Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee · Feb 22, 2002

From today's Wall Street Journal, Section W1, W7

Car Makers Shift Gears

"After more than a decade of decline, the percantage of domestic cars sold with manual transmissions rose 10% last year, prompting a slew of makers from Lexus to Infiniti to offer the forgotten third pedals in more models for wannabe hot-rodders and nostalgic boomers ...

... news of the stick's demise was greatly exaggerated: In a subtle but sure rebound, the share of domestic cars with clutches rose to 9.6% last year. Subaru's sales of manuals, meanwhile, jumped by more than one-third in 2001. While overall sales -- including imports -- haven't turned the corner yet, economic forecaster DRIWEFA expects manuals to go from 9.3% of all passenger vehicles sold in the US this year to 9.7% in 2003. (Its forecast for 2005: 12% will have sticks)"

The rest of the article is good. The front page A1 eBay scam article is amusing too.

Sounds like I should learn to drive stick properly ... and soon.

Mike 325xi · Feb 22, 2002

alee said:
From today's Wall Street Journal, Section W1,

Sounds like I should learn to drive stick properly ... and soon.

See that Al...your techno geek chic is going by the wayside

Time for you to get with the times :thumb:

alee · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

Mike 325xi said:
See that Al...your techno geek chic is going by the wayside Time for you to get with the times :thumb:

So who's clutch gets to be my "learner clutch"?

Mike? Josh? :thumb:

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

alee said:
Sounds like I should learn to drive stick properly ... and soon.

Let me think, there are probably two guys who live near you that would love to help you learn:eeps: Josh, Mike care to volunteer:dunno: I would Al but I have Step myself, but if Mike would offer his up I could help

alee · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

PM 325xiT said:
Let me think, there are probably two guys who live near you that would love to help you learn:eeps: Josh, Mike care to volunteer:dunno: I would Al but I have Step myself, but if Mike would offer his up I could help

Josh only lives 5 minutes from me. I'm thinking right about now, he wishes he lived farther away.

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
Josh only lives 5 minutes from me. I'm thinking right about now, he wishes he lived farther away.

Maybe I should offer him a safe haven up in Etown

alee · Feb 22, 2002

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PM 325xiT said:
Maybe I should offer him a safe haven up in Etown

I think it would be less painful to just get a new clutch.

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
I think it would be less painful to just get a new clutch.

That hurt Al

And here I thought we were friends

Have a nice day cubicle boy

alee · Feb 22, 2002

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PM 325xiT said:
That hurt Al And here I thought we were friends

Have a nice day cubicle boy

Why do I get the feeling that this year I'm going to get audited by the tax man?

Josh (PA) · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
So who's clutch gets to be my "learner clutch"? Mike? Josh? :thumb:

Count me in, just bring your elevator shoes to reach the pedals.

That could be some fun pre-game entertainment before our get together this year.

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

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alee said:
Why do I get the feeling that this year I'm going to get audited by the tax man?

Don't be surprised if you get a call on April 16th asking for some supporting documents and the name of the "Laundromat" you've been using:eeps: Oh and check your mail I want to make sure I gave them the right SSN

I'm feeling the LOVE now :thumb:

alee · Feb 22, 2002

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Josh (PA) said:
Count me in, just bring your elevator shoes to reach the pedals.

Who's doing the live webcast so the rest of the 'Fest can watch and laugh?

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

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Josh (PA) said:
Count me in, just bring your elevator shoes to reach the pedals.

That could be some fun pre-game entertainment before our get together this year.

:lmao:

Way to a hit for the rest of us Josh:thumb: Lunch is on Mike

alee · Feb 22, 2002

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PM 325xiT said:
:lmao:

Way to a hit for the rest of us Josh:thumb: Lunch is on Mike

If Mike's picking where we have lunch, I'll bring the defribrillator paddles. :thumb:

Josh (PA) · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
Who's doing the live webcast so the rest of the 'Fest can watch and laugh?

No way buddy. There can be no pics, webcasts or anyother hard evidence that prove it wasn't gross manufacturing defects that caused the clutch to fail at 20k miles. I could just see me at Otto's now arguing with the service advisor about covering the clutch under warranty and he turns his monitor around and replays you smoking it.

Seriously, the offer for some clutch tutalege stands.

Especially if you want to claybar the convertible after....

Dr. Phil · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
If Mike's picking where we have lunch, I'll bring the defribrillator paddles. :thumb:

You can mess with him by sneaking some jelly fish into his cheese steak

Josh (PA) · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

alee said:
If Mike's picking where we have lunch, I'll bring the defribrillator paddles. :thumb:

How bad is it that it's 9am and I have a very strong craving for a cheesesteak. Lorenzo's (the BEST cheesesteaks) for lunch anyone?

alee · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

Josh (PA) said:
I could just see me at Otto's now arguing with the service advisor about covering the clutch under warranty and he turns his monitor around and replays you smoking it.

LMAO! :lmao: Just think, it could be like your aux fan experience all over again.

Seriously, the offer for some clutch tutalege stands.

Especially if you want to claybar the convertible after....

I've seen your convertible... some things even claybar can't help. I think we'd need to start with some sandpaper.

alee · Feb 22, 2002

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Josh (PA) said:
How bad is it that it's 9am and I have a very strong craving for a cheesesteak. Lorenzo's (the BEST cheesesteaks) for lunch anyone?

I could go for a savory cheesesteak right now too. :thumb: Unfortunately, that would require me to go outside and walk, which kinda ruins it for me.

The city of Philadelphia is practically made with cheesesteaks, and I can't bring myself to get out of my veal pen and walk outside the door ... sigh.

Mike 325xi · Feb 22, 2002

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

Josh (PA) said:
No way buddy. There can be no pics, webcasts or anyother hard evidence that prove it wasn't gross manufacturing defects that caused the clutch to fail at 20k miles. I could just see me at Otto's now arguing with the service advisor about covering the clutch under warranty and he turns his monitor around and replays you smoking it.

Seriously, the offer for some clutch tutalege stands.

Especially if you want to claybar the convertible after....

I've offered to "jump on the grenade" for the team and teach Al on my car but if you want to do it Josh I won't stop you...I wouldn't want to deny you two that bonding experience :thumb:

If we do that right before the golf outing maybe we can get Phil laughing so hard that he will play down to our level :dunno:

Stick drivers can rejoice ... stick is "in"

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