Let's call it "manual" now. (^_^)b
Sounds more refined.

btw, my sister has an '02 MC CVT (u_u)

 

I just want to say that women who can drive a manual transmission rock! That's not to say that women who can't do it can't be cool too, but the skill is a big plus in my book.

...and in the case she can't, I'm always willing to teach, if she's wanting and willing to learn. Even with my own MINI.

 

Stick...no question about it.

 

1st MINI 03 a manual on order 07 automatic. Got Manual originally because the auto (05) I drove was a dog.
Got Auto this time cause it was much better than previous automatic MINI's that I had driven. Also much easier to use phone with Automatic than with a stick

 

manual, all the way

 

Stick shift's rule I would like to see Mini Chix come up with a Mini Chix Drive Stix badge!!!

I have only had two auto trans in my very, very long driving experience.
Auto trans makes me feel like a passenger....just along for the ride. With a stick you actually "drive" the car....IMO of course

 

LOL I love that rockin' smiley, bamatt!

 

Please plan for my 16 y/o son to arrive at your door step via Fed-Ex. Signature required upon delivery. You may return him COD once you've successfully taught him to drive a stick.

Thanks!

 

ROFL

A few things... in your quote from me you left out the word she. Also, for the cost of FedEx/plane ticket (to the East Coast), room/board, and incidentals... you might be better off finding a local driving school there in San Diego that teaches stick shift.

Heh. The truth is I've taught some of my guy friends too, including one who bought a MINI and is a member of NAM.

 

Just thinking of stick (ahem. . .Manual) gives me post traumatic stress! Hubby tried to teach me on his '67 VW van back in the '80s. This thing had a driver's seat jammed into position for someone 6'2 (I'm 5'5).

Folks sitting in the back could watch the road go by. . . underneath the thing. BTW it was orange and white with a split windshield, and I did love being in it as a passenger. Only vehicle we got pulled over in for a speeding ticket, going 35 MPH on the freeway.

So I perch on the edge of the seat, tiptoe the clutch into gear, grind the stick into position, and the dang thing starting lurching and hopping up and down. No dancing of the left foot for me. The entire bloody thing was leaping around off the road. Hubby was laughing so hard, and I was hysterical. The THING finally shuddered to a stop long after I'd yanked the key out of the ignition.

I've never learned manual. I love my MCS with Auto!!

 

Definitely had to have a stick. I've only owned one car that was an automatic.

Donna

 

Ours is an automatic. I can sort of drive a stick, but we decided to get the automatic. Maybe our next Mini will be a stick....

 

T, you rock fer sher

...I think I was part of that teaching seminar..

well no wonder you never learned after that trauma. Old VW vans and campers were impossible to drive, even if one did know how to drive a stick. I know someone who has a '73 pop-up camper. Great for camping...hell to drive. I'm 5'4"...that Vdub was definitely not made for shorties. I feel your pain.

 

Stick--never was a question when we ordered our car.

I loathe automatics!

 

I have an automatic....although, when preparing to order my Mini (and picking out exactly what I wanted), my boyfriend gave me a crash course (no pun intended) in driving a manual (I'd say driving a stick...but I think it would just sound unladylike in a comment about my boyfriend). I really wanted to learn so I could get a stick for the extra fun with the Mini....but when it came time to order, I chickened out and stayed with an automatic because I was more comfortable with it. I'm so ashamed.....

 

Manual...I've been driving sticks since 1990.

 

I would have been slapped silly for being a sexist! What does it matter if your a girl or a guy?

Matt

 

Yes, but if your wife asked the same question, would she be labelled a sexist?

Context must be considered. Is the OP (RUDEBOX) male or female? It seems to me that none of the women who have responded to this thread had an issue with being asked.

Perhaps there really isn't a problem here!

I think the validity of the question lies in the common social belief (whether statistically backed up or not) that a higher percentage of male drivers can drive a manual transmission than female. To that end, it then becomes more interesting to see how much the MINI community counters that belief.

And so far, from this thread - it sure has!

 

Doesn't matter who says "ladies can't drive sticks" it's still a sexist position.

Matt

ps, watch out about that sex of the original poster position. That leads one to the position that Jews can make jewish jokes and the like. The slippery slope goes downhill fast from there..... Shouldn't matter who says what, it's the CONTENT that matters.

At least, that's what I was raised to belive.... An my sister does too!

 

As I posted earlier...both our MINIS are sticks as is the Miata. I learned on a stick back in the 60s as my Dad said "if you learned on a stick you could drive anything". So, out in the grape vinyards in SO CAL we went where I frog hopped my way for hours but then I GOT IT and have never looked back!!!!!!

 

Ahhh, don't be ashamed. Youification is the rule with any MINI!

 

Manual all the way. Never even considered anything else for my MINI. Learned how to drive a stick 20 years ago. In the SF hills.

 

But the OP doesn't even state that.

The OP simply stated:Perhaps the problem then is that both you and I read further into the question as inferring that there is some reason women normally couldn't.

I certainly don't believe that - I've met many women who were kick-*** drivers of a manual tranny... and I've met plenty of men who wouldn't have a clue.

Personally, I think we're both nosy guests on this thread and we should both just duck out peacefully.

 

Thank you. I think all is just fine in here.

 

I've been pondering making a badge/graphic along the lines of "Women's MINI crew team". The reference being to "rowing" through the gears.