It finally happened . . .

My son has mastered the art of the 5sp and I have passed down my 2nd gen regular cab to him. Although I'm going to miss driving a manual, I'm liking the creature comforts of the 3rd gen.

 

I like the regular cab short bed! Nice looking! That would go anywhere in Colorado!

 

Seriously, congrats, 3 daughters and not a one of them can grasp it, and after the first couple of stalls and burning clutch smell on the training scrap pile they said nope, auto or nothing.

 

I can remember my uncle teaching me on the ranch how to drive a 3 on the tree when I was 12 and saying if you can drive a manual you can drive anything. Good times.

 

I learned to drive a 4 speed on the way to get my license when I was 16. Worst I did was use granny gear to takeoff at the MVD. Officer didn’t like that much.

 

I too will lament about being 'forced' to learn how to drive a manual. I had to learn how to pull from a dead stop on a hill before my driving training would continue.

Accolades to your son! Driving a manual is a dying art.

Best of luck with the 3rd Gen.

 

I just wish I was your son

 

Learning to drive a MT vehicle was a blast back when I was 13 years old or so-a father/son memory that I will never forget! The old orange and white ford pinto in the oil fields outside of Casper, WY!

 

I too have fond memories of learning to drive manual, was 15-16 at the time. Will never forget a stop light that was along an uphill climb, was scared to death the first few times I was at that red.

Haven’t driven stick in years now but I love knowing I could do it if needed. Miss that feeling of shifting through the gears, downshifting for a quick accel, flicking the shifter back and forth to check neutral at a stop, the whole thing. It’s like a reminder of my youth.

 

Yup, I use to drive an old manual transmission back when you had to crank start your car in the front. Long before Henry Ford blessed the scence, yup, those were the good ol days. Thanks for saying "manual transmission" in a post so I could take the opportunity to regale everyone with my stories of yore.

 

This definitely brings back memories. My lesson was a 10 mile drive home through south central LA and watts. My father had me repeatedly stop and go for the practice. One stop a guy standing there pulled his pistol. Dad said GOOOO!

Congratulations to both of you.

 

So true about going anywhere. I had a 1984 S-10, regular cab, short wheel base and that truck was awesome off road.

 

So, nothing?

 

Learned to drive a stick in one of these working at a summer camp in 1978 (I'm 65 y.o.)

 

Try a Nissan Pulsar that was interesting to learn in

 

sadly I’m still an old softie gear head, and I want them self sufficient, so the first one got an older metal Chrysler Sebring, second one got an older v6 mustang and since the 3rd is only 14 I’ve still got time an hope although she has trained to drive already.

 

I like the black one better.

Lucky boy.

Since I don't road trip in the truck, the creature comforts are saved for other vehicles.

 

Nice Dodge! I was fascinated when in 6th grade in 1968 the ride to school required a bus - a GMC with a manual transmission. When I was 16 I drove a '74 Chevy Vega with a 3 speed on the floor as a favor for someone to get gas around the corner. I was gone about a half hour having fun - at that point I was hooked. My first manual transmission car though, was my 3rd - a 1979 Saab.

Good for the OP's son driving a manual - something other than a Subaru WRX that manual proficient kids many times drive.

 

Thank you for sharing memories of learning to drive a manual. It was a special time for me as well. My dad taught my brothers and me how to drive a manual on an old Mazda. It was sink or swim time because my dad got sick (cancer) and could no longer drive us to school. He got the car and taught us how to drive it over the course of 2 nights. I was one of the last things he was able to teach us before he went to be with Jesus. I'm reminded of him often when I get behind a manual.

 

Camp badass apparently. Love those PWs