Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How many of you old farts still drive a standard ?

I'm still pissed that Ford dropped the stick shift in the F150 back in 2010.
PJ

My 1965 Mustang was a 289 with a 4 speed. I have diabetes and can't feel my feet most of the time.
I changed it over to a C-4 automatic with a shift kit & performance converter. Now my wife can drive it too, if I ever get it finished.

I don't at all claim to be a "guru" but, if you truly would love to watch that, you should have come out to our area in the NM mountain country and rode up/down and around with me in this. 1952 Mack with supercharged big valve Cummins and 5x3 twin stick setup. Fairly easy with some common sense and an ear for RPMs.

Here are a couple other 4speed Muncie and 4wd items I like to drive.

Then, this 4 speed gives me some fun too.

Volvo VNL64 all day for a living. I don’t miss it even a little when I get into my automatic pickup.

I’m 64, I currently drive three vehicles, every one of them is a straight shift.

That Mack is almost a clone of the rig I learned to drive on- - - - -a B-73 with a 262 Cummins and a Tri-Plex 5 X 3. It was a 3 axle with a 1600 gallon water tank on it, used for compaction and dust control on construction sites in central California.

Since slushboxes have improved to the point where they're better at acceleration than a stick - I've had no need really. An auto sure makes driving easier. Just need to watch the heat.

I put massive aftermarket coolers on all mine and I have the trans temp up on the torque pro display if towing or buried up in any mud.

Well, I'm thinking my 1952 LTL could never have been a "clone" of any in the "B" series you mention, because the B Macks succeeded the L series, starting in about 1953. Mine originally had two axles and, for practical reasons, was reduced to one in the re-do process.

Nothing can compare with the thrill and adrenaline rush of switching from brake to clutch coming off a stop sign on an uphill slope with the street covered with packed snow/ice and another vehicle right behind you. How can anyone not love it!

Sweet baby Jesus. Grail truck for me there.

If you have a great truck with autotrans in such situations, that is a smart move.

Coming down a 6% hill with a load, I love turning on the engine brake in my Dodge diesel and dropping 1 or 2 gears with the stick. Then just sit back and let it ease your down the hill.

Absolutely.

Some vehicles I will not have an automatic.
Some vehicles I will not have a standard.

First auto was a '91 F150 extra cab lariat with 8' bed. Loved it for pulling trailers. Backing with the auto trans was so easy compared to trying to work the clutch and gas with your feet while looking back over your right shoulder. Had me hooked. Haven't driven a stick since.

'06 Miata 5-speed and '12 Frontier 6-speed sticks. I'll be 71 next month. Love the stick shift.
#savethemanuals

Heresy! Heresy! Alert the villagers! Prepare the stake! Oil up the rack!

Yep but not old, 57 ?

I'll take my steak medium rare. Who's rack are you oiling up? What's her name?