To Shift or Not to Shift?

[hemigeno]

I fooled around a little with clutched equipment before getting my license (tractors & construction equipment), but did not practice driving a manual transmission car until later.  It was baptism-by-fire training too... my Grandfather and I had to travel about 4 hours to go to a construction site where we stayed for the week.  He tosses me the keys to his early-80's Ford Ranger 4cyl pickup and says "Can you drive a stick?"  "No", I replied - to which he says  "Well, you'll know by the time we get there."  It worked...

I tried teaching my younger sister how to drive a manual transmission many years later in my CJ5 Jeep with a pretty healthy 360cid engine.  You'd think with such light weight and tons of power it'd be hard to kill.  She became quite skilled at killing it, and gave up after only venturing out twice.

My wife learned to drive in a manual transmission miniSUV, but she definitely prefers slushboxes so we haven't owned a stick as a grocery-getter since getting married.  We bought an automatic for my oldest daughter when it was her time to learn, and daughter #2 who turns 16 next month is learning in the same car.  I wouldn't mind teaching both of them how to drive a stick, but we don't own a car suitable for learning (and no, I don't consider a 4-speed Hemicar or Daytona suitable for them to drive).  My guess is they'd be less than enthusiastic about learning, and would complain nonstop.  On the other hand, I plan to teach 12yr old Jonathan and the other two boys how to drive a stick one way or the other, even if their daily driver isn't a stick.  That's just something I want them to learn.

[gtx6970]

I learned on a tractor back in the early 70's , then it was time for my dads 3 speed on the column F150 pickup

my girls will know how to drive a manual trans vehicle

[Manfred318]

I tought myself to drive a manual on an '87 Mazda truck. Dad bought it to drive to work, but didnt like it so he left it for me and said "If you want to go anywhere youll learn to drive it" It worked.

[dodgeboy67]

i just bought "my son" a 1999 3/4 ton ram 4x4 360 5speed. thats what he will learn on and drive, or he will walk

[bakerhillpins]

Who cares about directional levers?  Someone teach young drivers not to cruise in the left lane.  This practice has reached epidemic proportions in the 35 and under crowd.  Can't figure it out.  Is it an entitlement thing?

I think it's a south eastern thing. I lived in VA for several years and it was absolutely maddening. I believe it is a direct result of the 4 lane by-ways that seem to be prolific in that area of the US. 2 lanes in each direction with lights and cross traffic, WTH? Not as bad up here in NE (New England).

My kids will be learning stick at some point. They are going to end up with my econobox commuter when the time comes and it's a 5spd.

Learning to drive stick was a humbling experience in town but well worth it. Manual transmissions are tons of fun. With any luck I will end up with a 4spd charger.

[mikesbbody]

In New Zealand, you can take your test in a Auto yet still have a licence to drive both Auto and Manual. Before I had Car's I had motorcycles so i knew the concept of changing Gears. But my First 2 Car's were Auto's. My 3rd car was a manual Toyota. I'd driven Trucks, but never a Manual Car up until then! This Guy was selling the car across the street from where I lived he gave me the Keys and said "take her for a drive" and I was like "can you come with me" (felt like a idiot asking but just incase something went wrong  ) so, after a bit of hopping to get her moving, I had a short test drive, got him to drive the Car back and bought it. I learnt to drive a Manual Car in that Toyota by myself just getting better everyday (no Power steering a very basic Car) My Charger is a Auto, my daily Driver's I have owned over the years have been a pretty even split of Auto's and manuals. If I don't own a Manual, every so often I will buy one as my Daily Driver just so i don't lose the feel of changing Gears.