Just Curious...How many of you have NEVER driven a car with a manual transmission?

[AJAX]

I am not asking if you know how it works...I am asking if you have never driven one.

[TD]

I hope this list is pretty damn short.

It's been 15 years since I've owned a car with an automatic. In those years, I have only driven a slushie when I've had rentals or had to drive someone else's car for some reason (although most everyone I know drives stick).

For my wife, the only slushbox she ever owned she got from her parents back when she was 16. I think she finally ditched it about 10 years ago. Stick only since then as well.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Soon you'll have a lot of people who have never driven a mt. Neither my little sister or brother ever have. :(

[AJAX]

I hope this list is pretty damn short.

Me 2, especially on this board. I was just talking to a girl at work, and she never has driven a manual before...Just got my curiosity going.

[The Roadstergal]

I am on a campaign to corrupt my labmates. They're all slushie-only. I gave one of the techs a ride home over Christmas, and she asked why people bother to drive manuals... :eeps:

[blueguydotcom]

Me 2, especially on this board. I was just talking to a girl at work, and she never has driven a manual before...Just got my curiosity going.

I had a friend who had never driven a manual and I tended to drive us everywhere - vacations, dinner, etc, etc. One night at dinner I mentioned it might be a good idea to teach her stick in case I ever couldn't drive. That very night I broke my collar bone and she got a crash course in driving me to the hospital in my 5 speed.

Did a darn fine job too. Only one stall in like 12-15 miles.

[LeucX3]

I have returned from the darkside and now have a 6 speed. It feels good...real good.

[waapples]

i always have had AT cars before i got this darn nice e39.
so glad that i got the manual tranny on this bimmer, i guess the main reason why i had to sell my previous car had to do something with the AT... :eek:

anyways, i don't think i would go back to AT again :rofl:

[Maverick]

In Australia, you get either Manual or Auto license. Manual can drive both, Auto can't. I tend to find that unless you learnt manual, you don't reall "know" how to drive. It makes you a safer and more complete drive in my opinion.

[Mr. The Edge]

I see alee has voted :D

[HW]

first manual car i've ever owned and driven. couldn't even drive it out of the dealer lot. :eek: friend drove it home for me.

[jw]

first manual car i've ever owned and driven. couldn't even drive it out of the dealer lot. :eek: friend drove it home for me.
Brave! Sounds like when I bought my first motorcycle. :D

[The Roadstergal]

first manual car i've ever owned and driven. couldn't even drive it out of the dealer lot. :eek: friend drove it home for me.

My Miata was my intro to manuals. I remember trying to drive it home and hitting a hill with a stop sign at the top - I was so screwed. I finally checked to make sure nobody was coming and bombed through the sign...

It took me a few months to get hill starts down. :(

[Kaz]

I learned to drive on a MT, and unlike most of my friends who learned on a MT but took the license test in a AT, I also took the test in a MT.

[TD]

My (then new) E30 318is was my first manual tranny car and I essentially learned on it.

[nate]

I genuinely feel uncomfortable driving automatics.

[TD]

I genuinely feel uncomfortable driving automatics.
Actually, I do too. Especially in heavy traffic. In traffic, I frequently come close to rear-ending the carsin front of me. And it's such a PITA to have to brake repeatedly.

[nate]

My (then new) E30 318is was my first manual tranny car and I essentially learned on it.
What year 318? 1989?

[TD]

What year 318? 1989?
1991. The good one.

There were no 318s in the US from either '84 or '85 until '91.

[nate]

1991. The good one.

There were no 318s in the US from either '84 or '85 until '91.

Your first car?

[TD]

Your first car?
No, my third one. It was my first stick. My parents were and continue to be slushie drivers so the first two were slushies.

I turned 16 back in 1987. I had an '87 Escort GL (3-spd auto) then an '89 Pontiac Trans Am 5.0 (4-spd auto). I only had the TA for about a year. And, no, it didn't have a screaming chicken on the hood.

[·clyde·]

1991. The good one.

There were no 318s in the US from either '84 or '85 until '91.

Must be 85 because I had an 84.

[BahnBaum]

This is my first manual since my 1993 Nissan Sentra SE-R (which was a great car, btw).

I grew up driving manuals, but I'm finding it more difficult converting one of my kids. Son #1 drives a manual Civic, son #2 an automatic Focus ZX-3. Son #2 has no interest in learning to drive an MT, even with the resulting ability to occasionally drive my M3. Son #3 is still a year away from driving but swears he'll never drive anything but a stick. Oh well, son #2's loss. But for his own good, I'd like him to learn. (on the Civic, of course)

Alex

[HW]

son #2 an automatic Focus ZX-3. Son #2 has no interest in learning to drive an MT, even with the resulting ability to occasionally drive my M3. Son #3 is still a year away from driving but swears he'll never drive anything but a stick. Oh well, son #2's loss. But for his own good, I'd like him to learn. (on the Civic, of course)

Alex

son #2 is a sissy! :neener: jk :p :rofl:

[zcasavant]

No, my third one. It was my first stick. My parents were and continue to be slushie drivers so the first two were slushies.

I turned 16 back in 1987. I had an '87 Escort GL (3-spd auto) then an '89 Pontiac Trans Am 5.0 (4-spd auto). I only had the TA for about a year. And, no, it didn't have a screaming chicken on the hood.

Sure it did. No need to lie.
:rofl:

http://publish.uwo.ca/~agrehorn/Trans_Am_hoodbird_good.JPG

[BahnBaum]

son #2 is a sissy! :neener: jk :p :rofl:

No, son #2 is actually pretty cool. He just sees driving as a means to an end, and not something to be enjoyed. Must come from his mother's side of the family. :p

Alex

[alee]

I see alee has voted :D
Hey I've "driven" a few manual cars... :eek:

[Melissa]

I have driven a manual BMW once (test-drive) and Jake taught me to drive his other truck, a manual. My first learning experience was on a 70 Beetle and it was awful. My teacher/then-boyfriend didn't help.

I admit that I'm not yet comfortable enough to go it alone, but when I get another BMW, I intend to get a manual. I am proficient with riding motorcycles so I think that with practice, I'll have no trouble adapting and mastering.

As much as I loved driving my auto bimmer, a manual will only make the drive better! :)

[SARAFIL]

I learned to drive on a MT, and unlike most of my friends who learned on a MT but took the license test in a AT, I also took the test in a MT.

[nate]

I turned 16 back in 1987. I had an '87 Escort GL (3-spd auto)

Damn :eek:

Interesting that my first car was 8 years older than yours, despite our age gap. Mine was stick though.

My parents have only bought one automatic car, my sister's QX4. She learned on a stick though, and now wants to ditch the SUV.

[operknockity]

My first learning experience was on a 70 Beetle and it was awful.

Learned to drive and took the test in an AT. My dad used to drive trucks with MT so he knew what he was doing, but mom wouldn't go near an MT to save her life, so we always had AT cars.

My first time with a stick was in a 70's bug as well. Bloody awful!!!!! That bug was in very poor condition and it was packed to the gills with stuff as a friend (it was his car) and I drove off to college one year. We had a 4 inch square tunnel through all the stuff so we could use the rear view mirror, and we were almost driving with our heads out the sun roof. I don't know how we ever made it the 400 miles and survived, especially the parts where I was driving :rofl:

Next time was in a friend's Honda Prelude on the way back from Vegas one year. He figured that out in the desert I couldn't get in to too much trouble so he let me drive and gave me some pointers.

When I finally got a car with a stick, the sales critter at the dealership spent about an hour in the car with me teaching me how to drive it. That guy really earned his commision that time! It must have been some good teaching since I had that car for almost 16 years and I was still on the original clutch with about 160K miles.

Since then, the only slushies I've driven have been rentals or other folk's cars.

[operknockity]

I genuinely feel uncomfortable driving automatics.

I'm fine with drving them, but when I first get in them, I keep reaching for the stick and the clutch pedal. It takes a bit to do the context switch back to an AT.

