Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[KennyG]

Relative to clutches, I've never had to replace one except for a car I bought with a warped clutch plate. A few years ago, I drove around Portugal and France in a leased Peugeot with a stick. To get to a small hotel at the top of an ancient village I had to drive up a high hill with narrow streets clogged with pedestrians. Just before I got to the top the "clutch temperature" warning light came on. I wonder how common that feature has become?

 

[Norm W]

Every vehicle I have is standard shift. I'm more than a bit upset that auto shift is the only transmission available, except in real expensive sport jobs. The infinitely variable transmissions are only good it seems for about 60K miles. I've got over 150K on the same Honda clutch. They're "dumbing" things down to a "Go" pedal and a "Stop" pedal. The round thing in some folks hands is just for aiming the vehicle. Bring back the VW Bug. 38 Miles per gallon and you could fix it without a computer.

 

[WinterDeere]

Every vehicle I have is standard shift. I'm more than a bit upset that auto shift is the only transmission available, except in real expensive sport jobs. The infinitely variable transmissions are only good it seems for about 60K miles. I've got over 150K on the same Honda clutch. They're "dumbing" things down to a "Go" pedal and a "Stop" pedal. The round thing in some folks hands is just for aiming the vehicle. Bring back the VW Bug. 38 Miles per gallon and you could fix it without a computer.

As one friend's father once yelled at one of our other friends, who only drove auto, "That's not driving, that's just steering!"

 

[KennyG]

Every vehicle I have is standard shift. I'm more than a bit upset that auto shift is the only transmission available, except in real expensive sport jobs. The infinitely variable transmissions are only good it seems for about 60K miles. I've got over 150K on the same Honda clutch. They're "dumbing" things down to a "Go" pedal and a "Stop" pedal. The round thing in some folks hands is just for aiming the vehicle. Bring back the VW Bug. 38 Miles per gallon and you could fix it without a computer.

What CVTs are only good for 60k? I've had two and they both went over 100k and required no maintenance.

 

[Yander]

The first 5 vehicle I owned were manual. I don't miss it one bit. Give me an automatic any day.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

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?

 

[WinterDeere]

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

Only if it were an antique car, for fun. I see no reason to want, or advantage in owning, an non-synchromesh gearbox in a passenger vehicle.

 

[scootr]

Every vehicle I have is standard shift. I'm more than a bit upset that auto shift is the only transmission available, except in real expensive sport jobs. The infinitely variable transmissions are only good it seems for about 60K miles. I've got over 150K on the same Honda clutch. They're "dumbing" things down to a "Go" pedal and a "Stop" pedal. The round thing in some folks hands is just for aiming the vehicle. Bring back the VW Bug. 38 Miles per gallon and you could fix it without a computer.

They did bring back the bug, twice. I have a new model beetle, turbo diesel 6 spd. Very reminiscent of the original beetle I learned to drive on in a cow pasture... and it can get 50-60 mpg on the highway. But I'm pretty sure anything more than an oil change requires a computer.

 

[Jstpssng]

They did bring back the bug, twice. I have a new model beetle, turbo diesel 6 spd. Very reminiscent of the original beetle I learned to drive on in a cow pasture... and it can get 50-60 mpg on the highway. But I'm pretty sure anything more than an oil change requires a computer.

Is your engine in the front or the back?

 

[ultrarunner]

Only if it were an antique car, for fun. I see no reason to want, or advantage in owning, a non-synchromesh gearbox in a passenger vehicle.

Most of mine are 1920’s and 1930’s

 

[ultrarunner]

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?

Does anyone still use Western Star?

I think they were popular with loggers but I’m thinking way back.

 

[BackRoad]

Still driving a stick...

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Does anyone still use Western Star?

I think they were popular with loggers but I’m thinking way back.

When looking around for a good used Pete I came across a very nice looking Western Star.

I briefly considered it since the price was quite low. Don't know anything about them, and it might have had an engine I didn't care for.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Western Star of today is not your grandfathers. Are they not owned by Daimler now?

Re: non syncro, I drove a B model Mack that we nicknamed the "stone crusher".

 

[ultrarunner]

When looking around for a good used Pete I came across a very nice looking Western Star.

I briefly considered it since the price was quite low. Don't know anything about them, and it might have had an engine I didn't care for.

I drive by the original Peterbilt site everyday… founded in 1939 in Oakland CA…

Like many West Coast businesses Peterbilt is now Texas based… no more piggybacks of new trucks heading down the road…

 

[WinterDeere]

I drive by the original Peterbilt site everyday… founded in 1939 in Oakland CA…

Like many West Coast businesses Peterbilt is now Texas based… no more piggybacks of new trucks heading down the road…

It's always surprising for younger people to hear how dominant California was in heavy manufacturing, 60 years ago. In fact, Los Angeles was perhaps the only American city that ever came close to rivaling Philadelphia's old title of "Workshop of the World", albeit a good generation or two after Philadelphia's peak. Both cities saw a rise in crime, as manufacturing and good blue-collar jobs moved away in the 1970's and 80's, leaving vacant factories and rising unemployment in their wake.

 

[ultrarunner]

Oakland was often called Detroit of the West and maybe be still are today…

Lots of auto and truck plants here.

Now just Tesla but no sticks.

I learned to double clutch on a old VW big convertible…

 

[scootr]

Is your engine in the front or the back?

That VW Bug engine is in the front and it is front wheel drive. Handles like it thinks all german cars are sport cars...

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I drive by the original Peterbilt site everyday… founded in 1939 in Oakland CA…

Like many West Coast businesses Peterbilt is now Texas based… no more piggybacks of new trucks heading down the road…

Being down by San Antonio on business I took the opportunity to stop by at their Denton factory on the way home.

I was fortunate enough to get a private tour of the entire plant, which was great.
But then I walked out to my 359 and now its paint looked even more faded than before.

 

[fidowanttobe]

But then I walked out to my 359 and now its paint looked even more faded than before.

Ain't no shame in wearing work clothes.