I was going to ask where the best place for my wife to learn was. I had miles of empty road to learn on.

Finally, a good use for a church.

Kidding!

I learnt on a stick. Never had any problems being exhausted in traffic. That said I wouldn't drive a high performance clutch in traffic all the time, they tend to be very stiff.

Like my VW. It was fine driving in stop and go traffic with the stock clutch...

...then I went and beefed up the engine and put a 1700 lb. pressure plate and heavy duty throwout bearing and thicker clutch cable...

...so I walked around with this big left calf muscle... :rolleyes2

I don't know how to drive an automatic.

And either does my wife.

Any of you young whipper-snappers know how to drive a Model T Ford (I can!)?? :D Now that would be an automible difficult to drive while talking on the phone, drinking coffee and generally being an idiot while driving! :eek:

I have driven a stick before. Can't say I like it at all. If I really wanted to control the gears on my Vette, I would have installed a manual valve body. Personally, I couldn't wait to get back to my auto cars when I had the stick. In any case, I have seen too many people fumbling with the gears at the lights to really care for them in the city.,

One of the first cars I learned how to drive.

Very simple and easy once you know how: There are 3 pedals,press the left one down all the way,that's low gear,release it and you're in high. Holding the left pedal in the middle is neutral,this is done automatically by pulling up the handbrake.

The right pedal is the transmission brake,the middle pedal operates reverse{while the left pedal is held in the middle position remember}.
Stamp on ANY of the pedals and the car will stop by locking the fabric covered bands around the planet gear clusters.

If the engine pops or sputters while driving reach for the knob on the dash which adjusts the carb jet,clockwise leans it and counterclockwise gives you a richer mixture, simple,ain't it??

The throttle is just under the steering wheel on the right,the left lever controls spark,you usually leave it advanced,except when cranking.

I've broken my arm twice because of failure to retard the spark.

In my experience driving around greater Boston I would add that 90% of Americans with drivers liscenses don't know how to drive.................period. The tranny type is moot....rant off...have a good weekend

hehe you would LOVE to see a first timer drive my RHD non-snychromesh tranny land rover.....

I think people should learn to drive on a manual transmission car.................I also think people have no business on their cell phones while driving....particularly new drivers.

240D to 300SD
 

When I go from driving my 4 speed stick shift 240D to my 300SD and put the 300 in reverse, often, my left foot goes down to depress a non-existant clutch pedal.

LOL about 20 years ago I had a girlfriend with an auto.....I was driving it (I rarely drove it) and at the first traffic light I locked up the wheels pushing the brake as if it were a clutch....My girlfriend got a good close look at the windshield....It may not sound funny but it was actually pretty hilarious.

That same thing happened to me the first time I tried to drive an auto in the states- as well as immediately positioning the car on the left side of the road.

My friend also did this in a traffic jam somwhere in Ohio, in his father-in-laws chevy boat/wagon thing, locking up right next to a highway patrol car- the officer was not amused when he did it for the 3rd time, politely shouting that he would 'hammer us' if we didn't start driving normally. :)

Thats why I love the rest pedal on my Benz. When I get back into it after driving my sis' protege stick I make a conscious effort to keep my left foot there until I mentally get reprogrammed for the automatic. I have actually come close to getting rear ended once like you described I just slammed on the brake thinking it was the clutch :rolleyes: :)

My first car was a stick - 4-speed Hurst in a modified 1965 Lemans turned into a Goat. It took me several days to get the hang of it and get comfortable on steep hills at a red light. But after that it became second nature, and I agree with other posts - it makes you a better driver.

When I go to Europe for trade shows most all ther rentals are manual trans, so I'm glas I learned when I did. I am now teaching my daughters how to drive a 5-speed in addition to automatic, so that they better understand the engine-drivetrain-torque relationship and driving in general. It certainly helps here in the Winter driving in snow if you know how to downshift! Saves on brakes, too.

OTOH, I went to Manhattan last week in my manual Colt Vista, and it does get tiring clutching in stop-and-go rush hour traffic.