[The Roadstergal]

I genuinely feel uncomfortable driving automatics.

Ja. I keep expecting them to behave like manuals.

[AJAX]

first manual car i've ever owned and driven. couldn't even drive it out of the dealer lot. :eek: friend drove it home for me.

That's just not right...... :confused:

[Pat2002]

:D Wife is the real exception to your post question, she has never driven an automatic! Not even a borrowed, rental, etc. Taught her to drive on a 62 Buick Skylark V8 stick, her first car, then a 1974 BMW 2002 4 speed and she now drives a 1987 325is 5 speed. We still have both BMW's. She is scared to try an automatic when she hears about people driving thru houses, stores, etc. for hitting the gas and not the brake.
I don't intend to squash those fears.

[cantona7]

My 330Ci is the first manual car I've ever owned. In fact, prior to taking delivery of the car last Tuesday, my collective time spent driving manuals probably hovered around the 90 minute mark--at most. Learned two years ago when a buddy taught me on his VW New Beetle. That took about 30 minutes. Over the last two years, the rest of my stick driving time has been the hard way--on test drives. I count one Saab 9-3, a Honda, a Mini, a 325Ci and a 330i ZHP. That's about it. The last 10 days have been the best driving days of my life. I must say that I found hills and steep ramps a bit scary at first, but I've pretty much figured them out too--even conquered my local shopping mall garage last weekend (a major milestone for me).

p.s. My wife's a great stick driver (she learned on a 73 Beetle)--I wanna drive like her when I grow up.

[KevinM]

There's a great "article" from the humor paper "The Onion" about a guy who works the fact that he drives a manual transmisson into every possible conversion...it's halarious!

Having said that, although I learned to drive with an automatic (because my parents' cars were automatics) I have always purchased cars with manual transmissions - from my first Nissan Sentra all the way to my current 530. I don't feel superior, I just love to shift! In fact, the main reason I bought my first BMW (a 528) was because it was the only car in its class I could even FIND with a manual transmission available.

My wife's car is a Mercedes SUV...obviously an automatic. She gets to drive my car once a week or so and I am stuck with the SUV...I can honestly say the thing I hate about it the most is that it is an automatic. My foot keeps going for the invisible clutch!

Kevin

[blueguydotcom]

My wife's car is a Mercedes SUV...obviously an automatic. She gets to drive my car once a week or so and I am stuck with the SUV...I can honestly say the thing I hate about it the most is that it is an automatic. My foot keeps going for the invisible clutch!

Kevin

Any time I drive an automatic - like business trips and such - I spend the first day with my left foot slamming into the floorboards. freaks out co-workers. :thumbup:

[HW]

Any time I drive an automatic - like business trips and such - I spend the first day with my left foot slamming into the floorboards. freaks out co-workers. :thumbup:
yep. i always feel like i'm missing something when i drive an auto.

[Will_325i]

My wife's Honda Pilot only comes in automatic. I use it to drive the family around on weekends 'cuz it hauls stuff so easily.

I love my stick shift but when driving an ultra-boring vehicle, automatic doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I think I prefer it.

NOTE: No offense to Pilot owners!

SIDE NOTE: The Pilot's auto transmission is simply unbelievable. I can't believe something in that price range has such a smooth transmission.

[TD]

My wife's Honda Pilot only comes in automatic. I use it to drive the family around on weekends 'cuz it hauls stuff so easily.

I love my stick shift but when driving an ultra-boring vehicle, automatic doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I think I prefer it.

NOTE: No offense to Pilot owners!

SIDE NOTE: The Pilot's auto transmission is simply unbelievable. I can't believe something in that price range has such a smooth transmission.
"In that price range"?! The damn thing is expensive.

[AF]

I learned how to drive a Manual at 10 years old on my father's then new 1979 280ZX at a local mall ... and no this isn't a typo, I will never forget the faces of the people as I drove by them seeing this little kid driving :D ... my parents beleived in teachig us to drive VERY early. At 9 I drove an Automatic . . .


My first car at 17 was Manual as well !!

[mtbscott]

My father taught me how to drive manual in his 1971 Toyota Corona, our family had also had a Beetle and a Peugot? during the 60's that were manual. My first car at 16 was a Kharmann Ghia convertible with "semi-automatic," you had to shift 3 gears but no clutch (ugh!). Since that time I have owned only two automatics, a pickup truck and a Geo that was left to me when my father died. I don't have any kids of my own, but have taught several kids of friends how to drive manuals, they all think it's pretty cool. AF-RX8's story reminds me of one. One of my friend's 12 year old son had grown up in a semi-rural area and had learned to drive an old Willys jeep around the neighborhood. A few years back, I told him he could drive my Audi TT225, but he only got two chances to move out without stalling. He choked once, then was fine on the second try. We drove around his neighborhood honking at all his friends' houses so they'd see him driving the shiny red TT. What a hoot!

[GimpyMcFarlan]

I learned how to drive a manual at 17. It was my first car, a 1990 civic hatchback. I'm now on my 4th MT car. I have never driven a AT car full time. :D

[blueguydotcom]

I learned how to drive a Manual at 10 years old on my father's then new 1979 280ZX at a local mall ... and no this isn't a typo, I will never forget the faces of the people as I drove by them seeing this little kid driving :D ... my parents beleived in teachig us to drive VERY early. At 9 I drove an Automatic . . .


My first car at 17 was Manual as well !!

I learned at 10 also. I drove a 1983 Nissan Pulsar NX. Fun little car. We were at my friend's dairy farm so we had hundreds of acres to roam. Within no time we were going buckwild with the various manuals we could get our hands on. Nothing to hit but cows and fences...

[Salvator]

My first car at 16 was a Kharmann Ghia convertible with "semi-automatic," you had to shift 3 gears but no clutch (ugh!).

Nothing wrong with the old VW "Auto-Stick"... Think of it as a real early form of SMG! :rofl:

[3LOU5]

I am not asking if you know how it works...I am asking if you have never driven one.

As far as I'm concerned, rowing through the gears is the only way to experience true driving excitement.

:thumbup:

But there are some days that I wished I had a slushie, days when I wake up after bombing down a bump run when skiing or after playing 4 sets of tennis and my legs feel like spaghetti. :cry:

[Claresecl]

I learned to drive in an MGB with a stick :)

[frog]

I learned to drive in an MGB with a stick :)

Taught my 5'-11" college sweetheart how to row a manual in a MG Midget. :yikes:

Love these cars. :p

____________________

[gizzy]

I don't even remember when I first learned to drive. I drove tractors on our farm for as long as I can remember. The first time I drove the pickup (automatic), I was about 7 or 8. At about 11 or 12, I learned how to drive stick (I don' t count the tractors as stick) in a 1947 truck with a potato bed. It had four peddles (clutch, break, gas, starter) and two gear shifts (3 reverse and 12 forward gears). Bought my first car at 16 which was an 81 Honda Accord (Stick) and started driving my grandpa's 67 Dodge pickup (Stick). At 17, I sold the Accord and bought an 88 cavalier (at parents demand) and have been drive auto's ever since. I really wanted a stick when I got the bimmer and tried to use the "Look how much we can save honey!" line with my wife but it didn't work.

[Motown328]

:D Wife is the real exception to your post question, she has never driven an automatic! She is scared to try an automatic when she hears about people driving thru houses, stores, etc. for hitting the gas and not the brake.
I don't intend to squash those fears.

That's because those people are old and senile, not because of an automatic!!! :p

I have never driven standard. My family has never had standard (since I was born) so I was never introduced to it. Besides, here in Traffic-Jam heaven, a manual would be A LOT OF FRIGGIN' WORK. Rarely is there any stretches of open road where you can just row through the gates. You would rarely be able to pass 3rd out here (that is, if you'd want to anyway?!?!!!! HAHAHA....).

