Newfoundland Driving School to Stop Teaching Stick Shift - Polidicks

[QUOTE=TestECull;48025183]Mmhm. Your problem was, in fact, multiple cars. I've no doubt you would have picked it up faster if you'd been in the same car the whole time. Different cars all have different quirks and that can throw a huge monkey wrench into the learning process.[/QUOTE] It also depends on how you're learning. I made almost no improvements over several months of my ex-stepfather doing nothing but yelling at me and being unhelpful while trying to teach me to drive a manual but I learned myself very easily in like a day (with a few quirks I worked out over a few more) without any help other than knowing the very basics of how to drive a manual. (The basics being just knowing the idea behind using a clutch really.) Also in addition to the reasons you stated in an earlier post about manual being better I also find it makes me significantly more attentive than I am when driving an automatic. By forcing me to split my attention more between keeping an eye on my tachometer and speed on top of having to concentrate on shifting I pay more attention to everything in general. And as demoguy08 said engine breaking is very useful. That's something I find myself missing every single time I drive an automatic. [QUOTE=TestECull;48026649]I've never felt like my experience would be improved if my car was more automated. Not even in stop/go traffic. I have no trouble whatsoever handling it with a stick, I don't get the problem.[/QUOTE] The only time I've ever felt that an automatic was better than a manual was taking off on hills. I never had to do that a lot in my manual so I wasn't particularly good at it and people have this annoying as hell habit of getting right on your ass at a light so if you're in a manual you have to hit the gas a lot harder than normal while letting out the clutch so you don't roll backwards into them.

[QUOTE=redBadger;48025088]I wonder is there a stick / auto hybrid yet where you can change what mode you want[/QUOTE] There are, but they generally lack a manual clutch, which is the most important of a manual.

[QUOTE=Headhumpy;48025225]Some people just want to use their vehicle to get to work and back. Does that make them any less of a person than you?[/QUOTE] Yes.

[QUOTE=Grimhound;48027587]I don't care about the intimacy of the experience. My car is a tool. Its job is to bring me from point A to point B. I trust an automatic system more than I trust myself to not fuck it up if I have to handle it manually. It also means I have that much more attention to devote to not dying or killing other people.[/QUOTE] The whole wrong way to go on about it. A: I get that some people don't really like cars as much as other people, but for christ sakes, don't call it a tool. By that logic, you don't need any of the commodities it has, since its just to go from A to B. B: Automatic systems are IMO (and in the opinion of many others) not as efficient as manuals C: "more attention to devote to not dying or killing other people"? Are you the kind of person who shivers in fear knowing that you have to go out and use a car, who gets to the car and breathes in and out deeply for a few minutes as if you were going to tame a black stallion to take it on a huge adventure through the heart of danger? Seriously, you guys are making out driving a manual and just, well, driving itself, to be some kind of huge adventure, more dangerous than driving through a country like Russia. You don't need to devote attention to try to stay alive or to not kill people. What the hell. [editline]22nd June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Headhumpy;48025225]Some people just want to use their vehicle to get to work and back. Does that make them any less of a person than you?[/QUOTE] I almost feel like saying yes aswell, just because it seems like said people don't like to have a hobbie or fun. It's just so much fun. The whole part about changing down a gear for a corner for example, its just so awesome. Why, just weeks ago, I drove my friend to another city here to buy this watch he wanted that had a huge discount. I had to take him because while his car eats up 10€ of gas in like way less than 100km, mine eats 20€ of diesel in 300km. It has WAY less power, but oh well.. The road we took was pretty dangerous, full of "S" turns, going uphill, with a huge drop next to the road. On the way down, I hammered it down, tires squealing like pigs through the turns, upshifting and downshifting in spaces of 5 seconds... Felt like some kind of ammateur race enthusiast. Felt good. My friend got sick of the turns and threw up when he got home though. I guess he prefers to be in the driver side than the passenger :v:

