I have been driving for over thirty years now, and for all of those years bar the last four, I have been driving manual cars. It has been nice to drive an automatic, which might come down to age and no longer caring about any kind of performance.
I now drive a VW station wagon.
However, it was "moving day" for my in-laws, who have made the decision to go into a partially serviced apartment, as they get ready for their last days on this earth. Sure, it might be a few more years yet, but they know they have less in front, than the many they have behind. But, because of this, we had a massive van for the move and it was a manual. I picked it up last night.
Stalled it at the first stop.
Embarassing.
And then, I stalled it again ten minutes later.
Still embarassing.
Sure, no one would have cared, but in my own head, I felt like that fifteen year old kid who felt he'd never be able to do all those movements, plus indicate for a corner. But after a few minutes, all the embedded behaviors came flooding back into my body and there was no issue at all. I drove around all day, reversing that sucker into various small places and didn't stall it once more.
Then I got back into my automatic car.
It was like I had never driven an automatic before. I kept on looking for the clutch and trying to change gears. And, while this was annoying, it was also amusing and it reminded me of how strong habits are to break, and how easy they are to pick up again. Like riding a bike.
I haven't ridden a bike in twenty years either.
I smoked for over a decade, but once I stopped, I have made sure not to "tempt fate" because I know that if I have one, it will very quickly feel natural and right, and it will lead to the second, the third and then, a problem habit once again. It doesn't take much to fall back into old grooves.
But it takes a lot of effort to get out of them!
As I have been looking more objectively at my own habits, I have recognized how much effort it is going to take to get them on track and pointing toward the type of person I want to become. In some way, it is depressing to look at the mountain ahead, but I guess it is also motivating also, since it is a kind of adventure, an exploration, and a reimagining of what I believe myself to be.
What I am at the moment though is pretty physically tired. I haven't done this kind of labor for a while either, and my body unfortunately doesn't just "remember" and get stronger after ten minutes of doing it. Physical labor isn't like riding a bike. So, I will go and chill on the couch with a glass of wine for a while, to let my mind and body have a breather, before getting it back into my normal routine again - my habits.
Side note before going: This was one of the fastes moves I have been a part of, because my in-laws were so organized with their packing and there was essentially nothing extra. We started at 9 in the morning, and by 6, everything was moved, unpacked, organized and the only thing left to do, is hang the last two pictures on the wall. And the only reason that didn't happen was, the hooks were the wrong size.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Hella, I can almost think how confusing it must have been to go from Auto to Manual back to Auto!!
I can agree, I drive an auto and it's wonderfull in town but where performance comes into play it's not the best. But since I move around manual cara at work and auto I can seemlessly shift between the two without a little bother...but then again I do it daily!!
Kudos on the stopping smoking!! I myself am almost five years clean!!
And I am driving on the wrong side of the road too :D
It is weird when I have to drive back in Australia for ten minutes or so too.
Yep. No issue if driving across vehicles and I used to do it more. However, the last four years - nothing but my own car.
Well done! Never go back.
I took an automatic station wagon for a test drive a few weeks back. I didn't like it one bit. I've had my whole driving career in a manual, and while I really want a Mazda 6 wagon for the versatility, comfort and reliability, I'm sticking with my 4banger manual 2013 focus until it DIES.
Then I'll definitely know that there is nothing that is possible to be found in manual, and wagon, and relatively decent condition, and I'll then have to make the choice to hand in my licence and never drive a car again, because I don't want to drive an automatic. At all, ever.
Laughs, I did say the same thing about Auto's... I really did... until I started working on them 🤣🤣 now I'm turned 🤣
But what does your left foot even do? Sounds like a boring existence.
Bruv.... The left foot is twitching all the way! xD Laughs yeah! It's a little bit of a no brainer! My right foot is jacked as fuck from all the petroling!
Laughs! You have a focus as well right? Petrol or diesel? Still enjoying her?
Definitely still got it. I do want that Mazda 6 wagon, but... it isn't feasible. It only has two pedals, you see. It was a fad (I hope) as I've just moved house, and while the Focus can fit a lot in it, ... I dont have a lot to fit in it anymore.
Do you have kids? I used to constantly choose manual, but then after having a child for some reason, the automatic ended up making more sense. It isn't "fun" to drive though :)
I don't, but every time we take the cat to the vet in the car, I get the feeling I know what it is like driving your own loin-spawn around the place, potentially shrieking and shouting and making a big fuss.
I'm honestly surprised there aren't more fatal crashes on the roads.
I think it is at first better to learn driving in a manual car then drive an automatic car :) If living in a crowded city with traffic jam almost every hour, it would be better to use an automatic car.
Definitely better to learn in a manual. I think in not too many years, kids won't even learn how to drive at all. Even now, a lot of people can't reverse a small car without all the sensors.
I only ever drived stick, I have no idea how to drive automatic. Ha ha!
Just put your foot on the accelerator!
Too strange, I have a hand and a foot that has nothing to do than fiddle around.
Use the hand to fiddle with the foot that way they both keep busy.
There is only one problem, is the left hand and the right foot. Quite hard, if you are not the gimnast.
With some creative thinking and a little effort I reckon it's possible.
I started to learn to drive with a manual about 15 years ago. Mostly in empty spaces and parking areas; since I was underage. Yet, I got the hang of it quickly. I was reckless back then, but I enjoyed it. Even though I've driven an auto for most of my life. I used to love driving. Sometimes without a destination even.
However, these days I'd rather avoid driving. To drive in this city is now a risk. A car is already considered a liability, but here you double it all; whether it's risk, chances of accidents, or drivers and pedestrians with no common sense. I blame the population and centralization present here. So, if I ever did get a car as a daily driver, I'd probably get an auto. And if I do get a manual, it won't be a daily.
Bicycles I mastered long ago, but I was never really fond of motorbikes, so I never even tried.
Sounds familiar. At one point though, I was driving a fair bit for work (2500 km a month) and it lost its appeal a lot.
I can't imagine driving around your area. I think I would have another stroke!
Exactly! Repetition ruins it I guess.
It's hell on earth for pedestrians, and I'm not even exaggerating.
I never really learned to drive a manual car. My wife knows how to drive one, but she hasn't done it in quite a long time. I have a feeling she would have to learn again. I'd like to get a junk one at some point so we can both drive it and she can finally teach me. I just think it would be fun.
This I find weird! I thought it would have been normal to learn on a manual there when you grew up Do you have split licenses like here now? If you do the test in an auto, you can only drive an auto.
It is fun. :)
No, they don't have split licenses like that. When I was old enough to drive manuals were already on the outs, so it wasn't really a thing. My wife just got "lucky" that her first car was a manual so she had to learn. I've driven a 1 ton pickup truck that was a manual but it was only a short distance and very slow, so it doesn't really count.
Funny how we don't forget how to drink wine.
Me too. And a VW van. The van is manual though. I don't have trouble switching - idk why.
I am from the Barossa area - I think it is innate! :D
You drive both regularly though, right? Last manual I drove was a van when moving house at the start of 2020. That wasn't an issue though, as it had only been a month since driving my previous car, which was manual.
Which do you prefer driving?
I prefer a manual - it feels like you're actually driving. It kinda makes me feel like a big girl 😜
When I learnt to drive it was an auto.
A few years later my boyfriend and I were living in Kalbarri. I really wanted to buy a mates EH Holden panelvan (coz you could sleep in the back of it - plus cool) but asy boyf said, I couldn't drive a manual.
So the owner, who worked at this horse ranch with me, would pick me up every morning to go to work and we would head down the road, swap seats and she taught me to drive a manual - stick shift mind. I bought that car and drove it home and said to the boyfriend well look at me, turns out I can drive a manual after all.
I'm surprised you can drive manual. I've heard it's uncommon for those living in the first world countries to do so. Some even say those that can drive manual are a dying breed. What's funny though is that in those countries, a manual transmission is joked as the best anti theft defense anyone can have.
I think stalling after not having driven a manual for so long is understandable. I still drive one from time to time, and I stalled on a new car. The pickup truck I usually drive is powerful that I only need to give very little gas for it to run [just slowly releasing the clutch already makes it move even without pressing the gas pedal]. On the new car though, I needed to give more gas than usual, and I stalled when I tried to do what I usually did with the pickup.
Really? It is very, very common in Australia and in Finland. In Finland, manuals are better for the winter conditions. New cars have caught up though I guess.
This was the problem for me one of the two times - thought there was enough power, but there wasn't. It wasn't an old van - but it had a lot of kilometers on it, and diesel.
I was mostly basing off of the US. A lot of people I know drive an automatic, and can't drive manual.
Greetings bro! What you tell us has a lot to do with the themes of this weekend, and really what you wanted to do you have achieved at the time. It is normal to change routine, habits and have new longings, in fact I love that you say it is time to relax and have a glass of wine, lately I think this way.
I am 36 and for the first time, now married is that I think about having a vehicle. The idea of driving a car has never appealed to me and I think I might not get it, but I know if I set my mind to it I will end up doing it, that is if my wife learns first I won't mind her driving me around hahaha. A hug for you, I loved reading you today.
Have you accidentally stepped on the break with your left foot because you were going to press the clutch? 😄 I have. haha.