Besides, I have to use my other hand for other stuff.....erm..........coffee, CDs, etc...... :confused:

Although I think I was born for a SMG, because ever since I was little I used to turn the window handles up and down on every up and down shift of the car my parents or grandparents were driving (all autos). I still today have some of that habit left as I catch myself sometimes twisting my wrists on the steering wheels at the exact moment the engine shifts. Hahahaha...funny. I guess if I ever did switch I would have absolutely no problem with gear timing.

[TD]

That's because those people are old and senile, not because of an automatic!!! :p

I have never driven standard. My family has never had standard (since I was born) so I was never introduced to it. Besides, here in Traffic-Jam heaven, a manual would be A LOT OF FRIGGIN' WORK. Rarely is there any stretches of open road where you can just row through the gates. You would rarely be able to pass 3rd out here (that is, if you'd want to anyway?!?!!!! HAHAHA....).

Besides, I have to use my other hand for other stuff.....erm..........coffee, CDs, etc...... :confused:

Although I think I was born for a SMG, because ever since I was little I used to turn the window handles up and down on every up and down shift of the car my parents or grandparents were driving (all autos). I still today have some of that habit left as I catch myself sometimes twisting my wrists on the steering wheels at the exact moment the engine shifts. Hahahaha...funny. I guess if I ever did switch I would have absolutely no problem with gear timing.
Seriously, I MUCH prefer a manual in heavy stop-and-go traffic over an automatic. IMO, an automatic is more work. With a stick, you just modulate the clutch and gas, barely moving your feet. And, in doing so, you are able to maintain a rather smooth roll. It's not the jerky gas, brake, gas, brake of an automatic.

Really.

[HW]

Seriously, I MUCH prefer a manual in heavy stop-and-go traffic over an automatic. IMO, an automatic is more work. With a stick, you just modulate the clutch and gas, barely moving your feet. And, in doing so, you are able to maintain a rather smooth roll. It's not the jerky gas, brake, gas, brake of an automatic.

Really.

i find 1st gear is too tall for stop-n-go and 2nd too short w/o having to slip a lot.

[Mr. The Edge]

Seriously, I MUCH prefer a manual in heavy stop-and-go traffic over an automatic. IMO, an automatic is more work. With a stick, you just modulate the clutch and gas, barely moving your feet. And, in doing so, you are able to maintain a rather smooth roll. It's not the jerky gas, brake, gas, brake of an automatic.

Really.

in heavy stop and go traffic with an automatic, there's only one pedal to modulate--the brake. You don't need to use the gas pedal.

[Kaz]

in heavy stop and go traffic with an automatic, there's only one pedal to modulate--the brake. You don't need to use the gas pedal.

Come on. We all know all TD is doing is justifying his high-and-mighty position to himself.

I will say I like not having to hold the brake the keep the car from rolling forward (given you're stuck on a level road) but getting on and off the brake is WAY less work than feathering the clutch.

[SAZMan]

i find 1st gear is too tall for stop-n-go and 2nd too short w/o having to slip a lot.

OK, I need some remedial stick shift basics. What does the above statement mean exactly?

[HW]

OK, I need some remedial stick shift basics. What does the above statement mean exactly?

1st gear: the gearing ratio is too high and you end up w/ jerky over torqued feel. you also because 1st gear doesn't get you too far if traffic picks up a tiny bit you end up w/ someone jumping in front of you or having to move to 2nd gear
2nd gear: if you use 2nd for stop-n-go, you have do slip the clutch a great deal.

a gear somewhere in between would be better for stop-n-go traffic.

[Kaz]

HW, I think you have your 'tall' and 'short' switched.

'Tall' is when the reduction ratio is low, and thus engine RPM is low relative to vehicle speed. 'Short' is, obviously, the reverse condition. I assume you meant to say 1st is too short and 2nd is too tall, which is exactly the predicament I have with the (short) 3.46 rear end in my car.

[HW]

HW, I think you have your 'tall' and 'short' switched.

'Tall' is when the reduction ratio is low, and thus engine RPM is low relative to vehicle speed. 'Short' is, obviously, the reverse condition. I assume you meant to say 1st is too short and 2nd is too tall, which is exactly the predicament I have with the (short) 3.46 rear end in my car.

oops, got it. :thumbup:

[AF]

in heavy stop and go traffic with an automatic, there's only one pedal to modulate--the brake. You don't need to use the gas pedal.

Good point aty ... I think 99.999% of the people in this world would agree that an Automatic in traffic is easier then a manual . . .

It's pretty much a no-brainer

[TD]

Bah. You just leave your feet in place and feather the clutch and gas. No moving your foot from the gas to the brake. Or, if the (auto tranny) car is the sort to pull on it's own without giving it gas, you have to constantly apply the brake to keep from running into the car in front of you. But that speed up/slow down thing always gets annoying to me very quickly. With a stick, I am able to generally maintain a rather steady (albeit very slow) speed by modulating the clutch and gas.

Nate and Hack always make this same argument (as does my wife), so it's not just me.

[AF]

Bah. You just leave your feet in place and feather the clutch and gas. No moving your foot from the gas to the brake. Or, if the (auto tranny) car is the sort to pull on it's own without giving it gas, you have to constantly apply the brake to keep from running into the car in front of you. But that speed up/slow down thing always gets annoying to me very quickly. With a stick, I am able to generally maintain a rather steady (albeit very slow) speed by modulating the clutch and gas.

Nate and Hack always make this same argument (as does my wife), so it's not just me.

uh ... ok, your right, it must be that everyone else is wrong :confused:

[The Roadstergal]

In stop-and-go traffic, a manual is a pain. So is an auto. Stop-and-go traffic is a pain. Since I'm used to a manual, though, my instincts are off in an auto, and it's very uncomfy.

In creeping traffic, a manual is fine. You feather the clutch, or just creep, if it's a little faster than the 1st gear idle crawl. The eta is great for that.

IMHO, driving in traffic isn't driving, and is to be avoided at all possible costs. I'll head to the local bookstore and read and drink coffee, then go home when the traffic thins.

[TD]

uh ... ok, your right, it must be that everyone else is wrong :confused:
I am speaking for myself.

I genuinely think a stick is easier in traffic.

You and Kaz effectively told me I was wrong.

If it's easier for me, how am I wrong?


:slap:

[AF]

I am speaking for myself.

I genuinely think a stick is easier in traffic.

You and Kaz effectively told me I was wrong.

If it's easier for me, how am I wrong?


:slap:
Because you don't know better which is why we are here to correct you :D

[Mr. The Edge]

IMHO, driving in traffic isn't driving, and is to be avoided at all possible costs. I'll head to the local bookstore and read and drink coffee, then go home when the traffic thins.

not good advice when you started out heading to work!

:D

[HW]

my nightmares are stop-n-go on a steep hill w/ a manual. really nerving even after 4 years of manual (15 years of driving)

[mecklaiz]

I'm teaching my wife to drive on our 6 speed 330. She curses the manual transmission and swears she's going to get an automatic when its time to get her own car. I'm saddened by this, however, I can appreciate that for someone whom a car is a mode of transport, the more convenient the transport the better.

However, she'll never be able to say that she's NEVER driven a manual, cause gosh darn it, she's giving her driving test in one!

Z

[blueguydotcom]

uh ... ok, your right, it must be that everyone else is wrong :confused:


i prefer my bmw manual in traffic to all automatics and most manuals. the bimmer you can leave in 2nd and not even touch the clutch or brake, just creep along.

hate autos in stop n go traffic. you can't get the car to creep.

[The Roadstergal]

I'm teaching my wife to drive on our 6 speed 330. She curses the manual transmission and swears she's going to get an automatic when its time to get her own car.

Make sure you're leaving the car and just letting her drive as much as possible. It makes the learning process less stressful and more enjoyable.

