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Author Topic: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?  (Read 5640 times)

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Offline Chris_

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Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« on: July 20, 2012, 09:44:51 AM »
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Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?

When Linda Waterhouse was 16, she went out with a friend who had too much to drink and couldn't drive home. If her friend's car had been an automatic, there wouldn't have been a problem -- but it had a manual transmission.

Luckily, Waterhouse had driven a tractor before, giving her some familiarity with stick-shift driving. She wrestled the car into second gear and managed to drive them home.

Now a mother of three girls, Waterhouse and her husband have already taught two of their daughters to "drive stick."

"You never know when you're going to need the skill," she said.

The ability to drive a car with a manual transmission has long been considered an essential skill, especially for young drivers. Yet decades after Waterhouse's impromptu introduction to stick shifts, changes in the makeup of the automobile and American consumer habits mean mastering the manual may no longer be a practical necessity.
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Offline CG6468

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2012, 09:57:27 AM »
I think all drivers should learn how to use a manual transmission. Doing so tends to train people to pay more attention to the road and to people around them. And one never knows what kind of vehicle will be available during an emergency.

Our kids are thankful that they know how to drive a stick.

But that's only my opinion.
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Offline Jasonw560

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2012, 10:04:14 AM »
Quote from: CG6468 on July 20, 2012, 09:57:27 AM
I think all drivers should learn how to use a manual transmission. Doing so tends to train people to pay more attention to the road and to people around them. And one never knows what kind of vehicle will be available during an emergency.

Our kids are thankful that they know how to drive a stick.

But that's only my opinion.
This.

My wife tried driving a stick shift, got too nervous, won't try again.

I grew up driving farm trucks, and the ex's car was stick.

My boys will learn to drive stick shift before anything else.
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Offline Zeus

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2012, 10:38:51 AM »
I agree it wouldn't be a bad idea to learn to drive a manual transmission vehicle. You never know when it may be necessary.

I also grew up on a farm learning to drive trucks,tractors, pickups etc. All manual transmissions. First time I drove a automatic transmission vehicle my father laughed because I kept reaching over for the gear shift.  :-)

I still feel more comfortable driving a pickup than a car.
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Offline Eupher

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2012, 10:43:34 AM »
One of the advantages of driving a car with a manual transmission is, generally, the person who is learning has to at least superficially understand the relationship between the car's engine and the transmission.

This complete and utter failure of what passes for driver's education here in the States to actually teach students how a f'n motor vehicle mechanically functions is one of the great headscratchers.

Germany's programs go into a lot of detail and the student comes out of the training having actually learned something besides how to stick the key in the ignition, turn it on, put the thing in Drive, and drive to the mall.
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Offline marv

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2012, 10:50:57 AM »
I'm 73yo now, so I started with "three-on-the-floor"! Never had an automatic 'till I was 24yo.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2012, 11:01:19 AM »
Two things...#One...Studebaker had the "hill holder" years ago. Mash the brakes at a stoplight or on a hill and they wouldn't release until you released the clutch. They were also the first with self adjusting brakes and 2 speed electric wipers as standard equipment long before FORD or CHEVY.

#Two....when my son was 1  1/2, he would stand between my legs and drive my
F-350 around in the pasture. I'd point this way or that way and he'd take us that way. When we would get back on the road, he would change the gears for me. I'd mash in the clutch and say "second" ...."third"...."forth"...."overdrive" and he would shift for me. If I reached for the shifter, he'd slap my hand away and say, "I do daddy. I do." Now he's 17 and can't or won't do anything right... :rotf:
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Offline Carl

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2012, 11:41:26 AM »
I hate the thought of having to get an automatic if standards are ever done away with.
I want to be in control of the vehicle and not just along for a ride.
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Offline Bad Dog

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2012, 11:48:33 AM »
Yes people should learn to drive a stick.  Kids apparently aren't taught anything else about a car.  Visited my daughter recently & checked out my grandson's car.  He inherited it from his dad and had been using it about two months.  I found the highest tire press 18 PSI & no oil showing on the dipstick.  Needless to say we had a come to Jesus moment.

He has been begging to learn to drive a stick in my car but, he pretty much blew his chance at that.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2012, 11:52:18 AM »
Some cars (I think the Honda Accord) already has a feature that locks the rear wheels to keep the car from rolling backward when it's in neutral. 

I know my Toyota doesn't have one and I'm glad I didn't find out the hard way.
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Offline zeitgeist

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2012, 01:45:54 PM »
Quote from: chris_ on July 20, 2012, 11:52:18 AM
Some cars (I think the Honda Accord) already has a feature that locks the rear wheels to keep the car from rolling backward when it's in neutral. 

I know my Toyota doesn't have one and I'm glad I didn't find out the hard way.

Taught my first wife to drive stick by parking it on a hill and standing behind the car.  ATINS  :rotf:
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Offline whiffleball

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2012, 01:54:46 PM »
Quote from: marv on July 20, 2012, 10:50:57 AM
I'm 73yo now, so I started with "three-on-the-floor"! Never had an automatic 'till I was 24yo.

