Does Anyone Still Drive a Standard Gear Shift

Love reading your memories!

I come from a family that didn’t drive - well, Dad reckoned he drove pre-War back in Poland but could never prove it, and never tried afterwards, so we never believed him. The family joke was about ‘driving people around the bend…’ My sister learnt to drive after buying herself an old Fiat 1800? Very cute; she graduated to automatic cars once she had children, though. I was given an old ‘yellow’ manual Corolla in the late 80s that gave its life protecting me in that smash; it was left looking like a very sad, squashed cartoon car. 
I was terrified, learning to drive again and in a new city! David’s cars were either manual vans (for work) or what we call panel vans - surfers and musos love them. Bigger than I was used to, smaller windows (really had to use my mirrors) and the gears were different to what I knew (reverse was weird!). I think we replaced it after a couple of years. 
Every car has been a manual; I’ve only driven automatic a couple of times, mainly work vehicles or helping my brother. Currently got an old Hyundai Accent manual, it’ll be hard to replace with another manual. What do people do when not listening to engine noise for gear changes??


I believe the Hyundai Velociter can be ordered with a manual.


Joyce and I would go to U.K. and reserve automatic trans cars. I can't drive a right side steering wheel car because I am blind in my left eye and can't use the windshield and left side mirrors. Joyce had arthritis and left Hand shifting, plus dealing with the silly driving on the left side of the road... so we would pay extra to rent the cheapest, automatic trans car. 

We reserved one from Avis and got to Plymouth and got in the car. After driving a couple of blocks, it was clear that the brakes weren't working. Now it's one thing wen your car won't start. It's another thing when your car won't stop. So, back to the rental shop.

"Sorry, that was the only economy car we have with auto. If you want automatic, the only one we have is 25 pounds MORE per day."

Me: (I am a curmudgeon - ball buster, fueled on coffee) "So let me tell you how this works. In New Jersey, we have a thing called Small Claims Court. I take a copy of the reservation form to the court, along with a copy of the added bill and I sue Avis for the difference in the local court."

Five minutes later, she comes out with the keys for the higher priced sedan. 

Now that led to other problems, driving a larger car on the single lane, English countryside and Penzance's narrow streets. But to quote The Kingston Trio, "All's well that ends well, I suppose."


it’s not that difficult to drive on the left hand side of the road. Do you drive rentals in the Bahamas or any other Caribbean islands? 
I ended up driving a three wheeler stick shift in the Bahamas because it was the only car left at the airport lot of Avis. Was fun going around all those traffic circles on Bay Street.


that was where I drew the line -- was not going to drive a manual in Ireland.  I find driving on the left challenging enough, but I was concerned that having to shift gears with my non-dominant left hand would take too much of my concentration off the road.


DaveSchmidt said:

Yes, but I’m 58.

First car was a 1966 Mustang three-speed that I drove for about eight years (classic but aging and hardly sporty — if it ever was — by the time it was handed over for my use), then onto a 1990 Civic manual and now a 2009 Civic manual. It’s muscle memory, and I just prefer the engagement while driving. Also, it’s something of a theft deterrent these days.

Just made me think of this sketch:


Oh. and offspring learned to drive shift.


Never owned an automatic until last year when I went to an EV.  Audi and BMW don’t even sell them anymore. When I leased my last A4 I asked the salesman how many they sold or leased a year.  He said 3.  I miss my standard transmission.  I’d have to buy a used car to get back to it.  Thankfully my son still drives one that I can borrow!


I think electric vehicles will be a total game-changer for stick shifts and they may become very rare.  Do electric vehicles even have a gear shift (standard or automatic)?  


jeffl said:

Never owned an automatic until last year when I went to an EV.  Audi and BMW don’t even sell them anymore. When I leased my last A4 I asked the salesman how many they sold or leased a year.  He said 3.  I miss my standard transmission.  I’d have to buy a used car to get back to it.  Thankfully my son still drives one that I can borrow!

not even the M3? I’m surprised because Toyota still selling manual transmission in the Corolla. 
I’m thinking of getting the bronco in manual. They still offer that. I bought my son a stick 95 celica when he was going to school in PA, he learned to drive it one week before he left for school. He claims it’s the most reliable car he’s ever had.


RobertRoe said:

I think electric vehicles will be a total game-changer for stick shifts and they may become very rare.  Do electric vehicles even have a gear shift (standard or automatic)?  

