Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

1972 AMC Javelin with a 232 6 cylinder engine and a three speed trans.

 

On the column?

 

I learned on a 1977 VW Rabbit and a Cushman with 3 on the tree.

 

I drove a few MTs before really learning (86 626, a 90s Pontiac LeMans, and a Mazda B2000) but really honed my skilz on our 1995 Geo Metro. The MT in that car was the only thing that allowed it to get to highways speeds in a reasonable manner. The slushbox was a deathtrap by comparison. I wish we still had it. It was Tropical Green, so it would have been derped by now.

 

90's Fiat Croma TurboDiesel

 

On the floor.

 

1963 Chevy Pickup 3 on the tree!

 

I learned on dad's 1997 Chevy S-10

 

63 Ford 3 on the tree and a 56 mack twin stick dad called it a 4x4 each stick had 4 gears n reverse selector was on the dash.

 

Grandpas 83 yota pickup.

 

First learned to drive manual on a ‘97 Tacoma 5 speed at age 14 and have only owned manuals since. Luckily I got a manual on my SR before they discontinued it for 2018.

I actually tend to hit the brake with both feet whenever I drive an auto now.

 

Learned on a NEW 1990 Honda Accord Si Coupe. It was a nice sized car. Accords are boats now.

 

1970 Chevy half ton CST. Still have it.

 

79 Dodge D-100 stepside pickup W/ slant six and 4 speed. Gutless.. dang.

Until of course my dad and I swapped in a 383 2bbl with 727 tranny - yeehaw.

The truck had manual steering, so once the big block went in there (yes, the Dodge 383 was a big block) it was kinda hard in parking lots!

 

Learned on an ‘86 Camry, my first car. I bought it before I knew how to drive standard, and my dad promptly took me to a hill in a parking lot and made me keep trying until I overheated the clutch - ha! The manual was definitely the only thing that made that car fun!

Have only dailyed manuals since:
‘88 Acura Legend
‘91 Honda Accord
(back into the Legend - great car)
‘05 Mazda 3s hatch
‘08 BMW M3 sedan
‘18 TRD Off Road on order!

Keeping my E90 M3 and making it more of a fun/track/backroadtrip car. Tacoma is replacing my old beater Pathfinder - I’ll drive it 4-5 days per week.

Full disclosure: I did test drive one with the automatic and it suuucked - was hunting for gears like crazy just in the few miles I drove it. No way I’d be able to deal with that long term...

Glad to be joining the club!

 

57 Chevy Apache 6 cyl 3 on the tree.

 

My wife got me a very nice b-day gift. This feels so good in the hand, seems to shift better.

 

Careful if floating gears. These transmission are not designed with floating gears in mind. Class 8 semi-truck transmission can get away with it because the components are super strong, designed to survive thousands of lb.ft of torque and horsepower. The gears in those are spaced much closer and don't have synchros that will interfere. If you don't know how to do it, you can tear up your transmission in no time. I recommend not doing it anyways and use a rental if absolutely necessary or have a friend that is skilled with 3 pedals drive you around.

 

I put over a quarter million kms on my 85 4Runner without using a clutch. I think I'm good

 

I learned stick on a 1960ish John Deere 2 banger! I was 10 or so and initially had get out of the seat and stand on the mechanically linked clutch (until I got a bit heavier and my legs grew longer). That thing hauled ass in 4th gear down the road though.

Duk.....duk.....duk...duk..dukdukdukdukduk