[ken5050]

After my 1982 SAAB 990 Turbo 5 speed had 7 years and 100,000+ miles..I used it to teach my then-teenage girls to drive, and gave it to them for their first car..because it was exceptionally solid, and had lots of safety features that were ahead of its time. ( SAAB back then built GREAT cars..)They were thrilled to be getting a car, obviously, but not that excited at having to learn to drive a stick, especially since none of their frends have to do so. However, teenagers will do whatever's in their best interests, albeit sometimes grudgingly (g)

Fast forward about 10 years. My youngest is now on her honeymoon, some island in the Caribbean. I get a call from her at my office one morning..about 2 days after they left. I'm semi-nervous..wondering what the heck's going on?

She just had to call and tell me. The honeymoon package included a car for the week..something Jeep-like to drive around the island..When the went to pick up the car, seems there were only standard transmissions left. Her husband was upset, he never learned to drive a stick..Of course my daughter was able to step in and take charge. I was grinning for days..and even more so when they returned home and she told me that it took her about 1 hour to teach him how to drive it.. Smart girl, in so many ways..

[Thumper1960]

Excellent!

My first stick was actually a friend’s Beetle. Weird shifter but it gave me a taste. I got the hang of it. The next summer I took a summer trip with my stepfather who was an over the road trucker. He let me “play” in the yard with his old Freightliner. So many gears! My next stick was an old Subaru wagon 5 speed that kept me busy in around town driving. I never had anyone ask to borrow it but I did have a couple friends ask if I could teach them to drive stick.

I should have charged an hourly rate.