sirdarksol

Pretty self explanatory, neh?

CHoffman

I learned how to drive with a standard....My first car..well actually it was a truck was also a standard.

platy ben

My mum letm e have a little drive in her car even though im 14 lol , we went on some old road that isnt used, done quite well

soldieroffortune1974

I learned to drive when I was 10,an old chevy 3-speed on the column;my uncle had to replace the transmission after I 'learned' to drive.

Annadvn

I have only ever driven manual, stick shift.

I don't know how to drive an automatic.

Anna

CHoffman

A "3 on a tree"...lol..that's what we call them..I had to drive one of those too..They aren't the best to drive IMO..Usually have no power steering either..lol.

soldieroffortune1974

exactly, no power steering,no power brakes,no a/c...definitely the way to learn,if you can master that,everything else is a snap.It was my grand dad's old truck, 1940 or 50 chevy truck.We still have it (well,my uncle does anyway) Step-side,short,wide bed.Still in top condition.

Red1313

best advice I ever heard on how to drive a standard... "Drop the clutch and floor it"
I love my standard. Never Never letting it go.

Alasse

I got my licence in a manual transmission, but have driven an auto ever since *L*

mathas

I learned to drive in a manual, and of the five vehicles I've owned, only two have been automatics.

nemo addict

Dont have many autos here in UK, mostly manuals and its hard to find a automatic driving school

sirdarksol

I'm amused by the above references that some people don't know how to drive automatics. If you're capable of driving a standard, you're capable of driving an automatic. They're the same thing, but the car does the whole "clutch/shift" thing for you. It takes some getting used to (I find my hand going to the gearshift at around 15mph, whether I'm in an automatic or standard).
Granted, I prefer driving a standard...

nemo addict

Just dont forget to apply brakes at lights or you go in to car in front,, not that i know from experince

mathas

Me too! And my left leg always moves towards the clutch pedal regardless of transmission.

The one that really threw me off was when my car was in the shop, and they gave me a loaner of the same model that had a DSG transmission. You could leave it in automatic mode, or you could switch to manual mode and shift by flipping paddle levers on either side of the steering wheel... left side to downshift, right side to upshift. I'd feel the engine pull through the gear until it was time to shift, and instict would take my right hand off the steering wheel (where the shifter actually was!) and towards where I was used to the gearshift being. That only lasted about 10 minutes before I got too annoyed and put it back in auto mode

sirdarksol

Best to hold the brakes at lights, anyway. Around here, it's a necessity due to the hills and ramps, but even if it wasn't, if you're not holding the brakes, and someone rear-ends you, you rear-end the person in front of you (or, if you're the first in line, end up getting pushed into cross-lane traffic). Ouch.

Edit: Mathas, that would bite.

ShaynaB

I don't know, but I've been wanting to learn.

I have an automatic car.

Of course, I live in LA where stick shifting in traffic is horrible and not practical. (One of my friends drives a stick.)

Still want to learn though!

soldieroffortune1974

Actually living in LA with the higher fuel prices,driving a stick is very practical. Generally manual transmissions get better fuel mileage than automatics. (when shifted properly)

msbabb

Learned to drive in a standard and now I do it for a living (Truck Driver). I just with I could get my wife to learn. I believe its something everyone should know how to do.

soldieroffortune1974

I don't drive for a living,but I do have a CDL. I haven't taught my kids how to drive a stick,because as soon as I do they are going to ask to borrow my camaro. nope

Emory

Never got good enough to be safe out on the road but I have been thinking about relearning for a while now.

Hypnox

The only sticks I seem to be able to drive are trucks. Just can't seem to get the hang of the touchier clutch on cars. My first stick I drove was a 78 F250 with a granny gear. Just put it in second, drop the clutch and floor it.

sirdarksol

Definitely practical on mileage. Rough on the clutch, though.

I wonder what the tradeoff in car wear and tear versus fuel mileage would actually be in that scenario. Part of it would depend on how good of a driver you are (how quickly can you go from "neutral, foot off the clutch" to "clutch down, 1st" to "clutch up, moving" and back to the first?) and partly how good at guessing whether or not the stopped traffic is actually going to be moving in the next second or not.

hockeyref88

No problem with a stick.....................I just prefer automatic's as I have to drink coffee, take note's, talk on the phone for business alot so its much easier.

Jess

I'm with hockeyref88. I can drive a stick but much prefer the automatic. Learned to drive on an old Bug. Man I still remember stopping on the top edge of a hill with a stop sign. . . with cars behind me. Helpppppp!

But if someone were to give me a Cobra, I'd learn to love it!

KyWildFish

I find this debate rather amusing. My friends who drive sticks think its more manly or something. Hate to break it to them but my 67' 289 Mustang Automatic is a lot more manly than their Honda 4 banger manual, any day.

I can drive anything but a helicopter, and find pleasure in each vehicle. I agree with most people, you should know how to drive both and be comfortable with each. I do find myself reaching for the stick sometime or looking for the "tree" others.

jack--sos

yep can drive in every gear except reverse :P and got my first lesson on saturday

Happy new year everyone!!!!