[operknockity]

In stop-and-go traffic, a manual is a pain. So is an auto. Stop-and-go traffic is a pain.
...snip...
IMHO, driving in traffic isn't driving, and is to be avoided at all possible costs. Exactly!!!!!! No matter what you drive, stop-n-go (or as I like to say stop-n-stop) traffic is a royal pain. I've done it with an AT and an MT, and depending on the conditions, sometimes the AT is easier and sometimes the MT is easier. But it still sucks to be there having to constantly play footsie with the pedals.

[TD]

i prefer my bmw manual in traffic to all automatics and most manuals. the bimmer you can leave in 2nd and not even touch the clutch or brake, just creep along.

hate autos in stop n go traffic. you can't get the car to creep.
According to Kaz and AF, you're wrong and you must just be justifying your high and mighty position to yourself.

:rolleyes:

[mecklaiz]

Make sure you're leaving the car and just letting her drive as much as possible. It makes the learning process less stressful and more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, she's never driven before so I'm getting to teach her the basics. So I kinda have to be there to sooth her nerves. I will leave her alone, just not yet.

[nate]

my nightmares are stop-n-go on a steep hill w/ a manual. really nerving even after 4 years of manual (15 years of driving)

That is why you should use the parking brake and clutch out as you ease off the parking brake.

[nate]

uh ... ok, your right, it must be that everyone else is wrong :confused:

He is right, at least for himself and me.

Driving stick is much less stressful in traffic.

[Kaz]

I am speaking for myself.

I genuinely think a stick is easier in traffic.

You and Kaz effectively told me I was wrong.

If it's easier for me, how am I wrong?


:slap:

Because, like with pretty much everything else, insist that what it right for you is what is right for all right human beings in the universe, even if "99.999%" of thosse disagree.

If you've convinced yourself that something is better than another, fine. Saying that whatever that is is the end-all-be-all for all of humanity, which is the continual overtone you always present, is wrong.

[AF]

According to Kaz and AF, you're wrong and you must just be justifying your high and mighty position to yourself.

:rolleyes:
No TD, that only applies to you :rofl:

[Cliff]

i prefer my bmw manual in traffic to all automatics and most manuals. the bimmer you can leave in 2nd and not even touch the clutch or brake, just creep along.

hate autos in stop n go traffic. you can't get the car to creep.
Move North about 400 miles and try Eastbound 580 for the afternoon rush hour. On a good day I can leave it in 1st and only come to a complete stop a few times. There are very few good days.

[Kaz]

Let's put it this way:

It's naturally easier in most generic traffic conditions to deal with an AT.

Some have chosen to make MT easier to deal with in the situations they encounter.

Sound reasonable?

[The Roadstergal]

It's naturally easier in most generic traffic conditions to deal with an AT.

Some have chosen to make MT easier to deal with in the situations they encounter.

If you're used to an AT, it feels easier in many traffic situations.
If you're used to a MT, an AT feels odd in many traffic situations.

I had an AT rental not long ago; the only situation where an it felt as normal to me was highway cruising, but driving in any other fashion meant Doing Things Differently Than I Am Used To. It's not just "one fewer pedal to worry about"; it's a different manner and behavior on the part of the car.

It's true that someone who has never driven an AT will be better off if stuck into one than someone who has never driven a MT stuck into one. But if you know how to drive both, that factor disappears.

[The Roadstergal]

not good advice when you started out heading to work!

:D

It's fine as long as I bring enough for everyone. :drink:

[blueguydotcom]

Move North about 400 miles and try Eastbound 580 for the afternoon rush hour. On a good day I can leave it in 1st and only come to a complete stop a few times. There are very few good days.

400 miles? I'd be in BFE. It's 540 miles to SF from my place. Regardless, I couldn't handle living anywhere like LA or SF where traffic literally stops moving. I'd go nuts and kill people. Heck, I get a little Patrick Bateman when I find out people were slowing to look at a car wreck.

[Mr. The Edge]

It's fine as long as I bring enough for everyone. :drink:



IMHO, driving in traffic isn't driving, and is to be avoided at all possible costs. I'll head to the local bookstore and read and drink coffee, then go home when the traffic thins.

:stickpoke

[operknockity]

I couldn't handle living anywhere like LA or SF where traffic literally stops moving. I'd go nuts and kill people.
That has been known to happen :(.

You can also understand why lots of folks out here can be found reading newspapers/books/magazines, shaving, styling their hair, putting on makeup, surfing the web, watching TV, etc., etc., etc. while doing their daily commute. All of which just contribute more to the problem as folks aren't concentrating on driving and don't keep up when traffic starts moving or they get in to accidents.

I'm waiting for BMW to finally develop the first practical transporter :rofl:

[richard]

Well, I drive an auto company car for work and my stick 325i for personal and I actually prefer the stick in traffic. Traffic jams aren't as boring with a stick...kind of gives you something to do and pay attention to. What I like about the Bimmer is that it will creep along in 1st almost to a dead stop before needing to push in the clutch. The only time that the stick freaks me out is when parallel parking on a hill. Unfortunately, my girlfriend's street is such a hill. A one way street with both sides packed bumper to bumper with cars. To make matters worse the street has an unbelievably high crown so you also back down toward the curb. Horrible!

[Will_325i]

uh ... ok, your right, it must be that everyone else is wrong :confused:

He's not the only one who feels that way.

repost...
When I got back into a shick shift after a few years of auto, I remembered something about stick shift and stop-and-go traffic.

IF the traffic is "almost stop"-and-go, meaning you oscillate between say 5 and 15 mph, stick shift is actually MORE convenient than auto, as you really don't need to clutch OR brake at all. Just leave it in first gear.

If the stop-and-go is more like 0 - 15 - 0 mph, then it can be a drag.

Additionally, when traffic momentarily opens and 50 thousand cars want to take the space in front of you, having a stick shift really makes a difference. Already in gear, no slushing, just good acceleration.

(not that I'm not corteous or anything) :D


http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=725672#post725672

[mjames]

I'm one of those poor souls who hasn't driven a stick. Then again, I've only had a license for seven months, so I have plenty of time. I am happy with my Step, but it's one of those "don't know any better" ordeals. My 325 seems fast enough, but I haven't driven a 330 or M3. And I think it's a good thing since I won't feel my car is slow.

My next ride will probably be a stick, possibly SMG. But as a new driver, I needed to be worrying about gaining experience and getting used to driving. The Step allows me to do that, and when I have more experience under my belt, I will move up the ranks. I'd like my dad to get a 530 with a stick so I can learn.

[Motown328]

Seriously, I MUCH prefer a manual in heavy stop-and-go traffic over an automatic. IMO, an automatic is more work. With a stick, you just modulate the clutch and gas, barely moving your feet. And, in doing so, you are able to maintain a rather smooth roll. It's not the jerky gas, brake, gas, brake of an automatic.

Really.

I understand your point. My last car, an RSX, had manumatic. I would always drive in that and just scoot along in heavy stop-and-go in 2nd. Never go up to 3rd, so when the traffic started piling up, all I had to do was to let off the gas and I would engine brake perfectly right to where I needed to stop...no pumping the brakes. It was the best of both worlds. :p

I'll seriously be considering an SMG in my next vehicle.

[cantona7]

I don't know if I think a manual is easier in traffic, but I do know that I prefer it to automatics. I spent the last 4 years driving automatics in Boston-area traffic, and the last 10 days in my first-ever manual car. As someone mentioned before, it just seems more interesting and engaging to have something to work on while in traffic. The automatic is a lazier affair--no clutch to worry about--but it's so boring that traffic actually puts me in a murderous mood while I'm stuck in it. Perhaps it's because I'm new to full-time stick driving, but it just feels like more fun trying to crawl along in first or second without having to touch the clutch; almost like a game to play. I'm fairly comfortable with hills and ramps now too, but never had to parallel on one, so that'll be interesting when it happens. :drive:

[AF]

He's not the only one who feels that way.