[QUOTE=redBadger;48025072]I just want to drive without having all this extra shit to worry about. I'm not racing I'm just cruising from place to place. What's the point then[/QUOTE] Why are you lot acting as if the news is that driving manual will be mandatory? Stop getting your panties in a bunch about other people liking things you don't. This goes for all of you. [editline]22nd June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Grimhound;48027587]I don't care about the intimacy of the experience. My car is a tool. Its job is to bring me from point A to point B. I trust an automatic system more than I trust myself to not fuck it up if I have to handle it manually. It also means I have that much more attention to devote to not dying or killing other people.[/QUOTE] The way that you think that driving manual implies you pay less attention to your driving is not only nonsensical, it's paradoxical, and you are showing your lack of experience on the subject.

[QUOTE=TestECull;48026649]Mmm, yeah I like not having to plan my trips in advance simply so I can make it home again.[/QUOTE] The charging network is constantly getting better. It's obviously not as prevalent as petrol stations yet but you can drive all over Europe (maybe not eastern europe) and anywhere in the States. Tesla's navigation system can route you via chargers as well. Also how often are you really driving 250+ miles? Most people probably aren't on their daily commute and might take a couple of road trips a year that requires the car to be charged up along the way. Also using Tesla's Supercharging network is included in the price of the car so you can fill up for 'free' however much you like.

My job has me moving all sorts of cars, from all over the world. I'd never driven a stick before this job, and my friend gave me a 15 minute lesson when we had some free time. A few days later, I was stuck somewhere, and the car I had to move was a right hand drive manual. That was a pretty interesting first go at driving stick on my own.

I don't really care about stick shift. As long as my car gets me from one place to the other, I'm good.

I know his has been discussed to death already, but some of us just enjoy driving stick. Yes there are some people who are real big pricks about auto vs manual, but don't shit on everyone who enjoys their MT. Some of us just enjoy the overall experience of driving our cars. My 05 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT has a 5MT, and it's so much more lively than one with the 5EAT. That transmission is a perfect match for the engine. It's very satisfying to hold the gears out and really get the turbo going, or nail some rev-matched downshifts around tight corners. The exhaust really has a nice growl when you do that. I know some people don't get it, but I love driving my car. After a stressful day at work it's such a fun way to unwind.

[QUOTE=codenamecueball;48025445]lol have you ever tried to accelerate in an auto on the A9 trying to push past 90mph to overtake a motorhome on one of the only straight sections for 20 miles. [editline]22nd June 2015[/editline] protip: you need a manual car to at least try that without dying[/QUOTE] Hahahahaha, do you think an automatic would self destruct at those speeds? I regularly go 95+ mph in my shitty 95' toyota tundra (auto) whenever the highway patrol isn't around

[QUOTE=TestECull;48026649]Mmm, yeah I like not having to plan my trips in advance simply so I can make it home again. [/QUOTE] >:( [img]http://i.imgur.com/gtj6LB8.png[/img] considering that the superchargers are on routes [I]you'd already take anyways[/I], don't be dumb and say that "omg i have to specially plan my route to get home"

[img]http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1421818/uk-tesla-supercharger-network-map.jpg[/img] I'm at Hull :(

