Newfoundland Driving School to Stop Teaching Stick Shift - Polidicks

[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;48039988]I'm 19 and I've seen like 2 sticks in my entire life no exaggeration. Are they REALLY that common everywhere else?[/QUOTE] They are. Come to Europe, look at the inside of any just about any car. It's no exaggeration. Occasionally you might see a new Mercedes or BMW that's automatic but that's invariably being driven by a businessman. I'm 20 and I've been only in two automatic cars. Coincidentally, they were both BMWs owned by my cousin... who is a businessman.

[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;48039988]I'm 19 and I've seen like 2 sticks in my entire life no exaggeration. Are they REALLY that common everywhere else?[/QUOTE] Automatics are really common in US because you don't give a fuck about fuel consumption and you're lazy.

[QUOTE=Van-man;48038575]I live in a weird part of the world where the only people buying cars with auto gearboxes are old people with weak legs (and as such probably shouldn't be driving anymore due to brakes requiring the ability to stomp it hard in order to stop in a emergency fast) or someone who's handicapped due to one of their legs. At the shop I work at we have a auto loaners car that's sitting there and rotting away because the customers would rather borrow our old beaten to shit stickshift van than driving auto. And we actually use ATF more for old servo systems than for automatic transmissions. Old buses typically had 7 speed manual gearboxes, and old large trucks had a high-low second gearbox in addition with the (typically) 7-speed gearbox.[/QUOTE] Yeah I know, I've driven trucks with 5-speed, 6-speed, 8-speed, 4hi/lo+splitter,5hi/lo+splitter, 6hi/lo

[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] Most people who drive stick are not race drivers either.. [QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;48039988]I'm 19 and I've seen like 2 sticks in my entire life no exaggeration. Are they REALLY that common everywhere else?[/QUOTE] I have seen like 2 automatics in my entire life, no exaggeration either. So there you have it. :v:

If you don't know manual and you come over here on Holiday expecting to get around easy, you've got another thing coming.

why are you a pussy if you do automatic have we resorted to the ability to shift gears to prove our manliness?

Just putting this out there, but most people who drive/prefer manual don't share the same mindset as the OP

[QUOTE=uitham;48041571]why are you a pussy if you do automatic have we resorted to the ability to shift gears to prove our manliness?[/QUOTE] When you've run out of other things you need to cling to [i]something[/i] to feel superior to the average person

I would drive a stick if not for the kinds of traffic around here. Shifting is only fun when it's not tedious.

[QUOTE=Aspen;48024987]My car has a manual 'mode' I guess, kind of the same thing but not really. It lets me choose my gear, but no heel toe action for me.[/QUOTE] If it's what I think it is, all it does is lock the highest gear that the transmission will shift to to whatever gear you select

[QUOTE=viperfan7;48046355]If it's what I think it is, all it does is lock the highest gear that the transmission will shift to to whatever gear you select[/QUOTE] My 98 CRV has 1, 2, D3, and D4. D3 is capped at 3rd gear, but 1 and 2 are locked in gear.

4 gears? what is this, 1960's?

I can shift into 4H, 4L, and select between automatic shift, first, and second gear. What else is practically necessary? My car gets garbage gas mileage anyway, but automatics have higher gas mileage unless you drive like an old woman with cataracts AFAIK.

[QUOTE=pentium;48024934]IMHO: People who can't drive stick are pussies.[/QUOTE] I can only imagine what your other opinions on the minute details of life are. "Mechanical pencils are for pussies." "Unsweetened ice tea is for pussies." "Pumping your own gas is for pussies."

Why is this getting so many dumbs? Manual had it's time, but automatic is simply easier and more accessible, just let it go.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;48062261]Why is this getting so many dumbs? Manual had it's time, but automatic is simply easier and more accessible, just let it go.[/QUOTE] Because knowing manual is important. Try finding an automatic in Europe, or pretty much anywhere outside of the US/Canada. Manual is pretty essential to know, especially if you plan on going outside of North America.

[QUOTE=hexpunK;48034362]Autos are fine you babies. I learned to drive in a manual, I enjoyed driving in a manual. But if I just want to get from A to B, I don't really care too much about having to remember to shift and junk. Especially on a longer journey. Thinking you're some kind of supermen because you refuse to drive anything without a clutch pedal is just silly. Autos work great for daily drivers. Zero thought, zero effort, just focus and transport. The feeling of using a manual might be pretty good (it is), but not everybody actually gives a shit so lay the fuck off and find something better to do with your time than boast about being able to move your hand.[/QUOTE] Driving [I]shouldn't[/I] be 'zero thought', though, and that attitude is part of the reason why I feel like so many people are shitty drivers. Everyone I know who drives a manual is way more alert and is looking far further into the distance than their automatic counterparts. People driving manual usually want to avoid coming to a hard stop if possible and as a result seem to be far more alert of things like traffic lights and events happening further down the road because they'd much rather gradually slow down and avoid coming to a total stop than getting within 50 feet of lights or a crash and then suddenly realise they need to come to a stop. Usually removing the human element from any endeavor is beneficial and only increases safety, but with cars we're yet to totally remove the human element and instead have only removed the elements which serve to increase concentration. It's counterproductive to safety.

