New cars under $20,000

[andi9899]

May 4, 2023 14:22:56 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

May 4, 2023 12:36:53 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Normally that would be the case here too. To see that high of a price tag around here is crazy! If I give up a BR, I can get away with $350K. That's insane!

Do you need 4 bedrooms living alone?  If you don't have them, the kids can't move back into them.    I can see 3.  One for my BR, one for an office, and one for a guest room or a place for a boomerang kid.  I'll save the bunk beds.  If they both come back they have to share!

Yes. I need a BR for me, one for an office, one for my parents who will come to live with me eventually and one for guests or grandchildren. I could make 3 BR work, but there would have to be a space to set up my office equipment somewhere.

[Opti]

May 4, 2023 17:31:27 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

May 4, 2023 15:10:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Driving a stick shift is not something you forget how to do.  I've owned nothing but automatics the past 25 years but can still hop into a manual and take off with no problem.  Not that it's all that necessary of a skill anymore.  Mostly just my neighbors 3/4 truck that I use for towing.

I agree.

The car my Grandfather bought me in high school was a stick. The next 3 cars I bought were sticks. I never got tired of driving a stick, and I still miss it.

I drove my cousin’s stick Camaro several years after I bought my first automatic. It’s like riding a bicycle again after a long time Imo. Your skills might be a little rusty, but it doesn’t take long to find your groove again.

I have to be careful. The loaner cars are automatice and to not accidentally depress the clutch which is in reality the brake in the automatic vehicle, scare me and whoever is behind me.

After being in an automatic for more than four days, I tend to forget to fully depress the clutch to start the car or get it in gear.
This is me and I am often significantly sick already when doing car appointments. YMMV. FWIW.

[andi9899]

May 4, 2023 15:10:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Driving a stick shift is not something you forget how to do.  I've owned nothing but automatics the past 25 years but can still hop into a manual and take off with no problem.  Not that it's all that necessary of a skill anymore.  Mostly just my neighbors 3/4 truck that I use for towing.

Same. It's like riding a bike.

[NastyWoman]

Confession time ( but only because my mom passed away in 1987 and she can't possibly read this): I learned to drive a stick shift at age 10 - 8 years ahead of the legal driving age in the Netherlands. My dad taught me how-to on the back roads near his sister's house. I was quite good at it but I had to promise never to tell a soul. Since he passed away as well about 20_years ago I think that promise has expired. LOL

I never did tell before today and, while I prefer driving an automatic, can still drive a stick shift. However, that was not quite the point of my original post. It was more that you should not worry about losing a skill you won't need again.  That is a mental hoarding attitude IMO and who needs that.

[Opti]

May 4, 2023 15:39:52 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

May 4, 2023 15:10:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Driving a stick shift is not something you forget how to do.  I've owned nothing but automatics the past 25 years but can still hop into a manual and take off with no problem.  Not that it's all that necessary of a skill anymore.  Mostly just my neighbors 3/4 truck that I use for towing.

I drove stick from 1983 to 2006!! Could do it today if needed too. I couldn't even drive stick when I bought 5 speed from friend with the stipulation that she teach me to drive it. (I learned on automatic) After a week of driving "lessons" she cut me loose.  When I bought an automatic in 2006 I had to drive with my hand stuck under my leg and seat or I would try to shift gears   To this day I miss the feel of driving stick but heavy traffic and not so quick reflexes in my old age it wouldn't be a smart thing but I sooooooooooooooo miss shifting!!  

I wasn't really taught stick either. HS driving class was with automatic sedans.  All of us kids popped the clutch to get by. I didn't really understand how to drive manual until a family friend rescued me and my sister. My mind tapped out at a 5 point intersection I did not know, and none of the lights were working. 

I just remembered I was "taught" how to drive a stick on my first break home from college for a weekend.

[grumpyhermit]

May 4, 2023 17:31:27 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

May 4, 2023 15:10:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Driving a stick shift is not something you forget how to do.  I've owned nothing but automatics the past 25 years but can still hop into a manual and take off with no problem.  Not that it's all that necessary of a skill anymore.  Mostly just my neighbors 3/4 truck that I use for towing.

I agree.

The car my Grandfather bought me in high school was a stick. The next 3 cars I bought were sticks. I never got tired of driving a stick, and I still miss it.

I drove my cousin’s stick Camaro several years after I bought my first automatic. It’s like riding a bicycle again after a long time Imo. Your skills might be a little rusty, but it doesn’t take long to find your groove again.

Same, but with automatics. I will occasionally drive someone else's car, and have to actively remember not to go for the "clutch" or the shifter. 

The part that usually stumps me the longest is starting it  as my brain seems to struggle with not having anything for my feet to do. It just feels so....wrong. 

I learned on an automatic, and my first few cars were automatic, but have been driving manual for over twenty years. It does come back, but the first few days are always interesting. 

[jerseygirl]

I remember jackrabbiting down the street when first learning a stick shift. Also at a stop sign on a steep hill looking at the car behind that kept inching closer. I tried to sign move back, he gave me the finger. So, started and ooops accidentally banged into that rude character

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 4, 2023 10:33:22 GMT -5 Opti said:

May 4, 2023 4:04:45 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I’m still driving my 2007 Forester that I bought new.  Our other car is also 2007, and TD’s toy Miata (which I will not sit in for more than 20 miles) is 2016.  

My car is in good shape, both mechanically and the body, so am hoping to get another few years out of it.  I will very likely replace it with something similar.  

