Driving manual/stick

[bcla]

I don't always use the parking brake on a hill, but that's OK if I'm willing to slide back a little bit.

It seemed kind of curious for certain vehicles that have an off-road reputation, since that often means driving in the mountains where there might be a need to feather the parking brake to reduce back-sliding.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I was thinking of the idea of four pedals. It seems to be in cars where the manual transmission was an afterthought. I found this picture of a Ram pickup:

My dad had an old car with 4 pedals - the dimmer switch and starter button were also on the floor.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm trying to figure out if that's a seat. I first heard about that with the Hummer H3, which has a center console and armrest. But with the parking brake pedal, one can't use the parking brake, clutch pedal, and accelerator at the same time unless the driver has three feet.

Parking brake pedals aren't always there for an additional front seat. My parents had a couple of cars with this (automatics though) and there wasn't any seat there.

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

 

[firefly_ris]

I don't always use the parking brake on a hill, but that's OK if I'm willing to slide back a little bit.

It seemed kind of curious for certain vehicles that have an off-road reputation, since that often means driving in the mountains where there might be a need to feather the parking brake to reduce back-sliding.

True... but thinking about it, there are sooooo many big trucks out there on the road today that have never had a speck of dirt on them, let alone been off of a paved road. I'm thinking about all of those Lariat, Laramie editions. Trucks are the new luxury vehicle.

 

[firefly_ris]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

I haven't either but I know several people who do. I also don't live in a super hilly area.

 

[jrmasm]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

I haven't either but I know several people who do. I also don't live in a super hilly area.

Me either and where I live there are tons of hills.

 

[RangerPooh]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

I have. It was a habit to always use the parking break when I parked on hills, or occasionally would use the ebrake when stopped at a hill and ease out of it when I was able to start back up the hill. It was something I was taught to do when I first learned stick (and on hills no less). I don't do it now, but did twenty years ago.

 

[mumto3girls]

I learned to drive on a 5 speed Toyota Starlett in 1985 in hilly Southwestern PA. I became very proficient at using the parking brake on certain hills. In the 90’s my husband had a Ford that was also a 5 speed. I drove that occasionally. Otherwise I haven’t had much occasion to drive a stick. I do think it is like riding bike and comes back to you quickly. Different clutches though can take a few tries to get used to where it “catches”.

My sister, who lives in an urban area, swears by having a stick because it is far less likely to be stolen because so many people can’t drive them. I’m hoping she’ll teach my daughter since it is just a good skill to have.

 

[mom2rb]

True... but thinking about it, there are sooooo many big trucks out there on the road today that have never had a speck of dirt on them, let alone been off of a paved road. I'm thinking about all of those Lariat, Laramie editions. Trucks are the new luxury vehicle.

In Texas, we call them “Cowboy Cadillacs.”

 

[Squirlz]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

Oh I've used it plenty. When that radar warning goes off you can kill off speed without nose-dive or brake lights.

 

[bcla]

I have. It was a habit to always use the parking break when I parked on hills, or occasionally would use the ebrake when stopped at a hill and ease out of it when I was able to start back up the hill. It was something I was taught to do when I first learned stick (and on hills no less). I don't do it now, but did twenty years ago.

I live on an incline with lots of inclines on the way home, and occasionally someone is riding so close that I will backslide. I really wish other drivers wouldn’t tail my car that close, but there’s almost a lack of understanding that some cars still have manual transmissions. My car is one where most are manual. My first car was only available with a manual with that specific engine. An automatic would have been pointless because its performance was all at high revs. For daily driving it drove like an econobox.

Hill-holding has been around for a long time. That’s just an automated system that does it for the driver.

 

[GreatLakes]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

Me either. If you are good at driving manual you can move your feet fast enough and feather the clutch to keep it from rolling back. Using a parking brake is amateur hour.

 

[amcnj]

I’ve never in my life used the parking brake in conjunction with driving a stick.

My uncle taught me when I was a high schooler. He was the only one with a manual that I recall at the time and this was like 40 years ago now. Subsequently I have driven other manual vehicles but only sporadically, and was always surprised I could still drive one ok, as it was years between them. I never had one for my personal car. I am trying to think of the last time I did drive one, and I bet it is 25 years? Wonder how I would do with one today after so many years. The only time I recall using a parking brake was when parking, especially on inclines. I remember someone having their car roll out onto the road overnight and being awoken by the police to come out and move it!

 

[Klayfish]

I'm not a guy, but I agree with this. I've noticed way too many guys locally who have that I'm better than you because I'm a guy/redneck attitude (especially in Cub Scouts) but can't function. Instead I show them up because as a 39 year old woman I can set up a tent by myself or with my kids help, can fish, drive a stick, and function in the outdoors when they are all show.

And? I don't fish, don't camp, don't set up tents, don't drive a pick up, don't own guns, don't hunt, don't drink, don't want a "man cave", and don't feel the need to always try to show the world "I'm a man". Not picking on you, but I just don't get it. To me, guys who have to have a "man card" and let the whole world know seem insecure.

Now back to the topic at hand. As a long time Car and Driver reader, and car fanatic, I'll take their slogan...Save The Manuals!!!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

And? I don't fish, don't camp, don't set up tents, don't drive a pick up, don't own guns, don't hunt, don't drink, don't want a "man cave", and don't feel the need to always try to show the world "I'm a man". Not picking on you, but I just don't get it. To me, guys who have to have a "man card" and let the whole world know seem insecure.

Now back to the topic at hand. As a long time Car and Driver reader, and car fanatic, I'll take their slogan...Save The Manuals!!!!

How many cars have you owned, again?

 

[morgan98]

I am 48 years old and drove stick shift cars exclusively until last October. It was harder and harder to find a true manual transmission, and now that I spend most of my drive time commuting in Atlanta traffic I gave in. It honestly still makes me very disappointed in myself....

 

[Domo]

Screw it. I'm buying a tricycle.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I can't. DH has tried to teach me numerous times, but he loses his patience, I cry... It's just ugly. He's pretty territorial over his cars so I just ride along. I don't like driving all that much anyway so it's all good. I keep forgetting to ask my mother in law to teach me.

I wish I did know though. Seems like a handy skill to have. My parents didn't know how so they never taught me.

 

[kimmar067]

Do you know how to? Most cars over here are manual, but I chose to learn on an automatic, which means that because of my license, I cannot drive a manual.

....yes, but can you READ a manual?

 

[mrodgers]

My first car hand-me-down when I was 16 until I graduated and bought my first purchase was an automatic. That was 1988-1990. First time I drove a manual was the test drive on the car I bought. Dad went with me and the salesman sent us off alone and Dad asked, "do you know how to drive this?" I said, "Nope" and drove away, LOL.

In 2007 I got caught out with the frame rot on my Tacoma with low miles. It was before Toyota started the buyback. I got rid of it for a new car for the wife and I took possession of her 96 Altima which was an automatic. I drove that for 2 years replacing it with a hand-me-down Honda Civic that was an automatic for 6 months.

Those are the only 4.5 years of 30 years of driving that I primarily drove automatics other than using the family car, aka the wife's car.

I hate driving automatics. They are never in the correct gear at the correct time.

My daughter got her license last year. Mom and I are divorced now so if she wanted me to teach her how to drive, she was learning how to drive a manual as well. She learned. Doesn't have one in her car since her car is a hand-me-down, but she can drive one now. I hope she would chose to buy a manual when she buys her first car, but I doubt she will. There's very little choice but expensive sports cars or bottom of the barrel cars with manuals today.