Another newbie
-
- Junior Standardshifter
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:08 am
Another newbie
Hi all, I found this forum back when I was learning to drive a standard transmission but only just created an account. I'm still relatively new, I learned after I bought a 5-spd Scion xD as a bit of a college graduation gift to myself . My folks thought I was crazy spending that much on a car I didn't know how to drive, but I took to it quickly. Almost 1 year and 11K miles later, it's mostly subconscious and I don't think about it that much.
Way back in drivers' ed, my first time behind the wheel went something like this:
Instructor: "Have you driven before?"
Me: "No ... well, once, my Dad gave me a few minutes behind the wheel last week."
Instructor: "What about other vehicles -- go-karts, riding mower, anything?"
Me: "No, nothing but a bicycle."
Instructor: "... have you considered a career in racing?"
Getting the feel of a stick-shift wasn't too different. It took time to train my left foot, but I knew the mechanics of it and I think that helped. I'm still not where I'd like to be, though. Usually I drive for economy, and do fairly well. Sometimes I have to have a little fun, but contrary to my driving instructor's opinion, I'm definitely nowhere near track quality.
What kills me is that I'm still not perfectly coordinated. I'll miss my RPM mark and have a jerky shift, or worse, every once in a great while I'll rush things too much and grind the sync gears a little ><. But, I think I'm to the point where I can help others learn
Way back in drivers' ed, my first time behind the wheel went something like this:
Instructor: "Have you driven before?"
Me: "No ... well, once, my Dad gave me a few minutes behind the wheel last week."
Instructor: "What about other vehicles -- go-karts, riding mower, anything?"
Me: "No, nothing but a bicycle."
Instructor: "... have you considered a career in racing?"
Getting the feel of a stick-shift wasn't too different. It took time to train my left foot, but I knew the mechanics of it and I think that helped. I'm still not where I'd like to be, though. Usually I drive for economy, and do fairly well. Sometimes I have to have a little fun, but contrary to my driving instructor's opinion, I'm definitely nowhere near track quality.
What kills me is that I'm still not perfectly coordinated. I'll miss my RPM mark and have a jerky shift, or worse, every once in a great while I'll rush things too much and grind the sync gears a little ><. But, I think I'm to the point where I can help others learn
- FDSpirit
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 6157
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:23 pm
- Cars: 2000 Honda Civic Si
- Location: Troy/Albany, NY
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
Hola!
2000 Honda Civic Si- Slightly faster than your grandmomma's grocery getter......slightly.
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 16021
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
- Location: Glocester, RI
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
l337r3dn3k wrote:Way back in drivers' ed, my first time behind the wheel went something like this:
Instructor: "Have you driven before?"
Me: "No ... well, once, my Dad gave me a few minutes behind the wheel last week."
Instructor: "What about other vehicles -- go-karts, riding mower, anything?"
Me: "No, nothing but a bicycle."
Instructor: "... have you considered a career in racing?"
Welcome. What do you drive?
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
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 6927
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:51 pm
- Cars: 1994 Corolla, 1990 Miata
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Another newbie
theholycow wrote:What do you drive?
l2read.l337r3dn3k wrote: I'm still relatively new, I learned after I bought a 5-spd Scion xD as a bit of a college graduation gift to myself . My folks thought I was crazy spending that much on a car I didn't know how to drive, but I took to it quickly. Almost 1 year and 11K miles later, it's mostly subconscious and I don't think about it that much.
And welcome!
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 16021
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
- Location: Glocester, RI
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
:facepalm: Sometimes I fail at paying attention.94Corolla5Speed wrote:l2read.
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
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: Another newbie
i don't get it what's wrong with getting a sewing machine on prom night and getting your picture taken with the UPS truck instead of your date (if you had one)?theholycow wrote::facepalm: Sometimes I fail at paying attention.94Corolla5Speed wrote:l2read.
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
- theholycow
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 16021
- Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
- Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
- Location: Glocester, RI
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
I dunno, I just figured that picture needed that caption...I think I was thinking of the UPS driver's failure or something...it was a long time ago.potownrob wrote:i don't get it what's wrong with getting a sewing machine on prom night and getting your picture taken with the UPS truck instead of your date (if you had one)?
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
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 15881
- Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:42 am
- Cars: '08 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon
- Location: Salem, MA
Re: Another newbie
Welcome. I am the resident Viggen driver.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Another newbie
Welcome aboard the nut house.
AWWAAAAAYYYYYYYY!
AWWAAAAAYYYYYYYY!
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
- comingbackdown
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7401
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
- Cars: 2013 Ford Fiesta
- Location: Ohio (Why do I live where the air hurts my face?)
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
Tony, you brilliant, brilliant man. You gave me an idea for a greeting.
Welcome! YOU'RE LATE FOR TEA!
Nice to have you here, and enjoy your stay!
Welcome! YOU'RE LATE FOR TEA!
Nice to have you here, and enjoy your stay!
2013 Ford Fiesta + a bike and a land yacht which are in pieces.
Re: Another newbie
Welcome to SS, I am the resident Porkchop.
Bemvindo a SS, eu sou o residente Porkchop.
Bemvindo a SS, eu sou o residente Porkchop.
-
- Junior Standardshifter
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:08 am
Re: Another newbie
comingbackdown, I love a good Danasoft banner ... and would like to assure you that, for me, the sign always includes the word "Linux" =D
- comingbackdown
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7401
- Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
- Cars: 2013 Ford Fiesta
- Location: Ohio (Why do I live where the air hurts my face?)
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
Very nice! Unfortunately, my always says "Windows XP". However... Not by choice. My machine isn't beefy enough to VM XP even if I were a magic wielding genie. Running a VM is incredibly wishful thinking for me. I have a use for XP, yes. But I run games too often these days to end up doing the login/logout over and over thing. But, as soon as I get the chance I'll be running a Linux distro as my primary OS. I'm sure everyone who touches my computer is going to love me to pieces then...l337r3dn3k wrote:comingbackdown, I love a good Danasoft banner ... and would like to assure you that, for me, the sign always includes the word "Linux" =D
Mom and dad already hated the fact that I was using Linux. They had a choice when I was on their machine. If Linux was loaded, either take instruction from me or wait to reboot into XP. They were very displeased, and they didn't like Ubuntu at all.
2013 Ford Fiesta + a bike and a land yacht which are in pieces.
- wannabe
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 8113
- Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 11:48 am
- Cars: NONE - take the bus
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
- Contact:
Re: Another newbie
mine tells me to surrender my "man card" what is that?
welcome aboard. i've been here since 05 (don't look at join date) but started driving stick march 09. i'm still stalling and getting jerky shifts...but i don't sweat it...lol
welcome aboard. i've been here since 05 (don't look at join date) but started driving stick march 09. i'm still stalling and getting jerky shifts...but i don't sweat it...lol