Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 12, 2014 1:39:57 GMT -5
The first car I ever got was a manual from my dad. It's been a while, but yes, I could probably get the hang of it again. I might stall a few times before I got back in the groove.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Jun 12, 2014 2:44:13 GMT -5
There are a lot of things that I compare over here to back home and a lot of them I consider the US to be better for ('better' being a subjective opinion) but this is an area that I think I prefer the rules in the UK for the drivers license. From the people that I know in real life there is only 1 that actual knows how to drive a manual and I think it's a good thing to have two different license categories that specify if you are allowed to drive either transmissions or just an automatic. If you can't drive a manual I don't think that you should have a license to do so. If you can drive one then you'll have no problems passing the test driving one. Now, this is YM and I would guess that there is a very small, if not zero, percent of people who have driven without a license, but I realize that there are lot of people who just skirt the law and drive/ride whatever they like, but I do think that the European view of graduated licenses is a good one. I think a big part of it is $$. Having people going back and forth to the DMV would be inconvenient and cost $$ and time. (Not saying that it's a good reason NOT to do licenses that way but...). I think CA does motorcycle licenses like that (At least they did in the 90s). My DSM got her motorcycle endorsement with an "automatic" (250CC bike with no shifting required). When she upgraded to a larger bike (where u have to shift), she didn't realize her endorsement was only for an automatic (Found out when the cops told her after she plowed into a car). Luckily, no one was injured and the cops let her off with a "get yourself down to the DMV on Monday" warning.
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wyouser
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Post by wyouser on Jun 12, 2014 9:47:36 GMT -5
My German Jetta doesn't speak automatic how do you like that Jetta? I'm starting to look at new stuff for when my 10-yo Rocket finally retires herself, and the idea of excellent gas mileage on a TDI model is totally appealing. a quick check of vw.com just now looks like the Golf isn't available anymore, that sucks....but a Jetta isn't all that much bigger.....and was actually on my short list way back when I was trying to figure out the Integra/RSX mess when I bought my first RSX. Mine is an "09" and a TDI. It does about 42-43 miles per gallon on the highway and gets in middle 30's in town. The turbo is great in traffic. It also rates well on being green with the exhaust system. Trade off for green is a little lower gas mileage. My 2005 in contrast got 53-55 miles per gallon. Trunk space isn't bad either.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Jun 12, 2014 11:36:42 GMT -5
I learned to drive initially in my parents minivan, which was an automatic.
Then when I did that for about a year, my Dad gave me his car, which was a manual, so I had to learn how to do drive it if I wanted it.
I can't imagine learning how to drive on a manual. It's hard enough to learn to drive and pay attention to the road and your speed and traffic and everything else without having to also pay attention to shifting and hitting the clutch. I think it's better to learn on a automatic, and then a manual.
I think cell phones have hurt the manual transmissions. It's pretty hard to drive and juggle a cell phone while shifting. Of course, it's hard to do anything with two hands with a stick. This includes drinking anything, holding the GPS to glance at it, ect.
Personally, I'm fine not driving a stick. The only time I really think it adds anything to the experience is if you're driving a high performance car.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2014 11:44:15 GMT -5
I learned to drive initially in my parents minivan, which was an automatic.
Then when I did that for about a year, my Dad gave me his car, which was a manual, so I had to learn how to do drive it if I wanted it.
I can't imagine learning how to drive on a manual. It's hard enough to learn to drive and pay attention to the road and your speed and traffic and everything else without having to also pay attention to shifting and hitting the clutch. I think it's better to learn on a automatic, and then a manual.
I think cell phones have hurt the manual transmissions. It's pretty hard to drive and juggle a cell phone while shifting. Of course, it's hard to do anything with two hands with a stick. This includes drinking anything, holding the GPS to glance at it, ect.
Personally, I'm fine not driving a stick. The only time I really think it adds anything to the experience is if you're driving a high performance car. My stepdad took me to empty parking lots for the initial learning to shift lessons, then country roads with little to no traffic and not a lot of stopping and starting. By the time I was driving in town with traffic lights and parallel parking and such, I was pretty good at shifting.
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violagirl
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Post by violagirl on Jun 12, 2014 12:21:41 GMT -5
My friend's first car was a manual she had no idea how to drive. That night she was at my house and incredibly frustrated at a stressful day of stalling. So my Dad said let's go and I'll teach you.
We lived in a nice neighbourhood that was quiet at night so they were out for about an hour. They just get home and we see this police car drive by our house and then come back and stop. My dad went out and the RCMP said they had received a report of an "erratic" driver. He and my Dad had a good laugh when Dad explained he had been teaching my friend to drive stick.
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Baby Fawkes
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Post by Baby Fawkes on Jun 12, 2014 12:26:34 GMT -5
There are a lot of things that I compare over here to back home and a lot of them I consider the US to be better for ('better' being a subjective opinion) but this is an area that I think I prefer the rules in the UK for the drivers license. From the people that I know in real life there is only 1 that actual knows how to drive a manual and I think it's a good thing to have two different license categories that specify if you are allowed to drive either transmissions or just an automatic. If you can't drive a manual I don't think that you should have a license to do so. If you can drive one then you'll have no problems passing the test driving one. Now, this is YM and I would guess that there is a very small, if not zero, percent of people who have driven without a license, but I realize that there are lot of people who just skirt the law and drive/ride whatever they like, but I do think that the European view of graduated licenses is a good one. I think a big part of it is $$. Having people going back and forth to the DMV would be inconvenient and cost $$ and time. (Not saying that it's a good reason NOT to do licenses that way but...). I think CA does motorcycle licenses like that (At least they did in the 90s). My DSM got her motorcycle endorsement with an "automatic" (250CC bike with no shifting required). When she upgraded to a larger bike (where u have to shift), she didn't realize her endorsement was only for an automatic (Found out when the cops told her after she plowed into a car). Luckily, no one was injured and the cops let her off with a "get yourself down to the DMV on Monday" warning. The way they get around that back home is that if you pass your test with a manual you are licensed to drive both. If you take it with an automatic you only get an automatic license. Back home everyone learns to drive a manual and then might move to an automatic if they choose to.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Jun 12, 2014 12:32:57 GMT -5
I think people using cell phones in cars while driving has increased accidents.
