sign of the times

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Where we're headed

[Synchro909]

I wonder if the traffic cone in the background is the result of one of those guys driving a manual car.

[nkaminar]

I guess that includes Model A's. I occasionally take my Model A to Jiffy Lube to have the oil changed. I have to drive it in and after they are through, start and drive the car out.

[Curtis in MA]

I do that when inspected.

[jb-ob]

I wouldn't let the talent at Jiffy-Lube check the air in my tires.

Sad when the majority of Porsches have automatic transmissions.

Even your dental hygienist drives a BMW.

[Zax40]

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I thought my daughter to drive a manual and my oldest nephew asked me last week to teach him. Gotta pass these skills down.

[WHN]

How many of us know how to drive a team of horses?

Progress moves on whether like it or not.

Enjoy.

[Planojc]

Originally Posted by WHN

How many of us know how to drive a team of horses?

Progress moves on whether like it or not.

Enjoy.

Or a Model T Ford.

[JayJay]

My son had an early ‘90s Toyota pickup with a stick and lived in Los Angeles. He told me that he never worried about it getting stolen, none of the crooks knew how to drive it. Finally drove it (barely) to the auto recyclers with 365,000+ miles on the clock when it needed a new clutch.

[Keith True]

Years ago I was in the local JD dealership looking up parts to overhaul my dozer engine.The parts guy and I were scoping out the part numbers and writing them down.(microfiche).The owners son,mid 20's,came up and asked me to move my truck,they were rearranging the little tractor displays out front.The parts guy said,Keith always leaves the keys in his truck,you can just move it.I said sure,that's why the keys are in it.A few minutes later the guy is standing behind me kind of shuffling around,I said did it start OK? he said,It's a standard,I can't drive it.It's a family run business,and when his father and uncles came up into it,they started with the lowest job on the totem pole.They drove the trucks.A Mack with a rollback body,and a Mack lowbed tractor.This young guy couldn't even drive a Toyota.

[alexiskai]

I didn't know how to drive stick before I got into antique cars. Now I do. It's not a big deal. In the big scheme of learnable skills, driving stick is somewhere down around "make an espresso" in terms of difficulty to acquire.

It is true that in the future you will need to learn to drive stick for a specific reason (antiques, racing, commercial trucks, etc.) rather than needing to know it as a general life skill. Automatic transmissions are mature enough that they shift better than manuals for street driving. Electric cars don't need them at all. It's not the end of the world. If you need the skill, you learn it.

[Brentwood Bob]

show and tell is one way to pass on to your family. Feed their curiosity. Free rides and answering questions should plant a seed. Not that many high school auto shop programs are around. I am not impressed with the electrics, a modified golf cart.

[California Travieso]

In California in the 1950’s everyone had to take Driver’s Ed in 10th grade in High School. The local Ford dealer donated a column shift sedan to the HS every year in my home town of Redlands which had more orange trees than people or cars. In five minutes we could drive out to the orange groves and learn to drive with no traffic.

Our family had stick shift cars until the 1990’s. Both my daughters were motivated too Lean to drive stick shift cars at 15 years old because there was no alternative.

My youngest daughter bought a stick shift VW Jetta about 13 years ago because it was the cheapest option. She thought she’d pass it on to her son when he turned 15. It’s sitting in the garage now because my grandson had no desire to learn to drive it. My wife gave him her car with automatic to drive.

David Serrano

[Zax40]

The first time I drove a manual on the street it was an old Chevy pickup base model with 3 on the column. My cousin's step dad told me to take it to the store and rent us a movie to watch. I told him I didn't know how to drive it. He said "bull, that I had been riding a dirt bike with a clutch for years. All I had to do was swap my hands and feet" That was all the instruction that I got. Made it to the store and back after a little grinding and a few stalls.

[fried okra]

I remember learning to double clutch my mom's '56 Chevy column shift manual with non-synchro low to get back down into first gear....don't think I did any damage, it always worked OK

My dad had a '64 Chrysler convertible with a 3 speed manual on the floor. Doubt Chrysler made many of those.

[daveymc29]

Originally Posted by WHN

How many of us know how to drive a team of horses?

Progress moves on whether like it or not.

Enjoy.

I got you covered on the team as long as it is 3 or less. Also can ride a horse with sirsingle and halter. Found that shooting rabbits while hoseback will get you a free walk home.

Dave the outdoors man.

[Brentwood Bob]

I've heard of your hunting prowess. Kept the stew pot full.

[Synchro909]

We have all updated our skills as we go. When we were kids, who would have even in their widest dreams imagined that there would be such a thing as the internet yet here we are using it to talk from one side of the world to the other about learning to drive a car without a synchro gearbox.
Now read my signature line below!

[Ayers1]

I raised 6 kids and made them all learn to drive a manual. The only 1 that could not master it was my left hander. I could understand that because I'm not sure I would be that good with a RHD car! To this day, one of my daughters will only buy a manual transmission car. Proud that any of them could get home in a pinch if they had to.

[updraught]

You were born right handed to hold a steering wheel. The left doesn't need to do much.

