From: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA (Andreas  Tovornik)
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Reply-To: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 02:48:48 GMT

In article 10020@nezsdc.icl.co.nz, derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne) writes:
>In article <1dck4tINNqj3@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer) writes:
>>
>>In a previous article, atovorni@engr.UVic.CA (Andreas  Tovornik) says:
>>[repeated stuff deleted]
>>
>>>And driving TRABANTS!
>>
>>haha..nicelyput!!!
>>
>>*****WARNING: REAL LIFE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW!! STOP NOW IF YOU DO NOT LIKE IT!!
>>(you gotta make sure to put this stuff on these to protect these peeple!! ;-)
>>
>>>Yeah...My mother's not willing to try either. When her car was in the shop,
>>>I said that she was welcome to use mine. I had to drive her all over town
>>>because she never could be bothered to learn how to REALLY drive(ARRRGH!)
>>>
>>
>>this is a real life example of what i have been stressing.  EVERYONE should
>>LEARN on a stick, as they can then drive EITHER!!..at their WHIM...but, 
>
>Yeah right, EVERYONE should learn EVERYTHING.  Lets not leave out any 
>of those driving skills.  We might be stuck in the middle of nowhere and 
>the only vehicle available is an ARTICULATED LORRY,  or one of those TRACKED
>CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES,  or a TRACTOR or a MOTORBIKE (yes I know we aren't
>supposed to discuss motorbikes in this newsgroup). We might have had an 
>accident in the middle of the Sahara and the only transport is a CAMEL - we 
>should learn to ride one of those too!  EVERYONE should know how to put 
>any 4X4 into 4 wheel drive IN THE DARK.  EVERYONE should also be able to fix 
>ANY part of their vehicle on matter where they are.  EVERYONE should know
>how to DOUBLE DE-CLUTCH in case their synchro's fail,  ditto CLUTCHLESS
>SHIFT.

Exactly :+)

>Look this is all a load of *#$%.  If someone is stuck in the middle of 
>nowhere and there was a reasonably novel vehicle around they would learn to
>drive it or die.  Most people learn to double de-clutch _after_ their vehicle
>fails not before.  If you really need to you will 'Jury rig your car or die'
>or wait for the next vehicle and get a lift.  Think of it as evolution in 
>action.

Yes, but some only drive automatics :+)

>>those who never learn on a stick, are relegated to the (monotonouosIMHO)
>>life of driving an auto only
>
>Hey it's their choice!  For most people it is just a method of transport.  
>Thats why they sell so many boring cars.   
>
>>, and, whenever circumstances call, are left
>>looking like idiots because they have to  be either taught, or they have
>>to beg someone to take the time to drag them around, or they claim to be
>>able to, and screw up the equipment!....
>
>Sounds to me like in the good ole' US of A the automatic is the norm.  If 
>the car breaks down most of the neighbours will also have automatics.  The
>chances of having to borrow a manual are pretty small.  Tales of 3 speed blue 
>Mustangs notwithstanding.
>
>>if everyone were required to learn
>>to drive a manual, then they would have the choice, 
>
>If everyone was _required_ to learn use a manual you would just have _removed_
>their freedom of choice.
>
>>but as it is now, have
>>NONE!!...geez..how can anybody be so blind???
>
>I can't ride a motorbike.  I don't apologise for that.  I don't see why I 
>should learn to ride one just in case I have to borrow one someday.  It is
>the same for a lot of people and manual gearboxes.  

We know!

Torque Monger