Valets and sticks.

[Zooks527]

Not my picture, but I had something similar visiting my mom when she was in the hospital. The main lot was full, so I pulled up to the valet line. A young lady at the stand brightened up when she saw the car and started to hurry over. As she approached, I asked "You drive stick?" and got a pout. She had to go find someone else to park it.

I don't often valet the car, but that was the only time I had that experience. Anyone else?

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[Skye]

Close.

My truck was at the Toyota dealer last year, getting the antifreeze replaced.

At pickup, one of the workers left to a far lot to bring it up to the entrance. Then she came back.

She'd started to leave the parking area, realized she could not drive a stick and returned.

She didn't know how to drive it, but knew enough she could've damaged the clutch trying.

I didn't mind. I actually appreciated she'd left it where it was.

During the recent Mustang BCM update, the mobile tech and I discussed the same topic: many younger folks do not know how to drive a manual; they've never experienced one.

 

[Zooks527]

During the recent Mustang BCM update, the mobile tech and I discussed the same topic: many younger folks do not know how to drive a manual; they've never experienced one.

This is why I don't use the free home pick-up/drop-off service my dealer offers. I'm not giving my 460HP 4-speed to the lowest paid employee in the shop.

 

[GJarrett]

A couple of years ago a metal sheet flew off a truck in front of me on the highway and damaged my hood when it hit it. The local body shop had a pickup service and a young man brought a young lady to drive back it to their shop. I asked if she could drive a stick and she said yes, then I watched her jerk and buck my car for a block down our street until she gave up, called the shop, and 20 minutes later the owner showed up to drive it. The other 20-something guy with her could not drive a stick either.

Later on when they finished the job I showed up to pick up my car and the same gal said she would go to the back to bring it out to the front parking lot. I said no thanks I'll drive it; she said no customers allowed in the back lot, the owner overheard and let me go get my car.

I am willing to bet that the vast majority of drivers under 30-35 or so have never learned to drive a manual.

 

[Weyland-Yutani]

Arcane skill. It's OK. The kids are alright.

 

[ArgentumS550]

I work at a resort and have seen this. There have been a few times where the valets have come inside to ask us to park a car because no one on the staff was able to drive stick! But if it was mandatory to know how to drive one, there wouldn't be any staff!

 

[xcm77]

makes sense, stick shift over there is an anti-theft device (getting ready for flack lol)

 

[GJarrett]

I actually call my manual my "Mil-Gen anti-theft device".

 

[Tang]

Yep. Left the car running in the valet line, got a valet ticket. 10 minutes later I could still hear my car idling from across the restaurant. Valet came out to find me and asked me to park it. There were 4 valets and I was younger (31) than at least 3 of them.

 

[KeyLime]

Watching them tackle a three on a tree would be a hoot.

 

[ORRadtech]

Watching them tackle a three on a tree would be a hoot.

That's what I learned on! My father, bless his heart, didn't say one cross word even though I broke the antenna off his fender. Both my children and my daughter-in-law drive manual cars and I'm sure the grandkids will be taught in a few years. Probably have to be their other grandfather though since he has a manual or two. Still 8 years or so away so who knows, maybe I’ll pick something up. As long as they learn, I'm good

 

[CarmeloS]

A couple of years ago a metal sheet flew off a truck in front of me on the highway and damaged my hood when it hit it. The local body shop had a pickup service and a young man brought a young lady to drive back it to their shop. I asked if she could drive a stick and she said yes, then I watched her jerk and buck my car for a block down our street until she gave up, called the shop, and 20 minutes later the owner showed up to drive it. The other 20-something guy with her could not drive a stick either.

Later on when they finished the job I showed up to pick up my car and the same gal said she would go to the back to bring it out to the front parking lot. I said no thanks I'll drive it; she said no customers allowed in the back lot, the owner overheard and let me go get my car.

I am willing to bet that the vast majority of drivers under 30-35 or so have never learned to drive a manual.

I hope he deducted from the service for her screw up, Id yell at her if I were the boss for attempting to drive it again

 

[CarmeloS]

I got a small circle, half of them know stick and only two are younger than me. Everyone else who does know is older than me, and Im 35

 

[Cobra Jet]

In the past (years ago) any time I have ever had to use “valet” parking, I’ve driven up to the valet area, told the Valet I’ll park it, keep my keys, pick it up, and tipped them a few bucks… and did exactly as I said I would, with never an issue or kick back from the valet…

I will not ever let a valet in my vehicle to move it, park it or retrieve it.

 

[jayson_b24]

I had a valet one comment on the DCT in my wife's Kona. I tried to explain it, but you could tell I was talking to a wall...

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