Electric motors speed are controlled by rheostats, similar to the dimmer switch in light fixtures -- from no current to all on and anything in between. So no need for gear shifts except for reverse/drive.


Actually, you’re right   This is a year old so some of these may no longer be available   

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/gmp20734564/manual-transmission-cars/



We still have a 2005 Honda Civic with 5-speed manual. We used to also have a 2002 Civic very similar to it but one of our kids drove it into the ground.  She was the only one of her peers who could drive stick.  My husband and I both grew up driving stick-shift and prefer it, but our bigger cars have been mini-vans and SUVs where that was not an option.  I doubt we will be able to get another stick shift when the time comes to replace the Honda.   LOL


Jaytee said:

not even the M3? I’m surprised because Toyota still selling manual transmission in the Corolla. 
I’m thinking of getting the bronco in manual. They still offer that. I bought my son a stick 95 celica when he was going to school in PA, he learned to drive it one week before he left for school. He claims it’s the most reliable car he’s ever had.

the last four cars we've had were all auto trans, equipped with paddle shifters on the steering column. I've never used them, but that seems to be what has replaced manual transmission in "performance" cars. 


I decided to switch to the automatic transmission when my leg was injured and I kept getting into traffic jams.   My left leg really hurt and stopping, starting, and shifting became painful.  


Um, all I use for gears is my non-dominant hand and foot (on clutch and brake).

ml1 said:

that was where I drew the line -- was not going to drive a manual in Ireland.  I find driving on the left challenging enough, but I was concerned that having to shift gears with my non-dominant left hand would take too much of my concentration off the road.

That’s partly why I like driving manual - the cross-brain work helps with my ABI rehab training, a bit like walking crab-wise across an auditorium floor. (More fun, too!)

We needed some engine repairs in early December, and I asked the mechanic what our chances would be to replace with another manual. He said we’d be lucky, but some electric cars are coming with something similar - so thanks for explaining cheese


joanne said:

That’s partly why I like driving manual - the cross-brain work helps with my ABI rehab training, a bit like walking crab-wise across an auditorium floor. (More fun, too!)

We needed some engine repairs in early December, and I asked the mechanic what our chances would be to replace with another manual. He said we’d be lucky, but some electric cars are coming with something similar - so thanks for explaining
cheese

if I learned driving on the left it would not have been an issue. But to do it for two weeks would have been a challenge, especially in a different country. 

I figured out how to catch a baseball and fret guitar strings with my left hand, so eventually I could have figured out the shifting thing. grin


You’re implying, tho, that driving on the right hand side of the road, your gears are controlled by your right hand which is probably your dominant hand. And your  accelerator pedal by your left foot, your brake and clutch by your right foot. That sounds tangled to me! I could probably manage to drive but not sure I could walk afterwards  oh oh


ooh! Just watched very informative YouTube clips that showed modern cars (with buttons not keyed ignition) are scary for me! But the feet are pretty much the same, so OK. But gear stick is called the ‘shifter’?? And some modern cars have a button for the hand-brake???

Too much change!


I've driven both automatic and manual transmission vehicles.

I learned to drive in a Holden (that was a GM Australian-designed and manufactured car), which had three on the tree.

I later drove a (Ford) Falcon with auto transmission - shudder to think about it now, but at one stage, I got the car up to 100 mph late at night along one of our freeways. Cross-ply tyres and no seat belts.  Learned later that that particular model had a rated top design speed of 83 mph!

I've owned three (four) vehicles since - all with manual transmissions:  two Toyota Coronas and a Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD.   I'm also now driving my late wife's Mazda 2.  (Talk about the sublime to the ridiculous:  the 4WD is huge compared to the tiny Mazda!)

The Toyotas had four on the floor, the Paj has five on the floor and the Mazda has a six-speed transmission.

(All with reverse, of course)


Don’t forget your Outback explorations - hard-to-find loos, and hard-to-find servos if you break down or run out of fuel… 


joanne said:

You’re implying, tho, that driving on the right hand side of the road, your gears are controlled by your right hand which is probably your dominant hand. And your  accelerator pedal by your left foot, your brake and clutch by your right foot. That sounds tangled to me! I could probably manage to drive but not sure I could walk afterwards 
oh oh

ooh! Just watched very informative YouTube clips that showed modern cars (with buttons not keyed ignition) are scary for me! But the feet are pretty much the same, so OK. But gear stick is called the ‘shifter’?? And some modern cars have a button for the hand-brake???

Too much change!

