Sign of the times

[GDNF2ET]

[masraum]

Lol

[rcooled]

[LWJ]

Hilarious.

My 19 yr old son desperately wanted to drive my 911. It was a total cringe.

He is just as bad on the boxster that replaced it.

Then he wanted to ride a dirt bike.

I told him "you can't." He got all angry / funny looking. And I explained that he needed to be able to shift...

[stevej37]

When I was selling my Ranger...I put a 4 sale sign in the back window.
The first three young men that asked about it....walked away when they spotted the stick shift.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by rcooled

i dont know any boomers who own stick shift cars anymore, outside of road racing cars. i only know millennials and genZ with stick shifts.

[Bill Douglas]

At least they have a warning sign. Better than hearing 7,000rpm, tire screech, stall, 7,000rpm...

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

i dont know any boomers who own stick shift cars anymore, outside of road racing cars. i only know millennials and genZ with stick shifts.

just because they don't own them doesn't mean that they can't drive them.

Yes, there are some young folks that can drive stick. But I suspect (in the US) the percentage of drivers that can is much lower than it was years ago. But maybe I'm wrong.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by masraum

just because they don't own them doesn't mean that they can't drive them.

Yes, there are some young folks that can drive stick. But I suspect (in the US) the percentage of drivers that can is much lower than it was years ago. But maybe I'm wrong.

car ownership has been going down for 2 generations now, so i suspect that people who know how to drive has dipped significantly as well.

this is why teslas are so great for the car community, its actually the only thing bringing in new blood to cars.

[cabmandone]

I was talking with my B.I.L about a car for my niece a few weeks ago. The "must" on the list was stick shift. I was a bit surprised but he wants his daughter to know how to drive a stick shift. I didn't ask why.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

At least they have a warning sign. Better than hearing 7,000rpm, tire screech, stall, 7,000rpm...

Exactly why I don't use valet parking.

[Eric Hahl]

It was bound to happen. Autos today are much more efficient than manuals. Change is inevitable.

[ckissick]

It's probably just as well.

[Adrian Thompson]

I am so tired of the snobbery from so called car enthusiasts about manuals Vs Automatics. Sure, I was a little **** too who grew up believing the only reason to own an auto was because you lacked sufficient arms or legs to drive a 'real' car. But then I grew up in the UK where a 1.6L 90hp 4cyl was a family car, and if you tried to insure anything with more than about 150 hp at less than 25 years old they'd have laughed you out and flat out refused to even quote you. Back then old three speed auto's really were horrible with so little power and torque plus old torque convertor technology. I moved here in 94 and soon after got to drive some C4 Corvettes with both the truly hideous Doug Nash 4+3 manual, as well as the 4L60 Auto's. That instantly showed me that not only could Auto's be perfectly effective and fun to drive, but it's possible for them to be far better than manuals in some instances. The next step forward was when I got to drive an E39 540 and discovered that (by the standards of the day) 'modern' electronics and calibration made autos really nice with the ability to much better predict what gear you needed next etc. Things have really improved this century to the point where honestly for 99.9% of occasions an auto is a better alternative than a manual for most people in most situations. I will also say that with many modern high performance cars there is no way a mere mortal like myself could keep up with shifting in high performance driving. Having driven a friends new GT500 on track last year, and not being named Senna, Prost, Piquet or Mansell, there is no way I would be able to keep up with that car on corner exist if I had to shift as well.

Get over it. Auto's are just as good as manuals. IF you enjoy a manual more, bully for you, but don't piss on people who manage to enjoy the automotive experience while only using two pedals.

Amusing aside. As stated above, my fleet is now all auto (Except the C30, but that's hiding out back and not on the road), but I wanted to make sure my youngest daughter could drive a manual in case of emergencies. Having no manual I asked my Brother in law to teach her, so he took her out in his Jeep. Thirty mins later they came back, he was glowing with praise, she was already doing perfect clutchless upshift with no problem. She found it easy. Her take though? 'Why would anyone actually want to do that? What's the point?' She can drive a manual, but she doesn't' see the point.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I was talking with my B.I.L about a car for my niece a few weeks ago. The "must" on the list was stick shift. I was a bit surprised but he wants his daughter to know how to drive a stick shift. I didn't ask why.

My Daughter's first car was a stick shift, she was going to learn to focus on driving the car, not listen to her friends, the radio, or making sure she looks good.

She was pissed, but guess what car her son took his driving test in?
Her 6 speed WRX, He's now a junior PCA member looking forward to his first AX with G-Pa. I be a happy guy

[john70t]

Originally Posted by LWJ

My 19 yr old son desperately wanted to drive my 911. It was a total cringe.

Dad taught me during winter on an expendable 1978 Corolla wagon.

First was KOEO pushing in the clutch and going through the gears to know where they are. Up down up down through the gears. Know where they are.
Next was controlling gas pedal in neutral. The right foot needs a light touch.
Then try out first gear clutch to engagement point only, and then push back in to coast slow, and then reengage.
Match revs. Slow movements.
Clutch always goes in for safety when in doubt. Steer and brake first.
Go through a few gears and back down. Absorb it.

Then he took me to an icy hill to try out handbrake starts.
Also rocking the car out of a snow pit when completely stuck and spinning the wheels. The cruel bastard.
I embellished that training with many handbrake slides and slalom after fresh snow in the nearby empty school parking lot. Cops were understanding.

That beater cart pulled a long time after that until Michigan cancer did it in.
His training also 100% saved my life a few times.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Adrian Thompson

Get over it. Auto's are just as good as manuals. IF you enjoy a manual more, bully for you, but don't piss on people who manage to enjoy the automotive experience while only using two pedals.

She found it easy. Her take though? 'Why would anyone actually want to do that? What's the point?' She can drive a manual, but she doesn't' see the point.

That was a great post.

I would not buy a manual on any car other than a sports car...even then, I'd hesitate. The 997 I am working on is manual and I enjoy it because I don't need it.

The transmission in my 2015 Tundra is just about perfect in both regular and tow mode. I'd like to think I could do better, but, nope.

Both my kids learned to drive stick on my 1999 Tacoma 5 speed. My son drove it through HS and college into law school before we sold it. Great truck for learning the ropes.

[Jeff Higgins]

Driving any sports car or high performance car with an automatic is like fcking with a condom. Yeah, you'll stick get there, and you might convince yourself it's just as fun, but we all really do know better.

[911boost]

I agree with Jeff.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Hilarious.

My 19 yr old son desperately wanted to drive my 911. It was a total cringe.

He is just as bad on the boxster that replaced it.

Then he wanted to ride a dirt bike.

I told him "you can't." He got all angry / funny looking. And I explained that he needed to be able to shift...

So you raised a "shiftless ne're-do-well" ?