Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

iluvmysephia1

I learned how to drive around 1962 using my mothers Hillman Californian and later VW Beetle. I guess that is why I don't like slow gutless cars.


I learned to drive stick on Dad's '66 VW Fastback. I learned how to drive in Mom's '68 Buick LeSabre (IIRC it was a V8 400 c.i.), automatic transmission, of course, and Mom and Dad's '73 Plymouth Gold Duster. I would later buy the '73 Plymouth Gold Duster from Dad. Slant 6 engine, reliable and very easy to drive that car. Both of the automatic's were effortless to drive and steer. The LeSabre I could chirp the wheels very easily, the Gold Duster, not so much.

imidazol97

I've watched. The ups truck with my package d drive around the area delivering next day packages to businesses. Them out was on street next to ours when I'm sitting here at chick fil a. I watched it go down our street. Got email package delivered. Texted my wife to get it out front.

Technology these days. Wow.

iluvmysephia1

I've watched. The ups truck with my package d drive around the area delivering next day packages to businesses. Them out was on street next to ours when I'm sitting here at chick fil a. I watched it go down our street. Got email package delivered. Texted my wife to get it out front.

Technology these days. Wow.


I know, it's pretty cool, huh?

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

You guys made me go scramble to find out what a Hillman was.....I didn’t know.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman

My late Father’s brush with automotive frustration was an ‘80s something Pontiac Parisienne (SP?). It was not a good car....at all. It was so toublemsome, I don’t think he even kept it a year.

From that point forward it was all Grand Marquis and Lincolns, which he loved!

The one I learned on was a 55 or 56, Hillman Californian and looked about like this....even same colors!

Now I know where your problems started.

jmonroe

Better than you...learning to drive;

iluvmysephia1

Hey, I could think of worse ways to learn to drive. Only, eventually, the time to drive on an actual street has to come along. There the rubber will have to hit the road. Best to just keep driver's training in a car.

Some learn by driving farming combines at 10 years of age. Or younger, right?

abacomike

driver100 said:

I learned how to drive around 1962 using my mothers Hillman Californian and later VW Beetle. I guess that is why I don't like slow gutless cars.

I was never taught how to drive a stick - I just decided to go out and buy a new 1966 red GTO 4-speed with a Hurst linkage right off the showroom floor.  After signing all the paperwork, the salesman delivered my new car outside the dealership.  He went over the entire car with me to make sure I knew how to turn on lights, wipers, directional, etc.  He shook my hand and thanked me for my purchase.  

As as he was about to step out of my car, I asked him if he could give me a few pointers on how to drive a 4-speed transmission with emphasis on using the clutch.  His face turned bright red - similar to the exterior color of the GTO.  He responded, “...you mean to tell me you don’t know how to drive a manual transmission!”  I said no and he immediately sat down again in the passenger seat and started breathing quite heavily and rapidly.  He said, “...I can’t let you drive this car home with 360 hp if you can’t shift manual gears!”  So I said, “...give me a crash (no pun intended) course in 20 minutes so I can get home under my own steam.”  He told me he couldn’t drive a manual shift transmission, but the mechanic who tuned the three 2-barrel carbs in the engine does.

In 20 minutes, he went through the intricacies of gear engagement, shifting, clutching, and downshifting.  

On my trip home in heavy traffic, I developed a form of apoplexy with several “tics” developing in my hands fingers and facial muscles.  I kept from killing myself by using the brakes and stalling the engine due to not engaging the clutch.

Needless to say, I learned how to drive a 4-speed stick in a rocket of a car through trial and error the day I bought the GTO.  I still miss that car - I loved it. 

iluvmysephia1

I'm gonna look that car up on the net and post a pic of it on here later on, OK, abacomike?

jmonroe1

Speaking of learning to drive, Grandson #1 will be taking his driving test on Thursday. His father failed on his first try because he didn't get over into the right lane after making a left turn at the end of the course. There was a sign telling drivers to get into the right lane but for some unknown reason he didn't move over. The next week when he went for his second try, the trooper stopped him halfway as he was backing up to parallel park. The trooper said, "you got this, lets not waste time with this, you passed. When you make that left turn up there just be sure to stay left right after you make the left turn, then move over into the right lane". When my son told the trooper that's why he failed the first time, the trooper said something like, "are you serious? Most kids your age know how to read but they don't know how to drive as well as you do".

