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| Are you able to drive a stick shift? |
| Yes |
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| No |
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28% |
[ 25 ] |
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| Total Votes : 88 |
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ClosetAspy
Deinonychus
Joined: Jan 17, 2008
Age: 52
Posts: 368
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 Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. I am (reluctantly) driving an automatic now, because manuals are becoming too hard to find and also too expensive to repair. I started out driving a stick because the car I had my heart set on had one, and even though I had no experience driving one, I made myself learn. All my cars since until this last one have been sticks. I am glad that I learned out even though there were a lot of people who predicted my failure when I bought my first car. They said, What if you can't learn? and I said I had a lot of money invested, I had to learn. It was tricky at first, but I actually liked the hand-foot coordination, it gave me something to do. Besides I did not know I was Aspy, so I did not know I was not supposed to be able to do it.
Moral of the story, just because something might be more difficult for some of us because of ASD does not mean it is impossible! |
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MisterZip
Hummingbird
Joined: Jun 01, 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| spudnik wrote: | | Yes, and I can drive an 18 speed truck too, double clutching |
Im hip on splitting gears, double clutching, with a sandwitch in your hand at the same time. I feel ya dawg. |
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Tim_Tex
WP's Resident Simpsons and South Park Aficionado
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 28
Posts: 22430
Location: San Marcos, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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Never driven with a stick shift, so I wouldn't know.
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Deus_Imperator
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 14, 2007
Age: 20
Posts: 330
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:50 am Post subject: |
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I drive a manual. When I got into an automatic car after driving the manual for a while I still went for the clutch even though I knew it wasn't there. So driving manuals is easy.
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Vale Omnes |
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BitsandWires
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
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Joined: Aug 15, 2007
Age: 26
Posts: 60
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: |
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I don't see how you came to that conclusion? Manual transmissions are very exact and logical mechanisms. Just look at pictures that show how a clutch operates, and how gear ratios change the final drive. Maybe because you're doing two things at once? Still I always enjoyed shifting cars and motorcycles  |
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Danielismyname
I stab my own back
Joined: Apr 03, 2007
Posts: 6054
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| I assume you mean manual; sure. I just can't drive on the road; too many uncontrollable variables for me. |
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AspE
Toucan
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 262
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| It's easier to maximize mileage with a manual. You can put it in neutral and coast, or keep the revs low. Of course, it also makes it easier to drive really fast. I used to be obsessed with performance, aftermarket exhaust, lowered suspension, lightweight pulleys, but with gas prices now it seems wasteful. |
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Mikomi
Phoenix
Joined: Jan 25, 2008
Posts: 785
Location: On top of your TV, lookin' at you funny.
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, no problems.
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CityAsylum
Venio. Exeunt omnes.
Joined: Jan 08, 2008
Posts: 3542
Location: NYC
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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I only drive stick - the day they stop making cars with manual transmissions is the day I stop buying cars. 
My friends have always made fun of me for refusing to buy automatics, so I would have guessed it was an aspie thing for me to prefer the mechanical entertainment value.
Also, manual cars cost a couple of thousand less, and you get much better mileage, never get stuck in snow, and have much better maneuvering capability.
I have no idea why anyone would prefer to use automatic, other than that it was all they were exposed to, which is fair enough.
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I'm as puzzled as a newborn child |
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Beenthere
10 Miles South of Sanity
Joined: Dec 30, 2005
Age: 41
Posts: 2136
Location: Pa.
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Been awhile, but I used to be able to. Have to admit it took awhile (almost toasted the clutch and got stuck on a few hills) learning.
Had no choice but to learn, only car I could afford at the time was a 5 speed VW GTI...it was either learn or walk...I so hated that car when I was trying to learn...now I wish I still had it, it was alot of fun. 
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zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1137
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:40 am Post subject: |
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I am a terrib;e multi tasker.. I tried for a year to drive a stick shift with little improvement.. it freaked me out.. then I started learning in an automatic and it was so much better... I was lucky that I was able to sit my licence in the automatic. I am happy to leave manuals to those who love them...
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For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
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Apple_in_my_Eye
Snowy Owl
Joined: May 08, 2008
Age: 40
Posts: 158
Location: planet of improbable realities
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:50 am Post subject: |
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Yes. It feels more "definite" or connected to the road/machine somehow. I remember somebody referring to an automatic trannny as a "slushbox" and could relate. As someone else said a motorcycle was even better; could lose all awareness of being separate from the machine.
Weirdly, that extra bit of "involvement" seems to keep me better focussed on what I'm doing.
Can't talk at all when driving, regardless of transmission type. |
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zen_mistress
In Pursuit of a Peaceful Life
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Age: 31
Posts: 1137
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:50 am Post subject: |
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| Apple_in_my_Eye wrote: | Yes. It feels more "definite" or connected to the road/machine somehow. I remember somebody referring to an automatic trannny as a "slushbox" and could relate. As someone else said a motorcycle was even better; could lose all awareness of being separate from the machine.
Weirdly, that extra bit of "involvement" seems to keep me better focussed on what I'm doing.
Can't talk at all when driving, regardless of transmission type. |
Yes my driving gets that bit worse when people are talking to me. And as for people giving instructions while I'm trying to park- they should shut up. I cannot manoeuvre a car, and listen at the same time.
_________________
Glory be to God for dappled things,
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow,
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls, finches’ wings.
~ Gerard Manley Hopkins
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Pandora
Cat Lady
Joined: Jun 18, 2005
Age: 47
Posts: 4684
Location: Townsville
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:40 am Post subject: |
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I can drive with a stick shift but never found it easy. If I get another car, I will get an automatic instead. I too find it harder to drive if the radio is on or people are talking loudly and don't like city/town driving because there is too much other traffic on the road.
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rottenlittleboys
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: May 14, 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 10:06 am Post subject: |
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| Stick since I was 17 so over 20 years now. I prefer a stick as I love to have that feeling of being connected with my machine. When I have to drive my husband's automatic, I feel lost. |
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