Manual Transmisson: not Female Friendly?

This is really random, but whatever...

I realized something the other day: I don't know any girls who can drive a manual transmission car. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?

I personally hate automatics, and I'm worried that in the comming years they won't make stick-shift cars anymore. Seems fewer and fewer people bother to learn how to drive them...

I sure hope I'm wrong about all this...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Quote:

He has been holding onto an old (98?) Plymouth Neon

Whoa!?! '98 is old?

The newest car I've ever owned was an '87

My current car is a 1978 VW (I really love this car by the way), here is a pic:



Anyway, the main complaint I hear about manuals is that they make it too hard to do things like talk on your cell while driving. But is that something you should really be doing anyway? Driving a manual keeps me out of trouble by forcing me to focus on driving, not eating to chatting on the phone... I see that as a Pro, not a Con...

And why is insurance cheaper for female drivers? That seems really unfair to me. I've been driving for the last 6 years, and in that time I've had 0 accidents and 0 tickets, yet I pay more than my fair share to the insurance company... because I'm a guy.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Quote:

My mom drove a manual for a while; 90-something Dodge Colt. Then my sister crashed it while running a red light, which was uncool.

That brings back memories. My first car was an '86 Dodge Colt...

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Dreamshadow, will you marry me

Quote:

Anyway, I used to drive an '03 Dodge Ram. I prefer the '83. It actually makes me feel like I'm in control of the car, rather than just the speed. The only problem with it is it's lack of a drink holder thing. You wouldn't believe how much of a hassle it is to eat and drive without a cup holder.

I find that I too prefer older cars. Of course finding a car that old that is still in good shape isn't easy, but whatever. Of course cup holders are not standard in older cars... my '87 is the only car I've owned that had them, but the ones that it came with sucked, they weren't deep enough to really "hold" anything, as soon as you turned a corner whatever is in there is gonna spill...

I also like the manuals in older cars more than the newer ones. I learned to drive on a 4 speed, and my current car is a 4 speed. I've only owned one 5 speed, and while it still beats an automatic, I liked the 4 speed better. The gear ratios are just too low in the 5 speeds...

Quote:

There aren't really any compelling reasons anymore to drive a manual other than for 1) greater control over your acceleration or 2) elitism. It seems like almost everyone in this thread would rather have manual for the latter. Which is stupid. It's like, "Hey, guys, look at this typewriter I have! You still send out stuff on computers?? Pshaw, that's so EASY. It's so NEW. Why would you want to use that stupid PC thing?!" Automatics used to consume more gas, but that's not true anymore.

Quote:

If you say 1, well, fine, but I don't really know many people who need acceleration or should be trusted with a car that can go fast. I live in a city with a shitload of traffic, it's not like I can go anywhere all that fast anyway.

You get greater contorl PERIOD. It's not just over acceleration. Also, I don't agree with your computer vs typewriter comparison. Just because something is new doesn't automaticly make it 'better'.

Maual gives you better milage, better contorl, more power, and all that for less money. I honestly have no idea why someone would want an automatic, unless they do alot of "multi-tasking" while driving, and thats a bad idea anyway...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Quote:

David4516: Manual does NOT give you better mileage. It gives you better CONTROL over gas mileage. You can go way above the average MPG or go way below depending on how you drive.

The same can be said of an automatic too... if you floor the car alot you'll use more gas.

I'm simply saying that, in general, a manual is more efficent than an automatic...

I was speaking idiomatically.