Hopefully my Grandson will take after me and pass on the first try.

jmonroe

iluvmysephia1

https://youtu.be/iQGg9NRun08

Hey, you guys, check out this Motor Trend drag race. The Stinger's in here, Stelvio, etc. I won't disclose who won, but it's a household name for automotive speed.

ab348

When I was a tyke, we had a pedal car that I think was a hand me down from one of my older brothers, and I used to drive that back and forth on the sidewalk in front of out house. That was a start.

When I was 12 or 13, we had a summer place in the country and dad bought a 1947 Ford tractor with a mind to use it to put in a large garden plot, pull stumps, etc. I learned how to drive that shortly thereafter. Not long after that, my oldest brother picked up a beat Ford Consul that looked something like this to use as a field car there and I used to bomb around the property in it.



He also had an early '60s Chevy pickup there with 3 on the tree and I drove that as well.

By the time I turned 16 Dad had already let me drive him around in his car a few times out there on the country roads and I was pretty confident. Getting my drivers license was easy.

Similar to Mike's story about buying his GTO, in '85 when I bought my MR2 the only manual shift vehicles I had driven were the ones I mentioned on the property. I took delivery at the dealer (it had to be ordered in, so not even a test drive) and drove it home, only stalling it once at a traffic light. Of course that slick 5 speed linkage was easy to use and I never had a problem with it or the GTI that came later when it came to shifting.

venture

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I learned how to drive around 1962 using my mothers Hillman Californian and later VW Beetle. I guess that is why I don't like slow gutless cars.

I was never taught how to drive a stick - I just decided to go out and buy a new 1966 red GTO 4-speed with a Hurst linkage right off the showroom floor.  After signing all the paperwork, the salesman delivered my new car outside the dealership.  He went over the entire car with me to make sure I knew how to turn on lights, wipers, directional, etc.  He shook my hand and thanked me for my purchase.  

As as he was about to step out of my car, I asked him if he could give me a few pointers on how to drive a 4-speed transmission with emphasis on using the clutch.  His face turned bright red - similar to the exterior color of the GTO.  He responded, “...you mean to tell me you don’t know how to drive a manual transmission!”  I said no and he immediately sat down again in the passenger seat and started breathing quite heavily and rapidly.  He said, “...I can’t let you drive this car home with 360 hp if you can’t shift manual gears!”  So I said, “...give me a crash (no pun intended) course in 20 minutes so I can get home under my own steam.”  He told me he couldn’t drive a manual shift transmission, but the mechanic who tuned the three 2-barrel carbs in the engine does.

In 20 minutes, he went through the intricacies of gear engagement, shifting, clutching, and downshifting.  

On my trip home in heavy traffic, I developed a form of apoplexy with several “tics” developing in my hands fingers and facial muscles.  I kept from killing myself by using the brakes and stalling the engine due to not engaging the clutch.

Needless to say, I learned how to drive a 4-speed stick in a rocket of a car through trial and error the day I bought the GTO.  I still miss that car - I loved it. 

That's one of the funniest things I've read in a while.

henryn

driver100 said:

jmonroe1 said:

driver100 said:

graphicguy said:

You guys made me go scramble to find out what a Hillman was.....I didn’t know.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman

My late Father’s brush with automotive frustration was an ‘80s something Pontiac Parisienne (SP?). It was not a good car....at all. It was so toublemsome, I don’t think he even kept it a year.

From that point forward it was all Grand Marquis and Lincolns, which he loved!

The one I learned on was a 55 or 56, Hillman Californian and looked about like this....even same colors!

