Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[Too many Kubotas]

True. But unfortunately it wasn't a work truck.

Pulling a 28' pup converted to a toy hauler isn't exactly work for a Class 8 tractor.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

'09 Scion xB 5-speed, the car I bought off my brothers estate.

I didn't want it originally but my 2nd son's wife divorced him leaving him with literally only the clothes he owned - everything was in daddy's name as both their credit ratings were trash, so I had to get something he could use to drive to work.

Now, he's almost back on his feet and I'm using it since it's not too bad on gas.

You can actually get two 55 gallon drums in the back of this (rear seats down and empty of course).

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ very versatile in a small footprint… my neighbor has one and it’s been super dependable…

 

[WinterDeere]

You can actually get two 55 gallon drums in the back of this (rear seats down and empty of course).

There has to be a good back-story to that sentence, as this is just not "common knowledge".

 

[Oaktree]

It's one more step toward disposable vehicles completely unserviceable by the owner.

And yet modern vehicles last much longer and require less maintenance than ever. What's the median age of vehicles on the road today, 12.5 years +/-?

 

[Oaktree]

Bring back the VW Bug. 38 Miles per gallon and you could fix it without a computer.

And you never went anywhere in one without tools, a set of coveralls and at the very least a spare belt.

 

[Oaktree]

I regret selling my Pete, so I'm getting another one - also with an 18-speed.

Which makes me wonder, of those who really want stick shifts how many would like a non-syncro version?

Curiously, why did almost no one offer syncros in first gear until well into the 70s?

 

[Oaktree]

'09 Scion xB 5-speed, the car I bought off my brothers estate.

I didn't want it originally but my 2nd son's wife divorced him leaving him with literally only the clothes he owned - everything was in daddy's name as both their credit ratings were trash, so I had to get something he could use to drive to work.

Now, he's almost back on his feet and I'm using it since it's not too bad on gas.

You can actually get two 55 gallon drums in the back of this (rear seats down and empty of course).

You'd see them all over the place maybe 20 years ago. Guess they didn't stand up very well because by the early teens they were all gone. I thought they looked like a kleenex box on wheels.

 

[KennyG]

Curiously, why did almost no one offer syncros in first gear until well into the 70s?

I'm going way back in the memory hole, so this may not be 100% accurate, but as I recall, synchros worked on pairs of gears, so when they were added to 3 speeds, they worked on 2nd and 3rd. Four speed auto transmissions (neglecting the truck "granny" four speeds) were fully synchronized when they were modernized. The modern 5, 6, and 7 speed manuals are different designs, so I don't think the synchros work the same way.

Does anyone remember a three speed with low synchros? Feel free to correct me on this.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

And yet modern vehicles last much longer and require less maintenance than ever. What's the median age of vehicles on the road today, 12.5 years +/-?

I agree that the average vehicle lasts far longer now than in the "good old days " but when that period of parts and specialty tool support ends there is no way for an average back yard mechanic to keep them going. Up until the mid 80s everything on a car was essentially rebuildable, even things like an ignition module could be retrofitted with a different part or replaced with points. Once an ecm or body control module goes and isn't available that car is done.