I learned to drive on an old manual transmission shift (on the column) in an early 1950's model chevrolet pickup. I hopped that old green truck around quite a lot until I finally got the hang of how to use the clutch.

I have 3 vehicles now, 2 automatics and 1 manual, a Mazda 3. I like the automatics better, though. I bought the Madza simply because it was a good deal.

I'm 34 and have all varieties of stick shifts and loved them all wish I had one now but regrettably I do not. First truck I ever owned was a 1979 ford f150 short bed 4x4 with a 4 speed bulldog transmission. Primer red with 31-10.50 buckshot tires :lol2: I loved that truck almost as much as it loved gas. My dad still has a 1996 Toyota little truck with a stick shift and power nothing. Not even the steering! I still borrow it from time to time just to drive it. But like it was mentioned when you grow up on the farm it's almost standard procedure to learn a stick shift. Usually in the fields when ur tall enough to reach the pedals. :thumb:

 

:thumb:

....and on a tractor, you just stand on the pedals until you can reach them

No doubt. I had a 64hp Ford tractor that came with a farm I bought. I thought it would be similar to my New Holland. OMG!! You couldn't turn that thing around in a 10 acre field and the clutch nearly dumped you at any RPM. I sold that thing to the first willing sucker. The backhoe was way easier to deal with than that thing and you know how touchy those things can be.

 

We had an old International Farmall 230c when I was growing up, that Dad bought in 1957 when he bought a farm near Ft. Knox. My grandfather used it until we got out of the Army. Nothing like having the old tricycle rear up when going up the side of a hill with a good grade to it. When I went off to college, Pop traded it in on a brand new Massey 235.

 

When Dad retired from the Army, in 1968, he bought an International 1500 flat bed dually, new off a lot in New Jersey, and drove that home. It was a 4 speed, just like the old school buses, and that was the first road vehicle I ever drove.

I learned to drive in a manual transmission (the old fashioned 3 on the tree) and every car I have ever owned except 1 has been a manual tranny. I hated the car with the automatic. I actually prefer driving a caw with a stick.

Manuals aren't worth as much in value is what I hate.