Wagon or minivan

[bassmonster]

Nice. That fits a T60 slim very well. Now, time to get a car amp, open the back hatch, get a mains speaker in there, and let loose. Mobile party wagon FTW.

[MissileCrisis]

That is exactly what I posted on fb. Only thing I need now is an inverter and backup battery.

[MissileCrisis]

Just drove the car for the first time today! (previously I was just stalling it in a parking lot). My dad took me to a quiet street and I got it into 4th gear for practice, then I drove it through town with decent traffic. Only stalled out once because I was listening too much to my dad's "help". Now to get comfortable enough with the car that I can play music and shift gears .

This is a big deal to me as now I am much more confident in my car choice since I have proven to myself I can drive a manual.

[MissileCrisis]

Does anyone have any experience with this aftermarket stereo headunit?
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-FH-X700BT ... r+receiver
It looks decent and got good reviews, thinking about pulling the trigger. Really all I need is aux connectivity but this one is so cool looking and my car has what I believe to be a "double din" unit so I need one that fits the space. Here is a picture of what is in my car taken from the manual:

[Tom Smit]

Just drove the car for the first time today! (previously I was just stalling it in a parking lot). My dad took me to a quiet street and I got it into 4th gear for practice, then I drove it through town with decent traffic. Only stalled out once because I was listening too much to my dad's "help". Now to get comfortable enough with the car that I can play music and shift gears .

This is a big deal to me as now I am much more confident in my car choice since I have proven to myself I can drive a manual.

A couple of years ago, I had a Pontiac Sunbird, 5 speed stick. I took the opportunity to teach my chillun' how to operate one. Basically, I had them start in first gear and then stop, rinse and repeat until it became natural. Then it was, start in first, upshift to second and accelerate, and stop. Rinse and repeat until it was natural. No need to go any farther since it is a lot smoother at higher speeds.

[bassmonster]

Everyone should learn to drive manual before they are allowed to get their driver's license, IMO. Automatic is too easy to drive for me, very tempting to get distracted behind the wheel, whether it be eating or using a cell phone.

[MissileCrisis]

OR playing music through an auto tuba. I have to be totally on my game to drive it which is a double edged sword. Its exciting but will be difficult to drive tired. Which we never plan to do but sometimes get forced into.

[ketoet]

here most cars are manuals, only luxury cars such as bmw 7 series , mercedes s klasse , ... are standard automatic. manual transmission is a lot more fun to drive IMHO. it would be much harder to get my car into a drift with a AM.
i've never understood why you guys all drive automatics. you're missing a lot of fun !!!

greetz ketoet

[MissileCrisis]

here most cars are manuals, only luxury cars such as bmw 7 series , mercedes s klasse , ... are standard automatic. manual transmission is a lot more fun to drive IMHO. it would be much harder to get my car into a drift with a AM.
i've never understood why you guys all drive automatics. you're missing a lot of fun !!!

greetz ketoet

It's because 95% of cars produced and sold here are automatic. That's why. Americans (as a whole, not relevant to the hard working folks here on the forum) are lazy/like convenience. After a couple days practicing manual I can see why it is more fun but I can see the case for automatic for people who commute a long ways in ugly traffic (most everyone where I live has a 45 min - 90 min commute).

[ketoet]

yes i agree , when you're in traffic or driving on the highway an automatic is what you want.
but it's the time you're not that makes up for all those times you have to unclutch in traffic .
i have 60 - 90 min commute to work 3 times a week but wouldn't think about buying an automatic.
then again i'm a carfreak and might not represent the majority of the people in belgium.
automatics are more expensive also . but the european automatic gearboxes can't be compaired
with those in amarican cars i think.

greetz ketoet

[MissileCrisis]

yes i agree , when you're in traffic or driving on the highway an automatic is what you want.
but it's the time you're not that makes up for all those times you have to unclutch in traffic .
i have 60 - 90 min commute to work 3 times a week but wouldn't think about buying an automatic.
then again i'm a carfreak and might not represent the majority of the people in belgium.
automatics are more expensive also . but the european automatic gearboxes can't be compaired
with those in amarican cars i think.

greetz ketoet

Traffic in a manual sucks (I'm on my first week of learning manual). I now have a new appreciation for all those people who have a hard time getting off the line at a stop light .

[Grant Bunter]

I'm a country boy born and bred, but lived in cities as well.

I can change a clutch in no time, and if needs be, rebuild a gearbox, but be stuffed if I can service or rebuild an auto box or torque converter.
The problem with automatic boxes is that when they stop, so do you.
At least with a manual, you can find a gear and get home.

Oh, and after the first time you change a clutch, you don't "ride" them (in gear but clutch in at the lights) anymore...

[BassheadUK]

I like the lines from the film "Road Trip"

Honey the last time I trusted a man was 1989, and he took off with my sister and my van, and that was a regular sized van before they started making all that mini van crap

[bassmonster]

I'm a country boy born and bred, but lived in cities as well.

I can change a clutch in no time, and if needs be, rebuild a gearbox, but be stuffed if I can service or rebuild an auto box or torque converter.
The problem with automatic boxes is that when they stop, so do you.
At least with a manual, you can find a gear and get home.

Oh, and after the first time you change a clutch, you don't "ride" them (in gear but clutch in at the lights) anymore...

And after your first time replacing a synchro, you learn to double clutch downshifts.

[MissileCrisis]

Are you referring to shifting out into neutral and then into the lower gear? Haha my friend broke his 3rd gear synchro so he skips that gear unless he slowly changes into it.