Driving Stick

[ohtobbad]

My daily driver is an auto, I agree let it do the work.
But the Shelby GT 350 is a beast to be enjoyed.
Every moment. A stick just adds to the pleasure.

I am not ready for old mans car yet

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[BlackDragon]

I can't wait to have a tremec in my hands again. The quirks of the mt82 are annoying sometimes.

 

[Grabber]

Love standard transmissions! Puts you in touch with the car, way more fun!:cheers:

 

[Norm Peterson]

I just couldn't drive a stick anymore. Back in the day you at least got better mpg. Now it's a penalty. And all of that on top of doing all the work myself. I drive an eighteen wheeler for a living. When I'm in my personal vehicle I'll let technology work for me while I relax and enjoy the music and scenery.

You aren't the first commercial driver I've heard say that. From what I've seen, if the same amount of arm motion was required to shift a car's MT there might not be nearly as many takers among car buyers. Isn't the clutch "usage" once you've got the rig rolling quite a bit different as well?


Norm

 

[BlackDragon]

Was a fun ride into work this morning. 6 inches of snow, and freezing rain falling right on top. I didn't witness any accidents but I saw quite a few people get out of shape, probably saved by their stability control systems. The mustang zipped around like a champ

 

[oilfieldtrash]

You aren't the first commercial driver I've heard say that. From what I've seen, if the same amount of arm motion was required to shift a car's MT there might not be nearly as many takers among car buyers. Isn't the clutch "usage" once you've got the rig rolling quite a bit different as well?


Norm

I actually enjoy driving a big truck transmission much more than a cars. The only time I use the clutch is when I come to a stop. And you can actually come to a complete stop and throw it in gear at the perfect time and get rolling again without clutch use at all. If you have to stop and wait then you use the clutch. Once you're rolling you just shift according to your rpms, speed, incline, etc.. it's a very tricky deal and something you can't do well unless you drive professionally (ie all the time).

 

[aham23]

My 2015 GT is first manual since an 88 RX7 Convertible. Took about 5 min to get back in the saddle.

Older thread, but made me giggle. Same boat for me. drove an 86 RX7 through college about 20 years ago. No manual's since that. Working on a deal that may put me in a GT350 as soon as tomorrow. I am a little nervous about the drive away from the dealer!

 

[Norm Peterson]

It should come back to you at least well enough to get you home. But before you leave the dealership, spend a little time learning where the "friction point" is. This shouldn't take any great distance, just enough to feel that you've got it rolling. Stop, and do the same thing in reverse. Rinse, repeat.


Norm

 

[torque124]

Manual forever and ever, my wife , my son and me. (My son is currently learning, but I won't show him an auto ).
This is my second shelby (GT500 2013 previously) , and all my previous cars were manual: 2 BMW M3's an M5, a 335i, Audi S3 Audi S4 , VW Golf GTI, etc etc.
I actually walk past buying a Maserati Grantursmo S MC Stradale, just because it was an automatic.... that and it lacked power; but the gearbox was a deal breaker.

Keep shifting and have fun!

 

[Zombo]

I will soon be 53 years young. Out of the 5 cars my wife and I currently have, 4 have manuals, the fifth is a VW DSG. 9 out of 11 cars I've owned were/are manuals. Can't heel/toe-double declutch an automatic.

 

[D.DeVo]

All of my cars have been manual. I learned to drive a stick on a Rambler American three speed on the column many years ago!

 

[mattlqx]

My first car that I bought with my own money when I was 17 was my first Mustang, which was manual. My dad took me out in his terrible 80s Mazda 323 to learn. After that and a few goes around the block myself, I picked it up and have preferred it ever since. All my Mustangs except for one (which was shared for a while with my now-wife, she now drives manual but didn't at the time) have been manual.

IMO, unless you have a medical condition, driving an automatic Mustang is sacrilege.

 

[Zombo]

The first time I drove a manual, was when I picked up my second car, a 1978 Datsun B210, and drove it home...I may have stalled it once, though.

 

[jma406]

You learn how to steer with an automatic trans, you learn how to drive with a manual trans.

 

[JAJ]

Harry Potter drives a stick. I drive a manual transmission car.

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