For the first forty years of my life pretty much every vehicle I ever owned was a stick shift.  I loved rowing through the gears and thought automatic transmissions were for wimps.

However, after driving an automatic for the last ten years I recently drove a friends car that had a stick shift.  It really seemed like too much trouble to bother with.

I am sure the big difference is that fact that I used to drive with a lot heavier foot and loved to rev the shit out of an engine.  Now I rarely drive fast at all.

I have also noticed that very few new cars even have a stick shift as an option.  Anyone out there still drive one on a daily basis?

Our second car is a KIA Sportage 5 speed. I hate driving that thing.

Currently driving a 5 speed 2001 Cavalier, before that a manual '95 f150, before that a manual 91 escort, and my first care was an automatic Lumina

Hard for folks to text and drive with a stick. Therefore, less demand for them in recent years.

As for me, my first 4 trucks were all standard. Also had a prelude that was 5 speed, before that a Fiat X19 that was 5 speed, before that a Dodge Colt 4 speed, before that a Pinto 4 speed. I sure do miss driving a standard.

My five speed 01 Honda Civic is still trucking.

I prefer driving a standard actually, not quite sure why.

Most of my vehicles have been standard transmission, and I've always preferred it for driving. For towing anything, I do prefer an automatic. With that said, I've been driving an automatic SUV for the last 12 years. Were I to get a second vehicle, I would do everything in my power to get a 5 speed.

I prefer stick.
I feel I have more control.
Last spring, I bought a little Ford Fiesta.
I test drove it, with a stick, on their test track.
After scaring the beejesus out of the sales guy, I picked an automatic so my wife could drive it (in rare situations).
Fun little car with great MPG.

My little Ford Ranger had a manual transmission and I loved that little truck. I take care of all my vehicles and get as many miles out of them as I can. In 2006, I was in an auto accident in that little thing, bad enough to have to be cut out of the cab and have Air Care called in but couldn't land. That little truck had over 350k miles on it and still had the original clutch.

But...

No matter what kind of car you have, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

Well, except for Chevettes. Those things were death traps.

Still drivin' my '90 Honda CRX 5 speed to work most everyday.

Haven't had one in 5 years. Second car was a stick. Automatic is just more practical although as some have said the stick was fun to drive

i drive an auto and even if i bought a second car as a toy i'd still prefer it's auto. can't text, drink beer, read the paper with a stick shift.

(01-08-2016, 10:37 AM)bengal_fan_in_toronto Wrote: i drive an auto and even if i bought a second car as a toy i'd still prefer it's auto.  can't text, drive beer, read the paper with a stick shift.

I just let my unbuckled, front seat riding kids hold my beer and text for me.

Ive drove and had sticks all my life. I think everyone should know how to drive one. I have two sons 21 and 16. Both of there first vehicle I bought them stick shifts so they can learn. 16 year old currently drives a 5 speed ranger. His first vehicle.

(01-08-2016, 11:23 AM)jason Wrote: I just let my unbuckled, front seat riding kids hold my beer and text for me.

my old lady and i dont want kids...but I'm starting to see why people have them.  its all about making your own life more convenient right J?

I drive automatics, but I have a Subaru where I can switch it over to be able to manually shift the gears. I love this because if I want to control what gear I am in, which living in mountain country is handy, I can. But if I am just tooling around in the city I just leave it on automatic.

What's funny is that even with my years as a drummer I never could get the coordination down on the clutch. So a clutchless manual is perfect for me.

My wife can drive a stick exceptionally well but couldn't drive a manual transmission to save her life.

(01-08-2016, 10:37 AM)bengal_fan_in_toronto Wrote: i drive an auto and even if i bought a second car as a toy i'd still prefer it's auto.  can't text, drive beer, read the paper with a stick shift.

......amateur.

(01-08-2016, 03:26 PM)Wyche Wrote: ......amateur.

hey i can drive beer instead of drink it 

(01-08-2016, 03:34 PM)bengal_fan_in_toronto Wrote: hey i can drive beer instead of drink it 

True....I did notice that after I quoted your post.

That's gotta stand for somethin'.....

(01-07-2016, 11:34 PM)Nebuchadnezzar Wrote: My little Ford Ranger had a manual transmission and I loved that little truck. I take care of all my vehicles and get as many miles out of them as I can. In 2006, I was in an auto accident in that little thing, bad enough to have to be cut out of the cab and have Air Care called in but couldn't land. That little truck had over 350k miles on it and still had the original clutch.

But...

No matter what kind of car you have, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

Well, except for Chevettes. Those things were death traps.

I didn't mine my Chevette. Yeah, no Cadillac, but that thing was bullet proof, light, good gas mileage and if it breaks down, you just leave it there. 

Ugly as sin, tho.