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Can you drive a standard (manual)

Sure, and it’s second nature. But unless I were going to someday buy a sports car, there’s no reason for me to ever own one again.
And (skim alert) for the life of me I can’t understand the attraction to the clutchless paddle shifters. My car has that but it’s something I’ll never seriously use.
 
JonMA1 said:
Sure, and it’s second nature. But unless I were going to someday buy a sports car, there’s no reason for me to ever own one again.
And (skim alert) for the life of me I can’t understand the attraction to the clutchless paddle shifters. My car has that but it’s something I’ll never seriously use.
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A lot of the top end model sports cars don't have manuals anymore. Since many of them are track cars and the autos are faster. When i was looking at the Mustang Dark Horse, that was one of the few that had manual. A lot of the high end euros you can't get manual anymore

I have a nismo Z, the manual is only available in the lesser models. the Nismo is auto only

My car is faster in pure auto than with paddles. The paddles are just there for fun,if you want to push the RPM a bit more than the auto would
 
I’ve learned and done it a few times but it’s been a while. Would take some time to get it back down.
 
yup. learned on/first car was a stick.
 
Both Wife and I. Last Manual was a 2002 BMW 325 Conv. It would scream
 
JonMA1 said:
Sure, and it’s second nature. But unless I were going to someday buy a sports car, there’s no reason for me to ever own one again.
And (skim alert) for the life of me I can’t understand the attraction to the clutchless paddle shifters. My car has that but it’s something I’ll never seriously use.
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Yeah it feels gimmicky
 
MtlJeff said:
My car is faster in pure auto than with paddles. The paddles are just there for fun,if you want to push the RPM a bit more than the auto would
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Exactly. I have a sports mode in my Subaru and it just increases the RPMs between shifts. It’s great when I have to pass and I couldn’t do as good a job manually.

My favorite analogy of driving a manual in the city is “stirring coffee”.

When I had a sport bike as a kid years ago, I quickly discovered the significance of a power band. The first time I hit that I was drag racing another bike from stoplight to stoplight. I was shaking by the time I got to the next stop. Haha.
 
Driving manuals are much more enjoyable and I would like to have one. However, they are not always the best in certain situations and is why I have an automatic. Situations like in the snow on slick hills and boat docks launching boats.

I'm not a fond of the paddles. They just seem unintuitive and awkward to use to me.
 
Yes I know how. Though my last manual transmission vehicle was a 1976 Toyota FJ40 with a Chevy 350-300 horse V8 and a very heavy competition clutch. So not compatible with California gridlock.
 
JonMA1 said:
Sure, and it’s second nature. But unless I were going to someday buy a sports car, there’s no reason for me to ever own one again.
And (skim alert) for the life of me I can’t understand the attraction to the clutchless paddle shifters. My car has that but it’s something I’ll never seriously use.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Although on my BMW GT it had manual override on the Auto Stick in center Console. I could put it in one of 8 speeds and it would stay there. Did it once a week to keep White slime from gumming up PVC System. Gosh I miss BMW straight 6s.
 
Some of these are pretty good!
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Yes, I can drive a manual transmission vehicle. No, I do not own one.
 
This got me thinking about all the manuals I have had in my life. I am 59 so this is over 43 years. I can’t remember the model years of all of them. Some of the early ones I co-owned with my sister or my Dad.
Toyota Corolla
Mercury Bobcat (fortunately it didn’t explode)
Datsun pickup truck
GMC S15 pickup
1980 Honda Accord
1987 VW Jetta GLI
Acura Integra
VW Passat
Saab 900 Turbo (I left the stick game for a while after this) had this one in the late
2006 Audi A3 Wagon

That Audi was my last stick. I think there are less than 10 manual transmission cars left being sold in the US.
 
DufferToo said:
Yes I know how. Though my last manual transmission vehicle was a 1976 Toyota FJ40 with a Chevy 350-300 horse V8 and a very heavy competition clutch. So not compatible with California gridlock.
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My last manual was an '87 Toyota pickup. I had to drive all the way through Los Angeles from north to south in evening commute traffic while on my way home from Sacramento. That was the night I swore I'd never own a manual transmission again (and swore a lot in general).
 
I can drive a manual and I’ve had them in the past.

I don’t get much of a chance to drive any these days but would still be fun to have been an extra car.

I don’t think I want a daily
 
Yes, I learned to drive on a manual and drove them exclusively until I moved to Houston and got stuck in traffic a few times.
 
It's been a few years, but I think if you gave me a bit to get back used to two-footing it again, I could get the hang of it again, both in car and motorcycle form.

To be fair, though, I don't really miss driving stick because the only stick thing I drove was an old brewery tour trolley built on an old International Harvester frame. So its not like I have fond memories of a fun little hot hatchback.

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Absolutely can and that is what I learned to drive on but haven't driven one in awhile now and current truck is automatic.
 
Yes I can. Have had a couple of manual cars but none currently. Want to get one again at some point especially now that I work remote and don’t have my terrible commute anymore.
 
Slowmo said:
Yes, I learned to drive on a manual and drove them exclusively until I moved to Houston and got stuck in traffic a few times.
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It only takes a few traffic jams on the freeway to make you want to get an automatic lol
 
I can. It’s my favorite experience in a car.

Wish I could get it in more cars these days. Seems like it’s dying a slow death.
 
Yes. I miss having one. When I joined the fire department we had a grass truck that was manual and only 5 of us could drive it.

I once drove a manual through rush hour traffic in downtown Chicago ...so I feel like I can handle anything after that.
 
I owned a stick as one of my first cars and even drove it in San Francisco, so I certainly can. However, if I have my way I will never drive one again.
 
Partner still has her manual Subaru XV .
She says she feels more in control of the car .
When we get new one , there won’t be that level of choice - manual .
 
Yep sure can, but don’t own one anymore.
 
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