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- kolio123
Yup. Must be me then.
Parents Not Letting Their Kids Learn Manual
- Thread starter Grandea GTR
- 224 comments
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Automatic cars were so rare here when I was growing up, I used to think they were only for disabled people, which was mostly true. You cannot drive a manual car here if you did your driving test in an automatic.
I think it's really lousy for your parents to stop you learning manual. I would be insulted if they told me it's too complicated for me. I think some people never get the hang of it, they always have to think about it and maybe that's why your parents think that's too difficult for you. I can't see why they wouldn't let you try it though.
I think it's really lousy for your parents to stop you learning manual. I would be insulted if they told me it's too complicated for me. I think some people never get the hang of it, they always have to think about it and maybe that's why your parents think that's too difficult for you. I can't see why they wouldn't let you try it though.
- 3,411
- the bottom of my heart.
- kolio123
My dad first taught me in his Diesel VW Bug. Also the first vehicle I drove. Lord I wish that car was mine. The MPG is insanity. And it is quite easy to drive. Good amount of torque so no need to give it gas on initial launch.
- 1,079
- Norway
European here. I think it's a bit dumb to not let your kids practice on a manual car if you have the option. It certainly increases your skill set and flexibility. If you learn on a manual, it's no problem to drive an automatic, but the opposite isn't true. Learning manual shifting might not have immediate benefits, but you never know what the future holds. Suddenly you're on vacation and need to use a manual car, and then you'd know what to do if you learned to drive in one.
- 5,065
- Fort Worth
- That_sneaky_azN
Question for Europeans:
Aren't automatic transmissions mostly reserved for luxury vehicles, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz?
Aren't automatic transmissions mostly reserved for luxury vehicles, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz?
- 5,204
- Finland
To a certain extend, yes. The only market where the automatic transmissions clearly dominate is the large luxury saloon/SUV market. Other markets differ with how the automatic and manual transmission sales divide, but the automatic is nearly always a considerable option no matter if a small city car or a large people carrier.
- 1,817
- Weirs Beach, NH
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This happened to a friend of mine. He wanted a Nissan Xterra because it's good in the snow for skiing and easy to work on. His dad wouldn't let him drive a manual. My dad got me a Mini Cooper with a 5 speed and I will surely say I will never ever drive an automatic. For someone like my friend who isn't really a car guy, an auto just means he has the ability to text and drive,get worse gas milage, pay more for tranny repairs, and complain he has to "drive all the way over there." In an SUV like and Xterra you need a standard to make things fun on the road, but also make things safer for a teen driver. Another thing is he gets speeding warnings a lot. With a manual and a big vehicle like that it takes a little more effort to go faster. If he wants to learn he should be able to.
- 1,817
- Weirs Beach, NH
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Another thing is I would rather have a Toyota Tercel with a 4 speed and I'd have to put in my own tach rather than the nicest Mini with an automatic (assuming I couldn't sell it 
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Joey D
Premium
- 47,431
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
An Xterra isn't a fun vehicle to drive on the road no matter what transmission it has. It's big, heavy, with an off road minded suspension and typically all-terrain tires. Also the 6-speed that comes in them is garbage so that wouldn't really help either. Off road the Xterra is rather fun when the drivetrain doesn't nuke itself from allowing coolant to leak into it. But off road having a manual or automatic makes no difference since you are rarely going fast enough to care and I think it's actually easier to drive off road without having to worry about a manual, but that's a personal preference.
I'm also a little curious how a manual is any safer? You can still text, be distracted, fiddle with the radio, talk to passengers or just be plain inexperienced no what transmission you have. Every manual I've ever driven requires pretty much zero thought into what I'm doing...unless I'm in heavy traffic, then it's just a pain.
Another thing is I would rather have a Toyota Tercel with a 4 speed and I'd have to put in my own tach rather than the nicest Mini with an automatic (assuming I couldn't sell it
I had a MINI with an automatic, it was still an extremely fun car to drive right up until the drivetrain grenaded itself and the dealer wanted a silly amount of money to fix it. I think you'd be rather surprised if you drove one since BMW typically does a good job with their transmission selections (I think Getrag made the MINI's box).
CodeRedR51
Premium
- 55,306
- United States
The first car I purchased with a manual transmission (and was the car I learned on) was a 2003 Dodge SRT-4.
I did pretty well, in fact I drove it home from the dealership without skipping a beat until I came to a t-junction in my subdivision (literally 1,000 yards from home) and killed it coming to a stop because I forgot to push the clutch in.
I did pretty well, in fact I drove it home from the dealership without skipping a beat until I came to a t-junction in my subdivision (literally 1,000 yards from home) and killed it coming to a stop because I forgot to push the clutch in.
- 1,817
- Weirs Beach, NH
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I have actually. It's a good transmission, I give it that. Apart from the CVT on the R50. I think we can all agree with that. And while no, I haven't driven the manual Xterra; the company dump truck has a very heavy clutch and throws that are longer than the imperial star destroyer. But it's engaging. Sure you can text but it's still a little harder at the lights to and from school. He doesn't go off roading. He simply liked the snow-proof ground clearence and it's off road looks. A manual is a manual and better than just sitting there. He says an auto is like you're not "completely driving the car". But I guess that's just us and you're entitled to your opinion and I totally respect it.
- 5,065
- Fort Worth
- That_sneaky_azN
I can't tell if the Manual gearbox on the Xterra would be that of pure truck or what.
- 1,817
- Weirs Beach, NH
- RS73private
It's the same as on the frontier. If you've ever driven a midsize with a manual the throws are a little slushy but easy as well as the clutch. (Toyota Tacoma at least)
- 98
- Tennessee
I am bound and determined for my next car to have a manual after having to drive slushomatics for 4 years. I've had enough of my car slipping into overdrive when I'm passing someone uphill. >:\
The only problem is finding one in the 3-4k range that hasn't been wrung out by a teenager.
The only problem is finding one in the 3-4k range that hasn't been wrung out by a teenager.
- 1,817
- Weirs Beach, NH
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