I'm almost a man

[Perd Hapley]

I just got to take a look at that Toyota Tacoma I had mentioned back here: 

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=6314.msg99697#msg99697

In short, I need a new truck, and Uncle Ron had one for me.  The only catch being that I would need to learn to drive a standard transmission. 

My uncle Ron brought it over to Dad's house, so the wife and I went over there after work.  It's a tiny little thing, and not much to look at, but it should be a good buy.  I didn't think I could drive it home already, but Dad drove us out to a parking lot and I played with the transmission a bit.  I drove it around some and filled up the tank and took it back to the house.  Dad got it on the lift and didn't find anything to complain about, so I decided to take it home. 

After driving a stick shift about fifty miles, I figure I'm starting to get close to real manhood.  I'm not even checking for any new chest hairs yet, because I keep stalling the thing at every stop light, but I'm hoping for some once I get that part down.  Until then, take care when approaching a red light anywhere near Saint Louis.  You don't want to get stuck behind the newb in the old Toyota. 

[Sindawe]

Driving a stick is one thing, a worthy accomplishment I'll grant.

But one is not truly a "man" until you can drive a stick at least 20 miles home over city streets, after a 12 hour graveyard shift and the morning sun shining in your eyes, with the shift linkage broken and the car stuck in 3nd gear.

Hint to ya if you don't already know it.  The "Parking Brake" is your friend.  'Specially on hills.

Manual transmissions are the way to go.  My last three daily drivers have had manual transmissions.  I'll NEVER purchase another new vehicle with a freaking slush box.

[Standing Wolf]

I've never seen anything manly about driving stick shift vehicles; they are, however, easier to handle on snow and ice and otherwise slippery streets, and if you work at it a bit, will deliver noticeably better gas mileage than vehicles with automatic transmissions.

[280plus]

Find a hill and practice starting up it without drifting backwards, then you'll truly have achieved manhood!

You have to release the clutch ever so slowly so that the engine is holding the car in place. Only THEN can you take your right foot off the brake and give it the gas. Takes practice but it's easy once you get the hang of it.

[wmenorr67]

To truely prove your manhood you need to run around East St. Louis and try to learn to drive that stick shift.

[Iain]

So you can learn to drive in an automatic and then just switch to a stick? Can't do that here. Learn in an auto you'd have to take a new test in a manual.

How many of you drive stick?

[mtnbkr]

Both of our vehicles are manuals.  I prefer manuals because you can generally buy a used car and not have to worry about what transmission maintenance was done or not done on the vehicle beforehand.  After 50k, I start worrying about auto transmissions.

re gas mileage: the reason sticks generally do better is mechanical efficiencies.  The torque converter in an auto sucks some of the power, hence the lower mileage.  That's changing, however, with newer computers, technology, etc.  I've seen a few cars lately that actually get better mileage with an auto.  My parents new Corolla got 45mpg on a long road trip with the AC on.  It's an auto.

re manliness:  You're not a real man until you've had your clutch pressure plate go out and fail to disengage when you're almost to your destination.  The return trip involves driving down I395, I495, and I66 in rush hour traffic.  Those of you might not know the significance of those roads, but they're some of the most traffic laden in the mid Atlantic.  Nothing more fun than speed shifting in bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic, killing the engine when you have to stop, and starting it again with the car in gear.  Rev her up to near redline, slam the stick into the next gear and keep on truckin'. :-D

No noticeable damage to the transmission though.  I drove it another 20k miles before selling it.

Chris

[Jamisjockey]

So you can learn to drive in an automatic and then just switch to a stick? Can't do that here. Learn in an auto you'd have to take a new test in a manual.

How many of you drive stick?

I've been driving a stick for years, right up until my new truck.

[roo_ster]

I prefer manual to automatic tranny in most vehicles.

My first car was an auto, but all my daily drivers have been manuals since 1990.

