A while back I payed good money for 2 weeks of training of how to do various driving tactics with standard (stick) transmissions. I even got a plaque stating I completed testing for manual transmissions. I know sticks have essentially disappeared, but for real driving enthusiasts, buying the cheaper model might be more fun. How many know how to drive stick and love it?

 

M5OD-R2 checking in. Daily driver of 150+ of city miles every day and LOVE IT. I know I shouldn't, but I just love stretching those gears to 5,500.

Seeing as you took the professional class, I'm assuming they showed you how to go from 1st all the way through to 5th and back down to first without touching the clutch? I do it all the time and it blows some peoples minds

 

ive done that in my moms old car once..she was like "WT* dont mess up my car!!!"

 

Thats cheating on a synchronized tranny you need to learn how to do it with a loaded rig and a unsynchronized tranny both up and down through ten gears.

 

Good grief! The kids these days. Learn to speed shift a four speed while running an 11 second quarter with a 289. Yes and double clutching a pre syncro standard.

A certificate for standard shift! What will they think of next!

 

I paid good money for a two week course on wood splitting.

I think I got ripped off, the instructors name was Stumpy.

 

That's nothing! I once paid good money to learn advanced techniques for using a cell-phone. Unfortunately, the part that taught hands-free operation was a more advanced class and I didn't want to spend another $650 so I still just use regular manual dial.


.

 

I've got a manual in my Honda. Fun to drive, but thank God for synchros because I still can't double clutch

 

Find the sweet spot and you dont have to doulble clutch.

 

I used to drive a late 60's ford F-600 with a twin stick that was a treat, as is my dads '63 F-100 and my '63 F-100 with 3 speed column shifts


my F-250 is getting a 5 speed swap eventually (4 speed in it now)

 

Those sixties models were really bad about the shift bushings wearing out. Made them difficult to find the gear and then might jump out after getting it in gear. You had to take all the rods out of the tube, and replace the bushings. Fun job.

 

One day I'll probably have to teach my son how to drive a manual transmission car, and the only vehicle I have in my stable right now with a stick is my beloved Mustang! It makes me cringe just thinking about some punk kid driving my "baby" and hacking through the gears like that.....

When the time approaches, I'll have to pick up a cheap Ranger or something like that to be the training mule.....

 

Maybe a rental.

 

Where do you come up with this stuff?

 

My first car and my first F-150 were both stick shift. I feel it was a plus for me learning to drive with a manual first. I haven't had a manual transmission vehicle in a while now, but I do miss it sometimes. I drove my buddies brand new Subaru the other day, which was a manual, and it was like I have been driving one every day. Definitely a good driving skill to have.