is that really difficult to drive stick shift??

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: smp
3rd to 5th is good yeah! I like 5th to 3rd better, downshifting is more fun as far as I'm concerned.




For those saying that ...

It isn't hard, it's just stupid. Stick is a throwback to the dark ages of automobile design before anybody could figure out how to make an efficient automatic. It's like grinding flankstake instead of buying hamburger. It's like ironing a shirt instead of buying wash and ware. And just imagine everytime that hand gets close to something really interesting as it works it's way up a thigh it's time to shift. There is a powerful mythology going around that the stick is cool. Probably that's the result of boy children with no real significant achievments to their name thinking that mastering something slightly more difficult than standoing on one leg, shifting, is one of those defining transitional rites of passage that defines them as men. It's all a bunch of brainwashed cool swager and bravado that is essentially bas ackwards and absurd. Shifting shows it's true colors in the two hour traffic jam when you shift several thousand times to get a mile down the road. Now that is really coo. Shift put in the clutch break. let outhte clutch, put in the clutch break over and over again. Weeeee is this fun. And while you're developing a blister and premature heart disease, the guy in the nest car is fondeling his, his ...his coffee espresso. You'd love to give him the finger, but you'd kill the engine.

-Driving stick in rain and snow is much safer (more control) .. (someone mentioned engine breaking)
-it's more fun because you're actually controlling the car .. you're more integrated with your machine, if you don't care about this then fine, personal preference. I like to feel that the car is an augmentation to my body .. like a glove.
-You can get faster shifts .. auto's lag, even the tiptronic girly bidness

The two people who are so outspokenely opposed to manual .... you are rabid! You actually hate manual and people who drive it .. your nothing but rabid, hateful fascists ... seek therapy.

Manuelku:
Learning to drive stick is easy .. but don't think you've learned it right until you can downshift properly. Anyone can make the car get from A to B .. but driving stick is all about control ..
Go to a parking lot and learn 1st .. after 1st the rest of the gearbox is easy. 1st is the touchiest .. as is reverse, of course.
Go learn and enjoy .. you'll see how many more options you have when driving a sports car when it's manual. Try driving sideways in an auto .. (rally style, good luck)

I don't hate people that drive stick, I would actually rather have a stick than my automatic for many reasons, fuel economy, more control, and more fun. But I find people talking about how driving stick makes you so much cooler than automatic drivers and how it integrates you with your car just funny. You guys are not rally drivers, get over it.

 

[coolVariable]

I have driven stick for 15 years (I doubt there is anyone here who can top that) so don't tell me I can't drive stick!
Ok, theoretically it might be possible to drive more economically with manual but in REAL LIFE it's NOT!
(Why don't you drive stick shift a few years and try it! This is REAL LIFE experience! You can even substract a little because you are not so much used to it as I am ...)
Race: With manual you gain 3 meters in the first second then you have to shift .... and the car with automatic is far away on the horizon.
(Don't believe me? Try it!)

Oh, and smp: Yes I am a hateful fascists! I hate stupid fags like you who have to resort to name calling to prove their point!

And beause automatic transmissions are so bad at doing their jobs even the technicians at the formula 1 are considering allowing the teams to build it into the cars because it would speed up the whole thing ... but you are right, automatic transmissions are SO BAAAAD!

 

[smp]

I don't hate people that drive stick, I would actually rather have a stick than my automatic for many reasons, fuel economy, more control, and more fun. But I find people talking about how driving stick makes you so much cooler than automatic drivers and how it integrates you with your car just funny. You guys are not rally drivers, get over it.

And what do you know about what I drive and how? Don't tell me what I am and what I'm not.

Oh, and smp: Yes I am a hateful fascists! I hate stupid fags like you who have to resort to name calling to prove their point!

fvck you too.

