Dwindling population of those that can move M/T at service centers.

You were far more understanding than I would have been. Sounds like a huge waste of everyone's time to have to come back just so a tech could move your vehicle. I understand the liability with customers moving cars, but then you have to be staffed 100% of the time with the ability to move any type of vehicle.

 

I see an opportunity for a high-paying job at dealerships / service centers as a MT driver. If you are the only one who can do a given task, you should get paid more!

 

If they can’t drive it, just ask them to push it.

 

they should just read their service manual. if they know how to work on the manual transmission then they should know how to operate it.

 

There is also a even smaller population that can crank start a Model T or operate a Stanley Steamer. It is old technology that is going away. It is a skill with a dwindling need.

 

I was at discount tire and the guy said my truck was at the end of the lot . Because he doesn’t know how to drive a manual and was only able to go backwards lol I almost died lol .

 

I have driven a stick a handful of times in my life, but I understand the concept well enough to know the difference of when I'm torching the shit out of a clutch lol. Then again I do have a motorcycle license also which helps you understand the fundamentals immensely. Bottom line is, if someone was hurt and I had to get them to the hospital in a stick shift, we're getting there at least.

 

Finally someone with a brain. Do some of you not realize that as people get old, they die and the skills they have die with them.
I can hunt, fish and I have a garden that can feed me and my wife for the whole year.
I can build my house, I can fix broken things and I can drive most vehicles in existence today. I can weld. I know how to do manual engineering calculations, many which are burned into my brain and memory. He uses websites and tables.

My son has none of these skills, except being able to drive a manual transmission.
I grew up in a time where I needed all those skills. He does not need them.

 

I'm not a boomer yet I like manual transmissions. To me they are engaging to drive and part of the experience. They also seem to know what gear to be in. Gear hunting isn't a problem. Too bad most of the population is missing out on it.

 

Going to catch some crap for this, but I don't care. I really don't see a problem with the lack of manual transmissions. Technology changes/improves. Back in the day people used typewriters, now we all use a keyboards and Microsoft WORD or a MAC and their version of WORD (Pages). Auto transmissions used to be inefficient and you could get better gas mileage with a standard, but that's no longer true. Are manual transmissions fun? Absolutely! I have had several and definitely want another one in the next weekend cruiser we buy.

 

what i started on...

 

I would wager that most people understand that it's not necessary to drive a manual, and that automatics are far superior in just about every way, but we opt to as enthusiasts. Toyota doesn't continue to sell manuals to make money, they do it to appease the people that grew up driving their 80's and 90's manual Toyota's that still want that experience in their new pickup truck. It's not a logical choice, it's a choice based on passion and preference. I'm glad we have the option, but I am surprised that they opted to continue the manual in the 4th gen, part of the reason I bought my 3rd gen was I thought it was the last of the manual pickup trucks. I'm not even that old (32) and 6/7 of my vehicles have been manuals. Why? Because my 1st vehicle was, and that's what I learned to drive on, and it became my preference vs. driving autos.

That said, most dealer techs seem to be either young (20's) or older master techs nearing retirement. If it's going to be an issue moving forward that service centers don't have someone who can drive a manual, they need to allow those customers to move the vehicle themselves if necessary. As others have said, manual transmissions are still more common globally, it's just a US thing where auto's dominate.

 

I still think it's a good/important skill to have. Yes the US market for manual passenger vehicles is dying, however, go visit a European country or even south of the border and lots and lots of manuals still exist and are common. Heavy equipment like semis, forklifts, tractors, etc... a lot of them are also manual. It's an easy skill to have in your back pocket you never know if you might need it especially if you're big into international travel.

 

I'm 35 now, and every vehicle I've owned up until my SR5 that I bought last December was a manual transmission. I kinda miss it honestly.

 

Truth...I literally left mine running yesterday while I ran in to grab something in a more urban area. Figured no one could steal it anyways.

 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=car+jackers+cant+drive+manual

 

I'm 30. My first car was a 5-speed my parents hated it because they couldn't drive it and refused to learn. I guess I'm weird because that's all I wanted and refused other nice vehicles they offered to help me buy. Ended up buying a Civic for cheap and not having to pay back much and it was dead nuts reliable. Once I had a big boy job and moved to a city I needed a truck. Stop-and-go traffic gets old real quick with manual and hour+ commute which is why I got my truck with the auto. I miss having a manual when I'm in a position to buy another toy I'll probably get a manual not because they are faster it's just because I enjoy the experience.

I've also had to drive semis around a lot for one of my old jobs and none of those were auto. I've driven tractors, forklifts, motorcycles, cars, and trucks. It's for sure a good skill to have.

 

I built golf courses for 25 years and all agriculture operations still have manuals all over the yard. I can't tell you how many times the tractor i was driving was older than me.

 

That has been my experience also not with golf courses but with contractor outfits and even state-run facilities. I'm an engineer as well and a lot of these outfits have base model 5-speed trucks for tooling around the property/job sites. I wouldn't want to be the guy that said hey boss can't drive it, to me that would be embarrassing.

 

When I took my truck in to DiscountTire, I foolishly did not demand to drive it in/out myself..

They got it in the bay without slipping the clutch or anything stupid but when the guy pulled it out, he got it in reverse, got out of the bay, then gave up and gave me the keys back.. said he couldn't drive it like 'that'.

I get in and they jammed the seat all the way forward - IDK why - no wonder he couldn't drive it.

Next time I took my car up there - I just flat told them that I would move it in/out and kept the keys. I am done holding my breath waiting for someone to slip my clutch or hit the rev limiter - also I would loose my shit if I heard either one happen.