Now I know where your problems started.

jmonroe

Better than you...learning to drive;

My son lives in a gated community on Lake Conroe, north of Houston. Everyone there has a golf cart, and runs around in their golf cart. Many are customized, it's a "thing". Both of my granddaughters grew up there, and started driving their father's golf cart at a very early age. My younger granddaughter, who was always a daredevil, actually managed to wreck the golf cart, if you can believe that. And she has never been able to live that down, even though she is now 17 and a senior in high school.

houdini2

houdini2 said:

jmonroe1 said:

Murphydog1 said:

carnaught said:

Murphydog1 said:

sheesh - new log-in system, and old profiles are dumped, so frustrating to have to start over again...

After having no problems, only one email address since I've been here and no other changes, I am automatically signed out. I have to go to the bottom of the page under "Car Articles & Advice" to "Automobile Forums", then over to sign-in under "Howdy Stranger". This has gotten me back on as the sign-in page initially will not accept my email/pw combination.. Crazy this is happening all of a sudden.

yup - tried that, but still ended up with this new profile, infact when I tired to use murphydog it told me another member had that profile...

Hard to believe you had a problem with the new seemless system. Let me introduce you to another new member. Hi, I'm @jmonroe1, I'm sure you know what happened to @jmonroe. :@

jmonroe1

Hello Carnaught I'm houdini2.

houdini2 said:

jmonroe1 said:

Murphydog1 said:

carnaught said:

Murphydog1 said:

sheesh - new log-in system, and old profiles are dumped, so frustrating to have to start over again...

After having no problems, only one email address since I've been here and no other changes, I am automatically signed out. I have to go to the bottom of the page under "Car Articles & Advice" to "Automobile Forums", then over to sign-in under "Howdy Stranger". This has gotten me back on as the sign-in page initially will not accept my email/pw combination.. Crazy this is happening all of a sudden.

yup - tried that, but still ended up with this new profile, infact when I tired to use murphydog it told me another member had that profile...

Hard to believe you had a problem with the new seemless system. Let me introduce you to another new member. Hi, I'm @jmonroe1, I'm sure you know what happened to @jmonroe. :@

jmonroe1

Hello Carnaught I'm houdini2. Thank goodness Edmunds isn't my online broker...

28firefighter said:

Also reach out to the edmunds help desk and @Kirstie_H can try to help you get back to your old handle. 

She tried to help at first, then went silent.

houdini2

iluvmysephia1 said:

Here's a good one of Social Distortion's. Punk rock at its finest, gentlemen! Puts The Ramones to shame.

IMO punk rock at its finest is still pretty awful.

driver100

abacomike"

Needless to say, I learned how to drive a 4-speed stick in a rocket of a car through trial and error the day I bought the GTO. I still miss that car - I loved it

I must have been a slow learner. I started with a manual, but for extra practice, homework, I sat in a chair and used a plunger as the gear shift to learn the shifting pattern, and get my feet coordinated, one coming up and one down.

driver100

jmonroe1 said:

Speaking of learning to drive, Grandson #1 will be taking his driving test on Thursday. His father failed on his first try because he didn't get over into the right lane after making a left turn at the end of the course. There was a sign telling drivers to get into the right lane but for some unknown reason he didn't move over. The next week when he went for his second try, the trooper stopped him halfway as he was backing up to parallel park. The trooper said, "you got this, lets not waste time with this, you passed. When you make that left turn up there just be sure to stay left right after you make the left turn, then move over into the right lane". When my son told the trooper that's why he failed the first time, the trooper said something like, "are you serious? Most kids your age know how to read but they don't know how to drive as well as you do".

Hopefully my Grandson will take after me and pass on the first try.

jmonroe

I taught driving in high school. When you complete a left turn you should remain to the left, and only when you go a distance, should you look back and signal, and then move to the right. Even if you are in a single lane, you should still stay close to the center line or towards the left......glance around for bikes or something, and then ease over toward the right.

That is why it is aggravating to see people make a left turn and go immediately into the right lane, it is hard to move over when you are in front of that guy.

explorerx4

@driver100,
just turn into the right lane first. I really don't understand that rule.

abacomike

explorerx4 said:

@driver100, just turn into the right lane first. I really don't understand that rule.

If you are making a left turn into a 4 lane street (2 lanes in each direction), most States’ traffic laws require that the vehicle must remain in the left lane after completing the turn for at least 100 feet before attempting to move into the right lane.

