Six speed manual trans ... Weird.

[CG]

So Im going to be doing some work to my daily, its going to be down for a couple weeks (give or take). Our spare car is being borrowed indefinably by one of my sons. Luckily my other son and his wife just bought a new car and kept their old one. They are letting my borrow it for as long as I need it.

Its a little sporty 2013 Honda with a Vtech six speed manual trans. Why is this weird? Because I haven't driven a manual trans car (or truck) in forever. For many years that's all I drove as my service vehicle, and I'm talking several hundred thousand miles worth, mostly stop and go city stuff. My left calf is actually a bit larger than my right, even after all the years of driving automatics.

I have to admit I was a little shaky with it at first, I even killed it at a four way stop lol. And with six speeds when four is all I have ever driven in the past its just odd. Shifting through the gears I'm not even close to winding this thing out like it can. This little Vtech engine is surprising. Might have to wring it out today on a freeway onramp, as soon as I get the hang of it that is ... still doing a few shaky starts

[special-K]

Enjoy it like a sports car that is a practical daily driver. I have had no manual shift to drive since '14 and for me that is weird. I really miss shifting, it's what I prefer. I've always heard people talking about clutch peddle effort, wearing their left leg out, bothering their left knee, or inconvenience of occupying their right hand with the need to shift. I never gave any of that a second thought. When mobile phones were known as "car phones" intended to use while driving (gross lack of foresight?) other contractors would say they needed automatic so they could use their phone. Never had an issue with that, either. Never had a problem driving, using phone, with an open drink, driving with full attention on the task using my turn signals for every turn or lane change I made... unlike so many driving automatics. To me all that is just driving. It sure is a fact we get used to what we do routinely and when we go back to a former routine it seems alien. Creatures of habit we are. I think the more convenient operation of vehicles has contributed to all the zombie drivers who are so prevalent these days... and the reason self-driving vehicles are even a consideration.

[Palf70Step]

I love driving sticks. I miss it, but my knee does not. My wife likes driving some of my stuff also, but what she does to a manual is way not pretty or healthy. One of the funnest cars I drove was 1st generation Miata. I couldn't drive it with the top up, but man it was fun to whip around. Reminded me of my old Triumph TR4 in HS.

[GOPAPA]

It has been a many of years since I had a stick shift truck ,,let alone a car,,so I know what you mean about getting used to it with all of a sudden you are driving one for the first time in years ..

When I first drove the 39 Chevy 4 speed I have ,, I would sometimes miss a gear and start off in second or third gear instead of first at stop intersections and that of course had the car rocking like a rocking chair.,, and now, I have to learn all over again since I installed the 5 speed transmission in it,.. I guess Mark ,,you just need to do like I did ,,"burn the clutch some " until you ger used to it.

[special-K]

Talk about creatures of habit. I drove nothing but manual, daily, for years. I had 5spd '92 & '95 K3500s, my wife drove a 4spd '90 Blazer, my son drove a 3spd '65 Biscayne Wagon, and my daughter drove a 5spd '82 Prelude. I also had a 4spd '72 K/20 and a 4spd (M22) '68 SWB. When I'd get in the '72 K/20 with automatic I only drove occasionally, I'd find myself stomping the floor with my left foot when coming to a stop . Now that I am driving all autos I'd probably forget the clutch and stall at a stop. We are talking first time coming to a stop. I'm not THAT bad...YET!

[Palf70Step]

I think the weirdest one I drove (not counting the old semis, was a 5 speed on the column when I was in Japan (70s to early 80s). One had a 3 speed pattern with 4th and 5th tacked on, while the other was regular 5 speed patter. Just felt weird to have that many up on the tree.

[mongocanfly]

I love my stick shifters...what's funny is when I get in my 13 z71 and start mashing the imaginary clutch...

[Palf70Step]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I love my stick shifters...what's funny is when I get in my 13 z71 and start mashing the imaginary clutch...

I still am known to do that once in a while too.

[special-K]

That's what I was talking about when I said I stomp the floor.

When I met my x-wife she drove a '79 Fairmont Futura with a 3 + o/d on the floor. I was so used to my 4-on-the-floors it would mess me up. I would shift down a gear to make a turn, hit the gas, and I'd lug it in 3rd, then drop down to second.

A friend in HS had an old Peugeot with a 4-on-the-tree. That was so foreign to me (get it?)

[GOPAPA]

Friend of mine had an old Chevy with vacuum shift ,,and somehow the vacuum didnt work and one had to use some muscle to shift it .

[mongocanfly]

Try to figure this one out in the dark....haha

[Bigdav160]

All my vehicles, with exception of my K20 Suburban, are stick shift.
My daily has a Cummins/6-speed. There are certainly days when I wish I had more automatic transmission vehicles.

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I love my stick shifters...what's funny is when I get in my 13 z71 and start mashing the imaginary clutch...

I do this all of the time. My 99 and 96 have the same seats and dash. except one has a real transmission and the other doesn't. I only do it when I go to start it. My foot hits the floor with little effort.

[1970 CST Short Wide]

All thought High School I drove sticks, after HS most if not all my viechcles were Auto.
Just recently , last 6 months, I put an LS1 and 6 speed manual in my 70 and Man am I having a Ball. Didn’t know how much I missed the Fun of shifting