Car Repair Skills Everyone Should Have

[11B4V]

I thought of a new skilll...not really a repair skill, and not one that is strictly needed, but it would be good for everyone to know how to drive a manual transmission.

All my vehicles are manual transmission. I wont own an auto.

[Monoriu]

If I remember correctly, my automatic has the following transmissions: P, R, N, D, 2, L.

I think I've only ever used P, R and D.  The rest are meaningless to me.  I don't even know what they do.

[katmai]

[Monoriu]

I always tell my wife, that when we drive, there is no problem that can't be solved by stepping harder on the brake, or the accelerator. 

[Brazen]

I used to do most of my own car maintenance, but things have just got too complicated under there! I pump petrol and keep my tyres and window-washing fluid topped up, but that's about it. But I have a very understanding garage that will undertake the cheapest option for the impoverished.

[Grey Fox]

I thought of a new skilll...not really a repair skill, and not one that is strictly needed, but it would be good for everyone to know how to drive a manual transmission.

All my vehicles are manual transmission. I wont own an auto.

Why do you like inefficiency?

[Malthus]

It may take a couple of hours to learn the basics of operating the shifter and the clutch smoothly enough, but driving the manual car like second nature so that you're not distracted by the mechanics of it all takes more time than that.  And no way am I going to go to Ukraine for anything.

You better brush up on your horseback riding skills, in case you ever find yourself in Mongolia. 

[derspiess]

The direct control of manual is appealing.

Until you're stuck in traffic going 5 mph up a hill.

But otherwise, yeah-- I prefer a standard transmission.  My wife, despite having learned twice, has conveniently forgotten how to drive one.  Especially when my car is blocking her in the driveway.

[alfred russel]

I successfully rented an automatic in France, so it isn't a big deal. 

But you probably paid through the nose, and there are parts of Europe you can't be sure one is available. And many parts of the world you can be sure one isn't available.

  Why do you like inefficiency?

This proves you aren't really French after all. 

[fhdz]

All of the "manual is better than automatic" arguments which are actually quantifiable - like fuel inefficiency, transmission wear, and so on - have been rendered obsolete by improvements in automatic transmissions.

The only arguments left for refusing to drive an automatic in the United States, where automatic transmissions are very common, are emotional arguments. Which is fine; if that's what you feel like you want to do because it satisfies you in some non-quantifiable way, then go for it.

[Admiral Yi]

It's pretty hott when a chick knows how to drive stick and parallel park.

[Grey Fox]

FahdizYI are right.

[garbon]

The direct control of manual is appealing.

Until you're stuck in traffic going 5 mph up a hill.

My hybrid is the worst on hills when you come to a complete stop.

[DGuller]

It's probably the stop-start system.  When I test drove a Mercedes C300, I found that system on it to be very stupidly behaving.  When I was parking it, the moment I came to a stop after a maneuver, it shut off.  Then I press the gas and nothing happens for a while, until it does.  Not very reassuring, though I imagine I would get used to it.

[garbon]

It's probably the stop-start system.  When I test drove a Mercedes C300, I found that system on it to be very stupidly behaving.  When I was parking it, the moment I came to a stop after a maneuver, it shut off.  Then I press the gas and nothing happens for a while, until it does.  Not very reassuring, though I imagine I would get used to it.

That's exactly what it is. Necessitates me using two feet as I need to press the gas pedal quickly unless I want to start rolling backwards.