My Dumb Question of the Day: Can you Drive a Standard Shift?

[KillarneyRose]

A friend of mine's car is in the shop so I offered to let her borrow our third car but she couldn't take it because she can't drive a standard shift. I guess I had always thought EVERYONE could drive one, but now that I think about it, I guess it's pretty dumb to think that! Anyhoo, can you all drive standard shifts?

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@~Tracy~@

By the light of the lamp, by the light of the lamp, by the bright shiny light, by the light of the lamp...if you are a DeeZee, you're the best that you can be, by the bright shiny light of the lamp!

I attempted to learn how to drive a stick when I first learned how to drive at 16. I figured that it would be best to learn how in the event of an emergency--like my friends end up drunk and I'm the only one who can drive. I couldn't get it right away so I gave up.

I tried again at 18 but no such luck.

Now my BF has a brand new Dodge Dakota but I can't drive it because it's standard. I know he's willing to teach me how again, but I know that he's worried since it's brand new.

I know I'll learn someday.

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"I don't know the secret to success, but one sure way to failure is to try and please everyone."--Bill Cosby


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[SilverTurtle]

Technically, I can drive a standard. I learned back when I was learning how to drive. But I've only owned automatics, and it's been probably 3-4 yrs. since I've driven standard. So I would be a little aprehensive about just jumping behind the wheel of a standard now!

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

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[SoCalGirl]

Technically I can drive a stick. But I refuse to if I'm going anywhere w/ hills. I'm terrified of stalling out and rolling back into a new BMW!

Sports cars should always be a stick though. It's so cool shifting through all the gears as your speeding down the street!

[Sig624EI]

As a guy it is an embarasment (sp) not to be able to drive a standard... that said I didn't learn to drive one till this year. The funny thing is I had been flying planes for 4 years before I learned so I assumed it would be a cakewalk.......

screeeech....clunk....satll.....screech...clunk... . well you get the idea........

but I'm all better now, and I enjoy a standard, my new car is a standard and it's kind of fun.... On another note, I had my pilot's license before my drivers license, I couldn't parallel park but I could fly a plane!

[USFSDTAlum]

I learned how to drive a stick on the capital beltway and in Downtown DC. Picture Clueless in a driver's Ed car......I think I gave the guy a heart attack.

[SSS1365]

Originally posted by USFstudent:
I learned how to drive a stick on the capital beltway and in Downtown DC. Picture Clueless in a driver's Ed car......I think I gave the guy a heart attack.

The beltway and downtown DC... I don't even like driving my automatic there!

Anyway, I'm in the process of learning to drive a stick. My boyfriend is teaching me. I know enough now to drive one in case of emergency, but I'm still not totally comfortable with it. My problem is not so much stalling out as it is accidentally putting the car in neutral, when I mean to put it in second!

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by Sig624EI:
On another note, I had my pilot's license before my drivers license, I couldn't parallel park but I could fly a plane!

I STILL cannot parallel park! The one and only time I did it was when I was taking my drivers exam and I was very, very lucky that I had an examiner who was in a good mood that day! I will drive around the block for a half hour looking for two spots together so that I can go in forward!



[This message has been edited by KillarneyRose (edited June 01, 2001).]

[SSS1365]

I parallel park like a pro, but I'm terrible at perpendicular parking!

[kdgirlie]

I can drive cars that are sticks but not trucks, because I am to short to push the clutch in

[amycat412]

I've never owned anything BUT sticks. Last year when I bought my latest car, I TRIED, really TRIED to buy the automatic, kept test driving that then the stick--and I couldn't do it, I just like sticks better.

[CutiePie2000]

I learned to drive on a stick, thanks to my parents' refusal to get an automatic. I'm glad that they made me learn....I took "Young Drivers" Driving Education, and learning it was not too bad.

How is this for stress? On my driving test, I had the Evaluator sitting beside me, and THEN there was a higher-up guy sitting in the back seat, evaluating the Evaluator!
But I passed! YAY!!

[33girl]

I am pathetic on the whole stick thing!!

My boyfriend had his (stick) car parked in front of my garage (where my car was) and I had to get up and go somewhere (he was still sleeping). I could not even back his car 2.5 feet out of the driveway!! I had to wake him up and have him do it! After that, he said "I'm going to teach you to drive a stick." I guess that will be our summer project.

[James]

Ok let me just clear some things up for y'all.

1. If you can't drive a stick, you really can't "drive" at all . . . you merely learned to steer and break while a car is moving forward.

2. It may not be a good idea to have your SO teach you to drive a stick, its like having your SO train you in the gym: unless you get it right away there could be friction.

3. The ONLY hurdle in driving a stick is first gear . . . just have someone take you to a mall parking lot at night on a Sunday, show you how to move the stick around, and then leave you ALONE while you drive.

And ALL you have to do is practice starting and driving around in first gear.

[DGPhoney]

Hey all ,
I can so not drive a standard, my brother back in high school tried to teach me, and boy I never thought it would be that bad, i grinded gears so bad, he almost threw me out, lol(nah he wouldn't I am his lil sis, and I would tell, lol)
But I am going to give it another try.
which is better Standard or automatic?
DGPhoney~