General Discussion

ProfessorGAC

(76,761 posts)

158. Funny Stick Shift Story

Thu Mar 16, 2017, 03:54 PM

Mar 2017

Well funny to me. I drove the band truck and had a car in the early 80's that was manual trans so i have no problem with it, although i haven't had a car that was manual since about 1984.

I'm in Milano and i take a flight from Linate to Lyon France to visit a manufacturing site near Grenoble. I get there around 9 or 9:30 at night and go to the rental car counter. I show my passport and license and the young French woman says "Oh no, you're an american!" I said, "I sure am and have the passport to prove it!" She laughed and then got serious and told me "We don't have any cars with automatic transmission at this airport! Americans don't use the shifter, right?"

I told her that americans preference is for automatic, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of us who can't drive a car with that.

She looked so relieved.

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Only 18 Percent Of Americans Can Drive Manual [View all] SecularMotion Mar 2017 OP

I never learned how to drive a manual yeoman6987 Mar 2017 #1

I know how and prefer it. Got me around the world more easily. nt msanthrope Mar 2017 #14

I have friend who love driving a manual and would never change yeoman6987 Mar 2017 #20

If you drive in the city, manual is a pain in the ass in traffic chelsea0011 Mar 2017 #2

My wife grew up on a farm titaniumsalute Mar 2017 #4

It really isn't. If you are used to driving stick, you don't notice. we can do it Mar 2017 #13

Try sitting on a freeway in SoCal rufus dog Mar 2017 #23

I agree. Driving stick in SoCal is awful. Charles Bukowski Mar 2017 #29

I'll see your SoCal and raise you San Francisco Retrograde Mar 2017 #112

Parallel parking on a hill in SF with a stick shift is even harder than driving in SF brush Mar 2017 #114

My Kia Soul with a manual transmission MineralMan Mar 2017 #149

My Mini Cooper stick has one too. Essential in a city with hills! nolabear Mar 2017 #161

I would think San Francisco GWC58 Mar 2017 #55

Even worse! rufus dog Mar 2017 #58

Ok I'll give you SF, but I wouldn't want to drive there, period. we can do it Mar 2017 #63

Seattle too cemaphonic Mar 2017 #92

I live there and I love it nolabear Mar 2017 #162

I live in San Francisco with a Ford Focus 5-speed. I love my stick-shift car- that's why I bought it NBachers Mar 2017 #125

I lived in SF for years CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #136

I did that for a few years. It wasn't the stick shift that made me miserable. hunter Mar 2017 #99

I hear you, I always wanted to live close to my work. That commute took too much Jim Beard Mar 2017 #113

Driving the 405 in L.A. hastened my left knee replacement MurrayDelph Mar 2017 #100

That's the only drawback I can see wryter2000 Mar 2017 #116

Well, I have done both and I will not ever go back to stick in the city chelsea0011 Mar 2017 #28

Nope. Ms. Toad Mar 2017 #102

No thanks metroins Mar 2017 #121

It's not that bad hardluck Mar 2017 #110

Well, I can, my wife can, yagotme Mar 2017 #3

You should have seen the look my 80 year old dad gave me when I expressed... Hassin Bin Sober Mar 2017 #47

Heh. yagotme Mar 2017 #165

so glad to not have a stick anymore. KittyWampus Mar 2017 #5

Hills are a bear with sticks. nt Blue_true Mar 2017 #34

Morons in the making....Get off my LAWN!! Boxerfan Mar 2017 #6

I liked those little vent windows. I wish they still had them. LisaM Mar 2017 #10

That is funny to me rufus dog Mar 2017 #24

Power windows would be fine under water, once the pressure equalizes. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #85

People are starting not to know what "Rolling the window" means. Thor_MN Mar 2017 #82

"Rolling down the window" is, technically, an obsolete term still in use because....... WillowTree Mar 2017 #111

Open the window...close the window Grammy23 Mar 2017 #155

I miss the vent windows, too wryter2000 Mar 2017 #117

My husband can't LOL LeftInTX Mar 2017 #7

Neither can my husband. kstewart33 Mar 2017 #168

I like my manual trannies Dem2 Mar 2017 #8

That's another plus. And not likely to be stolen. we can do it Mar 2017 #18

One of the reasons I bought mine. A HERETIC I AM Mar 2017 #128

My dad insisted we learn GulfCoast66 Mar 2017 #9

Having a manual car is a theft deterrent. sarcasmo Mar 2017 #11

True central scrutinizer Mar 2017 #76

It is fun to drive a manual, but not all the time. Equinox Moon Mar 2017 #12

Glad I got rid of mine. I broke my shoulder, elbow and finger and it is tough driving them with kerry-is-my-prez Mar 2017 #15

