Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Dying Art of Driving a Stick Shift
WSJ ^ | 27 Mar 2022 | Faith Bottum

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 ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Humor; Travel
KEYWORDS: automotive; doubleclutch; manualtransmission; stickshift; stickshifts
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-220 next last
To: Secret Agent Man
I learned to drive a stick when I was 9 years old. My father use to let me drive my morning paper route in our Gremlin or Volkswagen bug. I recently bought a used mustang gt with a 5speed stick. I missed driving a standard car.
41 posted on 04/10/2022 3:44:01 PM PDT by Rdct29 (Democrats are the new Nazi's. They think they deserve total control over the people)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

I drove sticks for years, some in leased cars, but I eventually learned that the sticks were more expensive to lease than the automatics (value at lease end). So I now have an automatic, but at least it has a manual selector which can be used as a stick to upshift or downshift—comes in handy on downgrades/mountains and gradual braking.


42 posted on 04/10/2022 3:45:25 PM PDT by DeFault User
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Manuals are definitely no fun in traffic. Too bad no one ever figured out how to implement a “creep” mode so you could stay off the clutch.

I wonder how many transmission shops are able to work on manuals these days.


43 posted on 04/10/2022 3:45:51 PM PDT by Yardstick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: AFB-XYZ

Ummm, you can downshift in an automatic also.


44 posted on 04/10/2022 3:46:33 PM PDT by Trinity5
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: AFB-XYZ

—”Slightly safer when driving in icy/snowy/slushy conditions, because you can downshift.”

My wife’s Prius V has it covered. Six years going and I like it!

What Does the B Stand For In A Prius?
Simply put, the Prius B mode stands for “braking.” This position is for shifting into a lower gear and increases the engine’s drag to help slow your vehicle down.
https://exclusivelyhybrid.com/prius-shifter-b-mode/


45 posted on 04/10/2022 3:48:02 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ought-six

My first car was a Ford Fairlane with a 3 speed, on the column shifter.
I cut a hole in the floorboard and turned it into an on floor shifter.

How many today could do that!?😆


46 posted on 04/10/2022 3:48:08 PM PDT by justme4now (Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT
I'll never buy anything but manual, it's like using a mouse and keyboard versus a gamepad - so much more control. Looking forward to the new Corolla GR - 300hp, AWD, manual only:
47 posted on 04/10/2022 3:48:59 PM PDT by Teflonic (tt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

I five a four on the floor while working at a campground when I was 12. Had to slide down the seat to depress the clutch, but always made it five miles to the dump and back.

Moved up to an old double-clutch tractor with no brakes when I was 14.


48 posted on 04/10/2022 3:50:10 PM PDT by GreyHoundSailor (LGBTQ - Let's Get Brandon To Quit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

I have five motor vehicles here. Only one is auto trans, but that is a very nice Allison truck transmission behind a diesel engine.
Double-clutch? In a pinch.


49 posted on 04/10/2022 3:51:38 PM PDT by Rio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

It’s been engineered that way. I have gotten as high as 56 mpg on my 2009 Cobalt xfe. 5 speed manual. Avg 60mph over 84 mile course. L.a. to Santa Barbara. Overall decrease in altitude about 1400 feet. Final drive ratio on Cobalt xfe was engineered for better mileage
Ever try push starting , or using the downward slope of a hill to start an automatic?


50 posted on 04/10/2022 3:51:51 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Dutch Boy

—”1941 Indian Scout. It had a left handed throttle, stick shift, and foot clutch.”

And spark advance on the right twistgrip.

It has been many years...


51 posted on 04/10/2022 3:52:10 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Michael.SF.

I came from the era when most everyone’s first car was a VW.

I also had to master parallel parking to get my driver’s license.

Guess I’m dating myself


52 posted on 04/10/2022 3:52:36 PM PDT by doberville
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

Y’all whining about driving a stick in traffic got nothing on me.

I tore my left Achilles’ tendon and had to wear an air boot for a while.

I got real good at shifting without clutching.


53 posted on 04/10/2022 3:54:23 PM PDT by cyclotic (I won't give up my FREEDOM for your FEAR. Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Michael.SF.

—”Stick shifts and parallel parking confused almost everyone under 30.”

A friend has a Ford Expedition that parallel parks itself... and an automatic trans.


54 posted on 04/10/2022 3:55:18 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: fhayek

Driving a manual on the column one more time is on my bucket list. I have found memories of my old Chevy van with the 3 on the tree.


55 posted on 04/10/2022 3:55:33 PM PDT by chickenlips (Neuter your politicians)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

I learned to drive in a 1945 surplus jeep made by Ford. It didn’t have an automagic transmission.

Then I graduated to our 1962 Mercedes Sedan with a 4 on the tree.

We now have a ‘99 Subaru Outback with a 5 speed. My son no longer uses it, but I don’t want to sell it for a variety of reasons, one of them being that I can get a stick shift fix (say that five times really fast) any time I want.


56 posted on 04/10/2022 3:57:10 PM PDT by Disambiguator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yardstick

In Europe, cars with auto trans cost at least $1000 more.

The small cars popular in Europe, VW Golf and the tiny Peugeot 208 and clones lend themselves to manuals with their small engines.


57 posted on 04/10/2022 3:57:37 PM PDT by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: justme4now

“My first car was a Ford Fairlane with a 3 speed, on the column shifter. I cut a hole in the floorboard and turned it into an on floor shifter.”

My first car was a 1962 Corvair Monza. 3-speed, on the floor. Next car was a 1965 Ford Mercury Comet Caliente, 3-on the column.


58 posted on 04/10/2022 3:58:30 PM PDT by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

I can remember driving a stick in stop-and-go rush hour traffic so bad my leg was trembling and cramping until I finally got to an open stretch of expressway. But otherwise I enjoyed driving manual so much I’d still have one, except for the fact my wife never got completely comfortable with it, and that severely limited our flexibility to share cars.


59 posted on 04/10/2022 3:58:49 PM PDT by Stosh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Same here. Learned in High School way back in 1962 Carlsbad NM.
While going through Tulsa with my old Chevy PU I found stopping at each light did put some shifting wear and tear on my old bones. Then in 1980 I bought my first automatic IH SCOUT.
Now all I have are automatics except my old CJ-5 Jeep which I still take out and run around on my property.

Then there is my old Case tractor....


60 posted on 04/10/2022 4:01:44 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (BACK in Facebook jail for posting a euneuch does not voluntarily submit to surgery like a tranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-220 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson