I've been driving manual transmission for years. It requires you to think while driving rowing through the gears. No time to eat, drink, play with your phone since both your hands and feet are continually engaged with the engine. And the best part is that many of my friends and family don't want to drive my car. That's a good thing. Accerating, downshifting driving a stick is second nature. The paddle shifters on an automatic is a joke. Save the manuals!
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The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread
- Thread starter The Mom
- Start date
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I think it's harder to learn at home because you don't have anyone to pronounce the words for you, etc. My daughter is doing really well in both French and German, but she's had to help a couple of her friends because they just aren't getting it at home. Only one month left of school here now, and they are back part time. They divided the class into 3 groups and they go every 3 days. According to E, the kids who are failing have to be in 2 groups, so they are going 4 days a week. Her group was only supposed to have 6 kids in it, all of her friends, but they added a kid this week who was failing, and at least one of her friends was also put into a 2nd group this week. Hopefully they can bring their grades up in this last month. Otherwise that won't be in E's class next year, which would be a bummer.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
My senior year was Physics, Calculus, English, Govt/Econ, Speech and Debate, German III, and Choir. I lived through it....I'm sure you'll be fine, even if you don't have an easy breezy schedule.I would die.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
I was the same! I loved Cheerleading, but please don't make me run, and don't put a racket or a ball or something in my hands. But cheerleading felt more like dancing, which was fun, unlike running.I love cheering for sports.I like watching the hot boys play the sports.
I guess and it is weird because cheering is very active but I am very lazy when it comes to like running and being active.
It helps having the steering wheel on the RIGHT side of the car. And a few cushions.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
It might even be worse in college, because the projects tend to be more difficult and there are a lot of students who are only there because mom and dad are paying for it, and they get to party...who cares whether they pass? They aren't invested in it and have nothing to lose if they fail. You'll need to choose your groups wisely.
MinnieM123
Premium Member
Cushions. Well, I'm glad to hear that's how you elevate yourself high enough to drive the car. I had just assumed from the photo I shared a few minutes ago, that your butt was sitting on the bottom of the steering wheel, and that was how you drove your car.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
I drove for 10 years in the states before moving here. Now I'm trying to get my license after almost 20 years of not driving. AND I have to learn to drive a stick shift. I HATE IT!!!!
Is it mostly stick over there as well ?
Rista1313
Well-Known Member
I learned how to drive a stick when I was 12... I can do it, but I hate it!
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
But don't actually ever try to drive with your eyes closed.
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
I find driving incredibly stressful. And it's soooooo much harder over here. Like, there are not many speed limit signs....there are rules for speed limits and you just have to know which type of road you are on and what the speed limit is on that kind of road. Unless there is construction or some reason for the speed limit to be different, you have to just memorize each kind of road and what the limit is. And it varies per type of vehicle, too, and you have to know all of them. Some cars are made for the handicapped, and they can't go more than 45 km per hour, so they are not allowed out of city limits, because within city limits, the maximum speed is 50km (except in school zones and residential areas, where it's mostly 30, except a certain kind of residential area where it's 15), but on the interstate, the speed limit for cars during the day is 100km, but at night it's 130, but Semi trucks can only go 90, and the little handicapped cars aren't allowed on it at all. And with rotondas, the person already on it has the right of way, so you have to wait, except when you are exiting, then you have to watch out for cyclists because they are coming from the right and therefore have the right of way, but you also have to make sure you aren't blocking traffic for people behind you, and you have to watch the signs for special instructions...it's just so much at one time. And I'm having a really hard time doing all of that AND shifting. And there are SO many different signs that dictate everything you do. Like...if there's a sign for a dead end ahead, you are supposed to follow a different road, because otherwise you'll have to drive backwards or turn around, which there may not be room for. So you are just supposed to avoid those streets. If you are taking your driving test, and you come up on one, they expect you to use an alternative route. I swear, I'm never going to be ready to take my test.That's good advice you gave to Letteyeti. The more you get out there and drive, the better it gets. Have to say, though, I can empathize with your DD's dislike of driving. There are so many lunatics, rude people and just plain poor drivers out there.
I've never been relaxed driving -- ever. I drive where I feel I'm reasonably safe driving (locally), but do venture out a few times a week into some heavily trafficked areas, which I can't stand. But, it's best to challenge myself every now and then (even though I despise driving.) As a side note, hubs loves to drive -- but, nothing ever phases him. I think it's the difference in personalities. He's way more aggressive than I am. (Years ago, one of his jobs was a Boston cab driver on the graveyard shift. He also dispatched for one of the largest taxi fleets in the city. From what he's shared about his 'experiences" back then, well . . . it's not for the faint of heart!)
ajrwdwgirl
Premium Member
Songbird76
Well-Known Member
Yes, very very few automatics, and like you said, if you get your license on a Stick, you can also drive auto, but not the other way around. The driving schools don't even teach automatics. You HAVE to do stick. At least with the one I'm going to. But Automatic just seems so much safer to me because I can't make a mistake in that, like....I can't accidently shift to 5th instead of 3rd. I don't have to remember to push in the clutch when I'm braking to a full stop. I don't have to worry about releasing the clutch too fast, or remember to put it into first again before I get going again. Automatic prevents so many hinderances...I don't understand why stick is so popular here when all it does is make it more intense...add in stupid people who aren't paying attention anyway, and it just seems to be asking for trouble. I can't do 15 things at once, and it seems like that's what I have to do with a stick. I have to concentrate on shifting at the right moment, to the correct gear, and then how am I supposed to ALSO pay attention to all the signs and other traffic, etc all at once? My husband says that it only feels that way now because I'm basically like a beginning dancer, still counting the steps for shifting, but after 20 lessons, I won't have to think about that anymore, and I'll be able to concentrate more on the other stuff. But I guess I just expected more of myself because I drove in the US, so I expected to pick it up in a couple of lessons, and I hate driving to begin with, so I just want it over and done with.
It's been a few years since I learned to drive, but I get where you are coming from. To me I don't even think about shifting. You will get there in time .
Edit ; A lot of stick shift is fuel economy especially in urban driving .
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Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I really don't think that there is even the remotest possibility of that happening. There is no reason that along with "jack of all trades" there cannot also be "Jane's (figmentfan) of all trades".
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Fortunately, at the time that my girls were learning how to drive I owned a vehicle with stick shift and one automatic. They got equal time on both, so they are quite able to use stick now without going through a clutch every other month. My poor pickup sure took a huge clutch hit during that two year time span though.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
If paddle shifters are the new automatic transmissions that you can push to the right and make believe that you are driving stick shift. It is the most asinine thing that I had ever seen. What a waste of time and pride. It's like playing with Tonka Toys in a sand pile while imagining you are driving a dump truck. It just seem so childish and useless to me.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Private. She had kids of essential workers, so she stayed open through the lockdown. Now that things are opening up again, she's getting the kids who weren't for essential workers back.
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
For the record, that is an elephant from the Jungle CruiseThis popped up on my Facebook news feed...it was another "I'm gonna tell her" moment to the person who shared it...
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