re: Any manual/stick shift owners out there?

Back in high school my Jeep was a 5 speed. Ended up with a summer job after graduation and all the delivery trucks were compact stick shifts. Me and one other guy got to make every delivery that summer while the others had to stock the warehouse and unload trucks. The company asked who knew how and we both raised our hands. They asked if we really knew how and we both said to go look at what we drove to work every day. Apparently someone tore up a truck in previous years and they made sure everyone taking company property out after that really knew. I think the guy rolled back into someone and they had to pay for repairs.

My current Jeep is a 5 speed as well. Love having the control over it. We live in Birmingham with tons of hills so picking your gear going up or down is great.