The same is true for right turns into a 4 lane street - the vehicle must remain in the right lane for at least 100 feet after completing the turn before attempting to move into the left lane.  This especially applies to right-turn-on-red turns, specifically.

I hope the above further explains what driver100 was trying to convey. 

explorerx4

@abacomike,
I get the rule, not the reason for it.

iluvmysephia1

I get the rule, not the reason for it.

The reason for that rule is related to the safety of those in the 2-lane road facing you as you turn left. It's neater and tidier to have you herded over to the left lane when you're turning from a 2-lane street to another 2-lane street. Purely safety in mind on that one. Because, as abacomike states, after heading straight down the left lane for a hundred feet or so, you can put your blinker on and turn safely in to the right lane when it is safe to do so. If someone is in the right hand lane facing you turning right, they can now safely make their right hand turn, although many drivers don't trust those turning left in front of them. I for one will just wait for them to move on by before making my right turn, because I don't know if they're going to drift into the right hand lane or...not.

This is a law, but it's one that's not followed very often. In fact, I'll bet this traffic-flow situation doesn't go like this in about 70% of the left turns that occur in America.

At least.

iluvmysephia1

MG Midget

I'd like ta score a MG Midget 5-speed one day. Did they ever make these cars with automatic transmissions? I'll make my wager and say nabob tea.

explorerx4

@iluv,
After your post, I see the disconnect. I should have been more clear.
I'm referring turning from a single lane each way street on to a double lane each way.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
just turn into the right lane first. I really don't understand that rule.

Very bad. Not a proper turn, For one thing if there was a car going the opposite way, wanting to turn right, he should be able to turn right when you are turning left. You are hogging his lane.

driver100

abacomike said:

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
just turn into the right lane first. I really don't understand that rule.

If you are making a left turn into a 4 lane street (2 lanes in each direction), most States’ traffic laws require that the vehicle must remain in the left lane after completing the turn for at least 100 feet before attempting to move into the right lane.

The same is true for right turns into a 4 lane street - the vehicle must remain in the right lane for at least 100 feet after completing the turn before attempting to move into the left lane.  This especially applies to right-turn-on-red turns, specifically.

I hope the above further explains what driver100 was trying to convey

. 

Exactly and nicely explained.

same with iluv, that covered the right turn traffic too.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@iluv,
After your post, I see the disconnect. I should have been more clear.
I'm referring turning from a single lane each way street on to a double lane each way.

Not sure if I got it but if I understand, it is the same. If you are turning left into 2 lanes that are going in the same direction you should go into the left lane first, look back to check the right lane, signal (and btw, you shouldn't signal unless the right lane behind is clear, don't scare a driver who may be in that spot), then move into the right lane.

In fact, for really proper driving, this should be done if you are going from a one lane road, making a left turn, and going into one lane going in your direction. You should still end up just to the right of the center line, and then you should move closer to the curb once you have gone the 100 feet......after checking for bikes.

This shows it. In the video they say don;t turn left when the car opposite is turning right and that is a good point. Time it so that if the car going right does go into the left lane, you are back far enough to allow for his error.
https://youtu.be/gdNWP6tmJHw

stickguy

Iluv, almost positive they did not ever make a Midget with an AT. They also didn't come with a 5 speed (they had a 4 speed). Though possible you could get an overdrive on it (you could on the MGB).

explorerx4

@driver100,
Appreciate the video, but that is not what I'm referring to. You are behind my posts.
I'm talking about taking a left from a street that is 1 lane in each direction onto a street that is 2 lanes in each direction.

fintail

That's the law here, and I am pretty sure it is seldom to never enforced. Kind of like signal laws, crosswalk laws, distracted driving laws. But speed laws, hoo boy watch out! Maybe not as bad as some heckhole speedtrap states, but it seems the end of the month here always coincides with more enforcement. What a coincidence.

abacomike said:

If you are making a left turn into a 4 lane street (2 lanes in each direction), most States’ traffic laws require that the vehicle must remain in the left lane after completing the turn for at least 100 feet before attempting to move into the right lane.

