tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post60918168002199287..comments2009-07-06T08:53:40.175-07:00Looneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15801436449971512320noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-58942485752078097652009-07-06T08:53:40.175-07:002009-07-06T08:53:40.175-07:00I learned to drive a stick shift in a Beijing stadium parking lot. I thought I had it mastered, so told my husband I was going to drive it home by myself. (we just lived across the street from the stadium). I think the car died 10 times on the way home! I did finally get it figured out, but my toes used to fall asleep on the clutch because of the stop and go traffic. :)Delirioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01564398770468606675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-48097354748995515332009-07-06T08:48:47.200-07:002009-07-06T08:48:47.200-07:00My 2006 Volkswagen has an &quot;auto hold&quot; button that allows for cheating. When you press this, the car won&#39;t roll backwards down the hill when you take the foot off the brake. It is sad how technology spoils all the fun!Looneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15801436449971512320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-22314343657305561082009-07-06T07:43:06.150-07:002009-07-06T07:43:06.150-07:00I would hate driving on Lombard Street with a stick shift, just saying.Inklingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14173567199140492921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-67043585069593490052009-07-05T08:36:12.942-07:002009-07-05T08:36:12.942-07:00Looney, I would not be caught dead using automatic transmission. Somehow, it just takes the joy out of driving!<br /><br />In India, whether the shift is on the steering column or on the floor, we use the left hand, because we drive with the steering wheel on the right side of the car! Just like the Brits!rummusernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-59859176303354920372009-07-04T19:19:57.532-07:002009-07-04T19:19:57.532-07:00Jean, you could always get one of those English side manual transmissions. My first experience with shifting using the left hand was in Singapore. It is a bit awkward, but not quite as bad as trying to write with my left hand!Looneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15801436449971512320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-86048913205995436202009-07-04T11:39:14.300-07:002009-07-04T11:39:14.300-07:00Ah, yes. My husband taught me to drive with a stick shift. I still remember having to stop on a steep slope on Page Mill Road down by Palo Alto. It was just before a big curve and it was no mean feat to get it going again. <br /><br />He taught my daughter the same way years later, only this time in the mountains of New Mexico. My daughter still prefers manual transmission. I switched to automatic a few years ago. I had a bout of frozen shoulder and couldn&#39;t shift with my right arm for a while. Needless to say, it was inconvenient shifting with my left arm. ;)CheerfulMonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934008738777906970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-63570770428411425042009-07-04T10:31:13.955-07:002009-07-04T10:31:13.955-07:00Garin Park parking lot! Actually we use the Ohlone College parking lot since it is large and has both flat areas and slopes to practice on.Looneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15801436449971512320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25427438.post-46779608197848720142009-07-04T09:52:10.660-07:002009-07-04T09:52:10.660-07:00Yikes! Which parking lot? I will be sure to stay away.<br />When I was young, it was required to learn stick and manual. Neither of my kids, aged 22, know how to drive a stick.Jo Lynnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06531744273293564813noreply@blogger.com