That's what we had when I started driving malaise Mar 2017 #16

Does it reduce the chance of auto theft if not many people know how to operate a no_hypocrisy Mar 2017 #17

I think so we can do it Mar 2017 #94

I learned to drive with a vehicle that had three on the tree. Kaleva Mar 2017 #19

I learned with four on the floor Rorey Mar 2017 #86

Autos are so boring to me and it's getting hard to find a good stick shift NWCorona Mar 2017 #21

I love driving manual. Two of my vehicles are manual. RedWedge Mar 2017 #22

My dad had 3 on the column benld74 Mar 2017 #25

I shared driving across country on a four on the column wryter2000 Mar 2017 #118

I learned on a manual, a truck, going down a mountain with rock and red dirt roads. Solly Mack Mar 2017 #26

I learned in my late twenties samplegirl Mar 2017 #154

Hey! I love the feel of the gear shift in my hand. All that control. Solly Mack Mar 2017 #169

How many don't know how to use a typewriter? randome Mar 2017 #27

I agree, with modern technology, manual transmissions mean something only Blue_true Mar 2017 #49

AAA changes tires. I will keep my stick shift. we can do it Mar 2017 #95

I taught my husband and son sarah FAILIN Mar 2017 #30

ok you've convinced me. ZOmbie apocalypse is serious business. JHan Mar 2017 #51

also used this one.. sarah FAILIN Mar 2017 #68

My mom uses similar arguments lol :p She's right about everything. everythinggggg JHan Mar 2017 #71

all mom's are.. sarah FAILIN Mar 2017 #75

Your daughter would burn up the clutch and the smoke would sicken the zombies. nt Blue_true Mar 2017 #52

I loved driving my stick shift... ButSeeYa Mar 2017 #31

I'm so glad ProudLib72 Mar 2017 #32

Not only can I drive a Manual shift, but I can also use a slide rule still_one Mar 2017 #33

Damn - haven't used a slide rule in almost 50 years. dhol82 Mar 2017 #40

My first Calculator was a TI, then moved up to HPs. A walk down memory lane still_one Mar 2017 #45

Still got my HP 28S from about 25 years ago. reflection Mar 2017 #148

HP were the best. Very solid RPNs. I still have an HP25C and HP67, and they still work. Lot of still_one Mar 2017 #151

I can extract a square root, House of Roberts Mar 2017 #50

but can you add, multiply, or divide without a calculator? still_one Mar 2017 #54

I can't - never learned how, no one in my family ever had one nadine_mn Mar 2017 #35

How do you double clutch in an automatic oldcynic Mar 2017 #36

I have a 2003 turbo WRX in bright yellow. :) dhol82 Mar 2017 #37

Cool car! we can do it Mar 2017 #96

Think of the bright side Remington Mar 2017 #38

Three on the tree jpak Mar 2017 #39

I own 2 manual cars. I can hardly drive an automatic. sinkingfeeling Mar 2017 #41

Been driving a stick since I was 16. House of Roberts Mar 2017 #42

And I'm one of them dflprincess Mar 2017 #43

Great thing to know, blew my knee cap/meniscus at 18.5 could never drive my manual again... NotThisTime Mar 2017 #44

I Never Learned Leith Mar 2017 #46

Recent story is that a carjacker got caught flamingdem Mar 2017 #48

So what? n/t Zing Zing Zingbah Mar 2017 #53

lol,how 'bout a column shift Go Vols Mar 2017 #56

And I can't make a rocking chair out of a tree stump. egduj Mar 2017 #57

Sad. There's a joy in handling decent manual car Panich52 Mar 2017 #59

Learned how to drive in a VW bug CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #84

Me too! Rorey Mar 2017 #88

I never had a Rabbit CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #93

Lucky you, re the camper Rorey Mar 2017 #105

That was my first car in 1964 dhol82 Mar 2017 #132

I remember the Blue Wonder as I called it ... CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #137

Mine was blue also dhol82 Mar 2017 #138

Only reason I chose automatics f/ last 2 cars was my Panich52 Mar 2017 #147

same here CountAllVotes Mar 2017 #156

I'm old (67) and I grew up in the country. I can drive most any truck or tractor or stick of any OregonBlue Mar 2017 #60

I can proudly say that I can! JesterCS Mar 2017 #61

My farm truck is a manual. Everyone here knows how to drive it riderinthestorm Mar 2017 #62

I never learned TlalocW Mar 2017 #64

Mazda CX5 manual transmission me, my husband, and two of ALBliberal Mar 2017 #65

Love my stick shift car zeusdogmom Mar 2017 #66

One of the less often mentioned advantages Cadfael Mar 2017 #67

Popping the clutch Rorey Mar 2017 #90

I had a 95 Hyundai that I regularly started that way on my own. Cadfael Mar 2017 #104