The same is true for right turns into a 4 lane street - the vehicle must remain in the right lane for at least 100 feet after completing the turn before attempting to move into the left lane.  This especially applies to right-turn-on-red turns, specifically.

I hope the above further explains what driver100 was trying to convey. 

Mr_Shiftright

iluvmysephia1 said:

MG Midget

I'd like ta score a MG Midget 5-speed one day. Did they ever make these cars with automatic transmissions? I'll make my wager and say nabob tea.

No. The only MG sports car made with an automatic and sent to the U.S. was the MGC as far as I can recall. There was a short run of automatic MGBs in the UK I think.

driver100

explorerx4 said:

@driver100,
Appreciate the video, but that is not what I'm referring to. You are behind my posts.
I'm talking about taking a left from a street that is 1 lane in each direction onto a street that is 2 lanes in each direction.

Explorer...I think I covered that...same as from 2 lanes onto one lane. If you are going North in one lane, and you are turning West which would be a left turn into a one lane (going West) street, you make your turn and should end up just on the right side of the center line......not close to the curb, and not in the very center of the lane. Once you have gone a ways and can look back you should be driving as close to the right curb as possible.

I doubt if you would fail if you went straight into the middle of the lane once you completed the turn, but, to me that leads to sloppiness and will lead to more sloppiness. So, do it right, make your turn, stay just to the right of the center line, when it looks clear behind you check back over your shoulder, signal to the right if there isn't a car or bike on your right, and move closer to the curb. You will impress the driving inspector.

driver100

By the way, if you are turning left from that same street, and turning onto a one way street going West, you should end up in the left side curb lane, unless there are cars parked just up ahead, then go into the 2nd lane to the left......not the middle and not to the right.

iluvmysephia1

shifty and stick - I'd only buy one of these in 4-speed stick mode, anyway. I like it in this light yellow a lot.

I'd punt those foglights, though. The grille would look better without them.

stickguy

I test drove one of those many years ago. Maybe early 90s? I recall it was fun. But tiny. But mostly that the brakes were shot so stopping was, at best, iffy. BRG of course. I did not buy it.

roadburner

My son and I attended the inaugural race at the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We had a ball; great seats, too...

abacomike

@Murphydog1

I hope Kirstie can get you back to your original “murphydog” handle.  If she can’t, I guess no one can.

sda

I received the title in the mail today for the Accord, last payment drafted on 9/23 and on Saturday 9/29 we made the last payment on the Pilot!

stickguy

congrats. Of course, around here, that just means it is time to start shopping for a new car.

Michaell

roadburner said:

My son and I attended the inaugural race at the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We had a ball; great seats, too...

Nice pics; I watched the race on TV and really thought MTJ was gonna take it …. then, JJ happened.

ARGH!

iluvmysephia1

https://youtu.be/GgSJMavU9Lc

This, folks, is the ultimate 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO review. This guys nails it in this review. If any of you is even remotely interested in this 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO automobile pocket rocket, please watch this review. I have the opportunity to go test drive and make a deal for a silver specimen of this car tomorrow afternoon. My wife is continuing to make anti-car purchase comments, but, I'm going to meet a friend tomorrow morning on a separate pursuit - he may talk me out of this purchase attempt, too, if I dare even mention it. He is way more cheap with his money than I am - he is more like my wife with money.

I know for a fact my wife has no feel for how much I love cars. Car nuts, therein lies the rub. I love cars like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, driver100, roadburner and abacomike. I know, I left many of you out, but, you get my point. Watch this video and see what Nissan's done - this video features a silver 2017 Nissan Sentra NISMO model like the one I'm fixin' on goin' south to El Paso to buy tomorrow. The one I'm pursuing has 6,800 miles. Virtually nothing, with the remainder of the Nissan Warranty going to me, if I do indeed end up being the buyer.


