I just wanted to say thank you to the people on this board. I bought a 2007 Honda Fit five years ago now, and it was my first standard. My (ex)husband could not sit in the car with me without screaming at me about doing it wrong and I never thought I would be able to learn to drive it. I was so frustrated, and the car sat in my driveway for weeks. Everytime I'd try to drive to work, it would end in disaster and I'd end up crying at a stop sign because I couldn't get the car to go and everyone was beeping at me.
Everyone on this board was so incredibly helpful and patient, and I read everything I possibly can. I practiced, and used those tricks, and when I'd get stuck on something, I'd post and it was explained in a way I could understand. I'm a very technical person (I'm a programmer) so I need to understand how things work before I can use them, and this forum was great for that.
Now I've been driving stick for 5 years and could not be happier about it. There was a brief period of time where I had to drive an automatic, and I felt so disconnected from the car. I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made to drive a car with a manual transmission. It taught me to be a better driver in general, because you have to pay so much more attention to how the car is responding to the input you're giving it. You learn more intimately the effect all these buttons and levers have on the overall handling of the car. I became a more aware driver, because I had to focus on what gear to be in and predict what gear I would need to be in. Winter driving is a blast, and I never get stuck anymore. I ran out of gas the other day and was able to start my car on a hill! My cars are so much more reliable, because I don't have to worry about all these silly automatic parts failing, and my clutch is in great shape. I teach all my friends to drive stick now and have no desire to ever drive an automatic again.
So that's all I got. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here for being so patient and spending so much time explaining things to people!
I just wanted to say thank you
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- Junior Standardshifter
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 12:10 am
- Cars: 2009 Honda Fit
- Location: Stafford Springs, CT
I just wanted to say thank you
'09 Honda Fit, '91 BMW 318IS, '91 Toyota Pickup, '94 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible, '94 Honda Civic
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
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- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
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Re: I just wanted to say thank you
I'm glad we were able to help you and that you didn't give up and now enjoy it. I vaguely remember your username but of course forget when or where I came across it on here. Is the 318 a stick too??
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
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- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: I just wanted to say thank you
Hey, your username sure looks familiar from back in the day. Glad that you stuck with it and enjoying it now.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
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- Master Standardshifter
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- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
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Re: I just wanted to say thank you
I wasn't on the board in 2008, but these peeps have helped me become a much better driver through their patience and occasional good-natured ribbing when I've done something tremendously stupid.
Re: I just wanted to say thank you
Is that Jon Voight's lebaron you're driving?
97 Prelude 5spd swap FTW! (Sold! )
07 Mazda MX-5 Sport (DEAD)
07 VW Rabbit
04 Mazdaspeed Miata (Sold!)
05 RX8 (Sold!)
95 Wrangler
07 Mazda MX-5 Sport (DEAD)
07 VW Rabbit
04 Mazdaspeed Miata (Sold!)
05 RX8 (Sold!)
95 Wrangler
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
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- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
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- Contact:
Re: I just wanted to say thank you
RomPirate wrote:Is that Jon Voight's lebaron you're driving?
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
Put your car in your sig!
Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
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- Master Standardshifter
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- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
- Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
- Location: Greater Detroit Area
Re: I just wanted to say thank you
No, that's his Lebron, James.theholycow wrote:RomPirate wrote:Is that Jon Voight's lebaron you're driving?
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
- RITmusic2k
- Master Standardshifter
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- Cars: 2004 BMW 330i ZHP
- Location: Anaheim, CA
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Re: I just wanted to say thank you
Oh hey, I think I remember you as well; we joined the board here around the same time. Glad things have worked out for you the way they have for me! Thanks for stopping back in to say 'hey!'