[Ayers1]

Originally Posted by updraught

You were born right handed to hold a steering wheel. The left doesn't need to do much.

Lol,, true and it "doesn't do much" very well!

[Synchro909]

I've driven RHD cars for so long, I can't imagine how I would go changing gears with my right hand. Might as well put the accelerator on the left. At least that is a constant.

[Ayers1]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I've driven RHD cars for so long, I can't imagine how I would go changing gears with my right hand. Might as well put the accelerator on the left. At least that is a constant.

I would feel so backwards that I wouldn't be able to do anything in the proper sequence!

[marty in Ohio]

Everyone is born right-handed. It takes intelligence to overcome that.
Marty

[Keith True]

Years ago I bought a 35000 mile RHD Kenworth tractor.I did drive it 150 miles home,but wouldn't want to do it again.It had a 5X4 two stick transmission,so I felt pretty stupid driving it.My left handed friend made it sing up and down through the gears.There is absolutely no way I could crank a car over with my left hand.My left arm is really,really stupid.

[Ayers1]

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Originally Posted by marty in Ohio

Everyone is born right-handed. It takes intelligence to overcome that.
Marty

Ok, you've done it now, I'll never be able to show this thread to my wife..... she would never let me forget it...

[al's28/33]

part of the dumbing down of our culture. artificial intelligence will kill us off someday.

[Fullraceflathead]

I'm born right handed but my left hand is for the steering wheel and my right hand is for shifting the gears!!!

[Banditorama]

Unless the guy is missing a leg, there's no excuse. Anyone can learn to drive stick in an afternoon, it's not rocket science. I would think one of the qualifications of being a professional car mover would be the ability to drive a standard transmission

[acchaplin]

Originally Posted by WHN

How many of us know how to drive a team of horses?

Progress moves on whether like it or not.

Enjoy.

My middle daughter could. In her senior year of HS she was president of the local FFA chapter. Then she was Captain of the WVU Equine Team!

[700rpm]

I agree about Jiffy Lube.

[MNFATS]

Stick shift is one thing, but I watched five different young guys at the Ford garage try to get the hood open on my '66 Mustang only to go out in the bay area and show them myself! I had a good laugh.

[P.S.]

I learned how to drive on a manual. Drove tractors and dump trucks (farming) until I was old enough to get a driver license. Never even saw an automatic car until high school. Still feels too "loose" to me.

My adopt-a-son wanted to learn how to drive when he was 15. So, I taught him- In my manual pickup truck. He still daily-drives a manual to this day.

[Ayers1]

Back in the mid 70's my dad and I restored a AA truck. That was the first vehicle I learned to drive. From there I went up to a 53 International pickup with 3 on the tree.

[old31]

Sad, that they cant drive a 3 or 4 on the floor. So, happens when you give them a 3 on the tree.

Do they even know what that is? Let them steal that.

[Hitman]

I’m sure most people on here also complained when the rotary phone went away, flip phones were replaced by iPhones and so on.

How many on here have driven and know how to operate a PDK style transmission? How many even know what that is?

Face it. Manual transmissions are old tech. Automatics can handle way more power and torque than a manual and dual clutch systems shift in milliseconds. Electric vehicles don’t have anything that resembles a conventional transmission. Manuals can’t match that.

[Robert/Texas]

I got my drivers license in my '37 Ford on my 16th birthday in NJ. There were not many cars with automatic transmissions then but if you took your driving test with one it was noted on the license and it was not valid for driving a stick-shift car.

[old31]

Ok, OK I will have to admit that i do not know what PDK trans is. Had to google. You are never to old to learn!

Porsche dual-clutch transmission
PDK is an acronym for Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe, which directly translates to Porsche dual-clutch transmission. The PDK system was originally developed for racing. It was, and still is, known for some of the fastest shifts that automatic transmissions are capable of.

[Banditorama]

I have a DSG in my other car. Anyone could get into a car with a DCT, put it in drive, and go. There's not much difference in operation, you might notice it's a little jerky until you get used to it. I prefer a DCT to an auto, but would still rather have a clutch over either

Automatics are old tech too. They've been around forever and besides the electronic controls they haven't changed too much. Sure, from a performance standpoint, manuals have been surpassed. But, for reliability, ease of maintenance, and ease of repair manual is still king. Thats why heavy duty semis are still predominantly stick shift

[Curtis in MA]

I heard that some countries are banning manual transmissions for environmental reasons.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Banditorama

Thats why heavy duty semis are still predominantly stick shift

If you look, just about all new semi’s and other heavy duty trucks are automatics. Most on the road today are automatic. Some manufacturers like Kenworth, don’t even offer manual transmissions. I think it’s more for fuel efficiency, safety, and lack of driver skill more than anything else. That and durability have greatly increased over the last 20 years.

DSG, PDK and other truly dual clutch transmissions are a blast to drive!

[acchaplin]

I’m sure most people on here also complained when the rotary phone went away,

I wish they would bring back the rotary dial phone! That way we wouldn't have to "Push One For English"!

[California Travieso]

Don’t forget about paddle shifters. We have them on my wife’s 04 Lexus and my 2010 BMW. I’ve never gotten comfortable using them because I don’t have much opportunity to use them but with experience I’m sure i would be able to use them effectively.