This takes a bunch of faith and nerve...if I do buy this car I'm going to have an unhappy, very vocal wife. For who knows how long. An unhappy wife=an unhappy family. Meaning - me, 2 cats and a beautiful 10 year old female Chow Chow that loves me more than life itself. I kid you not. I researched that dog on the net for 2-3 weeks and found a breeder in south Tucson that absolutely breeds in to their puppies the bouncy, perky breath of bountiful life. I mean, I couldn't ask for a better Chow Chow. A lovely, loving wife, who loves to listen to Dave Ramsey...and who I love to the end of the rainbow numbers.

2 Willcox, AZ, rescue cats that are already 12 years old. Man, that's unbelievable! They're already 12 years old!


RIP Cotey Cotey's on the right, Rocky's on the left


Cotey is our 14 year old Pomeranian who perished from respiratory problems on June 28, 2018. He lasted 14 years and he fulfills a prayer I made to Jehovah God for a replacement puppy...a replacement puppy for my dear Pomeranian Abigail, or Abbey. I prayed for a puppy who could get my mind off the loss of 10 year old Abbey, who we lost on June 28, 2004. We bought Cotey around August 8th of 2004 - he was the replacement puppy for our dearly departed Abbey. God fulfilled my prayer request in vivid clarity and perfection. Cotey was full of vim and vigor and everything he did was 185mph and wholehearted. We couldn't ask for a better replacement for Abbey. I loved Abbey fully and completely. She was diagnosed with CHF - we bought the medicine and gave it all to her. We asked the vet if we should have her euthanized. He told us "as long as she's still eating keep taking great care of her and keep feeding her." On the night of her death, my wife fed her Teriyaki steak strips. She gulped them down with abandon. That night, I was studying downstairs at my computer desk. We heard some noise coming from her room, but it wasn't distinct - she probably struggled for a while. I went to college class in the morning and Mrs. iluvmysephia1 called me early, around 9:00AM to say that Abbey was dead. The CHF was too much and she was dead. I asked my teachers if I could go home early that day. The male Respiratory Therapy Instructor told me to take off - he totally gets it about dogs because he also has a dog. I went home and I decided to bury her in Missouri Conservation Society land southwest of St. Louis. I balled my eyes out as I dug her grave. Only weeks before Mrs. iluvmysephia1 and I had taken our two Poms, Rocky and Cotey, to Mt.Washington in Misssouri - west of St. Louis. Mt. Washington is the highest point in Missouri. We walked to the top of an observation tower with the two Poms. Abbey was at my ankles, pushing against them pretty hard. I picked her up and gave her a big hug and told her I was sorry she was scared. The poor baby was scared to death at the heighth I took us to. I picked her up and carried her down the observation area - the steps were actually a bit skakey and there were some light to medium Missouri winds wafting passed us. Down to the bottom of the tower we made it - Abbey was so relieved I could just feel it - she bounced against me and reviled in the abandon of it all. She was free and Daddy was carrying her to the car - she had no complaints whatsoever in her life.

She would pass away a few short weeks later, ever loving Mommy and Daddy, ever loving Rocky, our 6-lb. Pomeranian. I grieve severely with the loss of any of our animals. What's this got ta do with cars? I'll tell you what it has to do with cars. I love both. Extremely and intensely. Tomorrow I have an opportunity to drive south and trade in the 2011 Kia Soul 5-speed stick. It's not super simple-simon with a wife like Mrs. iluvmysephia1. abacomike made some serious sense when he said to just go buy your car and then deal with the repercussion later. When I fall in love with Almighty God, a woman He created, a beautiful animal, or a gorgeous car - it's strong. That is what has happened here folks. If I don't go get this car tomorrow afternoon, I may as well just abort my efforts completely and take a little break. Right now, I am ready to go make a play on it. Wish me good fortune, Edmunds car nuts.

snakeweasel

iluvmysephia1 said:

Here's a good one of Social Distortion's. Punk rock at its finest, gentlemen! Puts The Ramones to shame.

Punk rock can be at it's finest?

I guess when you compare it to other punk rock and disco it can be.

snakeweasel

abacomike said:

driver100 said:

I learned how to drive around 1962 using my mothers Hillman Californian and later VW Beetle. I guess that is why I don't like slow gutless cars.