 

[Scipionix]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Maybe you aren't shifting efficiently? I have a manual 2002 Civic LX. I know at least 4 other people who have automatics. I get 34-35, they all tell me they get around 30.
What's the deal? Same car, same trim level. Hellz, I even drive with the windows rolled down and I have the factory "spoiler" to give me a little extra drag on the highway.

Windows rolled down? Sounds like you don't use the AC and they do. That will reduce your fuel efficiency by about 15%, which would be the difference between 34-35 and 30.

 

[ChefJoe]

Manual tranny is much more fun to drive IMHO. It keeps you active and alert. You have more feel for the road and handling. I have always (from 16 to 22 (now)) had manual cars and the few times I've driven automatic tranny's it makes me want to piss in the gastank. You should have seen the driving test instructor's face when I told them I was going to take the test in a manual though, he was a simpleton. A car which moves forward without the brakes applied seems incredibly unsafe, the speed "selectivity" of the pedal is horrible, and there's a lot more pep and control with a manual tranny (to say nothing of the small increase in MPG you get). Whenever I have to drive an automatic now, I have to force myself to clench my hands around the wheel so I don't go reaching for the stickshift to try to make the car run smoother.

PS: New Jettas are soft clutching, old Jettas (pre JettaIII) are sport clutching.

 

[Chooco]

if you want to learn how to use a standard, try drivin a dirt bike for a day and you'll have the clutch thing mastered. i hate it when you think you're really gonna get it goin but you let go of the clutch too quickly and it stalls

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: coolVariable
I have driven stick for 15 years (I doubt there is anyone here who can top that) so don't tell me I can't drive stick!

You can't drive stick.
Just because you've been doing it forever means jack. Practice doesn't make "perfect" as they say, practice makes "permanent." Just because you've been driving poorly for 15 years doesn't mean anything for the rest of us.
I'd like to see you provide even anecdotal evidence to back up your claims, even though I'd still be sceptical. I'd like to see a real source that actually supports what you claim.
Consumer Reports seems to disagree with you....

Scipionix:

Windows rolled down? Sounds like you don't use the AC and they do. That will reduce your fuel efficiency by about 15%, which would be the difference between 34-35 and 30.

When going 80 down the highway with the windows down, you actually get worse fuel economy than driving with the windows up and the A/C on.
Driving around town, I do use the A/C, though.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: smp
I don't hate people that drive stick, I would actually rather have a stick than my automatic for many reasons, fuel economy, more control, and more fun. But I find people talking about how driving stick makes you so much cooler than automatic drivers and how it integrates you with your car just funny. You guys are not rally drivers, get over it.

And what do you know about what I drive and how? Don't tell me what I am and what I'm not.
...

Why don't you have a spaz? And I was actually talking about people talking about how much cooler driving stick makes you. Well...I guess that "integration comment" was directed at you. Come on man, "I like to feel that the car is an augmentation to my body .. like a glove." That comment was just inviting a joke of some kind

 

[Chaotic42]

It's easy. It took me a little while to learn, but appearently (according to a friend), my clutch is weird. I dunno.

Anyway, it's fun, it's kind of like having a sports car. All passenger cars and *really really really for sure* all sports cars should be manual.

 

[Scipionix]

Jzero: maybe it's just that U-HAUL trailer you've got hitched to the back

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Scipionix
Jzero: maybe it's just that U-HAUL trailer you've got hitched to the back

I know I've got a big ass, but you didn't have to compare it to a U-Haul, man....that's just cold!

 

[GrumpyMan]

It's easy to learn, the only drawback is if you have to commute like 15 or 20 miles to and from work everyday in stop and go traffic that never gets faster than 5 or 10 miles an hour, like here in Houston, truly sucks.

 

[smp]

Why don't you have a spaz?
And I did .. you got a problem with spaz cases too?