Besides for my :stickpoke to TD . . . I seriously don't mind driving a manual in traffic and I agree with the points that you can pretty much keep it in gear whether it's 1st or 2nd. With that said, if I sat in traffic everyday, I still would want to go with an Automatic over a manual.

[Fzara2000]

I currently have an automatic and also think that when I get some more experience of driving, i'll move to a manual trans.

So far though..i've been killing to learn how to drive a man. trans. I checked out the WRX and asked the saleslady if I bought the car would she teach me how to drive..she told me gently "no". Same goes for my friends-We're all parted to our autos and if I had a friend up here in Northern NJ who had a manual, i'd take opportunity to learn.

[TD]

I currently have an automatic and also think that when I get some more experience of driving, i'll move to a manual trans.

So far though..i've been killing to learn how to drive a man. trans. I checked out the WRX and asked the saleslady if I bought the car would she teach me how to drive..she told me gently "no". Same goes for my friends-We're all parted to our autos and if I had a friend up here in Northern NJ who had a manual, i'd take opportunity to learn.


If any of you who have never driven a stick are serious about learning, here is my suggestion:

Buy a VERY cheap used Japanese economy car with a manual tranny. We're talking like $300-500. Learn on it. And then sell it. You can get back as much as you paid for it as it was already fully depreciated. Even if you have it for like 6 months, it costs you basically nothing. And you learn on it, not a new BMW.

Sure it's a pain in the a$$ to buy and sell a sh!tbox just to learn stick. But for many of you it may be the best option.

[BahnBaum]

If any of you who have never driven a stick are serious about learning, here is my suggestion:

Buy a VERY cheap used Japanese economy car with a manual tranny. We're talking like $300-500. Learn on it. And then sell it. You can get back as much as you paid for it as it was already fully depreciated. Even if you have it for like 6 months, it costs you basically nothing. And you learn on it, not a new BMW.

Sure it's a pain in the a$$ to buy and sell a sh!tbox just to learn stick. But for many of you it may be the best option.

Good suggestion. Either that, or find a cheapie car rental place with manuals. Driving it off the lot may be a challenge....

Alex

[TD]

Good suggestion. Either that, or find a cheapie car rental place with manuals. Driving it off the lot may be a challenge....

Alex
Nobody rents manuals anymore.

[BahnBaum]

Nobody rents manuals anymore.

Not entirely true. If you're talking about the major rental companies in the US you're absolutely right, but I was able to find independent rental companies in the US advertising manuals. Try google.

Alex

[Fzara2000]

Nobody rents manuals anymore.

Trust me, i've tried Enterprise and Hetz, and they dont offer you manual trans.

I found out about driving schools that offer manual trans lessons, but it was approximately $60/hour to learn. :mad:

Also...about the "rent a jap car and learn how to drive manual" is not worth it...because you'll need to insure and register it and its not worth that much work just to learn how to drive stick.


I'm kind of skeptical on how many of your wives have let you bought manual cars. Sometimes the other person in the family needs to drive in an emergency..and is stuck with your manual. :eek:

[Mr. The Edge]

I'm kind of skeptical on how many of your wives have let you bought manual cars. Sometimes the other person in the family needs to drive in an emergency..and is stuck with your manual. :eek:
psst...girls can drive manual cars too

[Fzara2000]

psst...girls can drive manual cars too

true...but i'm predicting more than half of them probably are not accustomed to the manual trans like the men on this forum.

[Nbtstatic]

Repeat after me:

Everyone is different, and that is ok...
Everyone is different, and that is ok...
Everyone is different, and that is ok...

[BahnBaum]

true...but i'm predicting more than half of them probably are not accustomed to the manual trans like the men on this forum.

Dude, that's some ol' fashioned thinking there... :eek:

Alex

[car_for_mom]

I was not always The Manual Transmission Princess, She Who Must Be Found A Manual To Test Drive Even If Mr. or Ms. Dealer Has To Look In The Back Of The Lot! :p

I didn't learn how to drive until I was 22 :yikes:, because of (a) fear and (b) the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) - you Philadelphians know what I'm talking about.

However, it was the sterling service of SEPTA (you people from Philly can stop laughing now) that precipitated me into learning how to drive - I got tired of being late for work riding the bus! :mad: So, I enrolled in driving school, learned on a Cutlass Supreme, and got my license.

At the age of 26, the mother-in-law gave us a Toyota Tercel SR5 Wagon, a 5-speed. I learned how to drive it under fire, having caused a traffic jam on a hill in West Hartford, Connecticut; after a guy in an oil truck moved my car, and I stopped crying :bawling: :D - I went to a high school parking lot and determined I wasn't leaving until I could get that #*(#$(Q7! car out of 1st!

I've never looked back...every car I've driven since then (Tercel Wagon #2; #1 was totaled in South Windsor, Connecticut :cry: , Ford Escort Wagon : puke: , several Civics, Camry and Karl Bimmer) has had a clutch!

SoCal dealers, however, act like no one in Southern California ever drives a manual, one has to be very insistent, and willing to go to more than one dealer to find a manual for a test drive!

[3LOU5]

If any of you who have never driven a stick are serious about learning, here is my suggestion:

Buy a VERY cheap used Japanese economy car with a manual tranny. We're talking like $300-500. Learn on it. And then sell it. You can get back as much as you paid for it as it was already fully depreciated. Even if you have it for like 6 months, it costs you basically nothing. And you learn on it, not a new BMW.

Sure it's a pain in the a$$ to buy and sell a sh!tbox just to learn stick. But for many of you it may be the best option.

I have even a cheaper suggestion. Though it might not be totally "correct", at least it will give you an IDEA of what it's like to take control of a machine with a clutch. This suggestion is directed to those gutsy enough (read: young ) though.

Find someone with a small dirt bike. Go out in a wide open spot with your buddy and practice letting out the clutch in first gear. Practice ONLY that move until you are comfortable with it. Then, go out in a slight incline and practice that. Practice that gas in/clutch out move until it's buttery smooth.

I've found out that starting off in 1st is one of the major stumbling blocks in learning. Once you get it, the rest comes rather easily (at least, in my experience).

The principle is the same. :)

[TD]

Trust me, i've tried Enterprise and Hetz, and they dont offer you manual trans.

I found out about driving schools that offer manual trans lessons, but it was approximately $60/hour to learn. :mad:

Also...about the "rent a jap car and learn how to drive manual" is not worth it...because you'll need to insure and register it and its not worth that much work just to learn how to drive stick.


I'm kind of skeptical on how many of your wives have let you bought manual cars. Sometimes the other person in the family needs to drive in an emergency..and is stuck with your manual. :eek:
My wife only drives manuals as well. We have three manual tranny cars. One requirement for us (that she enforces more strictly than I do) is to not get a slushie. Ever.

[blueguydotcom]

I'm kind of skeptical on how many of your wives have let you bought manual cars. Sometimes the other person in the family needs to drive in an emergency..and is stuck with your manual. :eek:


i saw a girl for 8 years who couldn't drive stick. the same night we discussed me teaching her to drive stick in case or an emergency also happened to be the night I broke my collar bone. she drove me to the hospital (over 10 miles) and only stalled while parking at the emergency room.

I'd flat never marry a person who said I couldn't own a car because refused to learn something new. I'm miserable in an automatic but I'd never dream of telling her to get rid of the slushbox.

[blueguydotcom]

SoCal dealers, however, act like no one in Southern California ever drives a manual, one has to be very insistent, and willing to go to more than one dealer to find a manual for a test drive!

I've bought 3 cars in the past 4 years and helped 5 more people buy. Of that group only 1 ended up with an auto.

Every time I set foot on a lot and ask for a manual the salesguys start with the usual "nobody drives manuals."

then he moves on to, "Have you tried a manumatic/step/insert stupid name for useless auto tranny?"

After I say yes, the next step is to talk about scarcity, "It's a tough thing to find and nobody wants to order them."

My favorite sales technique - "The car will be worth more when you resell it."

