Silver Fox

When I took the UK driving test I had to park both uphill and downhill (not at the same time!) and pull away without the car rolling forwards or backwards, ie. you had to move away under enigne power. Even better the only decent hill was right outside a police station so the local constabulary added to the pressure! But it really is not an issue once you have the technique and if people are rolling backwards then they need a few lessons. It really is quite simple and no-one should be rolling backwards.

Since living in the US, and on my return, I have had an automatic car and cannot see me ever returning to manual as I just cannot be bothered to change gear manually ever again. If I get one as a rental it takes a few miles to adapt, but then again I drove one for >20 years so you don't really forget.

farci

I think this is available now - it's called a "taxi"

WorldLux

*RR with James behind the wheel.

antichef

When driving these yourself, you don't have to worry about the idiots that emma fears - even they give you plenty of room! Probably don't fancy what goes on the insurance forms . They don't even park close to you.

Back on topic, they come in auto only and do have "sufficient" power. You don't feel any power shortage. In town it doesn't get out of 1st and has lots of torque! When you want to motor along it will accelerate in a way that would make a boy racer blush.

wolfie_cr

takes practice but my dad forced me to learn how to do it without a parking brake at all. you simply use both feet into 3 pedals. takes a bit of practice as its tricky but doable. my current car has that unfortunate brake on the floor....of course the car came from the USA........

Badenoch

I never saw anything "manly" about it either. I'd always owned automatics and bought my first manual in 2014 to develop proficiency for business purposes. However, my wife and two previous girl friends all owned manuals that I drove occasionally.

Friends and family thought I was mildly addled to buy a car with a stick shift but it was the only way I could get practical experience on one.

I was surprised to find Enterprise in Florida offered a manual as an "upgrade" and have one reserved for next week.

OTD

I had no trouble driving a RHD stick in Ireland. My left hand took just a bit to get used to shifting.
My wife had to yell LEFT! only twice, once in the DUB rental car lot, and the other time coming out of a roundabout. Everyone survived.

emma69

Ah but in many instances, it is the taxi driver that is the idiot driver! I used to take a car service on a frequent basis, and it was roughly 50-50 as to whether I thought we would make it there alive!

If I had unlimited funds, I would have a chauffeur who had extensive defensive driving experience (I am thinking ex-police / bodyguard type), but not a RR, they do nothing for me!

wrp96

I like driving a manual, but as a klutz who has sprained her ankles, broken her toes, etc multiple times, I gave up buying manual cars because driving one with only one foot available at times is impossible. The fun isn't so fun if you can't get to work.

Proudelitist

I can drive a stick. I have owned a few stick shifts, one recently. They are fine, but if there is a reason NOT to have one, it's traffic. There is nothing more torturous than sitting in a traffic jam shifting constantly in and out of 1st or 2nd to go 4 ft. It's like dancing.

I would have a stick again if I didn't live in Southern California, where terrain and traffic make having a stick a huge PIA.

LarryJ

I go to San Jose and Liberia regularly and it seems as though the hotel van driver's tend to keep the revs very high when they could be upshifting. Is there any reason for that?

wolfie_cr

may be he doesnt pay for the gas or may be his engine is somehow 'tuned' (mistuned) and sounds that way

when I drive on expressway (allow me to dream that it really is one) I am always on 5th gear

wolfie_cr

exactly its lke dancing, to move 4ft I simply put gear on , clutch a bit out car moves, hits brake gear off......then wait another 5 mins to move another 4ft. thats how it is in Central America

Wpgjetse

Where? I would pay extra for that.

Dunce I

After long periods in the US, returning to the UK and manuals has me bursting with joy. Auto driving feels like being smothered under a layer of jelly. I absolutely despise it and it encourages a mindless mindset.

Sooner rather than later the manual will be extinct. I'll be stocking up on old cars to see me out.