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Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:32 am to STigers
My first car was a 9 year old Mazda 626 with a manual transmission. Having my hot-tempered dad teach me how to drive it nearly broke us 
In hindsight, I get it. It’s painful to watch a new person learning as it feels like they’re destroying the car.
I’ve had several manual transmission cars since then. You feel like you’ve got more control since the car doesn’t just “go” when you take your foot off of the brake. But it’s less fun when you’re commuting in BR’s stop and go traffic every day, rarely getting above 2nd or 3rd gear.
In hindsight, I get it. It’s painful to watch a new person learning as it feels like they’re destroying the car. I’ve had several manual transmission cars since then. You feel like you’ve got more control since the car doesn’t just “go” when you take your foot off of the brake. But it’s less fun when you’re commuting in BR’s stop and go traffic every day, rarely getting above 2nd or 3rd gear.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:33 am to 777Tiger
I guess I learned to drive on an old Golf Cart my grandfather had. He'd give us $10 and let us drive around the back of their neighborhood to an Amoco to get snacks. He just told us not to run the battery completely down, and always put it back on the charger when we were done. I was probably 10.
When I was 13, I learned to drive a stick in my other grandfather's Chevy S-10. Lap after lap around a church parking lot. It was an old 2-door white one, just like every other one he ever drove. Blue cloth seats, manual windows as well, and a gear shift that was about 2 feet tall.
Then my first vehicle was a 5-speed Wrangler. Had a summer job after high school, back in the late 90s, and there were maybe 2 of us that could drive a manual, so we got to make all the deliveries from the warehouse while the other guys had to do more of the grunt work loading and unloading trucks all day. The company had a Ford Ranger and a Dodge Dakota for small deliveries, and a box truck for larger ones. One of the guys thought he could drive a stick and was tired of stacking pipe and plumbing fixtures in the warehouse, so he told the manager he knew how. Then proceeded to slam the back end of the Ranger into the concrete loading dock. He got cussed up one side and down the other, and was never allowed near any company vehicles again.
When I was 13, I learned to drive a stick in my other grandfather's Chevy S-10. Lap after lap around a church parking lot. It was an old 2-door white one, just like every other one he ever drove. Blue cloth seats, manual windows as well, and a gear shift that was about 2 feet tall.
Then my first vehicle was a 5-speed Wrangler. Had a summer job after high school, back in the late 90s, and there were maybe 2 of us that could drive a manual, so we got to make all the deliveries from the warehouse while the other guys had to do more of the grunt work loading and unloading trucks all day. The company had a Ford Ranger and a Dodge Dakota for small deliveries, and a box truck for larger ones. One of the guys thought he could drive a stick and was tired of stacking pipe and plumbing fixtures in the warehouse, so he told the manager he knew how. Then proceeded to slam the back end of the Ranger into the concrete loading dock. He got cussed up one side and down the other, and was never allowed near any company vehicles again.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:39 am to STigers
Drove a standard from 15 to 35 years old. I didn't drive in a lot of traffic because I went to work at odd times.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:41 am to STigers
Learned to drive on these two things when I was a youngin’.
I was running these like a pro in my teens.
My first vehicle was on of these. Changed the transmission and clutch out with my dad.
Didn’t have an automatic until I was almost 30. And yes, my calves are ripped.
I was running these like a pro in my teens.
My first vehicle was on of these. Changed the transmission and clutch out with my dad.
Didn’t have an automatic until I was almost 30. And yes, my calves are ripped.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:43 am to Suntiger
old tractors/dozers don't really count as driving a "stick," yes they have a clutch, but so do automatic transmissions
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:43 am to STigers
Me, 75 Chevy pickup
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:47 am to STigers
I learned a 3-speed clutch driving a tiny golf course maintenance vehicle as a teenager
then bought a used POS five speed Honda Civic that got me through college
then bought a used POS five speed Honda Civic that got me through college
This post was edited on 2/10/25 at 11:50 am
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:47 am to STigers
1965 Chevy truck with a straight 6 and three on the tree. Upgraded to a 1969 C20 with the same setup. Bought a 1970 Camaro with a 4 speed manual a couple of years after that. Wife has a cooper convertible now with a 5 speed and its a blast to drive. It sucks in traffic though....
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:48 am to STigers
my 1st car - 86 Ford Mustang
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:48 am to STigers
‘68 Mustang. Timing the clutch was harder in the older cars- made switching seem so easy.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:48 am to 777Tiger
quote:
old tractors/dozers don't really count as driving a "stick
yes they do!
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:49 am to REB BEER
quote:
Yep. Was in Mexico a couple years ago and rented a car. The standard was cheaper and my kids didn't believe me when I told them I could drive one.
My son tried once. Dumped the clutch, stalled the engine, opened the door, got out, walked around to the passenger side and said "you drive - I am done". Daughter, on the other hand, is bound and damned determined she is going to drive her mama's cooper convertible....she hasn't got it down pat yet but she is working on it. They were both amazed that their mother and I both could drive a manual....
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:50 am to STigers
1969 Ford Ranchero
250 6 cylinder
3 on the tree
NO power brakes
NO power steering
NO air conditioner
NO power windows & locks
NO passenger side rear view mirror
AM radio
Like maneuvering a donkey
Dad replaced a 1956 Ford Fairlane because Interstate 610 in Houston opened & didn't think the Fairlane could handle highway speeds lol
250 6 cylinder
3 on the tree
NO power brakes
NO power steering
NO air conditioner
NO power windows & locks
NO passenger side rear view mirror
AM radio
Like maneuvering a donkey
Dad replaced a 1956 Ford Fairlane because Interstate 610 in Houston opened & didn't think the Fairlane could handle highway speeds lol
This post was edited on 2/10/25 at 11:51 am
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:52 am to kywildcatfanone
My dad taught us to back the boat trailer into the garage at right angles to street. 56 chevy, three speed manual, with no power steering.
Drove a 5 speed manual, diesel in Malaysia, that had the steering column on the other side
First tractor my uncle trained me on he forgot to tell me brakes did not work, use the compression
Drove a 5 speed manual, diesel in Malaysia, that had the steering column on the other side
First tractor my uncle trained me on he forgot to tell me brakes did not work, use the compression
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:52 am to L1C4
quote:
My dads pick up with three on the tree.
No hydraulic clutch. You really had to use leg muscle.
Mine had power steering....it took every bit of power you could muster up to steer the damned thing.
Also had 280 air-conditioning.....2 windows, 80 MPH.
Nothing in the world more romantic than a manual transmission and a bench seat in a single cab pick up truck. Floor or column either way it made for some serious touching and rubbing in the proximity of areas you wouldn't necessarily be allowed near unless your girlfriend was sitting next to you on a bench seat....
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:53 am to STigers
1989 Toyota 4Runner Gen 1.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:55 am to STigers
I learned on both at the same time. My dad's Silverado was a floor shift and my mom's blazer was an automatic. I took turns learning both. It wasn't by design, it was just whoever had the time and patience to deal with me.
Posted on 2/10/25 at 11:59 am to STigers
Didn't learn to drive on it but had a GF at LSU who drove a standard. She taught me. Think it was a Honda. Put a lot of miles on her. ;)
Posted on 2/10/25 at 12:00 pm to AwgustaDawg
quote:We called that Armstrong steering. Lol
Mine had power steering....it took every bit of power you could muster up to steer the damned thing.
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