[QUOTE=FordLord;48026689]Few things; 1: This is pretty mixed. Like you said, it's usually when you compare non-overdrive automatics to overdrive manuals. The difference, when an auto is maintained right, is fairly insignificant.[/quote] The city difference is still significant even with 2015 spec transmissions. You can't escape the losses in the converter, in the hydraulic system, and that's where the bulk of the automatic's inefficiency stems from in the first place. Any time your engine is rotating faster than the input shaft of the transmission you are wasting fuel, and automatics cannot avoid operating in this mode until they're in top gear and can bang in the lockup clutch. [quote]2. Comes down to maintainance and brand. Some properly maintained autos crap out at 130k miles, others last forever. The bottom line? Buy a reliable brand, get a reliable automatic transmission.[/quote] They still don't last as long as a manual box. They've got a shitload of function-critical wear parts in them. The clutch packs in an auto conk? You're boned. The synchros in a manual conk? Doubleclutch and keep right on going. [quote]3. They tend to weigh more from fluid, unless it's a low HP track car it doesn't matter much.[/quote] It's not just the fluid. The T/C is heavier than a flywheel-and-clutch. The casing is built more substantially. Planetary sets are heavier, the clutch packs and brake bands add even more weight, as does the filter, valve body, hydraulic pump. [quote]4. Not sure where you have heard the 200k mile thing. Some of the shitty transmissions, yes, they crap out before then. Good automatics? You can expect the life of the car out of them, 300k+ miles. Mine is at 230k something and shifts as new.[/quote] That's on average about how long an automatic lasts until the clutch packs and brake bands wear out. [quote]5. Will keep your car from being stolen, but not everything inside it like an alarm could.[/quote] Kek. Alarms don't discourage people from busting a window and grabbing sit sitting in the seat. They're gone with your stuff before the first bystander can acknowledge the alarm going off. Even then it's not 'HEY SOMEONE STOLE SOMETHING FROM THAT CAR', it's 'HEY SOMEONE SHUT THAT FUCKING JUNKHEAP UP ALREADY'. [quote]6. You have control in decent automatics.[/quote] You have no control. You merely suggest things to the computer. The computer can and will quite happily override your suggestions if it thinks it needs to. [quote]7. Any time I have had a battery die is where it couldn't be push started.[/quote] We've all left our headlights on by accident, or run the battery down by playing the radio with the engine off too long. Shit happens, and it's far eaiser to push start than beg for a jump and hope to god someone's got cables. [quote]8. Learn to say 'No.'[/quote] No doesn't work. A good reason to say no is often needed to get the begging to stop. [quote]9. You can generally haggle them to the same price out the door.[/quote] You can haggle them lower by a couple thousand because it's got a third pedal. Nobody else is gonna buy it. [quote]10. If you forget the clutch, pressure plate, etc, yes. With that, they cost more to maintain than an automatic.[/QUOTE] I dare you to find me an automatic you can rebuild for $200. That's what I spent changing my clutch. I could have dropped it as low as $80 if I wanted to buy a shitty ass chinese junk clutch, but I splurged on a good one. Hayes I think, it was under the CarQuest brand.

Like seriously I don't understand why some people feel so attacked whenever manual transmission is mentioned. This thread is literally about a place that no longer offers to teach manual transmission, and yet we still have people coming in here and pointing out that they just want something to transport from A to B. Like, okay? No shit? Why even point this out? One person talking some rubbish on the internet about how they think their driving preference makes them [B]MANLY[/B] shouldn't warrant that reaction from like 10 people. It almost feels like you're saying others shouldn't have a reason to want to learn manual anyway and that you're happy for the news.

Stick drivers remind me of vegans and people that do crossfit

[QUOTE=Banhfunbags;48029740]Stick drivers remind me of vegans and people that do crossfit[/QUOTE] Or just people who think of their cars as means of amusement?

[QUOTE=Grimhound;48027587]I don't care about the intimacy of the experience. My car is a tool. Its job is to bring me from point A to point B. I trust an automatic system more than I trust myself to not fuck it up if I have to handle it manually. It also means I have that much more attention to devote to not dying or killing other people.[/QUOTE] the only time you ever need to put that much thought into driving a standard is when you're first learning. at some point it all becomes completely natural where it never takes any of your attention off of driving. [editline]22nd June 2015[/editline] i'm not a car enthusiast by any means (i'm actually completely stupid when it comes to them) but i'll always drive standard just because i find it more fun + enjoy feeling a bit more connected to the ride

There is a reason the "rule" dyno tuners have gone by for decades is "8-15% manual loss, 15-25% auto loss". Automatics are nowhere near as efficient as manuals, and it's not about technology. It's about the physics of what an auto trans is. You will never make it as efficient as a system that uses less parts and has less loss to inefficiency. In order to shift gears, the converter must convert engine power to hydraulic power. That is power loss from inefficiency. Manuals don't have this loss, because they don't have this system. Boom, physics.