My Hyundai has buttons for ignition, shifting and parking. My last Hyundai had paddles on the steering wheel for manual shifting. I seldom used it.


joanne said:

Don’t forget your Outback explorations - hard-to-find loos, and hard-to-find servos if you break down or run out of fuel… 

I figure if I was in the outback, needing a loo - well there's always quite a few BIG loos.  I find them behind trees or behind billboards. They don't have t.p. or running water, though.


Formerlyjerseyjack said:

joanne said:

Don’t forget your Outback explorations - hard-to-find loos, and hard-to-find servos if you break down or run out of fuel… 

I figure if I was in the outback, needing a loo - well there's always quite a few BIG loos.  I find them behind trees or behind billboards. They don't have t.p. or running water, though.

It's okay for a bloke.  A bit harder for a woman.

It also depends where you are.  Across the Nullarbor, there are no trees of any decent size to hide behind.

There are, however, fuel and rest stops every 100 kilometres (60 miles approx) in the remote areas.

This is the 100 kilometre (60 mile approx) dead straight section of the Eyre Highway crossing the Nullarbor, in South Australia.  And yes, they are runway end markings painted on the road surface.  This is so the Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft can land to pick up patients in need of rescue.


joanne said:

You’re implying, tho, that driving on the right hand side of the road, your gears are controlled by your right hand which is probably your dominant hand. And your  accelerator pedal by your left foot, your brake and clutch by your right foot. That sounds tangled to me! I could probably manage to drive but not sure I could walk afterwards 
oh oh

ooh! Just watched very informative YouTube clips that showed modern cars (with buttons not keyed ignition) are scary for me! But the feet are pretty much the same, so OK. But gear stick is called the ‘shifter’?? And some modern cars have a button for the hand-brake???

Too much change!

when driving on the right, we use our right hand for shifting, right foot for accelerator and brake, and left foot for clutch.  


marksierra said:

It's okay for a bloke.  A bit harder for a woman.

It also depends where you are.  Across the Nullarbor, there are no trees of any decent size to hide behind.

There are, however, fuel and rest stops every 100 kilometres (60 miles approx) in the remote areas.

This is the 100 kilometre (60 mile approx) dead straight section of the Eyre Highway crossing the Nullarbor, in South Australia.  And yes, they are runway end markings painted on the road surface.  This is so the Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft can land to pick up patients in need of rescue.

I know some Americans are apprehensive about driving through alligator alley across Florida. You have to be well prepared to drive across Australia…. Crocodile alley is filled with other scary creatures. Automatic transmissions don’t last too long in those inhospitable conditions of Australia. Standard manual transmission is predominant in most of the world. I learned to drive in a stick shift, my son did, my daughter did, and they’re proud of that. You can control the vehicle much better, that’s why in some countries if you can’t drive stick you’re not considered to be a qualified driver.


marksierra said:

This is the 100 kilometre (60 mile approx) dead straight section of the Eyre Highway crossing the Nullarbor, in South Australia.

That’s a helluva long stretch for a one-way street. blank stare


When I learned to drive in N J in 1954 the driver's test required everyone to use a stick shift car. After I passed I quickly forgot as my car was automatic.


When I drove a stick in England I found it a lot easiest than I’d guessed.  Driving on the left with the steering wheel on the right somehow cancelled out.  It took a short time to get used to shifting with my left hand.  But that was decades ago when my brain was more plastic. 


DaveSchmidt said:

marksierra said:

This is the 100 kilometre (60 mile approx) dead straight section of the Eyre Highway crossing the Nullarbor, in South Australia.

That’s a helluva long stretch for a one-way street. 
blank stare

It's two-way: a single lane in each direction.

Most of the traffic consists of B-triples (a prime mover with three long trailers behind) hauling freight from one side of the country to the other.  Depending on the time of year, mid-autumn to mid-spring, when the weather's a bit cooler, you'll also find a mix of tourist vehicles thrown in.

Most people only drive during daylight hours.  The wildlife tends to come out at night, and you don't really want to collect any wildlife while you're travelling at speed.  Hitting a roo at 100 klicks  (60mph) will prove fatal to the roo, and will more than likely destroy a passenger vehicle.

After a while, you begin to recognise the smell of roadkill baking on the road under a hot sun.  It's not pleasant.

Rather than hog this discussion with Aussie travel stories, I'm happy to explain more at the Aussie Travel website, which is a Worldwebs Community. (Thanks @jamie)

Look for the 'Driving on Aussie Roads' section.


In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.