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Wouldn't have it any other way!!Feb 11 '00 Write an essay on this topic.I'm so used to driving a standard transmission now that I quite frankly wouldn't know what to do with the extra time on my hands if I drove an automatic. I suppose I could save time at home and put on my makeup, read the newspaper, talk on the cell phone (which I think there should be a law against while driving). I admit that I was very intimidated the first time I drove a 'stick, especially under the circumstances of how I learned to drive one. That was way back in 1970, when my husband picked me up at work in our brand new Ford Pinto (yea, I know, they don't make 'em anymore), but nonetheless... When he arrived, he got out and said, "Linda, now you're gonna learn how to drive this; you'll see-- it'll be fun." He always had a straight stick, his most prized possession of all was his shiny red 1960 corvette, of which he was always tinkering with. Needless to say, it was of the most challenging experiences I had undertaken to that point of my life. So, that weekend we went up to Duluth, Minnesota (his home town), the land of many, many hills!! I have never been to San Francisco, but let's just say Duluth has to be her distant cousin!! I can't tell you how many times I drove that car jerking it down the road. I was sure something was going to 'fall out from all that jerking motion going on. This was not a smooth ride folks!! But, he was very patient with me and soon I learned, though I always hated those hills in Duluth, and especially if I didn't get to the top first without another car in front of me. God forbid I should have to stop, try to put it in gear and drive off, especially if another car was right on my bumper and I might roll back onto it. Eventually I got the 'hang of it and it soon became second nature-- I've been driving a 'stick ever since. On the rare occasion that I've driven an automatic I never realized how much free time I had when driving and thought I would go to sleep. While it does add to the value of a car to have an automatic, especially when selling or trading it in, you do pay extra for that initially. And, if the standard transmission goes out, that too is much more expensive then replacing a clutch. Some of the other pluses for me are, that I feel I have more control of the car especially in winter driving. You can always download (sounds like we're downloading software or something), doesn't it? It just saves on your brakes not to mention gas mileage when you 'down-shift. It's easier to maneuver on snow-packed or icy roads especially if you're stuck on the ice and can't get going. In effect you can easily put it into reverse, then first gear to get a rocking motion to hopefully get you out of a big snowfall. The only down side I can see for my manual is the takeoff while at a stop sign, especially if someone is right on your bumper. They're ready to go 50 miles per hour already. I've got a 5-speed so it takes a few seconds to 'get going back up to speed. This is with my 2.0 liter Cavalier, but I'm sure bigger car engines would have much faster takeoff. My sister, who works for UPS and has been there for 15 years now, still works in the 'small sort department. I'm always asking her why doesn't she drive one of those 'big brown trucks, and she says-- "I don't know how to drive a stick." I've even offered to teach her on mine, but after 3 years now she has yet to take me up on that offer; I think she's afraid she might ruin my car with all that jerky driving going on. She really ought to take me up on that offer because once she learns how, she'll soon realize just how much fun it is to just zip around in!!  |
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