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Confessions of a shift changerAug 16 '00 (Updated Nov 24 '00) Write an essay on this topic.You can fit my technical knowledge about manual and automatic transmissions inside a pinhead. I’m not going to waste your valuable reading time getting into a technical discussion on the merits of manual VS automatic transmissions. Instead, I will approach this subject from my own personal experience. The reason why I learned to drive a shift stick Once upon a time I could be counted among the many drivers who prefer driving an automatic transmission vehicle instead of a manual transmission vehicle. That was until one morning when my now ex-husband decided that he didn’t want to move his manual transmission Nissan Pathfinder that blocked me from exiting the driveway in our second vehicle. Instead of waiting for his mood to change I grabbed his keys and began my very first self-taught lesson on driving a shift stick. Was I afraid that I would destroy his Nissan’s transmission during my first lesson? No, because I was too angry that day to rationalize anything other than not being stuck in our driveway again. The day I got behind the wheel of my ex’s manual transmission Nissan marked the beginning of my transformation from automatic to manual transmission driver. To be honest, it actually took a few months of constantly driving a manual transmission vehicle before I became comfortable enough to say I would drive a shift stick. I will confess that I still hesitate or will sometimes seek alternative directions whenever I approach a steep hill. The reason I continue driving a shift stick I had always owned an automatic transmission vehicle. However, this very fact changed seven years ago when I fell in love with and purchased a 1993 Ford Escort Wagon (see my article titled “A Faithful Friend”). During the purchasing decision I was given a choice of manual or automatic transmission. I chose an Escort with manual transmission because of the lower monthly payments. Surly (I reason back then) I could handle a shift stick car as my main transportation for a couple of years before trading it in. Well the couple of years have stretched into seven continual years of shift changing. Over the years I have developed a love/hate relationship about driving a shift stick. This love/hate relationship circles around several thoughts which always come to mind whenever someone gets in my car and announces to me (for the billionth time) “Hey, I didn’t know this car had a stick!” Let me share some of my personal opinions about driving a manual transmission instead of automatic. Let me also state for the record that my views are personal and do not have hard facts to back them up. My top 5 reasons why I love driving and owning a shift stick. 5. You can save a few pennies in gas money because you decide which gears you will use. It is my belief that you can squeeze a few extra miles from each gallon when you drive a manual transmission vehicle. Okay…okay…this belief is speculative and is only based on the fact that I did compare the gas consumption on a relative’s automatic Escort Wagon against my manual Escort Wagon a couple of years ago. 4. Driving a shift stick improves your coordination, making it easier for you do several things at one time! Just think about my statement for one minute as you imagine what it takes to press a clutch with one foot while pressing the gas pedal with the other foot while shifting gears with one free hand and still managing to focus on driving your car! Believe me, following this routine daily will increase your coordination skills in any other area of your choosing. 3. Car thieves think twice about stealing a manual transmission vehicle (or maybe they just don’t like my Escort – smile). I don’t have any data to support this last statement but I like to believe that quick get-a-way is hard if you can’t drive a stick. 2. I have become a better driver since owning a stick. Shift stick owners must always concentrate on driving, driving and driving…nothing else. Constantly changing gears means that you constantly use your brain therefore focusing on those driving around you each time you start your car up. 1. Driving a manual transmission vehicle gives me the feeling of control over the driving performance of my car. After all, I have to be one with the car if I want to get from point A to point B. My five top reasons why I hate owning and driving a shift stick 5. No one can drive my car but me. I am the only one in my circle of friends and family that can drive a manual transmission vehicle. 4. Driving during the stop and go action of rush hour traffic can be a pain the you-know-what! I find myself thinking not only about the one car in front of me but also about what all the cars in front, back and along the sides of me will do. 3. Too much brain power is devoted to strategies. Driving a shift stick means that you will spend a lot of time planning driving strategies whenever drive on a steep slope (hill, mountains, etc). Why? Your car may roll backwards if you don’t change gears fast enough while driving. 2. You can’t put on make-up, eat, use a hand held cell phone or smoke a cigarette while driving a shift stick. Although I think NOT doing these things while driving is a plus…there have been times when I had to make a cell call while driving. Believe me when I say the your coordination skills really get a work out if you use a cell phone while driving a shift stick. 1. Inexperience shift stick drivers can turn into a lot of expensive clutch repair bills. This simple statement has kept me from teaching beginners how to drive my car. I know that this is selfish, especially on occasions when I wish someone could drive my car while I ride as a passenger. But the reality is that you can experience constant and expensive clutch repair bills if you don’t shift gears correctly. I personally have only changed my clutch twice. The first time at 20,000 miles and the second time at 90,000 (I currently have over 130,000 miles on this car). The bottom line. Would I recommend buying a manual transmission? YES! Overall I have to say that I enjoy owning a stick more than I hate driving a stick. However, I would suggest that buy a manual transmission vehicle as a SECOND vehicle. That way you can enjoy both worlds and not have to think about shifting gears all the time.  |
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