nick007
Veteran
Joined: 4 May 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 27,765
Location: was Louisiana but now Vermont in capitalistic military dictatorship called USA
11 Dec 2021, 5:47 pm
11 Dec 2021, 6:59 pm
goldfish21 wrote:
Double Retired wrote:
Never learned stick shift, don't want to, no need to. I want to have automatic-everything. Get in the car, tell it where I want to go, then read or nap for awhile.
Cars are not yet that good. Tesla has apparently packaged its "autopilot" in a way that has tricked many Tesla owners into thinking their car is self-driving. Some of those owners are now dead because they were wrong about that.
But the built-in navigation system, blind-spot sensors, backup cameras, etc. are nice. Next car I want adaptive cruise control.
When I eventually get too old to drive I hope there will be self-driving cars I can trust.
Cars are not yet that good. Tesla has apparently packaged its "autopilot" in a way that has tricked many Tesla owners into thinking their car is self-driving. Some of those owners are now dead because they were wrong about that.
But the built-in navigation system, blind-spot sensors, backup cameras, etc. are nice. Next car I want adaptive cruise control.
When I eventually get too old to drive I hope there will be self-driving cars I can trust.
I’ve had the opposite approach to transmissions. I’ve always thought it’d be wise to at the very least learn the basics of how to operate manual vehicles Just In Case Of An Emergency and the only vehicle available to use is a manual of some sort.
I can drive manual regular passenger vehicles no problem. I’ve never driven a semi tractor - and afaik they have a different clutch/transmission system that’s trickier to use.. something about dual clutches and shifters I think ?? Like one set for low gears and another for high. I’d like to think I grasp the physics of it well enough that so long as the shift patterns were labeled that I could figure out how to get it moving in an emergency.
Years ago I used to think I should learn to ride a motorcycle better than the super basics I tried out as a 10-12yo kid for a few mins - again, just in case there were ever a situation where you Need to get from A-B asap and the only available mode is a motorcycle. Not super likely where I live, but never know, what if I took a vacation and s**t happened ? There are twice as many motorcycles as cars in the world so learning the basics could come in handy. I used to think I’d never be coordinated enough to do it - but I’ve now had a motorcycle for a few years and passed my full licence with flying colours earlier in the Summer.
I’ve also operated super basic boats. Never planes or helicopters - but apparently people can legit learn to fly them, or drive race cars, from simulator video games. Doubt I’ll ever be in a situation where I need to be able to fly, though. Ha!
Automatic convenience has its pros, of course, but having the basic skills necessary to operate ~almost ~anything could be life saving in an emergency - especially if one were to ever venture off the beaten path of wealthy advanced societies and into the real world where the most common vehicles are manual transmission motorcycles and then manual cars for their low cost and simplicity of maintenance and repair.
I’ve yet to ever go anywhere like that as I’m not much of a world traveller, but never know where the rest of my life may take me and what I may need to do - or want to do.. seen some advertisements for some really cool looking motorcycle tours of India, Nepal, Tibet etc.
I like your approach, Goldfish. I'm very similar in that regard.
Cars, vehicles in general, and operating them, have always been a special interest of mine.
Done go-karts since I was old enough to be allowed to. Got my learners at 15, learned on a manual, got my license when I was 16, drove a manual to and from school 5 days a week, on US1 or I95, for 4 years. Hour to an hour and a half drive time minimum per day. I am currently building a race car to use for solo and time attack events.
I can reverse a 26 foot u-haul and trailer down a narrow street, and I can back a 26' boat around a corner and down a boat ramp. I can pilot a boat up to 30 feet and read nav markers. I also know how to fix boats.
I have a motorcycle license and can operate one reasonably well. I practice piloting planes in various simulators, and I fly R/C helicopters. I have some experience operating a forklift.
Time and money permitting, I want to learn to drive a semi rig, get a captain's license, and qualify as a heli pilot.
If it's a vehicle, I want to know how to operate it.
12 Dec 2021, 2:51 am
Dua97 wrote:
Just interested to see how many here drive 
I don't drive. I've had two driving tests so far and I failed both
I'm quite nervous, so I don't think that helped. Not giving up though, I'll try again next year.
I don't drive. I've had two driving tests so far and I failed both
I'm quite nervous, so I don't think that helped. Not giving up though, I'll try again next year.yes i do drive.I own a pickup and a sedan.I drive the pickup more.
AnonymousAnonymous
Veteran
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 72,772
Location: Portland, Oregon
12 Dec 2021, 7:36 pm
