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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
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And almost everyone here at FR is a double-clutching, no synchros needed kind od drivers...

I have an airhead BMW and Honda (motorcycles) both still require using a clutch.

Full TXT:

https://archive.ph/NPZWB

1 posted on 04/10/2022 3:21:08 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


2 posted on 04/10/2022 3:24:32 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


3 posted on 04/10/2022 3:25:22 PM PDT by newfreep (“Leftism, under all of its brand names, is a severe, violent & evil mental disorder.”)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Learned in high school. Learned to drive on either side of the car in my 20s.


4 posted on 04/10/2022 3:25:28 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


5 posted on 04/10/2022 3:25:45 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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).


6 posted on 04/10/2022 3:26:03 PM PDT by ought-six (Multiculturalism is national suicide, and political correctness is the cyanide capsule. )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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/


7 posted on 04/10/2022 3:26:07 PM PDT by Fresh Wind (We are living in 1984. We have always been living in 1984.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

My kids all know how. Only one got good at it.

He’s 22. His office is a ten speed Freightliner semi.


8 posted on 04/10/2022 3:26:13 PM PDT by cyclotic (I won't give up my FREEDOM for your FEAR. Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


9 posted on 04/10/2022 3:26:21 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
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To: fhayek

Absolutely. And I taught my girls how to drive one too


10 posted on 04/10/2022 3:28:13 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Why? For RWD vehicles, the clutch is cheaper to replace than getting a shot transmission rebuilt.


11 posted on 04/10/2022 3:28:36 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: DUMBGRUNT
I gave it up when I bought a hybrid. Now I push buttons and let the computer control the accelerator to maximize my MPG.

-PJ

12 posted on 04/10/2022 3:28:40 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


13 posted on 04/10/2022 3:28:58 PM PDT by ssapro (SSAPRO/ EXBP)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

18%???

I’d be surprised if it’s that high.


14 posted on 04/10/2022 3:30:31 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

I learned how to drive on a stick shift. Then I owned a 3-speed column Duster for several years.


15 posted on 04/10/2022 3:30:56 PM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

My 5 speed stick shift truck is a good theft/car jacking deterrent.


16 posted on 04/10/2022 3:31:01 PM PDT by dynachrome ("I will not be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.")
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To: bigdaddy45

Nice. You are a great father.


17 posted on 04/10/2022 3:31:24 PM PDT by fhayek
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Tough to teach my kid to drive stick when it is hard to find one to buy.


18 posted on 04/10/2022 3:31:28 PM PDT by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

If you can’t drive stick - You’re an idiot!


19 posted on 04/10/2022 3:31:45 PM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: DUMBGRUNT

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.


20 posted on 04/10/2022 3:32:05 PM PDT by Dutch Boy (The only thing worse than having something taken from you is to have it returned broken. )
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