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I always hear a lot of "I would have bought a manual, but it's just so hard to drive in traffic" or "my knee hurts when I push in the clutch" or something of the sort. I always roll my eyes, I don't care if you drive an automatic, but be honest a knee injury doesn't have any impact. My left knee got crushed between two cars in high school, I still drive my manual to class every day.
Saw this trans am parked in the far back of the lot, far away from any handicapped spot and the store entrance. Had to go check it out, and when I looked inside I found hand controls for all three pedals!
Inside the store there was a guy who was missing both his legs, smiling, laughing, and clearly not letting his disability get in the way of enjoying a muscle car with the proper transmission
I really don't mean to start an argument here, just really inspirational honestly.
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Good for that Trans Am owner finding a way to still enjoy his car with a manual tranny. However, I'm not one to question someone's motive for deciding a manual tranny no longer fits their driving needs, whether it be for health or other reasons. As long as they are enjoying the car they own, that's what matters.
Not an excuse. I just like an auto better. Also, all else equal, unless you are perfect I will be through the trap ahead.
Yeah I get that, most people just want to justify buying an auto because "they can't drive a manual because of _______"
I always just tell them to just be honest with themselves, the 30 pounds it takes to depress the clutch can't hurt more than the 300 pounds of weight you put on your leg by standing.
I love to shift and I don't care if it's bumper to bumper traffic, it is the ONLY way I would have a vette. The thing is I do drive a truck with a Auto and that's fine for that vehicle. The vette is a fun car and a manual for me adds so much more fun !!!
I'd like to see the Trans Am owner make his moves. He's probably better at it than me with both my legs. While I know that a well setup auto is quicker than me, a six speed was the only consideration for me.
Well, I don't drive stick because I never really learned how to. I've done it a few times and managed to get by, but I wasn't ever comfortable with it. I'm sure with more practice it would become second nature, but just never had a reason to HAVE to learn and haven't put much effort into trying to. Just a personal preference.
I've taken a lot of grief over the years having a few nice sporty cars and all being autos. Used to have a turbo 2G Eclipse that I dragged and entered in car shows. Amazing how many times I'd have people drooling all over it until they looked inside and then I'd hear them say, "oh it's an automatic"...then walk away. Man that pissed me off.
Not really an excuse, just what I grew up with and choice.
I learned to drive on a stick shift.
Many of my vehicle were manual, but now, living in Los Angeles where at practically every intersection, one has to stop, all that shifting would be just plain stupid.
Stick is fun if you live out in the boonies, but sharing the roads with literally millions of other vehicles, stick is not the way to go.
I am happy that he is enjoying life and not letting his disability hold him back.
I am also a person that is highly opinionated and it is my opinion that all real performance cars should be manual. Yes in some cases automatic is better like in a full blown drag car but I don't care about 1/4 mile because it is a game of who has the most money. Driving a performance car is about the experience and it is NOT complete without a clutch and manual transmission.
If drag racing was about the driver and who could really drive better then everyone would run manual transmission cars at the strip. Antoine can put a car in gear and hold the pedal to the floor
I basically enjoy the thrill a manual transmission gives me. I'm pushing 70 now and my mind hasn't changed in all the years I've been driving (52). I still love winding out threw the gears and slowing down in gear. My two loves this C5 and my 05 GTO are both 6 speeds and I wouldn't have them any different, it's in my blood.
I have nothing against automatics, they are fun and enjoyable for those who love and need them. Just not for me at this point in my life still. Maybe someday.
Always an interesting debate, if at Barrett Jackson auto's commanded more money (they don't) then everyone would think an auto is the better car. I personally like the feel of high gears with a high stall torque converter, hpjust me. It is great to see anyone with a disability find ways to not limit their choices, big thumbs up!
For commuting in high density areas I do have to admit that forty five minutes to an hour of pumping a clutch in bumper to bumper traffic is a drag, nothing fun about it, exactly the opposite. However, when it comes to my performance cars and leisure time driving, nothing beats a manual. The extra driver involvement required with a manual is such a large part of the performance car experience. For me, I couldn't imagine the performance car fun without some enthusiastic rowing of that manual gearbox! Y'all have a good one!
I always just tell them to just be honest with themselves, the 30 pounds it takes to depress the clutch can't hurt more than the 300 pounds of weight you put on your leg by standing.[/QUOTE]
Hmm, Well let me get this straight, I have two legs, so each leg should support one half of my curb weight, so I would have to weigh 600 pounds by your example. I would have way more to worry about other than stick/automatic in my Corvette. I am not sure I would even fit in my Corvette if I weighed that much.
Last edited by mike48750; Jul 31, 2016 at 09:29 AM.
Mine is auto and I like it. I drove stick on a DD for five years. I'm amazed at how many people have said to me, "Oh, It's not manual". I can't really remember the last time I had a problem passing someone or pulling onto a highway. How about NEVER.
I drove my friend's manual vert before I bought mine. I would think it would lead to more spirited driving, which would be bad. So in that regard, a wise move on my part.
I always just tell them to just be honest with themselves, the 30 pounds it takes to depress the clutch can't hurt more than the 300 pounds of weight you put on your leg by standing.
Hmm, Well let me get this straight, I have two legs, so each leg should support one half of my curb weight, so I would have to weigh 600 pounds by your example. I would have way more to worry about other than stick/automatic in my Corvette. I am not sure I would even fit in my Corvette if I weighed that much.[/QUOTE]
Interesting that instead of taking one step at a time, you hop everywhere on both legs
Again, if you simply prefer auto, drag race, or are lazy, then great for you. Just be honest about it and don't act like you literally can't drive manual anymore, that's the only reason you bought an auto.
Bumper to bumper traffic in the z is easy, I don't find any problem daily driving my car in the city or on backed up interstates through Georgia
Neither my wife or I are young by any measure, but all three of our vehicles are stick - the C5, a Subie Turbo and a Chev K1500 - and that one is the W/T model complete with wind up windows and a manual 2-4H-4L shifter. Funnily enough, the Subaru has the heaviest clutch of the three, go figure.
I happily commuted through the DC suburbs for years driving stick - it's no biggie, and a blast when a gap opens up, you just have to be ready. As I was taught about traffic driving all those years ago, just be in the correct gear, in the correct lane at all times. Then you just stand on it in 2nd......
Back in 1997, my C5 demo drive was in an auto - the only C5 the dealer had at the time - and while it was effortless and perfectly fine, it just was not for me, not enough involvement. Since then the technology of autos has moved on, and I would look very hard at a good paddle shift box if I was in the market today.
Last edited by jackthelad; Jul 31, 2016 at 10:32 AM.
I drive an auto because I drag race. Auto is faster and so much better to launch than a manual 99% of the time. This is the first sports car I've owned that wasn't manual and I miss it.
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So what's your excuse, again?
I've done it a few times and managed to get by, but I wasn't ever comfortable with it. I'm sure with more practice it would become second nature, but just never had a reason to HAVE to learn and haven't put much effort into trying to. Just a personal preference. 
