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My buddy said, " Give it some gas and let out the clutch"
I did just that! Only I gave it a LOT of gas and snapped off the clutch!
The Honda did a big wheelstand which knocked me off the back. I was nearly neutered by the license plate as I went off the rear.
The Honda crashed..no big deal and my buddies laughed until they wet their pants.
You will be hard pressed to find one of these. They made (and sold) so few.
It's hard to update a retro design though. Just look at the Chevy HHR, The new Beetle, the new T Bird, etc...
The Mini may be the only successful one out there right now, and the Mustang too I guess.
As for stick shift lessons, I kicked a few people out from test drives too when they said they want to "practice" driving stick. I told them this is not a drving school but I'd be happy to throw in a few lessons after they buy the car.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I learned how to drive stick by practicing with a toilet plunger.
Sit in a chair, stick the plunger on the floor and shift while coordinating feet and hands.
Richard, that MR with a stick is going to be a real poor resale car. I'd put an offer in asap
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I bought one... you learn real fast, that way..
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Even if the thought went through my mind that I would like to try selling cars.....I think I just lost the urge! Someone wants to "practice" driving a stick with a car that someone is trying to sell?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You are a riot!!! ILMAO and even knocked the mouse on the floor! That one is a must save for this thread!
Richard
That's why I sell domestics. Rarely any sticks. Just kidding. You gotta be straight up with some folks if they have the gall to think they can abuse your products for their pleasure then you gotta lay down the law.
And believe it or not there are salespeople out there who can't drive stick. One top guy at Nissan/Infiniti I worked with didn't know how to drive stick
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Same sloppy feeling in the shifter!
Steve, where did you land a Chetak in NY? Do they sell them here?
Did you watch the video showing the interior of the restroom?
I remember the first time I saw the new restrooms. I was expecting a small interior since they had the portapotty entrance and instead it's huge inside.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I was a classic case of you need the right incentive to learn a stick. Mom had a 66 Biscayne with three on the tree. I would stall that bugger out something terrible and usually talk my way into dad's 67 Tempest.
Then about 6 months into my license when dad realized I could do him favors if I had a car to do them in says he wants to show me a car and if i like it he'll buy it. It was a 1954 Mercedes 300B Adenauer. It had four on the tree. I said "No problem, dad. I'll have that sucker mastered in a day!" Indeed I did.
Judging from your user name and what you drove, I can only assume we're from the same corner of the world
My mom learned to drive on a manual transmission, manual steering Syrena. Like you said back then there was no automatics available in our country.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Richard
I still have it. I learned to drive a manual in a truck courtesy of my summers spent working on the Kentucky State Highway Department in the mid '70s. As summer help I wasn't supposed to operate anything bigger than a push mower, but the full-time guys let me drive almost anything: pickups, single axle dump trucks, a roller, an oil distributor truck, backhoes, bat-wing mowers- even a Galion T 500 grader:
I had a blast.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
BTW, the one at Pioneer is still available. They have had it 56 days. I figure that on day 60 I will give them a call. They will want to move that machine after two months on the lot.
You do realize that the '07 you found has the exact color leather and steering wheel that I wanted. I hate that it has 25K miles on it. Wasn't that white '09 on ebay a steal? A $30K car for 20K with 800+ miles?! Thanks so much for your continued research. If I end up with one, I owe you a big steak dinner.
Richard
Yes, I thought that the 06 might be a little pricey as compared to some of the 08's that have come across the radar. The super low miles caught my attention; I'm guessing it was not a former rental but a one-owner which might give it "bonus" points in my mind despite its vintage. As for the 07, I figured the mileage was probably too high for you. Remember though, in the case of the 06, if one presented evidence to show that there are 08's out there with similar "asking" prices, the 06 dealer might be more willing to lower his price since you "know your stuff" so to speak. Never hurts to ask.
I am convinced that you work secretly for the Mercury Division. How DO you find these black GM's?
Haha- No, not a Mercury employee. If I were, I would have redirected all of the black/camel GMs to your area to entice you into a new one.
The "new" white one looks like a super deal for someone. If only it were black! I'll keep looking periodically for you until you either pull the trigger on something or give up the chase. I just wish I could find something close enough to warrant an inspection trip. It seems like everything is so far away from you.
