'fess up. Who here hasn't driven a stickshift?

[tbm3fan]

My two daily drivers are both 5 speed sticks. Early two day quickie lesson on a 1972 Capri and then cut my teeth on my father's 1973 911E which wasn't an easy car to learn on.

My first hill, in San Francisco, was an complete disaster not once, not twice but three times. The saving grace is that it was a Sunday in 1973 and zero traffic on that hill. Today is a whole other story for that hill to the entrance of the Bay Bridge.

 

[65 500]

Funny stuff but as I remember it, it would do 70, or maxed out there.

And no.... The Jersey Turnpike at 5 in N jersey is bumper to bumper and crawling. I stayed to the right and followed the herd

The only bumper to bumper crawling traffic that I remember in N.J. were the gas lines in 1973.

But I didn't get out much.

 

[cantflip]

You know... I don't see too many confessions here. So here is mine, earlier in this thread it came up about muscle cars and crash boxes... Got me thinkin... I know I have driven several F### and C##### muscle cars with 4 speeds, but only as a tech and lurking customers made it unwise to rag on them. I drove 1 car with a pistol grip, but cant remember what it was... same situation. I have never been free to wring out a true 60s-70s musclecar manual transmission. In my world, if you do a engine job or something else that requires a "spirited drive" to verify the repairs are correct... you have to do it. Starting in 1985, I just cant seem to recall any manual transmission true muscle cars I got to do this to. As the cars aged, the owners never let their "baby" out of their sight and I have too much respect for other peoples property to push the few chances I did have.

Never really drove a true unsynchronized transmission either, I have done clutchless shifting... not certain its entirely the same experience and lot driving doesn't count. I held a class A permit for a short time in the late 90's, but I only wanted it to give myself options and my early 90's DUI got the dealership's insurance carrier wound up over my "temporary license" so I let it go before I got to spend a day with my OO friend driving his truck. Another opportunity missed... but I wasn't planning to drive professionally anyhow, just making myself more eligible for job opportunities... the low pay of the few fleet offers I had pretty much killed that desire anyhow.

Now some of the beatings new, unsold cars received...

 

[Xavi3r]

fun fact, here in France we only had manual transmission. so we are used to drive in manual, and automatic takes a little time to learn ( but it is very very quick do not worry ).
But we are used to drive manual on floor.
The first time I drove a plymouth with 3 speed on column I couldn't. it was very hard to learn.

 

[Big_John]

My first wife was driving my 2.2 Charger FWD one night and ran a yellow light. A town cop was behind her and she got stopped. When the cop got up to the car, she started telling him that she wasn't used to driving the stick shift and didn't want to stop on the slight uphill. The cop bought the story...

Truth is, she was pretty good with the stick cars. I had to teach her, but she got the hang of it pretty fast and really liked driving them.

 

[detmatt]

Was the summer of my senior year, had just graduated high school and was headed off to college in the fall. A gal (Lisa) at my school who was a couple years behind me had introduced me to a nice red-head girlfriend of hers she grew up with from another school about 25 miles away. Lisa's parents had also recently divorced and her mom got the summer camp on a lake maybe 30-35 miles in another direction. The friend, who I'd been seeing a bit, was up visiting her for a week, and Lisa's boyfriend was also there. They called to tell me we were all going to her parents' camp in half an hour, be ready.

Up they drive in this bright orange '75 or so Vega-Wagon-GT thing, almost dragging, crammed full with three people and 'stuff'. Lisa comes over, tosses me the keys and says "You're driving". I say "Can't, don't know how to drive a standard". She smiles and says "You have to - none of us has a license yet". Great.

Had no idea what I was going to do but I knew this much: we had the use of a camp on a lake with no one to bother us; at 18 I was old enough back then to buy beer (they were all 16-17); her friend was sitting in the front seat with her long red hair blowing in the open window, batting her piercing, blue eyes at me; and my parents were due home anytime, sure to inquire as to what we were up to. Didn't care to have that discussion, so.....

Great story, the red head was smokin' hot wasn't she? Well she was in my mind anyways...

 

[72Fury]

To be honest its a hard car to describe. It sounds wrong the V10 lopes along but its such a steady push you back into your seat you dont get the brutal launch like the Hellcat or dumping the clutch at 4000rpm on an awd Stealth. Now the Viper on a road course or grabbing 4th gear at 130mph with 2 more gears to go aint to shabby either but i like the rawness of a muscle car over a supercar

I've got a bit of seat time in them and have never been a fan of the sound. Power wise though, they are stout.

