On 3/21/2021 7:43 PM, Bruce wrote:
> On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 18:55:20 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>
>> On 3/21/2021 5:32 PM, Bruce wrote:
>>> On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:09:04 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 3/21/2021 4:16 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>>> On Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 5:36:59 AM UTC-10, Mike Duffy wrote:
>>>>>> On Sun, 21 Mar 2021 02:18:09 -0700, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Being unable to eat with chopsticks is like being unable to drive a
>>>>>>> stick shift.
>>>>>> Don't get me started. A few months ago had to buy a car. I was mortified
>>>>>> to discover that the only ones left with a stick nowadays are Jeeps and
>>>>>> really expensive sports cars.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So I got a used 2017 Forester; the last year it was made with a stick.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> And now I will never buy any car without all-wheel drive, but that is
>>>>>> another story I will save for the next time Bruce accuses Dave of being
>>>>>> too informative.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can't get cars with manual transmissions because there's not enough people buying them. I suppose more people could be made to buy them by having them pay a premium for automatics - like in the old days. We were offered a 6 speed car for free and it was okay. In the end I didn't want it because I don't trust anybody around here to park it in gear and use the parking brake - including me.
>>>>> What I'd like to get is an old Mazda Miata. Of course that would have to have a 5 speed. I'm not interested in an automatic Miata but the point is moot - my wife is scared to death of that car. That's the brakes.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Stick is fun to drive a couple of times a year but no interest in one
>>>> for my daily driver.
>>>
>>> I've always had manual gears. You get a bit more control over the car
>>> that way.
>>>
>>
>> Sure, driving across fields, sand dunes, crossing a river. Spend an
>> hour driving across a big city at rush hour and you'll trade for an
>> auto.
>
> If you're an experienced manual driver, using a gear stick is no
> effort. It's second nature.
>
>> For 99.4% of us, no advantage.
>
> 99.4% of Americans.
>
Good point, last time I drove stick was in Europe.

Besides, shifting gears is a PITA while drinking coffee and texting.