It will turn up, sooner or later....
Richard
Did you watch the video showing the interior of the restroom?
No missed that...went back to watch.
That is pretty amazing!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
But... for ultimate in manual shifting ahead of its time, you guys should check out the pre-90s East German Trabant. Current Porsches and others have nothing on it with their paddle shifting. We went through six of those cars and every former owner still thinks it was the the best shifting experience ever... even with 18 HP at your foot...
Now, 30+ years later, he owns a huge 6 acre international food market....as well as a large shopping complex attached. Some say his concept was the blueprint for places like Trader Joes, Four Winds, etc.
Jim's as much a promoter as a grocer.
Someone asked for a sales story about selling a manual transmission car to someone who didn't know how to drive one.
This was back in my college days.....I had bought a run down '69 MGB-GT. It ran bad and looked worse. I spent one whole summer teaching myself how to work on it. I didn't have a choice. It was my only mode of transportation. While it wasn't a "frame off" restoration like you see on the auction shows, I got it to the point where it ran pretty good, and looked even better. Keeping those carbs adjusted, which seemed to be a weekly duty, was the biggest issue (along with electrical gremlins).
On weekends, I used to wash and detail cars for profs and a couple of little car lots (who'd let me use their parking lot to conduct business). I'd always take the MGB with me to show how good I could make a car look. Understandably, I was busiest during the Spring Quarter (although I tried to work weekends year round).
Anyway, one female prof had a Fiat X1/9 with an automatic (I didn't even know they made them with automatic transmissions). I don't remember the year, but she said it wasn't very reliable.
While I was detailing it, she mentioned she liked my MGB, and to let her know if I ever wanted to sell it. Being a poor college student, I told her it was "For Sale" (thinking I could buy a less troublesome car with the proceeds). She sat in it....played with the knobs, etc. I had done a little bondo work, traded some detail work with a body guy for a decent "re-paint", washed the carpets, and shined it....real wire wheels, real wood in the interior....good "leatherette" with no rips or tears, etc. Red over black.
Her only problem with buying it was she couldn't drive a manual transmission. I agreed to teach her if she'd pay me in cash for the car. I took her for a little spin (thankfully, nothing went wrong with it). She fetched her boyfriend to confer (luckily, he knew less about cars than she did). We came to a deal. That was on a Saturday. On Sunday, we went out to get her comfy with driving a manual tranny. It took the better part of the afternoon. But, smelling the burning clutch a few times, we finally got to the point where she could at least take off from a stop sign without stalling out.
I got the cash. She got the car. I used to see her lugging and chugging it around campus. But, she never brought it back to have it washed or detailed.
IIRC, I got enough money to pay for a quarter's worth of tuition with enough left over to buy a used Chevy Monza :sick:
Bought it from the local asst bank manager. Interesting thing about that car, I found a bag of "weed" under the passenger's seat. :surprise:. That's another story, though.
Nice story gg... can't wait to find out whatever happened to that bag of "weed".
Regarding the bag of weed, you forgot to add "TO BE CONTINUED ..."
As to buying, they are hard to find new, or used. But, contrary to popular opinion, they are actually often easier to sell (or at least quicker).
You eliminate 90%+ of prospective buyers, but are left with a hard core bunch that know what they want. And since the supply is low, they snap them up.
I can see why dealers might not want to take a bunch in, but if you look at the ones that have them for sale, they tend to push the rarity angle (and frankly, don't ask for less money).
All supply and demand. I can go out and find 200+ AT Accords nearby, but only a handful of sticks.
So say there are say 5 sticks, 200 ATs. And maybe 150 people looking for ATs, and 10 looking for sticks. Well, those odds are in my favor!
Probably harder when they are 1-2 years old, but once the miles rack up, I personally and much less leery of a stick, since I have no faith in hi mile automatics (especially Hondas, and 2x especially V6 models).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That explains the quality of the instruction in quite a few of my college courses.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Exactly! I was once shopping for a manual Accord wagon, which according to Isell's reasoning, should be double, super-ultra sale-proof. My experience has been that when you do find one in reasonably decent shape, they don't stay on the market for long.
