Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

The Shelby Mustang 350 GT isn't available with an automatic transmission. :thumbsup:

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

The original GT350 and GT500 were available with automatic boxes from 1966. One might reasonably argue that the Hertz 350 Mustangs were what built the Shelby brand (that and the insatiable urge to sign things for five bucks) and they had automatic boxes. Shelby even had an AC Cobra with an automatic box.

I don't think there's shame in driving an automatic if you're an American, in that circumstance you likely have bigger things to be ashamed of.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I rest my case! :thumbsup:

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

A friend had a '66 with (I think) a 289 and an automatic and it was still cool to ride around in, lots of power but they were still pretty basic cars.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I used to race go-karts back when I was in my 20s, the one I raced had a 250cc motorbike engine and, of course, no suspension. It was great fun until I wreaked my knee and then when I tried to get back to it, I couldn't walk for days after. Years after, when I used to drive 30,000 miles per year with my job, I had an operation on said knee. Helped a lot, but in the end I got an automatic because my knee would regularly lock up if I was in stop-start traffic. I would have preferred to stay with manual cars, but I also needed to be able to walk from the car when I stopped driving. Sometimes you just have to go with what gets you through life...

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I have no issue with automatics, it sounds like your scenario is a perfect example. I own two vehicles, one is a automatic (a Trailblazer SUV) and the Mustang is manual. I just couldnt bring myself to buy an automatic Mustang! But i totally empathise with your case.

How long did you race karts for, i used to to that too when i was younger id love to get back into it again! Certainly gets the adrenaline and the competitive spirit flowing!!!

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I only did it for 1 and 1/2 years, I brought the kart with money I got when I was made redundant, and I shared the racing with my boyfriend. Then I did my knee in, couldn't race for a few months and then split up with the boyfriend! So even if my knee had ever got better enough to race it again, I couldn't get to tracks to race, as I didn't have a car. :(

I also didn't have a garage, so in the end I sold the kart because my Mum was fed up with it being on my bedroom floor, or worst, in the dining room! ;)

I have tried doing it since at these little indoor tracks with smaller karts, but it isn't the same as driving a meaty kart on proper race tracks. But even the little karts mess with my knee!! Still miss it though, it was such fun! :thumbsup:

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I will always drive a manual, even if it means less choice of cars to buy. At least it won't get stolen haha!

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

Are manuals a pain in city traffic driving stop and go?

They seem like they would be. 95% of my driving is in congested Vancouver, stop and go and an average speed of 38 km/h according to the car dash thing.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

Not in my opinion. Many disagree.

For me, I can shift up and down, and depress the clutch when rolling to a stop, without even thinking about it. Shifting is in no way burdensome for me under any circumstances.

So long as I have two function legs and two functioning arms there is no circumstance under which I would choose an automatic if a manual was available.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

It depends on the car. If it's highly tuned and has a "heavy" clutch, one demanding a lot of push, then yes. At one point I commuted in a Lotus 7 which, while a fabulous car, was not ideal for the role for the reasons mentioned (and for having no weather equipment). Something like a Cobra, where the engine is very much on or off, would be worse. I currently commute in a Mustang which doesn't have a very peaky engine and does have loads of torque (which allows one to get away with being in the wrong gear), that's easy, if a bit granddad-ish.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I've done it for over 30 years, on 5 different clutches, and I have to confess I've tired of it. For me it isn't so much stop and go in city traffic (eg, at intersections, traffic lights etc), but freeway traffic that moves incredibly slowly but doesn't stop completely, and not being able to find the sweet spot in first or second, or second and third. Like Pulaski, driving a manual for me is so totally second nature that I don't notice I am having to do it, until my calf starts to ache a bit...

I've made the decision that when I move to Vancouver I will be getting an automatic car (for the first time in my driving life - eek). I hope I don't miss the manual too much.

BTW, my Canadian +1 (who's lived in Toronto) was very amused by the story that started this thread. Not amused for the poor person who was carjacked, but amused by how stupid the criminals were.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I only found it a pain because of my dodgy knee, the actual mechanics of changing gear and depressing the clutch was 2nd nature. Not sure it would be now though. And I agree with MelVan, the slowly but never stopping traffic where you are constantly changing from first to second, back to first etc etc. That was the killer on my knee.

When I started getting company cars it was easy to move to automatics, but I had to deal with problems with manual cars for over 10 years from when I did my knee in, in my 20s. So it's not necessarily an age thing that stops people driving manuals. My last manual car was a Ford Escort RS - no power steering, heavy clutch - final straw really!

Before I left UK, I was driving a Golf and you could switch into manual mode, still no need for a clutch, but you decided when to change gear - that was fun!

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

I think most people keep clutching for a little while.

Re: Don't car jack a manual car
 

LOL I was very impressed that you could operate a twin shift ,,then I had a coffee and looked again. DUH . Was given an 80s two lever Mack to drive in 2010 and that was entertaining till I got the hang off it.:o