Posted on 04/10/2022 3:21:08 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Only around 18% of American drivers can handle a manual transmission, according to U.S. News and World Report. You know: the clutch pedal and the stick shift—three on the tree, four on the floor or, I don’t know, five to drive maybe. Different gears, manually engaged.
Turns out that “basically” isn’t the same as “actually.” When my father’s Oldsmobile died this month, my family replaced it as the backup car with a used Chevy. Since I’m the backup driver, I climbed in, stepped on the clutch, started the car, stepped off the clutch. The engine promptly stalled. Only by grinding the gears, smoking the clutch and jerking forward in jumps did I finally get moving.
In 1980, some 35% of cars produced in the U.S. were manuals. Today that figure is closer to 1%, and only 3.7% of Carmax sales are for stick shifts—shockingly low considering that 80% of cars sold in Europe have manual transmissions. Some car makers, including Audi, no longer offer manual transmissions in the U.S. market at all.
So why would anyone want one? Your car is less likely to get stolen, for one thing. Thieves prove as incapable of using a clutch as any other American.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
I have an airhead BMW and Honda (motorcycles) both still require using a clutch.
Full TXT:
https://archive.ph/NPZWB
A real man should know how to drive a stick shift. One of those skills that you may never need, but when called upon, you don’t want to look like a pajama boy wanker.
Every car I’ve purchased had 3 pedals including my current car.
That said, looking at new cars and looks like I’ll be forced into a DCT automatic...but with paddles.
Learned in high school. Learned to drive on either side of the car in my 20s.
I’ve had a few all sport cars and muscle cars and I wouldn’t trade anything for my 10 speed auto 🤪
It’s the slickest thing since sliced bread and co developed by GM & Ford.
I learned to drive on a manual transmission (stick shift), back in the mid-1960s. I love them. Most of my vehicles have been manual trans (though my current Ford pick-up is an automatic).
I’ve never owned a car with an automatic transmission.
The article without the paywall:
https://vigourtimes.com/the-dying-art-of-driving-a-stick-shift/
My kids all know how. Only one got good at it.
He’s 22. His office is a ten speed Freightliner semi.
I like stick shifts. Slightly safer when driving in icy/snowy/slushy conditions, because you can downshift.
Last stick shift I had was my 2002 Camaro. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a wreck. Have had a “thing” against wrong-way drivers on one-way streets ever since.
Absolutely. And I taught my girls how to drive one too
Why? For RWD vehicles, the clutch is cheaper to replace than getting a shot transmission rebuilt.
-PJ
Every vehicle I own is a manual except my GMC Yukon. The others are;
68 Corvette convertible 427 with a Muncie 4 speed
79 C10 350 4 speed
09 Honda Shadow
13 Jeep Wrangler JK 3.6 with the 6 speed.
Next up for restoration 44 Willys MB with T-84 3 speed.
18%???
I’d be surprised if it’s that high.
I learned how to drive on a stick shift. Then I owned a 3-speed column Duster for several years.
My 5 speed stick shift truck is a good theft/car jacking deterrent.
Nice. You are a great father.
Tough to teach my kid to drive stick when it is hard to find one to buy.
If you can’t drive stick - You’re an idiot!
Manual transmission, the millennial anti-theft device.
I learned how to drive a motorcycle on a 1941 Indian Scout. It had a left handed throttle, stick shift, and foot clutch.
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