Yes, they are out there but very few and far between especially here in the Seattle area where we have LOTS of traffic and LOTS of hills.
Once in awhile, one will show up at the auction and at this point, no matter how low the bids are, we won't buy them. They just sit and sit waiting for the one in 100 buyer.
Other parts of the U.S. may be different?
I heard from Mackabee this morning. He has decided to refuse the experimental treatments. He's going to let the illness take its course. He is feeling good and enjoying his quality of life. He says that it just isn't worth going through the pain and suffering again. He has a very positive attitude about the situation. I knew that many of you would want to know. He wanted to be remembered to all of you.
To stay on topic: He loves his new car and has put 15k miles on it so far.
Richard
He's tough guy and I haven't given up on him yet.
Victor and I go back to the beginning on these forums.
Richard
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
To stay on topic: He loves his new car and has put 15k miles on it so far.
Thanks for the update on Mac. What kind of car did he get?
I wish him all the best,
Driver
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Sorry, been away traveling around...Yankees vs Blue Jays game today.
I just wanted to say the way I learned stick is 100% true. My father was very fussy about his cars so I had limited time to train. I thought that was a good way to learn the H pattern and get the hand, leg coordination. Don't ask about how I learned column shifting............
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
As I recall it was an mid 90's Camary. He had always liked the style and found a low milage one so he bought it.
Here's best wishes for his longevity.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The Good - I was pleasantly surprised to find that the when you turn off the ignition the radio keeps playing until you open the door. I don't know who thought of this or why, but I liked it. I was also pleasantly surprised today coming onto a highway from an entrance ramp. A blue pick up truck didn't want to let me on and I stomped it (don't usually do that in a rental car - I try to be descent) and it did have some power...more than I expected.
The Bad - The most annoying feature is the "alarm button" on the large remote key. The alarm button is the largest button and most prominent. Twice, when I reached in my pocket to get the keys, the horn started blaring! The alarm is a good feature but it should not be on the main surface which you can't even see if you are reaching into your pocket (or purse I suppose).
The ugly - Nothing too bad really. It is efficient and a good value. I get the feeling it isn't tough, doesn't feel really tight and solid, but it does everything and gets you from A to B in pretty good comfort. Personally, I like the looks of a Sonata more, but I's have to try it. I know I would prefer a low mileage Audi a lot more.
Heading from Tampa to Orlando on Friday, and return to the frozen North on Saturday. Going from 80F to 20F. And home to my own car....yahooooo!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
go to cars.com. plenty of them out there.
only look at the 04's and up, they have the 4r100 transmission.
Mack is truly one of the good guys. I wish him and his family all the best while nature takes it's course.
Sad -- he's cerainly one of the good guys.
Thanks for the update. I'm sure you'll send him best regards from all of us, including the chief malcontent (that would be me).
08 GM
I just made up a zip code, I don't know where I said I lived. Maybe they deliver?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the when you turn off the ignition the radio keeps playing until you open the door.
I have that feature on my 1999 Buick Regal LS. I really like it. Just don't use it too long with a weak battery. Twas the death blow while listening to the radio while my son had baseball practice last year. Had to get a jump from his coach. :sick:
Richard
Best to Mack. I don't know if I could make that decision. Brave guy.
I had that feature on my 95' Bonneville beast and IIRC the radio shut off after about 5 or 10 minutes to avoid a dead battery.
I'll never forget when I bought that thing, went home and pulled it into the garage and shut off the engine, I noticed the radio didn't turn off. I think I played with that radio/key for a minute or two, finally decided to get out of the car and disconnect the battery. If the salesman had given me the proper walk around, all that could have been avoided. :mad:
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Richard
That is so funny. You of all people. It sounds more like what I would do.
I have that feature on my '03 Explorer. The radio will stay on for about 5 minutes or until I get out of the car.
Richard
Hope you don't own a hearse....
Body rots in hearse - bill not paid
Could you ever get the stench out? Gross...
That's been on some Buicks since 93 or earlier. The Retained Accessory Power will even turn off headlamps after the time period--no more leaving them on if you bypassed the automatic headlamp feature. No more leaving interior lights on and draining the battery overnight in the garage.
That's a great feature for any car to have.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,