My reasons are:
1. More interesting to drive.  Anything to keep me awake behind the wheel.  Some cars are even fun to drive with a manual.
2. I-4 engines.  Most are less powerful than their 5, 6, & 8 cyl buddies.  A manual is required to get the most out of the engine.
3. Durability.  Much less trouble-prone, much more longevity. Even if driven by a chowder-head, usually only the clutch needs replacing. Also, it is easier to tell if a manual is out of whack/about to go tango uniform.  Towing capacities are generally greater, too, than for similar autos.
5. Cheaper, in most cases new and used.
6. More fuel efficient. Autos are catching up.

1990-1993: 1986 Escort GT (Escort + Steroids = Some serious fun.  Good for ~100K miles & then the squeaks get annoying.)
1993-1995: 1985 Audi 4000S (Much more refined than the EGT, just as nimble, can handle four comfortably.  Engine/tranny good for 200K+.)
1995-1997: 1986 Audi 4000CS Quattro (Much more muscular car than the 4000S in torque and handling.)
1997-Present: 1997 Nissan Ext Cab PU (NOT a "driver's car."  It has been reliable, but I pine for Teutonic road-handling.)

[client32]

My current vehicle isn't a stick, but all up to this one was. 

As a side question, what age did you learn how to drive a stick?  Me - 10

[bedlamite]

But one is not truly a "man" until you can drive a stick at least 20 miles home over city streets, after a 12 hour graveyard shift and the morning sun shining in your eyes, with the shift linkage broken and the car stuck in 3nd gear.

I had a stick break off once, and had to drive it 3 days until payday when I could afford to fix it. Fortunately it was a top loader and there was about an inch left that I could reach through the hole in the floor and use 3 fingers to shift it.

Hint to ya if you don't already know it.  The "Parking Brake" is your friend.  'Specially on hills.

'Nuther technique useful for starting is Heel and Toe

I'll NEVER purchase another new vehicle with a freaking slush box.

+1

My S-10 was special order. Chevy didn't make any with a 4.3L and manual trans for dealer stock. The salesman was dumbfounded when I told him I didn't want power steering, power brakes, or ABS either.

[Lee]

Three cars here- all manual trannies...even my wife's Volvo wagon is a five speed.  We haven't owned an auto trans in twenty years.     

[Perd Hapley]

Man, I just knew you guys would load on all these additional requirements for real manhood.      

So you can learn to drive in an automatic and then just switch to a stick?

You can test for your operator's license in just about any kind of auto, regardless of transmission type.  Laws vary by state, but so far as I know, none of them specify the type of transmission.  I guess the way you guys handle licensing makes sense, but it reminds me of concealed carry laws that specify revolver or semi-automatic action.  Now those are stupid. 


My Dad is the complete opposite of most of you on transmissions.  He has no use for sticks, and just thinks they're out-dated.  His only stick is a 55 Chevy truck (unless the old Ford tractor counts), and the rest are autos.  I think he got tired of them, literally, after he drove a semi for a few weeks and wore himself out working the pedals.  The transmission was so hard to work that he quit using the clutch. 

[Ron]

I owned a Mazda RX-3 with a stick when I was in high school.

Delivered parts in a Ford pick up with a three on the tree around the same time.

Drove auto transmission cars for a little while then bought a three year old Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE with a five speed in '88. It was the old body style with the newer 13B rotary. Sold it to a friend when it was about to turn 100k miles.

Then in 95 I bought a one year old BMW 325is with a stick and I still I own it!

I don't like having a stick when I am in bumper to bumper traffic but otherwise it is my first choice. I love driving fast through the twisty roads!

Hey Iain, my Dad has my sisters Morris Miner in his garage. When she got divorced my ex brother in law never came and retrieved it. You ever see those little clunkers driving about?

[mfree]

You're not a man until you've taught *someone else* to drive stick. Now that's humbling

Especially when it's your future (now ex) fiancee and the vehicle in question is most of a '69 Ford F100 with manual everything, 3 on the tree, and 15/16 of a 360v8.

As for me, my grandfather taught me in his escort, picked it up in two tries. It took two because he insisted on starting me off with holding on a hill.

Now, as to purchasing... car 1 was a Lincoln mark V, had a C6 transmission. No issues. Moved to an '84 Tbird with a C5; that transmission blew after 20,000 of my miles. The replacement lasted another 80,000 or so and croaked. Mom would loan me her crown vic... it ended up with transmission problems. I borrowed my brother's Vic once and *it* started acting up a few months later. I even borrowed a brand-new Hyundai Accent and not but a few months after I touched it a sensor went in the transmission. The '92 Shadow that my exF ended up with, which had the darn-near indestructible 3 speed auto... it broke it's flexplate.

Knowing that, you now know why my '91 shadow, my '01 Daewoo (RIP), and my GMC Sonoma are all stick shifts.

I'M BAD LUCK with autos

[mfree]

Ah, and note to those who haven't experienced the US's licensing requirements:

If you're breathing and don't kill the instructor, you're probably going to pass.

There's no additional requirements on a license here until you move to a motorcycle or a vehicle that has a GVWR over 26,000 pounds or carries more than 16 people at once.

Kind of scary, when you think about it... we'll hand the keys over to some yahoo who can barely drive their compact car and expect them to be safe in, say, a Class A motorhome so long as it's less than 26,000lbs GVWR.

[mtnbkr]

You're not a man until you've taught *someone else* to drive stick. Now that's humbling

No, it just proves you have patience and understanding.

When we bought our 4Runner, I had to teach my wife to drive a stick.  I started out with our Paseo since it was harder to drive (low hp sticks are generally touchier about the gas/clutch relationship).  I found out that the ol' Paseo, with 170k miles, could do a right nice burnout.   Seriously though, she went from thinking she'd never learn to driving one every day.  Now, both our cars are sticks.  It only took a handful of sessions before she was driving one solo.  Work on your "starts".  That's the hardest part.  Once you're rolling, shifting is easy.

Chris

[HankB]

My last three vehicles ('73 Grand Am, '84 Bronco 4x4, and '93 Explorer 4x4) all went over 100k miles with no transmission problems.

They all had automatics.

IIRC, rated towing capacities were higher for the automatics than for the sticks.

[bedlamite]

mfree- I had a 3 on the tree years ago with a cast chromed skull on the shifter. The linkage was worn enough that shifting from second to third involved stepping on the clutch, the weight of the skull took care of the rest.

IIRC, rated towing capacities were higher for the automatics than for the sticks.

and mileage is higher for sticks.

[Perd Hapley]

You're not a man until you've taught *someone else* to drive stick.

The wife's already demanding that I teach her.     It'll probably be just like when I taught her to shoot.  She'll be better than me. 

[The Rabbi]

I had a stick on every car except the current one, Chrysler Sebring, because they never made one with a manual.  But my Ford F250 diesel has a stick, with granny low gear.
Never driven one with 3 on the tree.  That would be an accomplishment.

[K Frame]

You're not a man until you can go from first to fifth without touching the clutch -- shifting on RPM synchronization alone.

I learned to drive clutch on a ragged out 1972 International Terroristor Scout -- 3 speed.

My Maverick was an auto, but I shared that car with Mom, and because of her hip she had no use for clutches even though she could drive them.

My last three cars have been sticks, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

[The Rabbi]

Mike, you didnt actually own a Maverick, did you?  My father had the infamous Maverick Grabber sometime in the mid 70s...

[Iain]

I'll tell you all my embarrassing little secret. Didn't learn to drive until I was 25, had to be stick really. Passed third go last February, easily. Not all that unusual to take three go's, and I try not to count the second, I was as sick as a dog that day.

Not done anything really cool yet. My car does have a habit of not going into second, and before I got used to it I found myself in neutral on a roundabout a couple of times. More embarrassing than anything else.

[charby]

You're not a man until you can go from first to fifth without touching the clutch -- shifting on RPM synchronization alone.

Mike you stole my thunder, that was going to be my post.