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BennettBrauer
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08 May 2014, 10:39 pm

My mom and I went out "looking" for a new car for me, today (she didn't explain that that meant we were going to buy one, which was a whole different problem from the one I want to gripe about here) after my brother totaled my old car.

So now I have a stick-shift, which I don't know how to drive, and it doesn't have power windows or mirrors, and I'm afraid that I will get overwhelmed attempting to drive it, and lose track of the road and accidentally kill someone, or something.

My mom doesn't quite understand that I am not just a loner or something, and that too much sensory and/or emotional input can be a serious problem for me, so when I tried to explain all this to her, she thought I was just being difficult, I guess, but now I'm really freaking out about it, and I'm afraid I might not get any sleep tonight (which would be very bad due to the job interview I have in the morning for co-op for school).



cathylynn
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08 May 2014, 10:53 pm

hi, bennet. i'm just not coordinated enough to drive a stick shift. you have my sympathy.



BennettBrauer
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08 May 2014, 10:59 pm

And of course, that's all on top of the fact that I was only really comfortable driving my old car. That was the car that I drive. This new car is not the car that I drive, and that is problematic.



rapidroy
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08 May 2014, 11:01 pm

Not having power mirrors and windows is a good thing in my opinion. I am not perfect at driving manual at all however I was surprised given how bad I was in the beginning how quick I did pick it up, give it a chance. What kind of car?



BennettBrauer
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08 May 2014, 11:04 pm

It's a Kia of some sort. I wasn't paying attention. But the analog mirrors and windows are honestly almost as bad as the manual transmission for me, because it makes the car not under my control from the driver's seat, and it's just more crap that can get bumped or jostled that I can't fix while the car is moving.



rapidroy
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08 May 2014, 11:09 pm

Well, I like manual everything since I do all of my own repairs, its far easier that way. Electronic devices are known to fail and when that happens your out of luck. Give it all a chance and get used to it.



BennettBrauer
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08 May 2014, 11:12 pm

But I'm likely to get distracted and almost cause an accident when the window's down, even when I just have to push a button to roll it back up. When the window control is on the opposite side of the car....



goldfish21
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08 May 2014, 11:32 pm

Learn to drive stick. It's way more fun. I wish my car had a manual transmission.

It can be frustrating at first, but then it becomes as easy as riding a bike & knowing when to shift gears by feel. The process becomes virtually automated and doesn't require a ton of thinking or focus.

Be patient. Practice. You'll get better at it. Then you'll enjoy it.


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Meistersinger
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08 May 2014, 11:35 pm

Frankly, I only have 4 criteria when looking at a car:

1. fuel efficiency (with regular unleaded at $3.80 and diesel at $4.35 per gallon, and being on disability, you darn well better believe I'm at efficiency.)

2. While looking at fuel efficiency, I also need an automatic transmission (I'm a bit of a klutz, remembering how easy it was to flip dad's milk truck on its side many years ago.)

3. I also need air conditioning, no thanks to my allergies.

4. I'll be happy with an AM/FM stereo radio.

Power windows, power mirrors, seat warmers, I can do without, thank you very much.

If anyone is willing to donate a Chevy Volt, a Nissan Leaf, a Toyota Prius, or a Honda Insight, I'll gladly take you up on the offer. PM me if you are willing to donate.



skibum
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08 May 2014, 11:42 pm

I always loved driving a stick and I miss that. If you like I can tell you the steps that my dad taught me how to drive one. He was a phenomenal teacher and I drove very well and never destroyed a clutch.


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bleh12345
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08 May 2014, 11:58 pm

I have to learn to ride a scooter. All scooters are pretty much automatic, thank god. I won't touch a motorcycle until I know, for a fact, I won't kill myself.

I can't afford a car. People HARASSED me for YEARS to learn to drive and buy a damn car. After I was diagnosed, people stopped. They finally understood why I was nervous I might kill someone. LOL!

Manual would be tough for me. The good news is that you are in a steel cage, so you can hopefully practice driving to "death" where there are little to no hazards.



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09 May 2014, 12:15 am

That's scary. It took me ages to learn how to drive a stick: I'd been at it for several years and still wasn't sure I wanted one by the time I bought my first car (though I did end up getting one due to better fuel efficiency and lower cost.) Perhaps you and your mom can trade off using the stick and her car, to give you an opportunity to learn how to drive it safely, while still allowing you access to a car you're comfortable with to get places you need to go in the meantime.


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KingdomOfRats
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09 May 2014, 7:07 am

am also getting a new car though under different circumstances;under a UK scheme called motability,am not able to drive in any capacity and have support staff or family driving it on open insurance.

we are forced to get a brand new car every three years because they sell the cars afterwards and say that any older than three YO the price starts dropping quickly.

some people woud be jumping at the chance to get a brand new car every three years but am used to mine and change is a massive issue for self.
new one will be built and arriving in a few weeks time,its a pegeout partner tepee.


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rapidroy
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09 May 2014, 11:03 pm

KingdomOfRats wrote:
am also getting a new car though under different circumstances;under a UK scheme called motability,am not able to drive in any capacity and have support staff or family driving it on open insurance.

we are forced to get a brand new car every three years because they sell the cars afterwards and say that any older than three YO the price starts dropping quickly.

some people woud be jumping at the chance to get a brand new car every three years but am used to mine and change is a massive issue for self.
new one will be built and arriving in a few weeks time,its a pegeout partner tepee.
I'm seriously surprised you are forced to get a brand new car at all, I can't help then to think of the money that could be saved by purchasing used vehicles and driving them into the ground as they say, that's the thriftiness in me talking. I'm happy for you though, do you get to go car shopping and have a say? The big 3 North American automakers have a habit of building the same vehicle for up to 10 years in a row so that may not be a bad route to go to avoid change.



RedEnigma
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11 May 2014, 4:16 am

If you've been forced to buy a new car that you do not like, sell it and shop around for a car you do like.
I understand the difficulty in acquiring a new car, especially since you used to drive your old car, not the car you purchased.

I would honestly sell this one and acquire one you like. If your parent is an issue, do it when she isn't there or don't get her involved.
Also, don't let your brother drive this car, ;) :P



chris5000
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11 May 2014, 11:06 am

you just need to drive it on the back roads without traffic to get used to it

you also need to find the steepest hill you can find and practice starting in the middle because if you can master it there you can do it anywhere