Gee, I can pay 1k extra so that three years from now the car will be worth $580 more and I get to be miserable the entire time! Yes, sign me up for that. I get to drop $400 to be unhappy!!!

[bten]

I learned on a chevy pickup ('68 I think) with 3 on the column. I drove delivery trucks with manuals through high school and college. My wife, however has never driven a manual, neither have my kids (24,21,18). My 21 year old son and my 18 year old daughter want to learn how to drive a manual. I guess I need to buy something manual (maybe a miata!:D ) if I can convice my wife.

Most interesting manual I ever drove, was a ford mondeo, in the UK, shifting with my left hand and attacking "round a bouts"

Bten

[MG67]

In Europe we drive 95% manual so untill I moved to Los Angeles I never drove an automatic... :eek:
Now I'm used to my step but the next one will be a 6 speed manual... :thumbup:

[AF]

My favorite sales technique - "The car will be worth more when you resell it."

Gee, I can pay 1k extra so that three years from now the car will be worth $580 more and I get to be miserable the entire time! Yes, sign me up for that. I get to drop $400 to be unhappy!!!
Unfortunately you end up loosing more the that if it is the type of car that most people buy in an Automatic. I got slammed on my trade in for my 1 yr old 330i manual and got $2000-2500 under book value because it was a manual. More then one dealer had made the same type of offer :thumbdwn:


When I traded in my 330Ci with steptronic, they gave me full book value on it.

I still would go with the manual and take the hit but unfortunately unless you sell it yourself and get the right buyer the trade in is a killer.

[e.biemold]

I have never driven in a car with automatic transmission :dunno:

In the Netherlands you have to do a driving exam (theory and practical) before you are allowed to drive in a car. If you do the exam in a car with an automatic transmission you are not allowed to drive in a car with a manuel transmission. The other way around it is allowed.

[cantona7]

In the Netherlands you have to do a driving exam (theory and practical) before you are allowed to drive in a car. If you do the exam in a car with an automatic transmission you are not allowed to drive in a car with a manuel transmission. The other way around it is allowed.

Yes, this is a very sensible policy and many countries have it. Over here, I think that the reasoning is that no one who can't drive a manual would try to drive one, so there's no need to have licensing requirements that strict. Having said that, getting a driver's license in America is probably easier than anywhere else in the world--unless you're a foreigner and have the misfortune of getting a xenophobe for your driving test administrator.

[blueguydotcom]

Unfortunately you end up loosing more the that if it is the type of car that most people buy in an Automatic. I got slammed on my trade in for my 1 yr old 330i manual and got $2000-2500 under book value because it was a manual. More then one dealer had made the same type of offer :thumbdwn:


When I traded in my 330Ci with steptronic, they gave me full book value on it.

I still would go with the manual and take the hit but unfortunately unless you sell it yourself and get the right buyer the trade in is a killer.


You traded in the car...thus it's your own fault you got screwed. Had you sold it privately, you would have found another bimmer driver who wanted a manual.

Beyond that, reselling 1 year old BMW? Dude, that's a 8-9k hit.

[AF]

You traded in the car...thus it's your own fault you got screwed. Had you sold it privately, you would have found another bimmer driver who wanted a manual.

Beyond that, reselling 1 year old BMW? Dude, that's a 8-9k hit.
The used car market is the used car market . . . you are definitely right that I would have gotten more $$ for the car if I sold it privately but that is another discussion in itself.
It still doesn't change the fact that in the used car market in my part of the country according to the car dealers, the 4 door bimmer with a manual is worth $2000-$2500 under book while an Automatic 4 door bimmer will get book value which translates to a $2900-3400 difference at trade-in time. To justify that number, the $2000 to $2500 + there is no $900 deduction for the manual.

By the way, when the dealer sold my car to iut's new owner, they got a little under $31k for it which again is quite a bit lower then a dealer gets for an automatic model.

[blueguydotcom]

The used car market is the used car market . . . you are definitely right that I would have gotten more $$ for the car if I sold it privately but that is another discussion in itself.
It still doesn't change the fact that in the used car market in my part of the country according to the car dealers, the 4 door bimmer with a manual is worth $2000-$2500 under book while an Automatic 4 door bimmer will get book value which translates to a $2900-3400 difference at trade-in time. To justify that number, the $2000 to $2500 + there is no $900 deduction for the manual.

By the way, when the dealer sold my car to iut's new owner, they got a little under $31k for it which again is quite a bit lower then a dealer gets for an automatic model.

Even assuming there's a 5k difference, I'm not following what the problem is. I bought my car for me, not for future owners. It's not an investment, it's a car. If this were a 55 T-bird, then we're talking investment.

So as a toy, I see no point in buying a toy that won't make me happy.

[AF]

Even assuming there's a 5k difference, I'm not following what the problem is. I bought my car for me, not for future owners. It's not an investment, it's a car. If this were a 55 T-bird, then we're talking investment.

So as a toy, I see no point in buying a toy that won't make me happy.
Who's talking about a car being an investment:dunno: , I am responding to the quote below which is stating the difference in resale between a manual and an Automatic is very little . . . obviously I couldn't care less what it is or I wouldn't be driving a manual and if I was to buy another 330i, it would again definitely be a manual !!!


My favorite sales technique - "The car will be worth more when you resell it."

Gee, I can pay 1k extra so that three years from now the car will be worth $580 more and I get to be miserable the entire time! Yes, sign me up for that. I get to drop $400 to be unhappy!!!

[MG67]

Yes, this is a very sensible policy and many countries have it. Over here, I think that the reasoning is that no one who can't drive a manual would try to drive one, so there's no need to have licensing requirements that strict. Having said that, getting a driver's license in America is probably easier than anywhere else in the world--unless you're a foreigner and have the misfortune of getting a xenophobe for your driving test administrator.
The only issue I had with my drivers license here in Los Angeles was that I didn't stop in time for the stop signs...:confused:
In the Netherlands the enforcement on Stop signs is not as strict as here in the USA...:D

[cantona7]

You're from the Netherlands? I thought from your avatar that you were from Munich--shouldn't you have an Ajax or PSV (or whatever your local team is) avatar instead? :D

[Motown328]

America is probably easier than anywhere else in the world--unless you're a foreigner and have the misfortune of getting a xenophobe for your driving test administrator.

Yeah, but at least they get to take the license test in Speakahjdhrurejsk-ese, or their native language.

[Motown328]

The only issue I had with my drivers license here in Los Angeles was that I didn't stop in time for the stop signs...:confused:


:stupid:

No doubt. They want you to stop for at least 4-5 seconds before moving on....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...yeah right.

[blueguydotcom]

:stupid:

No doubt. They want you to stop for at least 4-5 seconds before moving on....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...yeah right.

I've had to fight 2 tickets for so-called rolling stops. I won both challenges but i'm paranoid now when I'm coming to a stop and a cop is around. I've taken to sometimes stopping and then purposely rolling backward as if to show "I'm so not running this stop sign that I'm even going backward."

[Motown328]

I've had to fight 2 tickets for so-called rolling stops. I won both challenges but i'm paranoid now when I'm coming to a stop and a cop is around. I've taken to sometimes stopping and then purposely rolling backward as if to show "I'm so not running this stop sign that I'm even going backward."

Oh jeez...that's a little extreme! :rofl:

Maybe the officer will get the wrong impression and think you are preparing for a zip off the line or even mocking him watching you...hahaha...

Here in Michigan, they are termed "Michigan Stops" aka rolling stops. So-called because the police here would let you get away with them as long as traffic was clear. But every once in a while you will get pegged, perhaps just to show who has the upperhand.

My mom's first and only ticket was at 16 on a Michigan Stop. She swears she stopped, the officer disagreed, she got a ticket. Now she is like you, paranoid at stop signs. Hahaha...

[daihard]

Yeah, but at least they get to take the license test in Speakahjdhrurejsk-ese, or their native language.
For me, the hardest part of the paper test was units. I had no idea how long a foot was, how fast one MPH was, and so on, when I took the test in the U.S.

