Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[RobertN]

Anyone ever drive a modified "H" pattern where 3 and 4 are reversed? Drove our fire districts American LaFrance a number of times; it's a parade rig now, but was bought new by the district in '51.

 

[DK35vince]

Anyone ever drive a modified "H" pattern where 3 and 4 are reversed? Drove our fire districts American LaFrance a number of times; it's a parade rig now, but was bought new by the district in '51.

View attachment 3252992

I drove one for several years in a tri axle.
Eaton/Fuller 8 speed

 

[WinterDeere]

Never really got the appeal of the beetle. Yeah, it was a cute hippie car but rather short on amenities. No defroster, no heater to speak of, 0-60 measured in minutes. By the 70s you could get a much better-equipped car for not much more money.

My mom drove a Beetle when I was very young, probably a 1970 model with 4-speed in powder blue, I remember it well. She always claimed it was the best car she ever had for driving in snow, and in fact was the ONLY car she ever owned that could make it up the very steep driveway of one of the several properties we owned, in any weather.

 

[WinterDeere]

I drove one for several years in a tri axle.
Eaton/Fuller 8 speed
View attachment 3252995

The trouble I'd have with this, is driving stick as my daily driver for many years, I would go into autopilot and not even think about or remember what gear I was in. Muscle memory took care of that. But the odd pattern on this one seems like it would force one to have to really pay attention and always remember the gear they're in, and which direction they're headed next.

 

[DK35vince]

The trouble I'd have with this, is driving stick as my daily driver for many years, I would go into autopilot and not even think about or remember what gear I was in. Muscle memory took care of that. But the odd pattern on this one seems like it would force one to have to really pay attention and always remember the gear they're in, and which direction they're headed next.

I thought I would have that issue also, but never did.
I actually liked it, was a nice shifting transmission

 

[RobertN]

I drove one for several years in a tri axle.
Eaton/Fuller 8 speed
View attachment 3252995

I found it interesting that Eaton had pattern options like that. The GMC Topkick Water Tender that used to be at my old station was a Screaming Jimmy 8V92 with Eaton 10 spd. That 10 spd had a "normal pattern. Was fun to drive that Detroit. But it was really loud when you were parked and running the RPM's up for PTO pumping operations.

 

[Engineer42]

Anyone ever drive a modified "H" pattern where 3 and 4 are reversed? Drove our fire districts American LaFrance a number of times; it's a parade rig now, but was bought new by the district in '51.

View attachment 3252992

Yup, same one in a 49', 54', 56', and 58' LaFrance. Pic attached of the 56'. Actually, the 56' was upgraded to a 5speed in 82', still an OD.

 

[Engineer42]

The trouble I'd have with this, is driving stick as my daily driver for many years, I would go into autopilot and not even think about or remember what gear I was in. Muscle memory took care of that. But the odd pattern on this one seems like it would force one to have to really pay attention and always remember the gear they're in, and which direction they're headed next.

Then this 18 speed, or 6 speed would be worse.

 

[RobertN]

Yup, same one in a 49', 54', 56', and 58' LaFrance. Pic attached of the 56'. Actually, the 56' was upgraded to a 5speed in 82', still an OD.

In the 1960's "Alf" had the engine swapped for a 671 Detroit. Screaming Jimmy is loud, especially when wound up.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yep… Placerville California previously known as Dry Diggings and Hangtown in the heart of California gold discovery country.