A 1989 or 1990 Camry, it was the late 90s and I asked my dad to borrow a family friend's car so I could learn.
For Those Who Can Drive a Manual...
- Thread starter Speak2Mountain
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The '70 MGB in my signature.
Bought the car without ever having driven one before, and drove it ~70 miles home(by myself). I made it, and have to say that I think I've improved a lot since then
My only problem lies in the fact that it's the only manual I drive regularly, and 1st gear falls where 3rd gear is on most 5/6 speed transmissions. It always takes me a while to quit trying to start in 3rd when I drive a different car.
Bought the car without ever having driven one before, and drove it ~70 miles home(by myself). I made it, and have to say that I think I've improved a lot since then
My only problem lies in the fact that it's the only manual I drive regularly, and 1st gear falls where 3rd gear is on most 5/6 speed transmissions. It always takes me a while to quit trying to start in 3rd when I drive a different car.
The car I learned on was my Dad's 1980 280ZX. The first car I owned with a manual was a 1978 Datsun 280Z that we bought at a repo auction.
62 Chevy straight 283 ci, 3 on the tree and many others.
1984 Toyota Hilux Diesel
No power anything and leaf springs up front.
No power anything and leaf springs up front.
The '63 Ford in my sig; my dad gave me my first opportunity when I was 11 or 12.
1937 Chevy 1 1/2 ton stake truck. I was 13 YO..
My dad's 1987 F-250 when I was 6 or 7
1951 Chevy pickup. 4 speed without synchro in low gear. All the mounts between the body and frame had rusted away so, only gravity holding it together. Burned a quart of oil every 40 miles. My dad painted it barn red on the bottom, pink on the top, with a green stripe separating them. All painting with a roller or brush. Hand lettered "Dolph's Summit Inn, Beer, Wine, and whiskey." A thing of rare beauty.
2009 Golf GTI. You have to do a lot of stupid things to stall it.
53 Willys Pickup (with the 6 cyl Super Hurricane). Nearly impossible to stall in low range, even if you're 6.
Early 80s Honda Accord hatch with a 5 speed. Called my dad and he explained how to drive a stick to get it home.
1969 Olds Delta 88 2 door ragtop, 455 2BBL., 'three on the tree' column shifter, 'OTR/tractor pressure clutch'.
1976 Chevrolet LUV truck is what I learned on. Since that time I've had the following vehicles with manual transmissions: 1973 Opel GT, 1979 Trans Am, 1990 Pontiac Grand Am, a 1976 AMC Gremlin, 1981 Toyota 4wd truck, a couple early 80's Ford Couriers, a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier, and a 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4wd.
My friend a grade ahead owned a '62 Bel Air w/ 3-in-the-tree, and took me out driving a few times. Later that summer I took official lessons in a new AMC Hornet. I'd specified manual transmission, so the Hornet had a 3-on-the-floor.
My first car was my Dad's old '63 Biscayne wagon (that he was unable to trade in on his used '67 Chrysler, so it sat for a year or so until I was ready for it). It was also a 3-in-the-tree.
My first 4-on-the-floor was a '70 Toyota Corolla.
Weirdest manual was a 5-in-the-tree, found in both Mitsubishi and Toyota vans in New Zealand a few years ago.
Nicest may have been the 5-on-the-floor in our '90 Mazda MPV - it was the same tranny used in the RX7.
My first car was my Dad's old '63 Biscayne wagon (that he was unable to trade in on his used '67 Chrysler, so it sat for a year or so until I was ready for it). It was also a 3-in-the-tree.
My first 4-on-the-floor was a '70 Toyota Corolla.
Weirdest manual was a 5-in-the-tree, found in both Mitsubishi and Toyota vans in New Zealand a few years ago.
Nicest may have been the 5-on-the-floor in our '90 Mazda MPV - it was the same tranny used in the RX7.
I learned to drive in a 1956 Studebaker Flight Hawk with a flathead 6 and 3 speed overdrive transmission. I have a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk with an Avanti 289 V8 and 4 speed transmission now, but I miss driving a car with a three on the tree.
1961 Ford Falcon....three on the tree.
1966 Ford Econoline van, 6 cyl. with 3 on the tree. My dad's work truck.
My friend's mid-80's Mazda 323 that had a lot of power (for what it was and its size) which made stalling it a lot harder to do, which made driving it way easier.
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