I've only owned cars with a manual transmission since I got my driver's license. Since 90-95 percent of the cars are automatic in the U.S., I wouldn't be surprised that most drivers have actually never driven a stick shift.

[MG67]

You're from the Netherlands? I thought from your avatar that you were from Munich--shouldn't you have an Ajax or PSV (or whatever your local team is) avatar instead? :D
Actually I'm a Feijenoord fan from Rotterdam! I just did that Bayern avatar to piss off my friend from Germany... but you are right, I'll change it to Feijenoord again....:thumbup:
Your name is related to Eric Cantona...?

[Patrick330i]

Soon you'll have a lot of people who have never driven a mt. Neither my little sister or brother ever have. :(

Had a buddy of mine in town for a conference. Hooked him up with one of our corporate suites and offered to let him borrow my Integra for a couple of days in case he needed it to run to the store (or bar). He turned it down because it was a MT. :dunno: :tsk:

i saw a girl for 8 years who couldn't drive stick. the same night we discussed me teaching her to drive stick in case or an emergency also happened to be the night I broke my collar bone. she drove me to the hospital (over 10 miles) and only stalled while parking at the emergency room.

I'd flat never marry a person who said I couldn't own a car because refused to learn something new. I'm miserable in an automatic but I'd never dream of telling her to get rid of the slushbox.


Well, this is rich. My ex-wife couldn't drive a stick. I tried to teach her for the same reasons you speak of. She balked. One night we were at the gym and I suffered a severely sprained ankle. Yep, you guessed it, it was the left ankle. I told her she had to drive me to the clinic. She freakin' refused. I drove myself with her in the passenger seat. I screamed bloody murder all the way there. Two torn ligaments and a sprained third. I seriously wanted to kill the ******. :mad:

[daihard]

Well, this is rich. My ex-wife couldn't drive a stick. I tried to teach her for the same reasons you speak of. She balked. One night we were at the gym and I suffered a severely sprained ankle. Yep, you guessed it, it was the left ankle. I told her she had to drive me to the clinic. She freakin' refused. I drove myself with her in the passenger seat. I screamed bloody murder all the way there. Two torn ligaments and a sprained third. I seriously wanted to kill the ******. :mad:
Did your ex-wife tell you the moral of the story? Always buy a car with an automatic transmission. *ducks and runs...* :angel:

[blueguydotcom]

Well, this is rich. My ex-wife couldn't drive a stick. I tried to teach her for the same reasons you speak of. She balked. One night we were at the gym and I suffered a severely sprained ankle. Yep, you guessed it, it was the left ankle. I told her she had to drive me to the clinic. She freakin' refused. I drove myself with her in the passenger seat. I screamed bloody murder all the way there. Two torn ligaments and a sprained third. I seriously wanted to kill the ******. :mad:

Holy crap...glad to hear she's an ex. That's one selfish person.

[Patrick330i]

You guys are cracking me up. I can laugh about it all now. I'd say we were divorced within 6 months of that incident. She was a real ****ing b!tch, man. I hated her. There. I feel better now! :D (No offense ladies, we all know women can be b!tches and men can be aholes!) :p

[daihard]

You guys are cracking me up. I can laugh about it all now. I'd say we were divorced within 6 months of that incident. She was a real ****ing b!tch, man. I hated her. There. I feel better now! :D (No offense ladies, we all know women can be b!tches and men can be aholes!) :p
Agreed wholeheartedly... at least upon the part about women. ;)

[325SMG]

I had never driven one until I took ED on my 325 in March. Yes, I learned how to drive manual in Germany, in my new BMW that had only 3 miles on it when I got it. Kind of crazy, huh?

[jgrgnt]

Before my 325, all I drove were automatics. In fact, I was convinced that automatics were the way to go, not because I'd ever driven a manual and disliked the experience, but because I was afraid to try something new. Everyone I knew drove automatics, except for my grandfather, who's second-to-last car was a Datsun pickup 4-speed (his last car was an automatic Toyota 4x2). I guess I was always under the impression that sticks were "old tech" and the fact that everyone else close to me drove a slushie seemed to support that.

I've always been a car freak, and I remember being young and flipping through one of those "19xx Cars" books, and for my personal "cars to own" list, I'd always eliminate the stick-shift only models. Can you imagine if I was older and had the means to purchase my own car? "That Celica All-Trac Turbo looks cool, but you can't get an automatic! Oh well, guess I'll have to settle for the GT." Doh! :banghead:

What's weird is, I don't remember what convinced me that my next car would be a stick-shift. I think this forum may have influenced me a bit. :eeps: I also had some fun behind the wheel of a 5-speed rental car while on a Europe trip a few years back, and that was a blast.

Anyhow, at this point, I can't imagine going back to an automatic. On those rare occasions when I have to drive an auto, I can't help but feel bored. Like others, I'm always feeling for that missing third pedal.

Michael

[gojira-san]

I've always tried to own manuals when possible. The only exception was the few years I had company cars (Ford Taurus :p) and my current truck (auto only). Oh, thinking back, the Citroen SM was an auto, which was the downfall of that car; the tranny went and it was too expensive for me to fix at that time.

My wife will only drive automatics. She gave the 330 the "ugh" when she saw it was a manual.

[ruteger]

Unfortunately you end up loosing more the that if it is the type of car that most people buy in an Automatic. I got slammed on my trade in for my 1 yr old 330i manual and got $2000-2500 under book value because it was a manual. More then one dealer had made the same type of offer :thumbdwn:


When I traded in my 330Ci with steptronic, they gave me full book value on it.

I still would go with the manual and take the hit but unfortunately unless you sell it yourself and get the right buyer the trade in is a killer.This may be more of a problem that depends on the bodystyle. I read somewhere that nearly all of the sedans have Steptronics while a considerably higher percentage of coupes get manuals.

So, while you'll almost certanly lose on resale with a manual sedan, it might not be so bad with a manual coupe.

As to the prevalance of manuals in Europe someone else mentioned, I think this is primarily because of the exorbitant gas prices, the relative diminutive size of most European autos and the much higher driver licensing requirements. The greater fluctuation of gas prices (but always much lower than Europe), the large size of most vehicles and the ease (and near necessity) of owning/driving an auto, manual transmission popularity in the US is sporadic, at best.

Another thing worth noting is how far automatic transmissions have advanced. Back in the 'good 'ole days', automatics really were inefficient 'slushboxes' of which even the best were big, 3-speeds, and the smallest of these would only fit in what today is considered a 'full-size' car.

Today, however, even the smallest cars can fit a 4-speed automatic (although it took DC years to build one for the Neon), with CVT alternatives in some instances, and it's not uncommon for larger vehicles to have efficient five or even six-speed automatics which get the same (or even better) performance and gas mileage than a manual.

Add 'SMG' alternatives (which eliminate the power-robbing torque converter) and it's not hard to figure out the demise of manual-transmission autos in the US.

[daihard]

I've always tried to own manuals when possible. The only exception was the few years I had company cars (Ford Taurus :p) and my current truck (auto only). Oh, thinking back, the Citroen SM was an auto, which was the downfall of that car; the tranny went and it was too expensive for me to fix at that time.

My wife will only drive automatics. She gave the 330 the "ugh" when she saw it was a manual.
I'm glad she only gave it the "ugh." My wife might have resorted to selling it while I was away! :dunno:

(P.S.) "Gojira-san," huh? :p

[schley]

I have driven stick but not for 8 or so years. I sucked at it then, but as i remember it was a toyota celica i think.... was a baseball teammate of mine's, drove it back from college to home one weekend (i lied to my buddy of course and told him I knew how to drive stick)..... i'm just glad I wasn't that clutch, more grinding than a lap dance....... i think i'm intimidated now to get one.... i just ordered an e90 steptronic.... so i'm not convinced i don't think.

