Do you drive a stick shift car?

[Ronstar]

All automatics in my Jeep GC, Ford F150, Corvette, and in DW's Acura. I sure wish I would have gone with the stick when I bought the vette.

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronstar All automatics in my Jeep GC, Ford F150, Corvette, and in DW's Acura. I sure wish I would have gone with the stick when I bought the vette.

Somebody told me, maybe 20 years ago, that Corvette's auto trans was so good that it was better than manual. This may have even been before their paddle shifter, or maybe it was when it came out.

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73ss454 The engine code for the 350HP is L-34. The code for the SS 396 bodies was 138.

I also had a 70 Chevelle but it was beat up. I had a 383 Dodge Magnum that was a screamer..........

[Ronstar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RunningBum Somebody told me, maybe 20 years ago, that Corvette's auto trans was so good that it was better than manual. This may have even been before their paddle shifter, or maybe it was when it came out.

The Corvette auto trans is good, but a stick would be fun at times - just not in traffic. I didnt get the manual because the driver sits so low that the shifter is about elbow level - seemed weird compared to manual trans trucks I had before.

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls99 Seems not many here are familiar with the use of the hand crank. There were many cars in my youth that needed manual manipulation, with proper technique for cranking...

This is the car with handcrank from my childhood memory: the Citroen 2CV (Deux Chevaux). It had a starter, but could be handcranked in case the battery died. See the attached video. Hand crank is at 1:00. The engine is small, so it does not look that hard.

YouTube - Citroen 2CV engine start by manual cranking

Wouldn't it be fun to tour Europe with one of these, taking the back roads? I saw a couple of them still running in France 6 or 7 years ago.

[deserat]

Have always owned stick shift cars - have one now, a Mini Cooper. Great thing about a stick shift is you can push-start the car - did that from AZ to New Orleans in a Fiat 128 Spider - oh the joys of college.....*however* did just experience the absolute death of the Mini due to alternator failure and battery death. Nice piece of metal that does nothing - and the flashing icons on all the different dash elements as the computer dies gets your attention, too.

I have a problem driving automatics as I tend to forget the brake isn't the clutch with the concomitant face meeting front dash inadvertently - I've driven a rental Prius - weird, weird, weird - not much sound and it's as though you really don't need to do anything but steer and work gas/grake - maybe that's why I like a manual transmission - forces me to focus on the driving - what the car is doing, etc. Plus, the German torque of shifting through 6 gears on your way up to 100-120mph is pretty awesome :-) :-) :-)

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

So my new Scion xD (stick, 5 speed) is EPA-rated at 28 and 33 mpg. As a brainwashed former Prius-owner, I now naturally practice pulse driving and other fuel-sparing driving practices. Some are pretty silly, like waiting til I'm belted, items stashed etc. before turning the key, and others seem meaningful like accelerating a bit downhill, and backing off uphill. I also tend to shift for peak mileage (low RPMs), am a big coaster (anti-tailgaiting). Infrequently I'll pass with a high RPM sprint, but usually I don't.

I'm getting about 35 MPG in mixed driving. In 5k miles or so it will probably settle in at 36 mpg or more.

The manual transmission gives me the control I need, speed v. RPMs v. mileage.

[73ss454]

Hey Rich, what happened to save the planet? (heh)

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73ss454 Hey Rich, what happened to save the planet? (heh)

If only there was some way to tow the Prius behind the RV and have it charge the Prius' batteries, then the RV's batteries, or make ice for extra air conditioning, or do something green!

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73ss454 Hey Rich, what happened to save the planet? (heh)

I figure I already accomplished that. Now it's time to get a car I can tow.

Watcha drivin' these days?

[73ss454]

98 Taurus with no heat. I hope next year it's warm down here in Florida.

[FIREd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound This is the car with handcrank from my childhood memory: the Citroen 2CV (Deux Chevaux). It had a starter, but could be handcranked in case the battery died. See the attached video. Hand crank is at 1:00. The engine is small, so it does not look that hard. YouTube - Citroen 2CV engine start by manual cranking Wouldn't it be fun to tour Europe with one of these, taking the back roads? I saw a couple of them still running in France 6 or 7 years ago.

I loved the 2CV so much! It was a pretty rugged car, you could roll the soft roof in the summer to make a "cabrio" and it was fun to drive. I also loved the peculiar gear shifter and the lawn-mower-style engine sound too!

[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREdreamer I loved the 2CV so much! It was a pretty rugged car, you could roll the soft roof in the summer to make a "cabrio" and it was fun to drive. I also loved the peculiar gear shifter and the lawn-mower-style engine sound too!

Sounded like you have driven one. I have not.

[FIREd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Sounded like you have driven one. I have not.

I have, about 18 years ago. Fun to drive, but I don't know if I would tour Europe in one! I would certainly steer clear of the autobahns.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound Sounded like you have driven one. I have not.

That "deux chevaux" is just about literal, as is the lawnmower impression...

[NW-Bound]

Hey, for a retiree who has all the time in the world, instead of just sitting around all day "looking really sad", he can take his time to tour Europe on the back roads at 35mph. What can you see from the autobahn? The French freeways we traveled on had high toll fees anyway.

I might just do what I wrote above one of these days. But, I must do this Alaskan thing first...

[FIREd]

Better do it soon, NW-Bound, 2CVs are becoming rarities...

"Deux Chevaux" literally means two horses as in two (fiscal) horsepower. In France, people had to buy an annual sticker (tag) and the price was determined by the car's taxable horsepower. In order for the 2CV to remain literally a "Deux Chevaux", the engine could not have more than 2 cylinders and it had to remain under 500 cm3.

[NW-Bound]

Here's another French car that was around when I was growing up. A Citroën "Traction Avant" (Front Wheel Drive)!

[Koolau]

[QUOTE=calmloki;917756]People with automatics just don't have the starting options - or stories.

Wish I could confirm this AT starting story. Alas I can't, but it was told by a guy who supposedly knew the people involved. For those who go way back, it was actually possible to start an AT car by pushing it. You really had to get it going, though. Perhaps 30 MPH or so.

Today's story goes that a husband couldn't start his AT car so he asked DW to help him by pushing it. He mentioned that she'd have to get up to at least 30 MPH or it wouldn't work. Sure enough, he got into the car and saw his wife approaching the back of his car - at about 30 MPH!

[saluki9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by audreyh1 Hmmmmm What you really want in snow/ice conditions is 4-wheel drive. And ABS. And limited slip differential. Downshifting will not prevent fishtailing or skidding. In fact, sudden downshifting could even make it worse. The problem is traction.

Actually, what you really really want is the proper tires. I can't tell you how many accidents I've seen because people thought 4wd or AWD would let them do anything they want in snow. 4WD only really helps you when starting out from a stopped position.

My current RWD BMW with a set of Blizzak snow tires and a 6 speed manual has been the best winter car I've driven. It has been much better in snow than my previous AWD Infiniti was. Also, proper rev matching will let you downshift without losing traction or upsetting the balance of the car.