[QUOTE=Leestons;48029447][img]http://d.ibtimes.co.uk/en/full/1421818/uk-tesla-supercharger-network-map.jpg[/img] I'm at Hull :([/QUOTE] That image is out of date. Recently Leeds and Sheffield have got super chargers. You could also easily get to Bristol or London on a single charge. Scotland is still lacking superchargers but you could just make it from Hull to the Edinburgh Supercharger with the 85 KWh battery. By the end of the year the amount of Superchargers in the UK should be almost doubled.

[QUOTE=FetusFondler;48029727]Like seriously I don't understand why some people feel so attacked whenever manual transmission is mentioned. This thread is literally about a place that no longer offers to teach manual transmission, and yet we still have people coming in here and pointing out that they just want something to transport from A to B. Like, okay? No shit? Why even point this out? One person talking some rubbish on the internet about how they think their driving preference makes them [B]MANLY[/B] shouldn't warrant that reaction from like 10 people. It almost feels like you're saying others shouldn't have a reason to want to learn manual anyway and that you're happy for the news.[/QUOTE] Because you have pricks like the OP going "people who can't drive stick are pussies", and judging by this thread, there are far more than one of them.

[QUOTE=TestECull;48025157]You say that, yet flagdog indicates you live in a country where not having a car means you are six kinds of fucked. I find it hilarious how out of touch you are with how things actually work in this country. Not having a car is viable for a handful of percent of the population. The sweeping majority of Americans could not function without a car of some sort, and most of us commute at least 15 minutes a day. Commutes of up to two HOURS are not unheard of. America could not operate without the motorcar, simple as that. Owning a car and having a license are just as important to living in this country as having a place to live.[/QUOTE] I mean, sure, I drive a car everyday to and from school. But... It's just a tool. It's a means to an end. It's like obsessing over people who use flathead vs phillipshead screwdrivers. Just because I need a car doesn't mean I have to compare my brain-dick size to someone else's just because I drive it a certain way.

[QUOTE=proboardslol;48030248]I mean, sure, I drive a car everyday to and from school. [B]But... It's just a tool. It's a means to an end.[/B] It's like obsessing over people who use flathead vs phillipshead screwdrivers. Just because I need a car doesn't mean I have to compare my brain-dick size to someone else's just because I drive it a certain way.[/QUOTE] for you, yes. for others, it's a genuine hobby, and their cars are something they put a huge amount of time, money, and heart into

[QUOTE=Headhumpy;48030164]Because you have pricks like the OP going "people who can't drive stick are pussies", and judging by this thread, there are far more than one of them.[/QUOTE] Must you really pay mind to such people though? And their obvious nonsense? Anyone who actually drives manual every day and doesn't just post about it on the internet to gloat can tell you that driving manual is not hard, challenging, nor does it make you a special snowflake because every-bloody-where that isn't the USA has manual transmission as the general norm, it's literally something that becomes second nature and just makes driving more enjoyable for those who care about that, nothing "manly" about moving a stick around.

not learning to drive stick is probably fine if you plan on never once leaving the US/Canada

Yeah. A realistic scenario wherein, as an american/canadian, it'd be a good idea to know how to drive a stick is if you're planning on visiting Europe and want to rent a car. Now I'm not saying that car rentals that carry automatics are uncommon, at least not in Scandinavia (and I assume France/Germany/UK), but they're going to be more scarce and more expensive than manuals, which are far more common here. And if you're going to Eastern Europe you might actually not find an automatic anywhere.

