Driving Stick

[Hack]

I learned to drive on a '76 Super Beetle manual transmission. I only buy automatic for my plow truck because I think auto is better for that. Any car has to be manual. I get more joy from driving than most other activities and manual trans is a big part of that.

Sponsored

 

[Tom]

In the past I drove a
: 66 GTO 4 Seed Manual
69 GTO 4Seed Manual
67 CHEVY Truck 3 Speed Colum Shift (Sucked)
70 Lemons Auto
73 Challenger Auto (Last Year Made)
87 Camaro Z28 Auto
Then got married no more Manual. Wife Just can't get it.
Went and bought a New 2014 DODGE Hemi Truck (Crap) 153 miles out of the 3 weeks that I owned it. In The shop for various reasons constantly .Said Bye, Bye. Never again.:doh:

 

[erne75]

A manual transmission makes the difference between actually enjoying the act of driving and simply transporting yourself from point A to point B.

 

[Grimace427]

First time I drove a manual was a customer's car as a tech at a small shop. The parking lot was right in front of the waiting area. To say I was nervous upon finding out it was a manual would be like saying the ocean is wet. Didn't stall it though, might have chirped the tires a bit though.

 

[robb]

Pony/Performance cars with stick shifts are a little different than every day cars. They make you rev a little higher before shifting in order to keep it smooth (they basically don't like it when you drive like and old lady). There's a lot of heavy duty hardware in the drive train so they're not near as smooth. Once you find the sweet spots you'll be fine.

 

[91z28350]

Not to nitpick, but the last year of the Mopar E-body was 1974.

 

[The Flying Clutchman]

I hate automatics.

 

[Backorder]

The first and only time I drove a stick more than a parking lot or a backyard was a few years ago when my uncle set me up with a trainer at his race track...taught me to drive in the morning then by afternoon I was doing laps by myself.

That was the only time I've driven one. Needless to say, I'm a bit scared about purchasing this lol luckily, my buddy has a beater in his driveway that I'll will help get running well enough to learn on highways and get tips for daily driving...probably start that after I order lol

What's sad is I'm the guy in the office with the car knowledge and I've only driven standard once.

 

[Cruzinaround]

I've been driving a manual/Stick/Standard for so long that every time I drive an automatic I keep searching for a shifter or moving my left foot in search of a clutch pedal. I in fact feel an automatic is probably going to get me killed since I'm so accustomed to having to shift, rev-match, granny shifting and engine braking.

The automatics are boring to the point I can see myself easily falling asleep at the wheel.

I am officially a member of the row your own club.

BoOm

 

[scoobydoonut]

There's never been anything else for me . I learned off one at 16 and that's all I want to drive . I'll be the old lady driving a standard manual tranny mustang someday God willing

 

[Grimace427]

I've been driving a manual/Stick/Standard for so long that every time I drive an automatic I keep searching for a shifter or moving my left foot in search of a clutch pedal. I in fact feel an automatic is probably going to get me killed since I'm so accustomed to having to shift, rev-match, granny shifting and engine braking.

The automatics are boring to the point I can see myself easily falling asleep at the wheel.

I am officially a member of the row your own club.

BoOm

I do the same damn thing. I work on Mercedes which are pretty much all automatics. Every time I come to a stop I'm searching for the clutch pedal. Those few times I get an old c-class or slk I anxiously peer through the window in hopes it has a manual.

 

[Old Car Guy]

It was on a 1946 Ford long before I had a Drivers license, and yes it was a standard shift car... Old Car Guy.... John

 

[Tom]

Not to nitpick, but the last year of the Mopar E-body was 1974.

Well, all this time I thought I was driving the last of them. Oh well, it's all good. And thanks for the info.

 

[Laztug]

Pony/Performance cars with stick shifts are a little different than every day cars. They make you rev a little higher before shifting in order to keep it smooth (they basically don't like it when you drive like and old lady). There's a lot of heavy duty hardware in the drive train so they're not near as smooth. Once you find the sweet spots you'll be fine.

Different than an everyday car?! Its a mustang....thats about as every day as it gets. I drive like an old lady all the time, no issues here. :shrug:

I hate automatics.

Do you own an MT-82? What is it exactly about automatics that you hate?

Is it because they are more reliable?
Chances are they will shift quicker / more consistent than you ever will?
Could it be because they are more durable than an MT-82?
Maybe because they do not have issues shifting at high RPM's?
Maybe they do not have a helper spring you must love to remove.
Possibly because its not a notchy transmission?
Maybe because it does not have the 12th gear like some of the reported MT-82s?
Maybe its because you love to spend extra money on purchasing an after market shifter to make up for your garbage transmission?
Maybe you just love breaking parts and missing gears?
Maybe you just don't know any better?

Funny that you mention that. I taught my wife how to drive and it was with a stick. She's occassionaly driven my stick cars since we've had automatics for her since we've been able to afford 2 cars. We talked about the GT350/R and I told her it's going to be at least 520 HP. She's driven my current stick with 306 HP and her current automatic has 328 HP but, this is going to be an entirely different kind of beast. She's of course going to want to drive it to work at least once to show up her boss's boss's boss and his Camaro but, I told her it was back to the parking lot 1st to make sure she can handle this beast.

Make that purchase!
New cars are so tame, they are nothing like older cars. I am sure your wife will enjoy it.

 

[91z28350]

Well, all this time I thought I was driving the last of them. Oh well, it's all good. And thanks for the info.

No sweat Tom. Although I have never owned one, I love old school Mopars!

As far as manual transmission. Learned to drive in our 1981 Datsun 310 and 84 Chevy blazer. 1st vehicle I owned was a 86 FZ600 and then a 88 FZR 600. First car I owned was the 81 Datsun. Both my Fox bodies were 5 speeds. The 91 Z28 was auto (couldn't get the 350 in a manual). After the Datsun and bikes, did not own a manual equipped car until 2011 (20 years) when I bought the Shelby (still had the touch!). I love driving a manual, until I get stuck in Dallas rush hour traffic.

Hopefully the GT500 will offer an auto (whether it be a DCT like the GT, or a torque converter auto). I love drag racing and auto's are far preferable for the '1320.

Sponsored