Do you get to garage one or more of your vehicles? My 2002 3 series really started to age after I had to sell the house, and that vehicle was never garaged again after early 2007.

It really makes a difference.

Nope.  The Miata is garaged, but the 2007 Subarus are not.  They do get a thorough detailing and good wax job each year.  I used to do it, when I could.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

May 4, 2023 17:54:08 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

May 4, 2023 15:10:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Driving a stick shift is not something you forget how to do.  I've owned nothing but automatics the past 25 years but can still hop into a manual and take off with no problem.  Not that it's all that necessary of a skill anymore.  Mostly just my neighbors 3/4 truck that I use for towing.

Same. It's like riding a bike.

Yep.  I gave up my manual MX6 in 2005.  I still can drive manual, not a big deal.  TD’s STi has a racing clutch in it, so it’s a bit tricky.  But the Miata is easy (and fun).

[NoNamePerson]

May 4, 2023 17:58:35 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Confession time ( but only because my mom passed away in 1987 and she can't possibly read this): I learned to drive a stick shift at age 10 - 8 years ahead of the legal driving age in the Netherlands. My dad taught me how-to on the back roads near his sister's house. I was quite good at it but I had to promise never to tell a soul. Since he passed away as well about 20_years ago I think that promise has expired. LOL

I never did tell before today and, while I prefer driving an automatic, can still drive a stick shift. However, that was not quite the point of my original post. It was more that you should not worry about losing a skill you won't need again.  That is a mental hoarding attitude IMO and who needs that.

Had to laugh at this since my son's grand daddy on dad's side used to take kiddo out to farm and let him drive his ole pick up. Of course this took place when we let son go for a extended visit (not living in same city)  My son didn't say a word till he hit 16 and got his license. I bought him a clunker - 68 Camaro (stick) This was in 1982. He laughed and said "at least the gear shift isn't on the column or what ever it was called!! That's when I got the story of 10 yr driving. He said Grand Pap told him not to tell anyone and he didn't till that moment.   Had a good laugh and then some more stories spilled out like learning to shoot gun, etc. All took place on farm land his Grand Pap owned. 

[Opti]

The other reason going back to manual for me can be tricky is often I am parked at a garage or dealer where I have 3 feet to do it right or plunge into a stand of trees, or in a lot where everything is super close, because mechanics fitting in many vehicles in their lot, and not getting your act together quickly might result in hitting another customer's car.

Much easier if its just swapping cars or someone lets you try out what they bought. I still want a rematch with that Renault. I could get it in first and second gear reliably but not third. The shift tolerances are much tighter than any of the three manuals I have owned. 

I would have loved to have a racing clutch. would settle for a short shift throw and the nice round shifter knob attached by screws versus the pretty walnut one with plastic that will and has broken, when quick action is required.

[Opti]

May 5, 2023 8:21:50 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

May 4, 2023 17:58:35 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Confession time ( but only because my mom passed away in 1987 and she can't possibly read this): I learned to drive a stick shift at age 10 - 8 years ahead of the legal driving age in the Netherlands. My dad taught me how-to on the back roads near his sister's house. I was quite good at it but I had to promise never to tell a soul. Since he passed away as well about 20_years ago I think that promise has expired. LOL

I never did tell before today and, while I prefer driving an automatic, can still drive a stick shift. However, that was not quite the point of my original post. It was more that you should not worry about losing a skill you won't need again.  That is a mental hoarding attitude IMO and who needs that.

Had to laugh at this since my son's grand daddy on dad's side used to take kiddo out to farm and let him drive his ole pick up. Of course this took place when we let son go for a extended visit (not living in same city)  My son didn't say a word till he hit 16 and got his license. I bought him a clunker - 68 Camaro (stick) This was in 1982. He laughed and said "at least the gear shift isn't on the column or what ever it was called!! That's when I got the story of 10 yr driving. He said Grand Pap told him not to tell anyone and he didn't till that moment.   Had a good laugh and then some more stories spilled out like learning to shoot gun, etc. All took place on farm land his Grand Pap owned. 

I would love to try a column shift. It was before my time and have not yet driven a car with it.

[Works4me]

Commonly known as "3-on-the-tree," in contrast with "4-on-the-floor."

[finnime]

Six months into living in Denver, I'm not sure if DS will buy a car, nor lease one. I sent him some information on zipcar thinking that might be helpful for some situations. He then would not need to get his own car insurance, for example. He's managing very well in his community without a car. He can get anything he needs either delivered or on foot.

The years of living in NYC taught him well. He is happy to have no car payments. He does miss driving on occasion. We'll see if he breaks down and buys a car or not.

[souldoubt]

When I was 23 I bought the first new car I ever owned, it was a stick and I didn't know how to drive stick so a friend drove it home and started teaching me how to drive it.  I always wanted to learn to drive stick and knew the only way it would happen is if I owned one.  I had that car for over 12 years and would have gladly kept driving it if the transmission didn't start to go.  Next car I got was an automatic so my wife could drive it and in the end it worked out because she now drives that car full time.  Told myself my next car would be a stick but ended up getting a truck and that wasn't an option.  I hope what you all say is right like it being like riding a bike because I have this concern (ridiculous I know) that I'll forget how to drive stick.  Some day again I'll get a stick because even sitting in traffic it never bothered me and I always enjoyed being more engaged when driving. 

As far as $98K being life changing money I think for the average person in the US it would be.  That amount isn't a down payment on a house in quite a few areas but it would be enough to pay off the average student loan debt, credit card debt and auto debt with something left over to set aside.