A lot of things are a matter of practice. I’m left handed but I’m sure it would be strange to shift with my left hand. At least you guys down under don’t put the gas petal on the left foot.

David Serrano

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Don’t forget about paddle shifters. We have them on my wife’s 04 Lexus and my 2010 BMW. I’ve never gotten comfortable using them because I don’t have much opportunity to use them but with experience I’m sure i would be able to use them effectively.

A lot of things are a matter of practice. I’m left handed but I’m sure it would be strange to shift with my left hand. At least you guys down under don’t put the gas petal on the left foot.

David Serrano

The great Italian racing driver of the 1920s, Nuvolari grew tired of refining the car his team gave him to use only to have it taken from him at the last moment and given to his "team mate". In an effort to stop the BS, it is said he interchanged the clutch and brake, and when the other driver tried to drive it, he stalked off, defeated. Nuvolari drove and went on to win. He had practiced driving with the pedals like that and was at home with it.
IMO, that is good eveidence that we CAN change

[P.S.]

The "rolling coal" dingbats prefer the manual transmission diesel pickups.

[nkaminar]

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My heavy duty 2016 Diesel Siverado pickup has an automatic transmission. I use it to pull my camping trailer. In trailer mode the transmission keeps the engine at about 2,000 rpm and will automatically downshift going down a grade. I have a Diesel brake too that restricts the exhaust to slow down the truck. Everything is automatic. I rarely have to use the brakes except for stopping at a stop light. The trailer and the truck combined weigh about 20,000 pounds.

OK, back to my Model A. I have the Miller overdrive and the Miller synchronized transmission. I use the overdrive in second for hilly backroad areas, going up or down. I will occasionally use the overdrive in low gear on really steep dirt roads. I am sure all you all also use the lower gears to help the brakes.

[Jemelton#]

When in high school drivers training in the early 60s we took it in a compact ford donated by a local dealer who then sold it on his used car lot. As it was a 3 on the tree hopefully he replaced the clutch before it was sold! Anyway one of the tasks we had to accomplish was to stop at the top of a hill, shut the motor off, then restart it without rolling down backwards, the proceed up the hill. what fun!!

[Keith True]

In high school I taught my girlfriend how to drive a standard.She was refusing to learn the stop and take off on a hill.So as we were going up the hill in town I hollered for her to stop.She slammed on the brakes,and she thought she was about to run over a cat or something.She wouldn't budge,so I got out of the car and said to pick me up at the top of the hill.I didn't think that 61 VW would spin the tires,but it did.She came up that hill and kept right on going.I had to walk a mile home,and she was sitting on the steps talking to my father.I think they were waiting to ride me about it,but the first thing I said was,see,you did it with no problem.She still drives a stick,but her husband of 45 years won't.He drives truck,and says he rows all day,and is not going to row anywhere if he's not getting paid to.

[JayJay]

When I was in college (early 70’s) I had a Volvo sedan (long story) with a four speed. My girlfriend didn’t have a car, so I had to teach her to drive the four speed. She was game, did well, and her first car was an ‘64 Beetle (boy, do I wish I still had that car!). After we were married we didn’t get an automatic car or truck until well into the 90’s. I point this out to her whenever I ask her to drive the Model A, but she refuses. I think she figures that I’ll get tired of driving the Model As and get rid of them, but I don’t see that happening.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by nkaminar

My heavy duty 2016 Diesel Siverado pickup has an automatic transmission. I use it to pull my camping trailer. In trailer mode the transmission keeps the engine at about 2,000 rpm and will automatically downshift going down a grade. I have a Diesel brake too that restricts the exhaust to slow down the truck. Everything is automatic. I rarely have to use the brakes except for stopping at a stop light. The trailer and the truck combined weigh about 20,000 pounds.

OK, back to my Model A. I have the Miller overdrive and the Miller synchronized transmission. I use the overdrive in second for hilly backroad areas, going up or down. I will occasionally use the overdrive in low gear on really steep dirt roads. I am sure all you all also use the lower gears to help the brakes.

Miller or Mitchell?

[Dale'45]

My friend teaching his replacement how to shift the Mack Quadraplex by double clutching. Replacement's answer to that was don't be foolin me, I know that other one is the brake.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by JayJay

When I was in college (early 70’s) I had a Volvo sedan (long story) with a four speed. My girlfriend didn’t have a car, so I had to teach her to drive the four speed. She was game, did well, and her first car was an ‘64 Beetle (boy, do I wish I still had that car!). After we were married we didn’t get an automatic car or truck until well into the 90’s. I point this out to her whenever I ask her to drive the Model A, but she refuses. I think she figures that I’ll get tired of driving the Model As and get rid of them, but I don’t see that happening.

When we are on a rally, I have to keep my eye on my wife or she will be in the driver's seat demanding to drive the next section.
One of our clubs runs an annual event strictly for women drivers. We figure that if we are maybe 1,000 miles from home and the husband gets sick, she has to drive the car home. It has happened and fortunately, that wife was quite comfortable behind the wheel but most others wouldn't have a chance