[QUOTE=Toro;48062346]Because knowing manual is important. Try finding an automatic in Europe, or pretty much anywhere outside of the US/Canada. Manual is pretty essential to know, especially if you plan on going outside of North America.[/QUOTE] Then I guess this is just a sign the rest of the world needs to start accepting automatics.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;48063028]Then I guess this is just a sign the rest of the world needs to start accepting automatics.[/QUOTE] Why?

[QUOTE=Apache249;48063040]Why?[/QUOTE] Because it just works, sheesh.

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;48062261]Why is this getting so many dumbs?[/QUOTE] Probably this. [QUOTE=pentium;48024934] IMHO: People who can't drive stick are pussies.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Canuhearme?;48063049]Because it just works, sheesh.[/QUOTE] Manual works just fine as well.

[QUOTE=lxmach1;48063059]Probably this.[/QUOTE] This wouldn't of been an SH thread if I didn't at least seed the debate. :v:

I like automatic because of the better MPG it offers. It's all about gas efficiency for me because I don't like paying for it. It's the reason I bought a very small and light car

[QUOTE=FingerSpazem;48063119]I like automatic because of the better MPG it offers. It's all about gas efficiency for me because I don't like paying for it. It's the reason I bought a very small and light car[/QUOTE] It doesn't apply on all cars you know.

I don't get the reaction of some of you guys (mostly Americans) in the thread. Why wouldn't you want to drive a car with a manual transmission? "-Eh, it's just an appliance with wheels, I don't care" "-Eh, it takes me from point A to point B, what's the big deal about it" And the notion that seems more prevalent... > 2015 > Manual transmission It's a pretty important skill to have, and it's not overly complicated as some of you may think. Specially in the US, it's rather painful to read that -having such an amazing car culture- that there's only [url=http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/americans-driving-stick-shift-article-1.1072784]a bit over 6% of people driving cars with manual transmission[/url]. It means that owning a car with a manual transmission over there is [url=http://jalopnik.com/idiot-steals-car-but-cant-drive-stick-so-he-calls-a-cab-1712574567]the absolute best anti-theft deterrent you could ever have[/url]. [img]http://i.imgur.com/Sdot420.jpg[/img] You've legalized same-sex marriage and are banning the Confederate flag. Next on your list is gaining back the ability to row your own gears, 'muricans. [editline]27th June 2015[/editline] Or in this case, Canadians. :v:

[QUOTE=Pretiacruento;48063296]I don't get the reaction of some of you guys (mostly Americans) in the thread. Why wouldn't you want to drive a car with a manual transmission? "-Eh, it's just an appliance with wheels, I don't care" "-Eh, it takes me from point A to point B, what's the big deal about it" And the notion that seems more prevalent... > 2015 > Manual transmission It's a pretty important skill to have, and it's not overly complicated as some of you may think. Specially in the US, it's rather painful to read that -having such an amazing car culture- that there's only [url=http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/americans-driving-stick-shift-article-1.1072784]a bit over 6% of people driving cars with manual transmission[/url]. It means that owning a car with a manual transmission over there is [url=http://jalopnik.com/idiot-steals-car-but-cant-drive-stick-so-he-calls-a-cab-1712574567]the absolute best anti-theft deterrent you could ever have[/url]. [img]http://i.imgur.com/Sdot420.jpg[/img] You've legalized same-sex marriage and are banning the Confederate flag. Next on your list is gaining back the ability to row your own gears, 'muricans. [editline]27th June 2015[/editline] Or in this case, Canadians. :v:[/QUOTE] It's because in America, the norm is automatic, in other countries it is manual. That is just how it is, and guess what, by posting on forums all day you aren't going to change 94% of america's mind to switch to a manual. Now, PERSONALLY, I am going to be getting an automatic purely because I live in a high traffic area, and I have driven stick in high traffic and I dread it. But, stick shift on a low traffic highway/low traffic area is wonderful, and if I lived in an area with low traffic I would definitely get a manual. However, since I live in high traffic, I am going to be getting an automatic. Do I think it is a great skill to know, and should you know it? Definitely, knowing how to drive stick can help you in so many situations, and it makes driving an automatic even more easier.

[QUOTE=keda009;48063218]It doesn't apply on all cars you know.[/QUOTE] But it applies to mine [editline]27th June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Cinnamonbun;48063358]It's because in America, the norm is automatic, in other countries it is manual. That is just how it is, and guess what, by posting on forums all day you aren't going to change 94% of america's mind to switch to a manual. Now, PERSONALLY, I am going to be getting an automatic purely because I live in a high traffic area, and I have driven stick in high traffic and I dread it. But, stick shift on a low traffic highway/low traffic area is wonderful, and if I lived in an area with low traffic I would definitely get a manual. However, since I live in high traffic, I am going to be getting an automatic. Do I think it is a great skill to know, and should you know it? Definitely, knowing how to drive stick can help you in so many situations, and it makes driving an automatic even more easier.[/QUOTE] I know how to drive manual and it hasn't helped me at all yet, my car being an automatic and all lol

It takes like 10 minutes to learn stick...

[QUOTE=Toro;48062346]Because knowing manual is important. Try finding an automatic in Europe, or pretty much anywhere outside of the US/Canada. Manual is pretty essential to know, especially if you plan on going outside of North America.[/QUOTE] Not true, most rental/hire places in the World supply as many automatics as manuals. Also loads of new cars here in the UK are automatic