Personally, when I'm driving I drive. If it can't do whatever it is safely while paying attention to the road I don't do it. When I drink liquids, usually water, I do it while at traffic lights generally and can put the water bottle back quickly if I have to start sooner than expected.
Shouldn't the GPS be mounted on your dash? If you are doing something with two hands while moving forward in a vehicle you are probably being a unsafe driver who is a hazard. JMO.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Jun 12, 2014 14:27:21 GMT -5
I learned to drive on a stick. I found it wasn't that hard to be paying attention while shifting. It helped that the car was a 4 speed (so going from 2 to 3 wasn't as hard, like in a 5 speed where u have the middle set of gears). Getting into reverse was kinda difficult though (It was between 1 & 2). The good thing is that you are usually parked when u put it into reverse.. I took my driving test in a manual. All my friends thought I was crazy because it increased the things u could fail on. They did mark me down for riding the clutch a little but I didn't stall and passed. The alternative would have been taking the test in a huge automatic Dodge Ram (vs. a manual sedan). The size of the Ram would have failed me for sure...
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jun 12, 2014 22:45:54 GMT -5
... The only time I really think it adds anything to the experience is if you're driving a high performance car. I have found that a stick in my four wheel drive pick-up adds to my driving experience in bad weather and on bad roads.
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Mardi Gras Audrey
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Post by Mardi Gras Audrey on Jun 12, 2014 23:38:15 GMT -5
Personally, I'm fine not driving a stick. The only time I really think it adds anything to the experience is if you're driving a high performance car. I found the opposite. In my limited experience, having a manual transmission can make driving a car with a smaller engine a lot easier. My second car was a manual 4 cylinder and was pretty zippy. When I got the next car (an automatic 4 cylinder), it was pretty bad. The thing had no pep and merging onto the freeway was a nightmare. I think the engines were similar (The cars were the same manufacturer and the automatic was newer model of the manual). I don't know if that's the case with all 4 cylinders but if I go back to a 4 cylinder that isn't a hybrid, I want a manual.
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ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Jun 13, 2014 0:17:06 GMT -5
It's not a matter of thinking people using cells while driving has increased accidents, it's a well-known fact they have.
They're one of the reasons we have distracted-driving laws now.
It's also a driving offence in most areas now to be using a hand-held cell while driving - I see it happening a lot here, so I'm not sure if it's illegal in my area, but it should be if it isn't. I've seen more people weaving in and out of lanes on the freeways here while yapping on their cell or texting - they're an accident in the making... I think that the texting is the biggest problem because your eyes have to leave the road to key in the text - unlike answering a call to talk.
For telephone calls, there are hands-free devices you can use but it's still a distraction.
I personally leave my cell turned off while operating my car or just let calls go to voice-mail until I'm parked and no longer in traffic - even on residential streets. It would be devastating to hit a child or any other pedestrian due to being so wrapped up in a phone call that in most cases probably wasn't urgent.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Jun 13, 2014 12:34:47 GMT -5
I have found that a stick in my four wheel drive pick-up adds to my driving experience in bad weather and on bad roads.
Definitely prefer a stick on snow packed/icy roads. I think I have better control.
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ZaireinHD
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Post by ZaireinHD on Jun 14, 2014 1:49:21 GMT -5
Yes better control - I like that best with manual trans. when I play my racing games I also select manual shift
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truthbound
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Post by truthbound on Jun 14, 2014 3:46:32 GMT -5
Yes.
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on Jun 14, 2014 4:23:03 GMT -5
I'm in Britain so we take our tests on manuals. I've only had one automatic car and it didn't go as fast.
We don't have the roads that go on forever... like you do in the US. I should imagine it would be very tiring to have to move through the gears if you a going to be driving all day.
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ZaireinHD
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Post by ZaireinHD on Jun 14, 2014 8:15:48 GMT -5
I'm in Britain so we take our tests on manuals. I've only had one automatic car and it didn't go as fast. We don't have the roads that go on forever... like you do in the US. I should imagine it would be very tiring to have to move through the gears if you a going to be driving all day. yes! called traffic
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flamingo
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Post by flamingo on Jun 14, 2014 8:45:19 GMT -5
My DH had a Jeep that was manual. He taught me to drive it when we first started dating, just in case. Well, wouldn't you know, about a year later we had a just in case emergency where I had to take him to the ER and his was the car I had to drive. I suck at it-though he says I do just fine. After that emergency trip, I rarely drove it again, and now he has an automatic so it's not an issue. But at least I have the basics down and if someone said hey, you gotta drive my stick shift car, I could. And, if we ever were on the Amazing Race, and I had to be the driver of a stick shift car, I could handle it
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Jun 14, 2014 11:01:07 GMT -5
My parents required me to take my test in a manual. Abkut half of my cars have been sticks, including my current one.
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Jun 14, 2014 15:02:46 GMT -5
Yes, something everyone should know how to do just in caae
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