I was never taught how to drive a stick - I just decided to go out and buy a new 1966 red GTO 4-speed with a Hurst linkage right off the showroom floor.  After signing all the paperwork, the salesman delivered my new car outside the dealership.  He went over the entire car with me to make sure I knew how to turn on lights, wipers, directional, etc.  He shook my hand and thanked me for my purchase.  

As as he was about to step out of my car, I asked him if he could give me a few pointers on how to drive a 4-speed transmission with emphasis on using the clutch.  His face turned bright red - similar to the exterior color of the GTO.  He responded, “...you mean to tell me you don’t know how to drive a manual transmission!”  I said no and he immediately sat down again in the passenger seat and started breathing quite heavily and rapidly.  He said, “...I can’t let you drive this car home with 360 hp if you can’t shift manual gears!”  So I said, “...give me a crash (no pun intended) course in 20 minutes so I can get home under my own steam.”  He told me he couldn’t drive a manual shift transmission, but the mechanic who tuned the three 2-barrel carbs in the engine does.

In 20 minutes, he went through the intricacies of gear engagement, shifting, clutching, and downshifting.  

On my trip home in heavy traffic, I developed a form of apoplexy with several “tics” developing in my hands fingers and facial muscles.  I kept from killing myself by using the brakes and stalling the engine due to not engaging the clutch.

Needless to say, I learned how to drive a 4-speed stick in a rocket of a car through trial and error the day I bought the GTO.  I still miss that car - I loved it. 

I learned to drive stick on a Dodge WC64, if you don't know think of the ambulances on MASH. My first duty station had two of them and they were a bear to drive, but very forgiving on screwing up a shift.

tjc78

@iluvmysephia1... my late Grandfather had an expression:

“sh*t, or get off the pot”

in other words... like a popular slogan.... just do it 

Many of us could have bought 7 cars by now.  

snakeweasel

sda said:

I received the title in the mail today for the Accord, last payment drafted on 9/23 and on Saturday 9/29 we made the last payment on the Pilot!

Great now you have the best car in the world, one that runs and is paid off.

driver100

I would READ other reviews about the NISMO before buying....and I mean real buyers reviews. Many people had major problems and are sorry they bought this car. One mechanic had this to say, ". This car looks upscale and the interior is very nice. Unfortunately, this is thin veneer over a very cheaply made car that in my opinion will not last for the long haul." (Bryan)

I am playing devils advocate....but, I wouldn't go by one youtube young kids video review.
EDMUNDS REVIEWS

snakeweasel

driver100 said:

I would READ other reviews about the NISMO before buying....and I mean real buyers reviews. Many people had major problems and are sorry they bought this car. One mechanic had this to say, ". This car looks upscale and the interior is very nice. Unfortunately, this is thin veneer over a very cheaply made car that in my opinion will not last for the long haul." (Bryan) I am playing devils advocate....but, I wouldn't go by one youtube young kids video review. EDMUNDS REVIEWS

While I am not sure about it but reading his post might he be getting a commission on everyone sold. After reading his post I might be interested in one if I was looking for a car. But it would include reading other reviews and seeing what others say. Which apparently would cause me to have second thoughts. 

driver100

Maybe we need a rule....limit of 3 posts before actually buying a car.

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Maybe we need a rule....limit of 3 posts before actually buying a car.

Only breld fits in that category

graphicguy

Taking bets, giving odds!

qbrozen

driver100 said:

Maybe we need a rule....limit of 3 posts before actually buying a car.

whoops. Just realized we are in the wrong thread. LOL

imidazol97

driver100 said:

Maybe we need a rule....limit of 3 posts before actually buying a car.

Does that mean I can't start mulling over what cars I want to test drive when I likely trade the Malibu in 2020?


I know what features I want in the way of safety options. I just have to find a company that packages those in an environment friendly vehicle with an economical engine. I don't need 0-60 in 2.9 seconds. I don't need a luxury vehicle sitting in the garage most days while I drive the utility vehicle around town. It would be nice to impress others, but I'd just rather keep the money in 401k and IRAs. As long as my car turns me on when I turn it on, I'm happy. My Malibu has 25000 after 3.5 years.