Carjackers can't drive a stick shift

I actually felt better getting a stick for my daughter to drive in high school. Didn't have to worry about any of her friends 'borrowing' it.
 
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I taught my 19 year old son how to drive stick about a month ago. It was an experience. He only stalled a few times, but some of the over compensating was hair raising.
 
I buy it, I'm more than an little clunky on the clutch when I pull the redline out after winter hibernation.
 
And in other news, that kid who was stealing airplanes in the NW didn't steal any taildraggers.

There are some skills you can't learn sitting in front of a video game or simulator.
 
My current POS is an automatic, and I HATE it. Don't know that I'll ever be able to buy a manual again though, they're growing scarce.
 
Any of you know of a right hand amputee that drives stick? I REALLY want a Nissan Altima Coupe with a manual, I'm just not sure how well a stick and my right hook will go together... :dunno:

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bnt83 said:
Any of you know of a right hand amputee that drives stick? I REALLY want a Nissan Altima Coupe with a manual, I'm just not sure how well a stick and my right hook will go together... :dunno:

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It seems like you could come up with something. Maybe a modified sticknob? I guess you could go with tiptronic (I have had it on a Porsche and a BMW). It is not quite manual, but gives you more control.
 
Yeah, just change the knob out to something friendly to you.

Or find a right hand drive...
 
Several decades ago I drove a mid-50s Chevy. Somebody tried unsuccessfully to steal it once; they had taken apart the ignition switch in the attempt, apparently not knowing that the starter switch was a button on the dashboard. :rofl:
 
Skylane81E said:
Yeah, just change the knob out to something friendly to you.

Or find a right hand drive...
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I think I won't have a problem with an adaper, but there is a lot of feel between the detends & fine motor skills that dont exist.
 
I got pretty good at shifting with my left hand, steering with my knees, and holding a drink and burger at the same time. But that's probably not something to aspire to.
 
bnt83 said:
Any of you know of a right hand amputee that drives stick? I REALLY want a Nissan Altima Coupe with a manual, I'm just not sure how well a stick and my right hook will go together... :dunno:

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I looked high and low for an Altima coupe with a stick a few years ago. No luck anywhere. At least on the v6, the cvt has a manual mode which isn't too bad.
 
Matthew said:
I got pretty good at shifting with my left hand, steering with my knees, and holding a drink and burger at the same time. But that's probably not something to aspire to.
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What, no texting on two different phones while doing all that??:D
 
us AAirways said:
What, no texting on two different phones while doing all that??:D
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If texting had been invented when I was in high school and college...

It was already enough work doing all that while trying to untangle 8-tracks and cassettes.
 
bnt83 said:
Any of you know of a right hand amputee that drives stick? I REALLY want a Nissan Altima Coupe with a manual, I'm just not sure how well a stick and my right hook will go together... :dunno:

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You can jury rig anything if you put your mind to it. Your a pilot, you can get it done.

I hate automatics, and rarely drive them. I love my Jeep, stick shift 4X drive when I need it. My jeep is all beat up and rusted, ain't nobody gonna want to steal it.

The trouble with fancy cars is trying to find a parking space where the door won't get dinged, besides the thieves lusting after them.

-John
 
us AAirways said:
I looked high and low for an Altima coupe with a stick a few years ago. No luck anywhere. At least on the v6, the cvt has a manual mode which isn't too bad.
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In the Ford business, I think the only thing we have in a manual transmission any more is: Mustangs, Focus, Fiesta and Fusion. And I haven't seen a 2013 Fusion with a manual transmission yet, I don't think there is one the Atlanta region. :dunno: You can't even buy an F-150 with a manual any more. :rolleyes:
 
N747JB said:
In the Ford business, I think the only thing we have in a manual transmission any more is: Mustangs, Focus, Fiesta and Fusion. And I haven't seen a 2013 Fusion with a manual transmission yet, I don't think there is one the Atlanta region. :dunno: You can't even buy an F-150 with a manual any more. :rolleyes:
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My F-250 Powerstroke Diesel has a manual transmission. It is only a 2006. I had to order it that way. (I don't know how to drive an automatic :rolleyes2:)
 
bnt83 said:
Any of you know of a right hand amputee that drives stick? I REALLY want a Nissan Altima Coupe with a manual, I'm just not sure how well a stick and my right hook will go together... :dunno:

See my avitar...
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It's not like its the clutch where you have to be smooth. As some people said you can change the shift knob to make it more comfortable, and changing it is actually pretty easy. Also you can always test drive the car to make sure it's comfortable before buying it.

Not sure about Altimas with sticks, I got a Maxima with a stick and that was very hard to find, needed to pick it up from Virginia.
 
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N747JB said:
You can't even buy an F-150 with a manual any more.
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really?

My favorite "car" was my 1993 Ford Explorer Sport with a manual transmission.
 
I think even the first Dodge minivans you could get with a manual back in 1984.
 
N747JB said:
You can't even buy an F-150 with a manual any more.
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What is the world coming to

I don't mind automation as long as its good. Saw a commercial for some KIA the other day and they were advertising an electronic E-brake, that's the part of the car which I don't want to be electrical. :mad2:
 
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Bob Noel said:
really?

My favorite "car" was my 1993 Ford Explorer Sport with a manual transmission.
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2008 was the last year Ford, GM, and Ram had sticks in their trucks. I can see if the the dealers don't want manuals on their lots, but they should be able to be ordered. Sucks if you ask me.
 
bnt83 said:
I think I won't have a problem with an adaper, but there is a lot of feel between the detends & fine motor skills that dont exist.
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Muscle memory. When racing if you feel the detent you blew the shift. Will take practice but I think you could do it.
 
us AAirways said:
2008 was the last year Ford, GM, and Ram had sticks in their trucks. I can see if the the dealers don't want manuals on their lots, but they should be able to be ordered. Sucks if you ask me.
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The funny thing is at one time, late 80's I think, all we could get were manual transmissions in F-150's! Automatics were on hold or had some type of commodity control and we would get 80% manual and 20% automatics! :mad2: And of course using factory logic, we were selling a lot of 5-speeds, so they allocated us more 5-speeds!:mad2::mad2:
I honestly don't think I have more than one or two customers per year ask about manual transmissions in trucks, I guess it's just cheaper to produce one type of transmission.:dunno: That leaves you one set of pedals to produce, one type of console, two shifters, column or console. And no warranty issues on clutches. :mad2:
 
Does the factory only make certain trim levels/options available when they feel like it, or can you stock what you think sells the best?
 
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