[Celtic Conservative]

Learned to drive stick on a '85 renault with a 5 speed getrag transmission. After you got past first, it was very easy to shift. First gear in that thing was a stone b#+ch. But , every other manual I've driven since then has been easy compared to that thing. So ultimately it was good training.

CC

[Erasmus]

Learned to drive stick on a '85 renault with a 5 speed getrag transmission. After you got past first, it was very easy to shift. First gear in that thing was a stone b#+ch.

Sounds like my older borther's '59 Opel. Learning first gear in that one was tough.

My first car, a '61 Impala, was an automatic (283 engine with the old 2-speed, IIRC, powerglide). After that it was all sticks until 2010 when I went for my fourth Honda.

Decided to go with the automatic-equipped Civic EX (I don't think Honda even makes an EX with a stick any more--certainly none on the local lots). The Civic Si model was stick-only (6-speed), but it was a little spendier than I wanted; plus, I was spending a lot of time in stop-n-go traffic in those days.