CAFE corporate average fuel economy ... works?

[redpoint5]

Back in 2010, I took a 2006 Acura TSX manual for a spin with no intention to buy. Salesman said the price was $24k and I laughed at him. He asked what it would take for me to buy it that day, and I said $17k. He went down to $17,600 so I walked out knowing nobody was going to buy that manual.

2 weeks later I got a call saying I could have it for $17k.

Gave up the 2012 Prius to keep the TSX because I'm going to teach my girls how to drive it.

[Piotrsko]

Both my kids gave me "were going to die" grief about learning stick. Both now thank me. Also might want to find out about the skid pad training that is around.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Both my kids gave me "were going to die" grief about learning stick. Both now thank me. Also might want to find out about the skid pad training that is around.

I had a (girl) friend (I know my own rule about girls who are friends, my best friend ended up marrying her) who was on the college volleyball team. Her identical twin friends were in what I considered at the time to be a super luxurious Acura, and when they saw me shifting it, they said "weird". They were the weird ones, being 6' tall identical twins.

My point, if I have any, is that these folk who were probably 6 years younger than me considered manual transmissions "weird". I'm 41, so that means 35 year olds think manuals are weird. Figures, they can't remember not having internet.

[freebeard]

They were the weird ones, being 6' tall identical twins

Go on....

they can't remember not having internet.

I can remember not having a transistor radio. [six-tube superheterodyne] Ontopic: I remember not having syncromesh on first.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My point, if I have any, is that these folk who were probably 6 years younger than me considered manual transmissions "weird". I'm 41, so that means 35 year olds think manuals are weird. Figures, they can't remember not having internet.

In my country, the driver licensing test is done with manual transmission, unless the car is adapted for disabled drivers (actually some cars adapted for disabled drivers here are still fitted with manual transmission). Odd enough, the manual transmission is no longer available for some cars locally, even though it's often still found on export-bound versions...

[Christian]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

In my country, the driver licensing test is done with manual transmission, unless the car is adapted for disabled drivers (actually some cars adapted for disabled drivers here are still fitted with manual transmission). Odd enough, the manual transmission is no longer available for some cars locally, even though it's often still found on export-bound versions...

Are you in Europe? Here in Canada there is no distinction between a manual or automatic driver's license.

I did my driver's test at 16-17 in an automatic car, and about 2 years later I bought a car with a manual transmission. As you can expect, there were some hiccups along the way, but I always thought it was weird that I didn't need to get tested in a manual transmission car. Can't say I got into any crazy situations though, mainly just awkwardly stalling when the light went green and pissing off other motorists (unintentionally).

[freebeard]

Are you in Europe?

His location is listed directly below his join date.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Christian

Are you in Europe?

Sometimes I wish I was there...

I did my driver's test at 16-17 in an automatic car, and about 2 years later I bought a car with a manual transmission. As you can expect, there were some hiccups along the way, but I always thought it was weird that I didn't need to get tested in a manual transmission car.

Nowadays even in Brazil, where automatics are having a considerable increase to their market share, I guess in a few years there will be novice drivers who will only have to drive a manual for the driving test and never will do it again. Sure a restricted driver license would be a PITA while renting a car in Europe on vacations, but I would be favorable if automatic-only licenses were available for the average Joe here instead of being issued only to some drivers with a disability. On a sidenote, yesterday I saw a guy with bum legs who has to walk with crutches driving a car with manual transmission, yet most likely his car had a vacuum-operated automated clutch which used to be quite common in cars adapted for disabled drivers here.