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Posted on 07/28/2026 10:22:15 AM PDT by big truck
M y first car was a 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit. It was a hand-me-down from my mom, manual transmission. You never forget popping clutches, stalling left and right. The car was, let’s say, semi-end-of-life when I got it. It was a classic Volkswagen that, mechanically, ran forever. But it had roll-up windows and the handles had popped off. God knows where the real handles were. We had these vise grips I would use to roll down my window, then hand it to my high school buddies in the back so they could do the same. I’ve got 4,000 memories from inside that vehicle.
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6000 rpms on the track
Every time I see an ugly-as-sin Tesla I think “If that’s futuristic, it must be post-apocalyptic”. A 1961 Thunderbird, now that was the future!
“Cars represent the mood of America. Recently, it’s been all about tech. So many modern cars are isolation machines: Don’t worry, this car will drive you everywhere. Don’t worry, it’s all in the software. Don’t worry, it’s just like a phone.
The car loses its character. It has one giant screen, and you go eight layers down, and that’s how you heat your seat. It becomes a spaceship. I think Americans have become suspicious of that. We didn’t forget how to open a car door — you can put a door handle on the car. You shouldn’t need facial ID to enter your vehicle.”
If you put out a plain old 4 cylinder Jeep you would not be able to keep them on the lot. Getting the computers out of them would make them much easier to work on.
I later had an Olds Omega with inline-6, 3 in-the-tree manual shift, manual brakes. A simple, solid car. I should have put money in the suspension and kept it running.
My 3rd manual shift car was a 1974 Porsche 914. It was tweaked as a slalom car. It originally had the 2000cc normally aspirated engine. The seller took that engine and replaced with a 1.8L fuel-injected. It was still a great car, but was continually draining my wallet with failures that were expensive.
I would happily have another manual shift vehicle, but my location in Idaho really needs a good 4 wheel drive. It's just easier with an automatic now.
After 1,000,000+ miles under my belt driving trucks, I appreciate automatic transmissions. I don’t pretend to be a race car driver.
“Why would anybody prefer a stick shift?”
Why not? Besides, it gets automatic by use.
It gives the driver a lot of control.
For those who haven’t learned it, it becomes a deterrent.
Facial recognition to enter and when going down the road if it detects you not paying attention or closing your eyes, it shuts down the car wherever you are. Thanks Big Brother!
If you can still order them that way. I was thinking more
along the lines of the early 90s Toyota Tacoma, or the 70s
Ford F-100/F-150 with the 300ci 6 banger.
69 Ghia
69 911
Fiberglass MIGI
Rabbit
So, with a fully self-driving car, can I just sit in the passenger seat and get drunk?
The beverage will be in a thermos, so technically it is not an open container.
My first car was a 1989 Mazda MX-6. She would ony start for me after a while, but the brake lines eventually rotted out.
Then came the 1996 Mazda 626, which later got handed down to my brother.
Then a 2003 Pontiac Vibe, which was a toyota Matrix underneath but was one of the most reliable things I owned until it got totaled by a dumb broad playing on her phone in a Ford Excursion.
A 1985 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham was a project car I had with my dad until I got too sick to do any real work with him. I sold it and still wish I hadn’t.
When the Vibe got totaled, I got the 2004 precursor to the Mazda3 Speed (hatchback). The thing was a rocket and handled well, with an auto-manual that made winter driving easier, allowing me to start in second gear. This got totaled by a Russian national running a red light. I know enough Russian to know he was calling me a, “b¡tch” the whole time.
Which led to my current vehicle, a 1999 Toyota 4Runner. I love it to pieces (literally - because she’s rusting away at the frame). I plan on replacing her with another 3rd gen 4Runner and using this one for parts. This time I can afford to fluid film it and make sure there’s a clear coat and not just single stage paint.
Just this morning the YouTube algorithm showed me a video of a young woman whose gas pedal stopped working while she was tootling down the freeway. A disembodied voice came on and announced “I cannot see your eyes. Please sit up.” Once she’d straightened up the gas pedal worked again. Very spooky. What if she’d been pulling onto the freeway in front of a semi? Or at an intersection or railroad crossing? FRiends, those thousands of “data centers” aren’t being built to house vacay fotos and cat videos.
I loved driving a manual, except when I got stuck in traffic jams. Was once in a 10-15 mile backup on the NJ Turnpike, and by the time I got home, my left leg was so worn out from shifting that I could barely get out of the car, and I was only 28 at the time!
For years car companies have justified their crazy yearly price increases by adding ‘value’ to the product with gadgetry and people kept buying them.
Then with financing enabling the slave to the bank mentality, poor economic decisions it has really snowballed.
Then add on government interference with regulations etc.
My newest is a 2009 Ram and I wish I still had my 70 Ford F250.
My main driver is a 93 S10 Chevy.
My trade was a mechanic so I just plan on keeping my fleet of older better junk.
My wife drives a 09 Corolla.
As a betting man, I am sure and confident you could make this topic about the Civil War. Its easy money for me.
Well let me hear your theory then, because I don't see any obvious connections between this and the Civil War.
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