You have a point in that it all started with the stick shift, and automatic came along years later. Automatic is easier, but I'm still a lousey driver. (This may be a genetic flaw in my family . . .
)
Yet, I do have some fond memories of a stick shift car, although I was not driving it. You see, I was a little kid at the time when my grandmother was still alive, and she drove this big old black car (sorry,
@donaldtoo , I don't know the make and year . . .). She told us that (in her prior years) she had "self taught" herself to drive a car, and believe me, it showed . . .
My brothers, sister and I loved riding with her, as it was a scary adventure. She kinda had some of the rules mixed up. When she'd see a red light, she'd speed up . . . to stop . . . and we'd all be screaming, "red light! red light! Stop!!" And, she'd screech to a stop. She'd also sort of slide backwards on a hill when she came to a stop, (at the point where she started back up the incline), after the light changed to green. As kids, we'd all be screaming, "You're going to hit the car behind us!" and I remember covering my eyes in fear.
Now, my grandfather did not drive, as he thought it was dangerous, after watching her drive for years.
So he'd sit in the front seat next to her, watch the traffic, and also "announce" every single green light or red light, and stop sign. This gave him some level of control, I assume.
So even though she had "Matured to Perfection" she still had no business driving a vehicle!
Now, he comes into the room and walks face first into my leg, while I'm sitting on the chair. He must have realized that if he buries his face and can't see anything, he can block out the entire world, and go into a doggie altered state 
when I pat his head now! (Ha! None of you expected I'd ever have a "normal" dog did you??!! 
)