[QUOTE=Deathtrooper2;48025107]I hate driving stick, And this is why [video=youtube;S8Ms6ng6FmI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Ms6ng6FmI[/video][/QUOTE] I've been driving manual for a couple of weeks now and this has been me on a couple of occasions...very embarassing. Also, now I dread it whenever my friend wants to hang out because he lives up in a hilly area and its always nerve wracking getting the clutch to engage from a full stop on a steep hill fast enough and gain momentum before you roll into the car behind you. I think once I get used to it, though, I don't think I could go back to driving an automatic because I do have to say its very fun.

[QUOTE=Mr._N;48030899]I've been driving manual for a couple of weeks now and this has been me on a couple of occasions...very embarassing. Also, now I dread it whenever my friend wants to hang out because he lives up in a hilly area and its always nerve wracking getting the clutch to engage from a full stop on a steep hill fast enough and gain momentum before you roll into the car behind you. I think once I get used to it, though, I don't think I could go back to driving an automatic because I do have to say its very fun.[/QUOTE] i had all the same issues starting out (my best moment was stalling in the middle of an intersection for a whole minute with everyone beeping at me it was FUN) but believe me when i say once you get a hang of it it'll quickly become second nature. i don't even actively pay attention to shifting anymore, i just do it.

[QUOTE=Mr._N;48030899]I've been driving manual for a couple of weeks now and this has been me on a couple of occasions...very embarassing. Also, now I dread it whenever my friend wants to hang out because he lives up in a hilly area and its always nerve wracking getting the clutch to engage from a full stop on a steep hill fast enough and gain momentum before you roll into the car behind you. I think once I get used to it, though, I don't think I could go back to driving an automatic because I do have to say its very fun.[/QUOTE] Handbrakes (parking brake, emergency brake etc) are your friend in this situation. Just release it when you want to move off. [editline]23rd June 2015[/editline] I.e have your clutch at the bite/grab point, little bit of gas and then release the handbrake. If you have the clutch at bite you shouldn't roll back.

[QUOTE=pentium;48025049]As someone who right now has a malfunctioning second gear I do enjoy how I can limp the car around while jumping from first to third until I can drop the car off for the scheduled work. In an automatic there so many more levels of failure that render the car totally dead, including a failed second gear. Manual is cumbersome, old and has a retarded learning curve but it's amazing when something is acting up, or you car isn't going to spend almost its entire life driving on a highway where Automatic has a real advantage.[/QUOTE] "retarded learning curve" "put foot down move stick lift foot up" Manual is easy. [editline]23rd June 2015[/editline] hillstarts are the only difficult part but once you do it a few times you dont even need the handbrake anymore except for steep hills [editline]23rd June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=redBadger;48025088]I wonder is there a stick / auto hybrid yet where you can change what mode you want[/QUOTE] lots of autos have a thing where you push the stick sideways and get a sequential manual simulation [editline]23rd June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr._N;48030899]I've been driving manual for a couple of weeks now and this has been me on a couple of occasions...very embarassing. Also, now I dread it whenever my friend wants to hang out because he lives up in a hilly area and its always nerve wracking getting the clutch to engage from a full stop on a steep hill fast enough and gain momentum before you roll into the car behind you. I think once I get used to it, though, I don't think I could go back to driving an automatic because I do have to say its very fun.[/QUOTE] 1 hand on the handbrake and let the clutch out slowly while giving it jandle. when it engages, slam the handbrake down and come up on the clutch. easy.

[QUOTE=proboardslol;48025012]They don't teach Stick in Virginia here. I don't really get the cult behind stick. People who drive stick feel superior to people who drive auto because.... why? It's just a car. It's meant to get you from point a to point b. Knowing how to move a stick doesn't make you cooler. I don't get why people get their dicks so hard over a fucking car.[/QUOTE] I can't drive, let me put that out there, but AFAIK stick is superior to auto but totally depends on where you are driving. Autos in flat areas are basically perfect ( where there's no real advantage to using a stick) but in hillier and more totally varied terrain, like southern scotland, you're changing speed and gear every half second to cope with the terrain, which a stick should be better than an auto at as you are in complete control. Someone correct.me if I'm wrong