Made me Chuckle

[Oakman]

The sign on the back of this truck made me chuckle.

[ependydad]

God, I lived that!

[Iwannacamp]

Wonder what percentage of people under ?30 know how to drive a manual transmission?

[poriggity]

I work in the tractor trailer repair business as a supervisor and we just hired 3 or 4 guys straight out of a diesel technical school, all in thier early 20s. Not one of them knows how to drive a manual transmission. Quite sad really. Both my full size dodge 2500 and my commuter car are manual transmission and I wouldn't have it any other way.

[rjc1024]

I was in Germany recently for work and rented a car. Lots of manual transmissions in Europe. When I got to the rental car counter and handed the lady my license she looked at me and said "you are from the US so you must need an automatic." I said, no standard is fine. I was the only one in the group I was with that could drive a manual transmission.

[timfromma]

My father taught me to drive in his PU truck with an automatic transmission. 3 days before my driver's test, he learned that because the truck had no back seat, it could not be used for my license test. The only other vehicle he had was a Toyota Tercel with a manual transmission. So, 3 days before my license test my dad teaches me how to drive a stick. I used that car in my test and passed the first time. The test giver told me he was impressed.

[nomad297]

I learned how to use a standard transmission when I was about four or five years old when I rode my first dirt bike. Every vehicle I bought, up until I was about thirty years old, had a standard transmission. Now that it’s close to impossible to find a vehicle without an automatic transmission, I own all automatics. I really wish automatic transmissions were still an “upgrade” option.

Bruce

[Cowracer]

I have seen that truck! But it didn't have the sign on it then.

Tim

[youroo]

I learned to "Operate" all the controls of a Manual transmission Vehicle on the Farm! The Tractors all had "Governors" so when I advanced to Trucks/Cars the Only added thing to master was the "Foot Throttle"! Youroo!!

[Cowracer]

For what its worth, I never learned to drive stick, till I bought my first car. 1977 VW rabbit. I learned to drive a stick shift trying to get out of the dealers parking lot. Probably not the recommended way.

Both my sons were tought to drive manuals. And the wife had a stick shift Saturn years. There's just something sexy about a woman that can drive a stick shift.

Tim

[Ida Ratherbe Camping]

All my kids first cars were manual transmissions. Kept the other kids/friends from driving their car.

[Kaadk]

Originally Posted by Cowracer

For what its worth, I never learned to drive stick, till I bought my first car. 1977 VW rabbit. I learned to drive a stick shift trying to get out of the dealers parking lot. Probably not the recommended way.

Both my sons were tought to drive manuals. And the wife had a stick shift Saturn years. There's just something sexy about a woman that can drive a stick shift.

Tim

That's kind of the way I did. When I bought my first car, I bought a stick shift, only having once driven a manual once before when a friend had too much to drink and needed to be brought home. I figured the only way to really learn though was to buy one and force myself to drive it day in and day out.

Got the hang of shifting up through the gears easily enough, but I used to just clutch in, put in neutral and coast into a stop sign, then put it back in first to take off. Then I got a job that used to send me overseas to troubleshoot some systems at various automotive plants. As somebody mentioned earlier, most of the rentals there were manual, so I used the rental cars to teach myself how to downshift, beating up their clutches, instead of my own. Once I go the hang of it, I began to truly be able to drive a manual. Since then I bought only manuals until I got my 1/2 ton, as it was only available in an automatic. Same thing with the new 3/4, only available in automatic. I miss my manuals.

[Scrapper]

How many of the younger crowd that can drive a manual know how to shift between gears without the clutch?

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

How many of the younger crowd that can drive a manual know how to shift between gears without the clutch?

I don't know what you define as "younger" but I can do it.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by timfromma

I don't know what you define as "younger" but I can do it.

I would say maybe under 30-35yo. My first car I bought when I was 19 was a '63 Chevy Impala with a 10 inch racing clutch. To hold the clutch in at a stop sign I had to lock my leg straight. While going down the road I never touched the clutch to change gears, I worked the throttle.

[wildcatter]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

How many of the younger crowd that can drive a manual know how to shift between gears without the clutch?

oh yeah, the ole' speed shifting way of life, when we broke a cable or a clutch cylinder went out you still had to get it home. :-). We used to put the car in first and turn the started over to get it going. Also many times had to park at the top of a hill to be able to jump start the car in the morning. Fun times.

[wildcatter]

How about the column shifter, I had a 66 Chevy nova ll that had three on the tree, that was a fun car to drive.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

How many of the younger crowd that can drive a manual know how to shift between gears without the clutch?

Heck, I didn't even know this was possible. Only 38, though... maybe I'm still younger? Perhaps? HOPEFULLY?

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Heck, I didn't even know this was possible. Only 38, though... maybe I'm still younger? Perhaps? HOPEFULLY?

I know some of the electronic manual tranny vehicles have a switch on the clutch pedal that doesn't allow speed shifting, you need to use the clutch.

[Igave]

Actually, with all the different body panels on that pickup I’m thinking it’s not only the back we should stay away from.