A Story for OppoLock

"Big Daddy Handsome" (bigdaddyhands)
08/08/2014 at 16:47 • Filed to: None

I'll also ask a question. But let me preface with: I drive an automatic, I've never driven a manual (but I want to!)

So last night, my fiancee and I wanted some filthy ass Big Macs (don't act like you don't ever get a hankering) and so I went over to McDonalds for the buy 1 get 1. I pulled into the drive-thru behind a beater of a Dodge Neon (I realize that's a bit redundant, but this thing was in seriously bad shape) and waited. The car in front of the Neon pulled forward, and the Neon did nothing, but I figured they were just looking at the menu and really I didn't mind either way. What happens next . . may shock you.

The Neon just keeps idling backwards. Brake. Idle back. Brake. Idle back. Finally I tap my horn because maybe she doesn't know I'm there or something (I was trying to rationalize here). She rolls down her window, and I roll down mine, and she tells me it's her second time driving a manual and asks if I can back up to give her some room so she doesn't hit my car. Okay . . . this seems reasonable, I guess . . . I'm thinking to myself, "I've never driven a manual but as far as I know, all she needs to do is put it into first which is, I thought, extremely easy, but who knows" and since there's no one behind me and I don't want her hitting my 3 week-old Focus, I back up.

I give her at least 8 feet of room. It doesn't matter. She keeps rocking back. Braking. Rocking back. At this point, I just want to go - I'm about to have an anxiety attack; I feel like impending doom is upon me. Unfortunately, a lady has pulled in behind me, but I only need to back up a few feet for me to pass the concrete island that separates the drive-thru from an exit lane. I roll down my window and motion for the lady to back up, she does, and I haul ass out of there, anxiety levels high as ever.

So now, my question: Was this person the worst driver in the world? I mean, I realize it was her second time, but isn't it EXTREMELY easy to just put a car in first and go forward? And really, if she can't even do that, maybe she should be practicing in an empty parking lot. Or just drive an automatic.

DISCUSSION (19)

claramag, Mustaco Master > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 16:54

If it was that beat up, maybe 1st gear synchro was worn out. Too many frontie-burnouts by previous owner

Ilike_cougars > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 16:55

It isnt easy to get moving on an incline with a manual, you need to be quick to let go of the clutch without moving backwards, takes some time to get used to, so considering it was her second time, it is expected.

Brian Silvestro > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 16:55

At first, driving Manuél on the street is like the scariest things ever.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 16:59

Yes she is awful. Manual will give you some issues and rolling back can be one of them initially. But when I say rolling back I mean half a car length max while you bring the clutch up. After a little while youre good enough on the clutch and power to not roll at all.

A good trick I do when I get into an unfamiliar car is to leave my hand on the handbrake so I can use it to hold the car while I bring the car to clutch bite, as a safety thing. Hey presto no rolling even on pretty steep hills.

It aint rocket science.

crowmolly > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 16:59

She gets some slack as it's her second time. However it's not that hard to just throw it in N and set the parking brake if you need time to look at a menu. Pulling forward when the time comes is not difficult.

Worst that I've ever seen is the guy who turned into the center of an intersection of City Ave in Philadelphia during rush hour, BUCKED THE SHIT out of the car on the 1-2, fragged the trans, and backed up traffic for an entire morning. This is not an exaggeration as anyone who has driven that part of City Ave during rush hour will attest to the congestion.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cit…

claramag, Mustaco Master > Brian Silvestro
08/08/2014 at 17:00

That's why you practice with brand new coyote mustangs in dealer parking lots and down residential streets

Brian Silvestro > claramag, Mustaco Master
08/08/2014 at 17:02

Well yeah. But going out in public with other cars for the first time is still scary.

Big Daddy Handsome > crowmolly
08/08/2014 at 17:03

jesus, RIP

crowmolly > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:05

I was a few cars back, and to be honest I wasn't mad at all about the delays since I was too busy laughing so hard at the hijinks. Even now I still chuckle about it.

Big Daddy Handsome > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:05

Good stuff guys. Now I just need to get my own beat up Dodge Neon to practice driving a stick in drive-thrus with..

Garrett Davis > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:09

While I will say that it isn't exactly rocket science, it's not as easy as just putting it into first and "going."

A clutch is a tricky thing to get used to, especially one that is probably very worn and old. You have to give it some gas, find the right mixture of clutch engagement, and balance those two as the transmission hooks up and pulls you forward. With a worn clutch, that engagement point becomes very high up in the pedal throw and some one so nervous probably had a hard time finding that point before rolling backwards. Give it too much gas and let out the clutch too quickly and even a weak Neon will be propelled into the car in front of it before a beginner has the chance to react.

Still, this isn't the hardest thing in the world, but it's not about how difficult it is or isn't, it's the risk of getting it wrong and her nervousness that is the problem. Using the E-brake would have helped her out.

miadaman? yes please > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:10

Worst thing I've done: test drove my friend's miata, pulled up near the busiest intersection in the city. All is well until traffic started moving, guess I probably didn't give enough gas (his clutch is much newer than what I'm used to) so the car computer tries to gas for me to prevent stalling. Unfortunately that produced a rather spectacular bucking so I backed off throttle, which bogged the rev down too much again.

So that repeated itself a couple of time, all the while thousands of judgemental eyes were watching this 20 something years old car hopping on the street.

Big Daddy Handsome > miadaman? yes please
08/08/2014 at 17:11

oof. that would be me.

Big Daddy Handsome > Garrett Davis
08/08/2014 at 17:12

Yeah, I should definitely note I wasn't upset or anything - the only reason I left is because I was close to having an anxiety attack (what can I say? I have my issues). I definitely could imagine being nervous and I'm sure that car was a POS internally as it was externally.

Garrett Davis > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:18

If you were that nervous, imagine how she felt ;)

When I first started driving stick I would get pissed at people who pulled up too close behind me on hills. My truck had a foot pedal E-brake, so that wasn't an option to help me out. You should try it out sometime.

Big Daddy Handsome > Garrett Davis
08/08/2014 at 17:20

Haha exactly. I really do want to! The only friend I have with a manual drives a 350z and he's offered to teach me, but the last thing I need is to mess up that car..

Garrett Davis > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 17:23

If you just remember to keep cool and take it easy, you'll be fine. I found that learning how clutches actually work really helped me understand what was going on and when I did anything wrong, exactly what was happening.

An easy way to start is just sitting on a flat surface, let off the brake and slowly let out the clutch until it grabs and slowly moves you forward. You don't have to even touch the gas. I've taught a lot of people how to drive stick, and that always makes them feel a little more at ease with it.

Big Daddy Handsome > Garrett Davis
08/08/2014 at 17:27

that seems like pretty sound advice. thanks!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Big Daddy Handsome
08/08/2014 at 21:48

She should limit herself to a parking lot until she's at least somewhat capable...