Stick hard to learn?

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 04-24-2005, 03:37

In the US most vans seem to be automatic, but a lot of smaller cars or Subarus (4 wheel drive, powerful cars, perfect for New England winters) are manual. I think manuals are maintianing their own sphere of car types while automatics have their own sphere.

**ichi** · 04-24-2005, 07:51

Standard transmissions are easy to master.

The only problem is if you like to drink coffee / chat on your cell / microwave burritos while driving.

I drive a 5 speed and when I talk on the cell I and have to shift its usually hilarious.

ichi

ps learn to use the hand brake on steep hills. When you are trying to get going when parked on a steep slope, set the hand brake, then put the car in gear with the clutch in, release the clutch while you give it gas and release the the hand brake. Saves trying to shift your left foot from brake to clutch.

**SwordsMaster** · 04-24-2005, 11:36

I drive a 5 speed and when I talk on the cell I and have to shift its usually hilarious.

The trick is having your phone in your left rather than your right hand, so you control the wheel and change gears with the same hand.

ps learn to use the hand brake on steep hills. When you are trying to get going when parked on a steep slope, set the hand brake, then put the car in gear with the clutch in, release the clutch while you give it gas and release the the hand brake. Saves trying to shift your left foot from brake to clutch.

Thats unnecessary. If you can hold the car still on 1st gear, release the brake pedal and hit the gas. Takes some practice though.

I learned to drive in a city that could be anything but flat, so you pick up these little tips.

**Ronin** · 04-24-2005, 12:55

Originally Posted by ichi

Standard transmissions are easy to master.

The only problem is if you like to drink coffee / chat on your cell / microwave burritos while driving.

I drive a 5 speed and when I talk on the cell I and have to shift its usually hilarious.

ichi

ps learn to use the hand brake on steep hills. When you are trying to get going when parked on a steep slope, set the hand brake, then put the car in gear with the clutch in, release the clutch while you give it gas and release the the hand brake. Saves trying to shift your left foot from brake to clutch.

isn´t using the phone while driving ilegal over there?...it is here at least(unless you have a hands-free system)....and damn good thing it is...most people allready have their hands full with just the car...they don´t need another challenge

**KukriKhan** · 04-24-2005, 18:18

Not hard to learn - but time-consuming. It takes practice.

My first car was a 1960 Renault Caravelle (stop snickering, you Yanks!

; it was a hunk of junk, BUT I was the only 16 year old in my school with his own name on a car title ). 3 gears, on the floor. I guess I drove it around my empty school parking lot 6-7 hours before I could shift my way up and down the gears without having to look at the shifter. Eventually, you can "feel" when it's time to shift, and where the 'sweet spot' of the clutch is (and that 'spot' is different in every car).

2 months ago, a guy here stole stuff from a shop, then ran to the parking lot & tried to car-jack a Nissan Sentra that was idling at the curb. He told the driver to "get out"; she did, the guy got in, fussed about for a moment, then got out, and said: "You drive; it's a stick!".

Cops arrived and busted the guy.

I saw figures saying about 25% of new drivers in California know how to drive a manual.

**ichi** · 04-24-2005, 18:28

The trick is having your phone in your left rather than your right hand, so you control the wheel and change gears with the same hand.

which works OK unless you're driving on a very curvy road and need to shift and steer simultaneously, or you are talking for a long time and the left side of your head starts to smoke from the microwave radiation.

Thats unnecessary. If you can hold the car still on 1st gear, release the brake pedal and hit the gas. Takes some practice though.

there is usually more than one way to solve a problem, and individuals may prefer one method over another. Holding the car still on 1st gear can be bad for the clutch, so I prefer the handbrake method - seems so much more relaxed than switching pedals quickly.

isn´t using the phone while driving ilegal over there?...it is here at least(unless you have a hands-free system)....and damn good thing it is...most people allready have their hands full with just the car...they don´t need another challenge

the other day I was driving on the freeway and as I passed a woman she wandered into my lane as she was applying her makeup.

Damn female drivers!!

In order to avoid her I had to put down my cell phone during an important call, I spilled my coffee and dropped my doughnut, AND I cut myself with my shaver which made me burn my upholstery when I lost my ciggy.

ichi

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 04-25-2005, 03:40

It is illegal in New York, but once you cross the border to Vermont you can chat as much as you wish.

**bthizle1** · 04-25-2005, 05:30

Well I tried it for bout 2 hours and it is pretty hard to get used to.....I got better after a while, but I was driving an old scout.....one of the first SUVs ever made, so I think the mustang will be easier to drive...with power steering and brakes.