Let my 14 Y.O. daughter drive the Tacoma

My daughter just turned 14 last weekend and she will be getting her learners permit shortly. We live on gravel so today I let her drive the Tacoma a few miles. She has never driven a stick so we cheated; I put it in low range (remember the gravel part) shut it off and pushed the clutch start cancel got out and she hopped in, bumped the starter and away she went. we never went over 15mph but she got to work it through a couple of gears and slowly learn how to drive a manual.

Not a big deal to most of the people on here but it's not often a 48 Y.O. gearhead engineer can bond with his daughter.

 

That's awesome, good for you dad. Every girl needs to learn a stick and this can be a special father-daughter bonding activity. I guarantee she'll always remember her dad teaching her to drive a stick in his new truck.

 

Good job!!! I am sure she will get the hang of it when you have more time to teach her.

 

I've got many special memories of my own dad teaching me to drive stick on an old ford 8n tractor. Low geared and a big field. Thanks for sharing op

 

Makes me think of that Alan Jackson song

 

Good deal teaching your daughter how to drive a stick. Bet a lot of the boys at school won't even know how to drive a manual.

 

My 7yo son has already called dibs on the Tacoma when he turns 17. I doubt I'll be ready to give it over yet that's still like new!!!

 

That is way cool! I remember my grandpa letting me drive his old Jeep when I was 12 or so. Granted we did this on the streets back then but that was a long time ago.

Also good idea on teaching your daughter to drive manual. That's one thing I think every driver should be required to know.

 

I thought there was gonna be wreck pics

 

Props for being a dad.

 

I've let my 7 yo daughter drive for miles while sitting on my lap during one for our camping trips. She thought she was in heaven and took it so serious. Great job OP!

 

^^^ That for me too.. Hey OP, keep an eye on your beer supply. It wont be long before she puts 1 + 1 = Tacoma and beer. You should just tell her you drive your truck and THEN beer. Never too early...

 

hell yea, my stepdad taught me manual in 4wl in his pre-tacoma sr5 back in 92' on the power company's service roads. he had gate keys because he worked as a lineman.

 

That's where I did my first serious rock crawl in a CJ-7 way way back when they didn't have gates and locks early late 70's ...

 

I have very few memories of my sperm donor. Several of the few is him letting me drive as a young boy.

That's shit she will always remember. Anyone can be a father. Way to be a Dad!!!!

 

My 14 year old girl hasn't driven the Tacoma yet, but she's driven a few stick shifts. We have a small farm/ranch, and she has driven nearly everything on the ranch. She can let the clutch out smoothly and take off pretty well.
I want to find someone that has the Smith method of driving manuals so I can teach her those. If you've never heard of it, it's the most comprehensive defensive driving course in the country. I learned a very similar method from UPS, and I really want her to understand defensive driving before she's out on her own.

 

Defensive driving... you need metal; AKA steel bumpers F&R and big ass nerf bars. You wont have to worry, people will avoid you. Pretty cool actually.

 

Are you a UPSer?

 

Did she complain about the Camry motor?