this thread is hysterical.

 

That's a pretty dumb quote bro. Just think about it for one second...

 

Ok now with your new thought.. Unless you were born driving 6 speeds you shouldn't own one? Everyone had to make the jump or learn it either by studying or experiencing it.

 

My car has the reverse parking sensors and therefore the reverse gear beeper, which is quite helpful IMO. Especially if you forget to shift back to first while parking ...

The worst "where's the reverse" adventure was with my BMW though. I was stuck on the company's parking lot just after the delivery (it was a corporation car) and had to pull out the manual to find out that you have to push to the right real hard until it clicks in.

 

sorry, i came from a 5 speed Eclipse, and it took me oh about 2 SECONDS to realize how to go in reverse.

 

Not only "older" cars. Chevy still puts them there in their Impalas.

No comment on the reverse-gear instructions :D Might actually help someone not embarass him/herself.

 

Here's a funny one. I bought this junker for $450 and the top of the shifter was gone.

I had no idea whether it was 4, 5 or 6 speeds. And whether R would be left of 1 or right of 4. On the test drive I went up to 4th, then carefully tried 5th (worrying that could've ben R).

For 450 I didn't expect 6 gears, so I tried "6th" position when pulled over and it was "R" indeed.

1-3-5
2-4-6

When I come from the RX-8, I sometimes catch myself about to put in 6th gear on the junker. That prolly would be the last shift for that tranny.

 

In a manual transmission?

 

DUDE!!! I WISH YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS!!

Maaan I've had my car a year now.. and I've never gone in reverse!! I always had to park so I could drive forward!!

 

I suppose that wouldn't be MOST people anyway, which is who the thread starter was addressing.

 

That is hilarious. Although I would agree with most of you. I have been driving a stick since I got my first car. All 5 speeds. Thankfully the salesman didn't let me make a fool of myself, he just told me before I could even ask.

 

You know I was kidding right?

I reverse just fine..

Except for that one tiny little incident at the Tail of the Dragon....
::D

 

You caught me. It was an automatic. I rented a Impala a few months ago. 2003 model, I estimate. The "stick" was to the right on the wheel.

-Peter

 

boahahahaha.. you just made my day :D

 

Nope...I TOTALLY thought you were serious. I was going to send you some links to driving schools. :D :p

 

just kiddin

 

I believe most new cars shift in reverse like that.

 

When I got my 8 it was delivered to me. I could not get the damn thing in reverses I was trying to push it in force it in whatever... and I have had to other cars with a 6 speed a Mustang Cobra R and a Corvette Z06 neither of those cars have this "depression: feature... Abbids comments are sad... so proud and cocky... Like he is better then the half of us who were not told about this largely import only feature.

 

I believe older cars used to have the gear lever by the steering wheel to allow three persons to sit on the front one-piece seat/bench. Is it due to safety regulations that nowadays only two persons can sit in the front of a car? Are there still cars in the US where 3 can sit in front?

 

I can relate. It is a pain to find the reverse gear in an unfamiliar car in the dark, or where the markings on the gear **** have worn off.

 

Three in the front seat, those were the days.
I don't see as many column shifters these days, except the Grand Marquis they gave me as a rental when my car was hit.
In a lot of older cars, like some of the Gran Torinos (not the Starsky & Hutch one) had three on the tree, which was a column shift 3 speed transmission, complete with clutch & everything. Imagine a 3 speed stuck to the side of your steering wheel, with the same shifting pattern. Those cars would beat you up.

 

It really is surprising how many people have issues with this.

 

I MUST remember this!!!