re: Simple animation showing how a clutch works

Foshzzle's cars (that weren't given to me by parents way back in the day):
'90 Ford Mustang
'00 Ford Mustang
'15 Ford Mustang <-- current

All three are stick shift, as the good Lord intended. I've only Flinstoned twice that I remember, it's just that anyone who drives a Mustang with automatic transmission just ain't right.

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women's reaction to this

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You should see their reaction to the parallel parking one.

Bought my 5-speed about 5.5 years ago and have loved driving it. I learned on an old S-10 in the parking lot of a small town Baptist church. I think I was 13 and my grandpa took me out there to teach me. When I turned 16 I got a manual Jeep. It ended up crapping out on me in college, and I had always wanted another one. I found this one in great condition and now actually prefer driving manual. I don't know how many times I've stomped the floor of my wife's minivan when going to take a turn. She wanted me to teach her how to drive the Jeep, but every time I offered she didn't feel like it. But in a few years I'll teach my daughter and give it to her when she's 16 if she wants it.

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cads cars:
- '77 Datsun pickup truck (clutch)
- '87 Honda Accord lxi (clutch)
- '91 Acura Legend (clutch)
- '97 Toyota 4Runner (clutch) <-- current vehicle

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You must live in the boonies b/c standard cars suck in traffic

Same here 63 ford falcon

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Where can a grown man go nowadays to learn how to drive a standard without judgement?

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nowhere, probably ... i grew up on a farm, so i've driven manuals since i could walk, just about ... probably be a hard time finding one (or someone to let you learn on theirs) ... not a bad skill to have, just in case you needed to drive one in an emergency ...

Very cool-thanks for sharing.

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You must live in the boonies b/c standard cars suck in traffic

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lived in houston for 5 years then nashville for 20. drove a standard the entire time.

never had a problem with traffic or hills. its not that hard. when there's traffic you generally stay in 1st gear and don't fly up on the cars in front of you. generally by the time you reach the stopped/slowed car in front its moving again so you never have to engage the clutch at all.

of course there are the usual assholes who like to flip lanes and close the gap between you and the car in front of you.

Driving a manual isn't the real "skill", that is heel and toeing down through the gears into the corner WITHOUT upsetting the balance of the car.

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Driving a manual isn't the real "skill", that is heel and toeing down through the gears into the corner WITHOUT upsetting the balance of the car.

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i dont really think about shifting, etc. its like hitting the brake. i couldn't tell you how many times i hit the brake on a daily drive.

i did find out i was burning through too many master & slave cylinders because i liked to 'engine brake' when going down steep hills to save my brakes

after the second replacement i realized how much stress i was putting on them and its cheaper to replace brake pads than those 2 cylinders which are designed to last forever if you don't abuse them.