Can you drive a manual shift?
- Thread starter oldbee
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I agree. Some folks are just lacking "mechanical sympathy" as Jackie Stewart used to put it.
Those are the same folks who don't seem to get as many mpg on their fill ups or as many miles out of their tires or brakes.
They're hard on the equipment, in other words - they have no feel for the machine (or in some cases, they just don't give a **** about it).
This doesn't mean one has to baby a vehicle, not by any means - it just means you either have a feel for what's directly harmful to one or you don't.
'Course, some folks aren't even coordinated enough to chew gum and walk at the same time.... but I digress.
Yes...I've 'coached' my daughters and wife several times like "See that pothole up ahead? No? Ahh, look closer; don't hit it." My older daughter got a rude awakening after she started paying for car repairs shocked at the cost of suspension repairs...she avoids potholes more now...I agree. Some folks are just lacking "mechanical sympathy" as Jackie Stewart used to put it.
Those are the same folks who don't seem to get as many mpg on their fill ups or as many miles out of their tires or brakes.
They're hard on the equipment, in other words - they have no feel for the machine (or in some cases, they just don't give a **** about it).
This doesn't mean one has to baby a vehicle, not by any means - it just means you either have a feel for what's directly harmful to one or you don't.
'Course, some folks aren't even coordinated enough to chew gum and walk at the same time.... but I digress.
Daves69
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I had driven 3 on the tree cars previously, one an old Falcon. Late '70s I bought a '43 Willys Jeep with a snow plow. It was rusted out in the back and needed a lot of sheet metal repair. I was screwing around with the transfer case shifters trying to figure out where was what revving the engine to keep it running and in reverse. My foot slipped off the clutch pedal and it about threw me over steering wheel as it pulled the rear wheels off the ground. I realize it didn't go that high but it sure felt like its going over on me at the time.
Remember the T-bird steering wheel that could be moved over toward the passenger side 10 inches in park?
I can imagine the "what the ….." looks!
Remember the T-bird steering wheel that could be moved over toward the passenger side 10 inches in park?
Yeah - my mom had a '66; you pushed up on the lever once in park and it all slid right. Never had need to use that feature back when; but today might be useful for me..lol
Dans 68
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Ford F-100, straight six with a column 3-speed. Piece of cake. My daughter, however, will be learning in my '68 Charger 383 4-bbl 4-speed. Just a bit more intimidating than a F-100 I'd say.
Dan
Dan
SteveSS
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A couple of them regarding cattle ranching. I young but i was with my uncle and cousin. We got dinner with the cattle still in the back of the truck. Normal 60's meal. Hamburger fries and a shake. My cousin complained he couldn't hold/eat his food and drive. My uncle grumped well you'll gonna learn how now!
For me we were at the cattle sale where you back the truck up to chute and unload the cattle for the sale. If you've never been to one it's crazy. My dad went in to do the paperwork and I was left in the truck. One of the cowboys came up and yelled move this truck out of here! I said I couldn't drive it. Couple of seconds later a different cowboy told me TO MOVE THIS TRUCK! That's how I learned
For me we were at the cattle sale where you back the truck up to chute and unload the cattle for the sale. If you've never been to one it's crazy. My dad went in to do the paperwork and I was left in the truck. One of the cowboys came up and yelled move this truck out of here! I said I couldn't drive it. Couple of seconds later a different cowboy told me TO MOVE THIS TRUCK! That's how I learned
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My 1st time in a car behind the wheel
"with adult supervision" was my stepdads 53 F100
in 'Park & Shop' parking lot Concord Ca.
it had a 4 speed, performance based 352ci he put in it
(maybe 10 y/o)
I had driven a 60 Renault, rear engine, before that
that we turned into a sand buggy, Pismo & Sand Mountain
wasn't to hard, just let out the clutch, it'd chug along
(my stepdad caught me driving it 'on the street' & cut it up with a cutting torch,
cut it into pieces small enough to fit into a pick-up bed, hauled it off to the wreckers
& he had warned me he would too, I just didn't obey his orders, didn't think he'd do it)
I had a shifter cart, motorcycles too
that made me pretty good at understanding what a clutch does
& how to use it
I drove my stepdads 64 GTO 4 speed
(usually helping unload it off the trailer & into the garage)
& his 57 Ranch Wagon
& Moms 68 Sport Sat 383 4 speed
in our court, as a kid too
Our family had nothing but manual trans for most of my youth
all my sisters & brothers basically did the same
My oldest sister had a 65 Monza Spyder Corvair turbo'd 4 speed
it was cool to drive, rear engine cars were really easy to learn on
"with adult supervision" was my stepdads 53 F100
in 'Park & Shop' parking lot Concord Ca.
it had a 4 speed, performance based 352ci he put in it
(maybe 10 y/o)
I had driven a 60 Renault, rear engine, before that
that we turned into a sand buggy, Pismo & Sand Mountain
wasn't to hard, just let out the clutch, it'd chug along
(my stepdad caught me driving it 'on the street' & cut it up with a cutting torch,
cut it into pieces small enough to fit into a pick-up bed, hauled it off to the wreckers
& he had warned me he would too, I just didn't obey his orders, didn't think he'd do it)
I had a shifter cart, motorcycles too
that made me pretty good at understanding what a clutch does
& how to use it
I drove my stepdads 64 GTO 4 speed
(usually helping unload it off the trailer & into the garage)
& his 57 Ranch Wagon
& Moms 68 Sport Sat 383 4 speed
in our court, as a kid too
Our family had nothing but manual trans for most of my youth
all my sisters & brothers basically did the same
My oldest sister had a 65 Monza Spyder Corvair turbo'd 4 speed
it was cool to drive, rear engine cars were really easy to learn on
coronet68mx
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my wife's niece, her name is Stephanie I remember one time " look at That rock don't hit it with the car avoid the rock avoid the rock. ... bam she hit the rock"
1975 Ford F-250 pickup truck. It was work truck and the boss tossed me the keys and said the backfields needs to be fixed and there is your truck and pointed to the old Ford. I had never driven a manual before that day. I learned quick! The boss was my dad! He laughed all day.
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