[Healeys] [O/T] Manuals

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Thu Mar 7 07:12:46 MST 2024


No; in the 'States you can take/pass the drivers' test in an automatic 
and still drive stick (at least in California). I tried to convince my 
son to take his test in my BJ8, but he took the easy route in his 4-cyl 
Cherokee with a 5-speed stick.

Even for those otherwise competent with a manual gearbox--I prefer that 
to 'transmission;' my Dad cringed when I called one a 'tranny' and these 
days that could be confusing, I suppose--how many have mastered 'double 
declutching?'  I always did that on a downshift in Dad's '46 Chevy 
2-ton--and the Model As I learned to drive on--but it wasn't until the 
day I sold it* that I realized you needed to double-clutch on an upshift 
from 2nd to 3rd; I'd always tried to get the perfect speed match but 
usually failed.

I sold it to a local petroleum wholesaler who we'd bought fuel from for 
decades. His father had offered to buy it years ago for $5K; he'd since 
died but his son was running the business. I stopped by to see if he was 
interested--it wasn't getting the TLC it deserved though I did use it 
for farm duties on occasion--and told him about his dad's offer and that 
I'd honor that. He looked at the truck and said: "It's worth more than 
that; I'll give you $7,500 ... no, I'll give you $10,000!" I'm not much 
of a negotiator, but I did good on that one ;) Dad said whenever he took 
it to Lowe's there would always be a lady or two admiring it in the 
parking lot; it got more compliments than even his '65 Mustang or '55 
T-Bird (Healeys don't seem to turn heads as much as they used to).

Bob

On 3/7/2024 5:16 AM, Simon Lachlan via Healeys wrote:
>
> In the UK, if you take and pass(!) your test in an automatic you are 
> only licenced to drive an automatic. If you pass in a stick shift, you 
> are licenced for both. Is that the same all over?
>
> Just curious….
>
> Simon
>
> *From:*Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of 
> *ahbn6--- via Healeys
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 7, 2024 12:48 PM
> *To:* 'Richard Mayor' <boyracer466 at gmail.com>; 'HealeyRick' 
> <healeyrik at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* 'Healeys' <healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] [O/T] Manuals
>
> *I learned on  a stick. Then spent 30 years on a slush box (as we 
> called automatic transmissions in my day) then bought my Healey. 
> Started it up and cruised with no problems. Obviously knowledge of how 
> to shift manually returned in an instant. Moral is, better to learn 
> how to drive with a manual transmission. You never forget.*
>
> **
>
> *John Sims*
>
> *www.healey6.com <http://www.healey6.com/>*
>
> *Matawan, NJ*
>
> **
>
> *From:*Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.teamnet 
> <mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net>> *On Behalf Of *Richard Mayor
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 6, 2024 8:56 PM
> *To:* HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] [O/T] Manuals
>
> Just watched another series (“The Tourist”) where the guy does not 
> know how to drive a stick.  But the girl does. The bottom line is:  If 
> you cannot drive a stick then you are not a real car guy.
>
> Richard Mayor
> boyracer466 at gmail.com
>
>     On Mar 6, 2024, at 4:01 PM, HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>     Being able to drive a stick is a life-skill worth having,
>     especially if you're a bank robber trying to hijack a getaway
>     vehicle.
>     https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/malden-carjacking-victim-says-stick-shift-saved-her-baby/
>
>     Rick Neville aka HealeyRick
>
>     On Mon, Mar 4, 2024 at 8:18 AM Richard Collins via Healeys
>     <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>         A good one; of course in the UK, they don't have the quantity
>         of car thieves we do in the States. So the advantage of the
>         manual at least here in the States is that few thieves know
>         how to drive a stick.  Maybe we stick owners should get an
>         insurance discount ?
>
>         lol
>
>         Regards,
>         Richard C
>
>         BN7 440
>
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>         *From:*Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of
>         Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net>
>         *Sent:* Monday, March 4, 2024 7:34 AM
>         *To:* Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net>
>         *Subject:* [Healeys] [O/T] Manuals
>
>         I love Brit humor almost as much as I love their old cars.
>
>         https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/04/drivers-manual-gearboxes-dvla-automatic-cars
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