[Z4phillygirl]

My dad taught me MT when I was little, like 10 or 12, but by the time I was old enough to go for my driver license, we only had AT cars in our household. Since then, I remember trying to re-learn MT in college with my girl friend's Civic CRX, but I gave up after an hour. I'd like to re-learn it now just as a challenge....

I just found out yesterday that a girl friend, who has a 2-year old Porsche Boxster refused to buy the triptronic (sp?) because that would be diluting the car, and she forced herself to learn MT to drive it... she still has some trouble getting in/out of the garage, but otherwise she's cool with it. She's promised me she will let me try driving it when she gets back from her vacation. She chided me for getting Step in my Z4. :(

[bmw330pp]

My dad taught me MT when I was little, like 10 or 12, but by the time I was old enough to go for my driver license, we only had AT cars in our household. Since then, I remember trying to re-learn MT in college with my girl friend's Civic CRX, but I gave up after an hour. I'd like to re-learn it now just as a challenge....

I just found out yesterday that a girl friend, who has a 2-year old Porsche Boxster refused to buy the triptronic (sp?) because that would be diluting the car, and she forced herself to learn MT to drive it... she still has some trouble getting in/out of the garage, but otherwise she's cool with it. She's promised me she will let me try driving it when she gets back from her vacation. She chided me for getting Step in my Z4. :(
Don't know what you're talking about, but why are you up so late, or shall I say early on Sunday?

[Z4phillygirl]

Don't know what you're talking about, but why are you up so late, or shall I say early on Sunday?

You don't understand what I wrote? AT=automatic transmission, MT=manual transmission.... :dunno:

As for being up late... I was about to go to sleep, but then I got some bad news online and now I can't sleep... my stomach is churning and I wish I could stop these horrible thoughts running through my head. :(

Why are YOU up so late?

[bmw330pp]

You don't understand what I wrote? AT=automatic transmission, MT=manual transmission.... :dunno:

As for being up late... I was about to go to sleep, but then I got some bad news online and now I can't sleep... my stomach is churning and I wish I could stop these horrible thoughts running through my head. :(

Why are YOU up so late?
I didn't mean that I didn't understand, I meant I didn't read the thread. Sowwy, should have clarified.

Ouch.....I've had some nights like those. Hope everything goes well. If you need to vent or an ear to listen, I'm here.

As for me, I have sleeping problems. :eeps: I believe the proper term is insomnia. :tsk:

[Z4phillygirl]

I didn't mean that I didn't understand, I meant I didn't read the thread. Sowwy, should have clarified.

Ouch.....I've had some nights like those. Hope everything goes well. If you need to vent or an ear to listen, I'm here.

As for me, I have sleeping problems. :eeps: I believe the proper term is insomnia. :tsk:

Dude, what happened? Your post, posted 3 times... weird. :dunno:

Thanks for the offer, but I'm sure I'll be ok the morning... it's best to let thoughts like these run their course only in your head and never share them... so when you see the light of day, you realize how foolish you were. :eeps: Sleep will help eventually.

I've never had insomnia. It sounds horrible... not being able to fall asleep. I know I will as soon as I close my eyes...

[bmw330pp]

Dude, what happened? Your post, posted 3 times... weird. :dunno:

Thanks for the offer, but I'm sure I'll be ok the morning... it's best to let thoughts like these run their course only in your head and never share them... so when you see the light of day, you realize how foolish you were. :eeps: Sleep will help eventually.

I've never had insomnia. It sounds horrible... not being able to fall asleep. I know I will as soon as I close my eyes...
My page froze and I clicked the "submit post" icon 3 times. Sorry :eek:

Help yourself and get some sleep then. :)

The insomnia isn't clinically proven, but I do have trouble sleeping. :eek:

[Z4phillygirl]

My page froze and I clicked the "submit post" icon 3 times. Sorry :eek:

Help yourself and get some sleep then. :)

The insomnia isn't clinically proven, but I do have trouble sleeping. :eek:

How far along is your wife? Is it because you're nervous about sleeping with her preggers body? That you don't want to wake her up? Just a thought. I had a girl friend whose husband couldn't sleep when she was about 7 mos. along... He kept thinking he'd "hurt" her somehow... kinda funny. ;)

[bmw330pp]

How far along is your wife? Is it because you're nervous about sleeping with her preggers body? That you don't want to wake her up? Just a thought. I had a girl friend whose husband couldn't sleep when she was about 7 mos. along... He kept thinking he'd "hurt" her somehow... kinda funny. ;)
She is about 4 months. Has nothing to do with pregnancy. I guess I'm just used to being out late from the party life of the past.

[Athos]

Sure it did. No need to lie.
:rofl:

http://publish.uwo.ca/~agrehorn/Trans_Am_hoodbird_good.JPG


Awesome picture! :rofl:

[De_UnKnOwN_1]

believe it or not..i was gunna try and get my bimmer in man. but my parents drive my car alot (im 17 dont say anything...) and my mom cant drive a man.

[msbrown]

hmm, it's funny. I can double-clutch a Peterbuilt, negotiate a 6-speed Ford forklift built in 1948, work the three shifters on an IH winch truck just fine (worked the oilpatch in West Texas, I did :))....

but for my traffic-snarled daily commute, my Step suits me just fine. Go figure.

[BMWenthusiast]

i haven't, but then again i've only been driving for like nearly 2 years, i wish i have, but only a few friends have manual, and my parents refuse to get me a manual car

[aces219]

I really want to learn how to drive stick, but I can't find anybody with a car who will teach me. It's not worth it to me to jump through a bunch of hoops in terms of renting or buying a stick. I sit in too much traffic for me to want to get one though, even for my Z3. Just pushing that stiff pedal for 10 hours a day on a recent roadtrip really tired out my leg.

[jpsquared]

Tomorrow the wife & I get our first lessons in a stick from a local driving school. Sadly, neither one of us ever had the opportunity to even try driving one. Had to have one though...

Sometimes when driving my slushie, I'll think about shifting at the appropriate times. It's really just the kid in me fixing the baseball card in the spokes for that motorcycle sound... :D

[icemanjs4]

Tomorrow the wife & I get our first lessons in a stick from a local driving school. Sadly, neither one of us ever had the opportunity to even try driving one. Had to have one though...

Sometimes when driving my slushie, I'll think about shifting at the appropriate times. It's really just the kid in me fixing the baseball card in the spokes for that motorcycle sound... :D

Wow, you guys have driving schools that teach on a manual? I searched out here and couln't find anything. I ended up buying a beater car for 1500.00 to learn on by myself.

When I had an automatic, I also pretended it was a manual sometimes, and tried to press in the clutch and practice where my shift points would be.

[CJsCar]

I wasn't allowed to get my drivers license without learning first. :guitar:

[jpsquared]

Wow, you guys have driving schools that teach on a manual? I searched out here and couln't find anything. I ended up buying a beater car for 1500.00 to learn on by myself.

When I had an automatic, I also pretended it was a manual sometimes, and tried to press in the clutch and practice where my shift points would be.

Yeah, I got lucky and found a place - probably the only one in NJ! And not too far from home either. It was meant to be! This place uses base level Saturn Ion coupes with low horsepower & long throwing, big fat shift knobs. Very forgiving and perfect for beginners.

Warning -shameless plug inserted here: Check out http://safetyfirstdriving.com/

Any way, the lesson went really well. My confidence level is light years better than before. After just 1 lesson, it's clear that proficiency will only come with driving the car. But having the basics explained by a patient instructor was just great.

Oh yeah.. It was hilarious hearing how my wife popped the clutch and smoked the tires on her hill-start practice! :p

I'm even more stoked to get my new bimmer now. Only 2 more weeks!

[EuroRocket]

actually i thought learning how to drive a stick was hard but after i got behind the wheel.. had some lessons.. it was sort of easy but still need to work on it because i dont have a M/T vehicle and have to ask my brother to borrow his car once a while.