LOL, yeah, my kids had to learn in a stick too Rorey Mar 2017 #106

The very first car I bought was 1973 Fiat 128sl Cadfael Mar 2017 #109

Am I the only one who feels a sense nocalflea Mar 2017 #69

Fuel economy isn't really the issue for me Warpy Mar 2017 #70

Yep, stick shifts are much better in snow. we can do it Mar 2017 #98

All-wheel drive solves that problem. With the hills we have here I feel steadier in snow now pnwmom Mar 2017 #131

Even better is 4 wheel drive with a stick. NutmegYankee Mar 2017 #163

Not so great with some of our hills. I did it for 15 years but don't miss it a bit now. Also, pnwmom Mar 2017 #164

I know how to drive a stick shift. I also Ilsa Mar 2017 #72

Muncie Rock Crusher ftw Go Vols Mar 2017 #73

Ahh the M22 hardluck Mar 2017 #107

Automatic for me Freethinker65 Mar 2017 #74

I sometimes forget when I am driving a stick.... Historic NY Mar 2017 #77

I love driving stick and wish I still could. kysrsoze Mar 2017 #78

I don't usually but I can drive a stick-shift. neeksgeek Mar 2017 #79

it's been a long time but I used to drive a manual transmission truck Skittles Mar 2017 #80

Most of us can't operate a horse and buggy either; who the fuck cares? nt Codeine Mar 2017 #81

lol,they don't sell those new anymore at the dealer Go Vols Mar 2017 #83

Seems like most serious car enthusiasts or purist prefer sticks. Laffy Kat Mar 2017 #87

I learned on a manuel but have not driven one for years. Doreen Mar 2017 #89

Old tractor Bayard Mar 2017 #91

I learned to drive a manual transmission on a WW II era Willys Jeep my dad used in his orchard mnhtnbb Mar 2017 #97

Tell him to keep his s2000 forever hardluck Mar 2017 #108

He got a very good deal buying it used from someone. mnhtnbb Mar 2017 #142

When her manual died, my 26 year old daughter insisted on replacing it with another manual. Ms. Toad Mar 2017 #101

I Am One Of That 18% colsohlibgal Mar 2017 #103

Love my stick shift wryter2000 Mar 2017 #115

l learned to drive on a manual, but I don't think I would have much luck these days xor Mar 2017 #119

Proud 18% here! tenderfoot Mar 2017 #120

My German mini-SUV lets the driver choose manual or auto... VOX Mar 2017 #122

I can drive a stick, but hated... 3catwoman3 Mar 2017 #123

My granddaughter will likely never learn to drive at all. JTFrog Mar 2017 #124

When I was in high school.... chillfactor Mar 2017 #126

Manuals are all I've ever driven and still do to this day. arthritisR_US Mar 2017 #127

And your point is?It used to be called "a standard" when I was a kid (I'm now 69) but it long ago... Hekate Mar 2017 #129

We switched when the fuel economy numbers became virtually the same. pnwmom Mar 2017 #130

I buy cheap useD cars. Really prefer stick dembotoz Mar 2017 #133

Don't worry, big diesel trucks are now also switching to automatic transmisions nolabels Mar 2017 #134

I love my stick. LWolf Mar 2017 #135

I'm in that number! Blue_Tires Mar 2017 #139

I learned too drive a stick in the army. It was a crash course. shockey80 Mar 2017 #140

I tried to learn. I really did. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2017 #141

I know how lillypaddle Mar 2017 #143

I couldn't find a manual transmission the last time I bought a car. alarimer Mar 2017 #144

and in related news, only .5% of Americans know how to ride a horse. cbdo2007 Mar 2017 #145

What seems strange to me is the way horses ride people nolabels Mar 2017 #167

I learned to drive ellie Mar 2017 #146

Even fewer know the difference between manual and semi-automatic. Orsino Mar 2017 #150

Trannys are so much better and more economical nowadays, marybourg Mar 2017 #152

I learned how after my brother went to Vietnam and left his MG midget redstatebluegirl Mar 2017 #153

I would like to know what percentage know how to check fluids or change a tire? LOL Lib Mar 2017 #157

Funny Stick Shift Story ProfessorGAC Mar 2017 #158

I can drive one DeminPennswoods Mar 2017 #159

Growing up on farms can guarantee you know how to drive manual. Foamfollower Mar 2017 #160

my entire family can drive a manual transmission spanone Mar 2017 #166

The biggest challenge is driving shift in England Quixote1818 Mar 2017 #170