I started out with an auto (' 63 Dodge Dart, slant 6) then my next 3 cars were all standard.

I taught my kids to drive on a standard and they were glad to learn.  You never know when certain knowledge will come in handy.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2012, 02:02:48 PM »
By the age of 10, I could 2-clutch a semi truck. By age 15 I was shifting 2-stick Duplex and Triplex MACK trucks without using the clutch.
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"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline Kyle Ricky

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2012, 02:05:19 PM »
I learned how to drive in a truck with three on the tree. All my cars were sticks until the one I have now. I am sick of driving a stick, and will probably never buy a stick again. But, yes, I feel everyone should learn how to drive one.
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Offline DLR Pyro

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Re: Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2012, 02:17:44 PM »
Might not be essential to get around with how most cars now have automatic trans, but it is essential if a guy wants to retain his man card.
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2012, 03:31:38 PM »
Quote from: marv on July 20, 2012, 10:50:57 AM
I'm 73yo now, so I started with "three-on-the-floor"! Never had an automatic 'till I was 24yo.

I learned to drive a three-in-the-tree when I was 16. 
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2012, 04:24:09 PM »
Learned on Dad's Ford F-150.  Learned more when I got my own truck in HS, and again when I bought my first "new" truck in 1985 and finally, the Camaro.  Didn't own a car with an automatic tranny until 1999.

Try renting a car overseas.  Very few have automatics.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2012, 04:33:47 PM »
Well, driving straight drive cars and light trucks ain't to hard to do, the transmissions have synchronizes in the transmission. Big trucks and heavy equipment don't or didn't.
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"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline LC EFA

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #18 on: July 20, 2012, 05:12:04 PM »
I can count the number of times I've driven an automatic vehicle on one hand. It's the same number of times I've driven a vehicle that wasn't a 4x4 "pickup" truck.

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Offline rich_t

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #19 on: July 20, 2012, 05:57:23 PM »
Quote from: JohnnyReb on July 20, 2012, 04:33:47 PM
Well, driving straight drive cars and light trucks ain't to hard to do, the transmissions have synchronizes in the transmission. Big trucks and heavy equipment don't or didn't.

It ain't that hard to learn to double clutch when shifting.

It's pretty easy to learn how to "float" the shift without using the clutch pedal as well.
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Offline seahorse513

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #20 on: July 20, 2012, 06:05:55 PM »
I love standard transmission... My dad used to say only really men drive standards. I just love the sound it makes when shifting gears up.
btw what's three on a tree??. When I was learning to drive, all we had were standards. so I had no choice. Howevr, in driver's ed all they had were automatics, so my dad made me practice more till I could go for my license.
One thing I wish, that my dad had kept his Datsun, burnt orange 280ZX t-top :bawl: :bawl:. Talk about shweeeeeeeeeeet :-)
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Offline rich_t

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #21 on: July 20, 2012, 06:08:37 PM »
Quote from: seahorse513 on July 20, 2012, 06:05:55 PM
I love standard transmission... My dad used to say only really men drive standards. I just love the sound it makes when shifting gears up.
btw what's three on a tree??. When I was learning to drive, all we had were standards. so I had no choice. Howevr, in driver's ed all they had were automatics, so my dad made me practice more till I could go for my license.
One thing I wish, that my dad had kept his Datsun, burnt orange 280ZX t-top :bawl: :bawl:. Talk about shweeeeeeeeeeet :-)

Three in the tree is where the shift lever is on the steering column.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGoG55S5_Fo
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Offline seahorse513

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #22 on: July 20, 2012, 06:17:55 PM »
Quote from: rich_t on July 20, 2012, 06:08:37 PM
Three in the tree is where the shift lever is on the steering column.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGoG55S5_Fo
Ok I have heard of that, however, I prefer on the floor.just seems sexier somehow!!! I would feel more in control...
There are just some cars ot there, that say SEXY!!! all over them!!! O-)
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The sea is treacherous, but an even hand on the keel brings it safely to port.

Nothing is sexier than a man and his gun!!!

A man should prefer his own company to that of others, because no matter where he goes,he'll find himself there..

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money".  Lady Maggie Thatcher

Offline rich_t

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #23 on: July 20, 2012, 06:23:00 PM »
Quote from: seahorse513 on July 20, 2012, 06:17:55 PM
Ok I have heard of that, however, I prefer on the floor.just seems sexier somehow!!! I would feel more in control...
There are just some cars ot there, that say SEXY!!! all over them!!! O-)

Try a twin stick.

I drove one once when I was about 18.  Whole new world compared to today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mf6AUbjT-s
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Offline obumazombie

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Re: Is knowing how to drive stick in America still essential?
« Reply #24 on: July 20, 2012, 06:25:46 PM »
My 3 on the tree experience was a burned out clutch. I nearly did the same thing to a 4 on the floor trying to unlaunch a ski boat on a steep boat ramp.
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