True.....so now I am week or two away from giving my custom 2003 Velvet Red MC up for GP1292!!! Have any of you gone that long between an auto and manual?

iflyMINI

 

Ifly...from my senior year in HS (1982) till this year.....24 years, man...older than some MINI owners.

 

I'm at the other end of the spectrum...I started driving stick at 14 and never stopped (well, now and then to eat and use the bathroom). I'm 42 now...

 

Cool !!! The kicker is back in July I broke my tibea plateau and blew my knee out!!! So now after 2 surgeries, 12 hospital days, 11 screws, 2 plates, ten weeks off work and tons of physical therapy here I am......PRICELESS.

Back on 14 Sept when my dealer called to say my name on their list came up for GP1292 what was I thinking??? I was thinking HELL YES. No mater what I will find a way to be able to walk and CLUTCH by early November!! This should be interesting indeed.

Later today I am going to my dealer to test drive an S just so I know!!!

iflyMINI

 

I learned to drive in a VW bug (manual) when I was 10 and then drove sticks until I got married. My wife spent the next 4 years trying to get used to it but couldn't, so we went to autos until she became so disabled by her MS that she couldn't drive at all. After about 19 years driving only automatics, I bought a MINI with a manual. It took me a few minutes to feel sure I knew what I was doing and a few weeks before I decided I was good at it again, but it's SO much better to be able to stir the box. I drive a minivan (auto, of course) so I can get my wife around, but I always love being able to get back in the MINI and own the entire driving experience.

 

I have been driving stick since 1990. I keep saying it isn't the transmission that makes me choose a particular vehicle, but I keep on buying manuals. We also have a van (automatic) so I don't get out of practice driving the automatic transmissions, but I drive the van maybe 1% of the time.

 

I did!! Had a Spitfire in '76 and then drove automatics 'til my Geo Metro in '91. I don't think you ever forget...but I was a bit worried for the first 5-minutes or so. You'll do great!!!

 

The fun part is knowing how to drive a stick for so long then jump into an auto. You start to slow down, want to down shift, and try to use the clutch. :impatient You learn real fast how good the brakes are.

 

Longer, it'd been 20+ years for me. I went down to the dealer, got behind the wheel and took off like I never stopped driving a manual, even the sales guy was surprised. It's one of those things you never forget.

 

True dat.

My first two years of driving (including driving with a learner's permit) I was all auto and then I started driving a Mazda 3 5-door (5-spd) about 6 months ago which lead me to the MINI. If I had not driven the Mazda, I would probably be driving a VW GTI w/ DSG right now.

I've had Egan for 3 months now and have no regrets.

 

yah, it's usually the sales guys that suck at driving MT's.
he pulls the car out of the lot for you showing this and that im thinking
we're going to crash by the time it's my turn.

one time i had to pull a car out (5-6 cars deep in the parking lot) for
a younger sales guy (Mazda) cause the car his customer wanted to
test drive was a MT... and he was too scared to back it out on his
own. LOL :impatient his customer was using the restroom at the time.

 

I did 15 years and 8 months without driving stick, I had my license 3 months later.

 

I went 18 years between my Fiat 128 Wagon (fun little thing) to my 2002 MC...even more fun! In between I had automatic trannies, but I prefer my 2003 MCS 6-speed MT.

 

Just went back to an auto...my MCS in for repairs. Git silver 06 MCSaAt first I thought it sucked. Really changed how the MCS felt, disconected me. Then I notice when more agressive with the gas pedal it shifts far more agressively than I do in my MCS.

Wasn't impressed. And I dont like the wire cup holder.


Paul