. As long as i don't have to go into reverse or have a damn cop behind me. If I have a cop behind me though, I get asked to step out of the car and do a field sobriety test....happened once. Clean as a whistle, just got nervous. To tell the truth, I am pretty good for only having driving stick once in my life.
the majority of cars sold in europe run on manual transmission, and to be honest, I have never understood why this seems to be such a big problem for you guys. It's easy.Major.League.Infidel wrote:
Basically, do you know how to drive using a Manual Transmission? One of my proudest moments was when I feel I had finally gotten it down.
This can also be a Manual vs Automatic Debate thread.
I'd prefer manual transmision over automatic any day. Automatic is for old people. Maybe I'll get a car with automatic when I am retired...
It's such a problem because quite a few people buy automatics, so manuals are rarer. I only know one person who drives a manual. Everyone else drives an automatic. I have personally only driven an automatic once. I can do it, but not well. I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn how to do drive one properly, and maybe someday I will. But until then, I will keep driving my automatic.B.Schuss wrote:
the majority of cars sold in europe run on manual transmission, and to be honest, I have never understood why this seems to be such a big problem for you guys. It's easy.
FUCKING HELL.Major.League.Infidel wrote:
Not entirely. You have to have some sort of Driver's Education (Either from Classes in a school - about 30 hours total, or online) which then lets you take a test to get your Permit, which let's you drive as long as you have a licensed Adult over the age of 25 in the front seat. However, you must first take 6 hours of behind the wheel training with a certified instructor. Your permit is good for 6 Months, during which you must acquire 50 hours of behind the wheel time, with 10 being at night. Once you have done this, you go to the DMV, where you take a 20 minute cruise with an Official, who grades you. If you don't make too many mistakes, you pass and get your license. However, for the first 12 months (if you're under 18) you can't drive between 2300 - 0500, and you can't drive with anyone under the age of 25 in your car. But you can drive Solo.max wrote:
Over here you're only allowed to learn to drive with a driving school. You guys can learn with your parentsMajor.League.Infidel wrote:
Oh, here in California you use your own (well most likely your parents) car.Grand Total? You can get away with it for about $150-$175 if you take your Driver's Ed online. If you go to a school, it can move it up to about $300 Total.PBAsydney wrote:
How much does it cost, in total to get a driving license over there, lessons and the exam?
I got my license at about the cheapest possible, and that was $1400. Most other people get to pay around €2000 ($2800), depending on the number of lessens you take. I took the bare bone minimum with just one exam and passed right away.
By the way, over here, all driving lessons are in a manual transmission by default, unless you prove you are retarded enough to need an automatic. That's right, we assume everyone should be able to drive a stick shift and automatics are fairly uncommon here. Nine out of ten drivers will be able to drive stick.
Arguments about rather concentrating on the road than your gears is nonsense. Once you get the hang of it, it will cost you 0 effort to manage your gears. Most of the time you'll just KNOW what gear you're in, without having to look. It becomes second nature.
So yes, I can drive a manual transmission, and I do. I find driving automatics boring.
"If you want a vision of the future, imagine SecuROM slapping your face with its dick -- forever." -George Orwell