And I was actually talking about people talking about how much cooler driving stick makes you. Well...I guess that "integration comment" was directed at you. Come on man, "I like to feel that the car is an augmentation to my body .. like a glove." That comment was just inviting a joke of some kind
Why? I don't see what's so wrong about that? Fine, meshed .. is that better? Cool sucks though I agree with you, it's when these conversations get subjective that it starts to suck .. it's when people say stuff like .. "this is better than that" .. when it's all personal preference right ... I'm just saying that you got more control .. wether you like that or not is up to whoever .. I don't think that driving stick makes you more of a man .. I think that women who drive stick are fvckin sexy though.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: smp
Why don't you have a spaz?
And I did .. you got a problem with spaz cases too?

And I was actually talking about people talking about how much cooler driving stick makes you. Well...I guess that "integration comment" was directed at you. Come on man, "I like to feel that the car is an augmentation to my body .. like a glove." That comment was just inviting a joke of some kind
Why? I don't see what's so wrong about that? Fine, meshed .. is that better? Cool sucks though I agree with you, it's when these conversations get subjective that it starts to suck .. it's when people say stuff like .. "this is better than that" .. when it's all personal preference right ... I'm just saying that you got more control .. wether you like that or not is up to whoever .. I don't think that driving stick makes you more of a man .. I think that women who drive stick are fvckin sexy though.

I was just ripping on your wording, but for the most part I agree with you. Glad we got that figured out

 

[smp]

I was just ripping on your wording

I still don't see what's so gay about "fits like a glove" .. or .. "oiled up" ... or ... "tight hole" .. I just don't see the gayness of that .. anyways yeah, glad we see sphincter to sphincter.

 

[sheselectric]

Originally posted by: TJN23
i recommend learning on a VW jetta, they are cars for girls (in my opinion) and so therefore they are very easy to drive manually and theres a lot of room for error, its really hard to pop the clutch out and stall the car

*dodges the tomatoes from all the enraged feminists*

Thanks TJN, maybe I'll try that.
<-------- admits she had trouble learning on her dad's BMW

 

[no0b]

Jeez a debate over autos and sticks that turned into a flame war.

 

[BOK]

I've owned 6 cars in my life. Two 5-speed manuals, three 4-speed autos, and one 5-speed auto (tip-tronic). To me, a manual transmission is superior in every way, INCLUDING bumper-to-bumper traffic. I've driven a manual about 95% of the time for the past 4 years, commuting to work (50% of the time, in bumper-to-bumper traffic).

When you're stuck in stop & go traffic with an automatic, what do you do? Press the brake, release the brake, press the brake, release the brake, press the gas, slam on your brake. When you're dead stopped, you have to hold the brake down (or put it in park). You're always moving forward unless you have the brake pressed. This could be dangerous. Your foot/leg gets tired. One lapse, and you've rear-ended the guy in front of you.

With a manual, I leave it in 1st gear from 1 to 20 mph. I rarely use my brakes unless I'm coming to a dead stop. When I do have to use the brake, it's easy and effortless. When I'm crawling, I can leave it in neutral and relax. When it's going downhill, I can leave it in neutral and coast, then put it back in gear when I need to slow down, or just brake. I won't be accelerating quickly downhill like an automatic, then have to slam on my brakes when traffic stops again. Overall, I'm using both my legs to drive my car. This balances my efforts, and reduces fatigue. With an automatic, you're always using your right foot/leg - gas, brake, gas, brake (unless you're one of those weirdos who uses the left foot to brake).

Braking is easier and safer with a manual transmission. When you drive an auto, you always get the sense that the car is moving forwards. You're constantly on the brake. It is noticably harder to stop, no matter how good your brakes are.

Perhaps the only thing easier with an auto is eating & driving, using your cell phone & driving, and drinking & driving: all things that you shouldn't be doing anyways, or is illegal!!!

If every car was a manual, people would be paying more attention to actually DRIVING, rather than other things that can distract you when you're on the road.

To the guy who thinks the average auto-tranny car gets better gas mileage than its manual-tranny counterpart: YOU'RE AN UNEDUCATED, HIGH-REVING, CLUTCH-RIDING MORON!