When saving the manuals goes horribly wrong!

"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
02/02/2014 at 09:59 • Filed to: save the manuals

Yesterday I decided to be a good Opponaut. I would take my friend out and help him learn how to use a manual transmission, as someone did for me, many moons ago. However, unlike me, who learned without hitting anything my friend crashed my car into the damn snowbank.

Fuck me.

Luckily we were going slowly, so I think all it will need is a front bumper, and possibly a headlight assembly, which my friend agreed to pay for. It seems to drive fine. Given how much snow we have, it's hard to tell if it's misaligned or not.

Still though, I ain't happy.

SR 20!

Edit: I puled back a bit of the plastic. It looks like the actual bumper wasn't impacted, just the cover. This is great news. Will take to body shop on monday.

DISCUSSION (26)

Roberto G. > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:04

Of course I'm sorry for your loss, but I cannot do without pointing out that teaching someone to drive in a snowy environment, was not the best idea indeed...

$kaycog > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:05

Oooh, no! That is sad. :-(

thebigbossyboss > Roberto G.
02/02/2014 at 10:05

They knew how to drive an automatic car already.

deekster_caddy > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:17

Even so, you need space. Lots and lots of space. They will be more worried about the pedals than where they are going at first.

thebigbossyboss > deekster_caddy
02/02/2014 at 10:20

Live and learn. At least we lived. Also this was his 3rd time out with it. However, you guys are clearly right. The end result says so.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:23

No snow and school parking lots on the weekends. That's where I taught 2 of my friends. I taught my ex on my schools rugby field so she couldn't hit anything.

puddler > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:30

no good deed goes unpunished.

thebigbossyboss > puddler
02/02/2014 at 10:31

My thoughts exactly.

McMike > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:40

This isn't a told-you-so, THEBIGBOSSYBOSS, this is for anyone reading who is thinking about teaching someone to drive stick for the first time.

TWO FEET IN!!!!! - First skill to master before starting the car.

Two feet in is the act of throwing both your feet on the clutch and brake pedal at the same time. Explain it to your student before you even get in the car. Make them practice it when they first get in. "TWOFEETIN!!!" as they are putting on their seatbel... "TWOFEETIN!" as they are adjusting their mirror... TWOFEETIN!!!!

In a panic situation, they often forget what pedals do what, and could start stabbing the clutch instead of the brake, or just freeze. TWOFEETIN is only to be deployed to keep you from hitting something, since it stops the car right away.

You're a great friend trying to teach someone to drive stick. Sucks this happened to you. :(

BJ > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:42

Silver lining - at least it's your winter beater?

BJ > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 10:44

Kinja'd!!!

I was going to ask how fast he was going, but I know what the snowbanks are like right now: a big pile of ice covered in a light dusting of snow. Wouldn't take much to smash the plastic like that.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 11:04

I don't think trying to teach in a snowy lot is such a bad idea... Certainly would mean a bit less abuse on the clutch. The wheels could break traction instead of pressure plates. Ham footed clutch feel and the abrupt ins and outs of the pedal would get cushioned by the slick surface.

Agrajag > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 11:04

That sucks.

evil2win > