Yes but then again I’m a senior citizen who drove a manual in high school.
Can you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission?
- Thread starter Kinnick.At.Night
- Start date
The last manual transmission vehicle we owned was my husband’s 1995 BMW 535.
Kind of. Never learned on a car. I worked for Pepsi as a merchandiser right before college and during the first couple summers back home. The Hy-Vee in with Sioux City has a tiny back room, so all of our backstock had to sit on a box truck in the back lot. You had to back it in to the dock every time. and they had their own trailer in one of the two docks so if you got there when a delivery truck was in the available dock you were SOL. Anywho... The only training I got on how to drive it was "welp... There it is. You'll figure it out". Note, this is the same training on got on running a fork lift. So I learned how to drive a big box truck, where the clutch let out 4 inches before it engaged. I thought I'd try my luck at driving one of the manual S-10s they had one day. Gave up after killing it 5 times just trying to leave the lot. Never have tried again. Would like to learn.
A friend told me about an interesting learning technique. Coordinating pushing gas and letting out clutch is a it tricky at first, so he said to go to a relatively level parking lot after hours and tell the newbie to forget about the gas at first. Just practice letting out the clutch smoothly, starting forward at low speed.
Keep doing that for a bit until you then start pushing the gas as you let out on the clutch. Pretty simple and effective way to get used to the motions and coordination required.
Another trick is to rev up pretty high in whatever gear you are in, let off the gas and quickly shift without pushing in the clutch, then quickly flooring the gas again.
Yes. I’ve owned a few.
One problem I’ve noticed is how bad some of the modern offerings are. The WRX switched from a five speed to a six speed that sucks. The last two GTI’s I drove had garbage transmissions.
By the time you get to the nice manuals, you’re in cars where you lose tons of performance over a DCT.
One problem I’ve noticed is how bad some of the modern offerings are. The WRX switched from a five speed to a six speed that sucks. The last two GTI’s I drove had garbage transmissions.
By the time you get to the nice manuals, you’re in cars where you lose tons of performance over a DCT.
Get the Teggy Type-S. All the performance of the Civic R with a ton more refinement.
I just rented a 2024 Nissan Altima w/ the CVT and I think just the "regular" (I don't think turbo) engine.
Was very impressed with how smoothly that thing ran in cruise, even in hilly driving. No crazy engine revs downshifting or anything.
Still like my manual trans Mini for around town, but were I looking for a mid-size sedan (Altima is a pretty good sized car now), I'd definitely consider one. Rental I got only had 5k miles on it, so it was pretty squeakin' new.
Was very impressed with how smoothly that thing ran in cruise, even in hilly driving. No crazy engine revs downshifting or anything.
Still like my manual trans Mini for around town, but were I looking for a mid-size sedan (Altima is a pretty good sized car now), I'd definitely consider one. Rental I got only had 5k miles on it, so it was pretty squeakin' new.
Owned sticks prior to marriage and per her request tried to teach my bride. She gave up quickly and soon after guilted me that it didn't make sense to have 1 of our 2 cars she could not drive so we traded it.
Dad had a stick pickup so I'd have access to a stick when I had the itch.
Dad had a stick pickup so I'd have access to a stick when I had the itch.
Yes. My daily driver is a manual transmission with 210,000 miles.
I drove a stick in high school and college. Haven’t in about 25 years. I would have one in a play car but not a daily driver it is a pain in the ass commuting.
I learned manual via a farm truck and tractor when I was 16 or so.
The Toyota I had when living in Dublin was a manual and any time we rented a car traveling in Europe was manual. Like riding a bike
I also learned to drive stick when I was around 13-14 in my Dad's dodge pickup truck. My previous car (nissan 350z) was a stick and I really enjoyed driving it although some of the hills in Tallahassee could be nerve wracking where you had to stop on a steep hill at a red light and people would pull right up behind you every time. I would sometimes roll back a little to let them know to stop creeping up on me.
I have automatics now but miss driving a manual.
I have automatics now but miss driving a manual.
I have a 1993 Jeep with a manual 5 speed transmission. I bought it new, and have put 224,000 miles on it.
I've also had multiple manual transmission vehicles, including 2 VW's, a 1959 Willys Jeep, and a Fiat Spider.
I've had several motorcycles as well, and currently have a Harley, all with manual transmissions.
I've also had multiple manual transmission vehicles, including 2 VW's, a 1959 Willys Jeep, and a Fiat Spider.
I've had several motorcycles as well, and currently have a Harley, all with manual transmissions.
Dad had a 3 on the tree as a kid, drove a dirt bike as a kid and I think that helped to understand shifting gears. Mom would let me drive from home to school when I was 13 with a ford escort that was a stick. It seemed easy to me so I've always known how to drive a manual.
Haven't owned one for years though, my wife has had a manual more recently then me. She shouldn't though, phone in one hand coffee in the other shifting gears... she's a menace on the roads.
Haven't owned one for years though, my wife has had a manual more recently then me. She shouldn't though, phone in one hand coffee in the other shifting gears... she's a menace on the roads.
My first experience driving a manual transmission was during my 2nd year at FSU; I'd taken a knee to the face in a collision in an IM soccer game, had a couple of loose teeth that needed a root canal, and the oral surgeon was on the far side of town from campus. I didn't have a car, the guy who was supposed to bring me no-showed, and I happened to catch a fraternity brother on the way to class. He tossed me the keys to his sports car, and off I went.
As my fellow Noles can attest, Tally is not a good place to learn how to drive a stick; it's damn hilly. I had the misfortune to have to stop at the redlight at the corner of Tennessee & Bronough (by the old, round Holiday Inn - the steepest hill on that stretch of road)...then have a $%^!%^$$^ TalTran Bus come right up behind me, pulling up close because obviously anyone in that sports car was coming off the light quick. I stalled it out a couple of times, then damn near got whiplash as I finally got going. Was far more careful the rest of the way to slow down & time lights to avoid stopping.
By the time I got there I'd gotten the hang of it, and hauled ass on the way home, face still numb from novacaine & high on painkillers. Not sure why the doctors office let me drive, nor why Chuck let me drive his damn car knowing I was going for a root canal.
First car I bought after college was a stick, a Subaru XT Turbo coupe; loved driving it & taught my now-wife how to drive a manual with it. That's the last manual vehicle I've owned.
As my fellow Noles can attest, Tally is not a good place to learn how to drive a stick; it's damn hilly. I had the misfortune to have to stop at the redlight at the corner of Tennessee & Bronough (by the old, round Holiday Inn - the steepest hill on that stretch of road)...then have a $%^!%^$$^ TalTran Bus come right up behind me, pulling up close because obviously anyone in that sports car was coming off the light quick. I stalled it out a couple of times, then damn near got whiplash as I finally got going. Was far more careful the rest of the way to slow down & time lights to avoid stopping.
By the time I got there I'd gotten the hang of it, and hauled ass on the way home, face still numb from novacaine & high on painkillers. Not sure why the doctors office let me drive, nor why Chuck let me drive his damn car knowing I was going for a root canal.
First car I bought after college was a stick, a Subaru XT Turbo coupe; loved driving it & taught my now-wife how to drive a manual with it. That's the last manual vehicle I've owned.
Learned on a 70 VW Bug. I had a date and the folks were going out that night so he tossed me the keys and told me to have fun, which at that point I had never driven a stick. Broke the clutch cable numerous times so learned how to speed shift. Taught the boys on our driveway which has a slight incline. I imagine if they ever hopped in a manny they'd be fine.
My next car will be an EV so I am going to order it with a manual tranny.
My next car will be an EV so I am going to order it with a manual tranny.