My two daily drivers are both 5 speed sticks. Early two day quickie lesson on a 1972 Capri and then cut my teeth on my father's 1973 911E which wasn't an easy car to learn on.

My first hill, in San Francisco, was an complete disaster not once, not twice but three times. The saving grace is that it was a Sunday in 1973 and zero traffic on that hill. Today is a whole other story for that hill to the entrance of the Bay Bridge.

The pedals coming out of the floor, like a VW bug is a little different than the pedals coming off of the steering column. Clutch release doesn't feel the same.

I still prefer a stick in everything with the exception of my work truck. I have even converted more than a few from automatic to stick. I had a friend that was a State Trooper and he was assigned a Mustang 5.0 with a stick. He much preferred the Crown Vic. His reasoning was in a pursuit, operating the radio was enough.

 

[Dobalovr]

Now some of the beatings new, unsold cars received...

Whatever do you mean.......?

 

[Dobalovr]

the red head was smokin' hot wasn't she? Well she was in my mind anyways...

Married one and glad I did but I did learn to "Duck & Cover"... When they blow man or beast better look out!!

Yes dear I'll go take out the garbage...no I'm not saying anything bad on the forum......

 

[commando1]

I feel a little disdain for people that have no interest in driving a stick but then again, I know a bunch of Model T owners that show a little disdain for me for having no interest in learning how to drive their Model T's. WTF is all this planetary gear transmission stuff anyway...

 

[cantflip]

I feel a little disdain for people that have no interest in driving a stick but then again, I know a bunch of Model T owners that show a little disdain for me for having no interest in learning how to drive their Model T's. WTF is all this planetary gear transmission stuff anyway...

A Model T is actually pretty high on my wish list... just as soon as i figure out where to put it and what the hell I would ever do with it... Driving it isn't really an option around here. I really just like the idea of owning a car so few can drive I suppose.

 

[1978 NYB]

I feel a little disdain for people that have no interest in driving a stick but then again, I know a bunch of Model T owners that show a little disdain for me for having no interest in learning how to drive their Model T's. WTF is all this planetary gear transmission stuff anyway...

All Army vehicles are automatic's now.

Female's can drive them now....

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Best way to describe a full power shift in a BB muscle car is " I swear the dashboard hit the windshield". This statement can be used in a Freightliner on the Cross Bronx expressway.

 

[72Fury]

All Army vehicles are automatic's now.

Female's can drive them now....

But they have a heater now!

 

[SIPLOWGUY]

Learned in 1978 and have driven and owned many ever since. My present "stick" car is a 62 Dodge Dart with a 3 speed on the column. Now, who has driven a Fluid Drive? My Dad showed a friend and I in a 50 Desoto many years ago.

 

[1978 NYB]

But they have a heater now!

And A/C!!!

 

[72Fury]

And A/C!!!

What's next? Camping with Winnebagos?

Realistically for rock crawling and day in/out the automatic in something like that is a better idea. Changing the clutch out on the big stuff is serious work. The size difference in transmissions from a M35 (the size of a Muncie) to something on a 5 ton truck (the size/weight of a 440) is huge.

 

[1978 NYB]

What's next? Camping with Winnebagos?

Realistically for rock crawling and day in/out the automatic in something like that is a better idea. Changing the clutch out on the big stuff is serious work. The size difference in transmissions from a M35 (the size of a Muncie) to something on a 5 ton truck (the size/weight of a 440) is huge.

I served in Armored Cavalry and Heavy Artillery for 20 years. No Winnebago's for us. The split-tail's stationed pool side......that's another story.

 

[commando1]

Now, who has driven a Fluid Drive?

I have.
That's why when my company experimented with the early Allisons 20 years ago, I was the only guy that knew how to drive it. They were basically 10 speed Fluid Drives.

The split-tail's stationed pool side......that's another story.

You were just jealous because all your crotch was getting was a wicked rash from the heat and sand.

 

[Big_John]

Learned in 1978 and have driven and owned many ever since. My present "stick" car is a 62 Dodge Dart with a 3 speed on the column. Now, who has driven a Fluid Drive? My Dad showed a friend and I in a 50 Desoto many years ago.

I own a fluid drive with the "semi automatic", but haven't driven it yet.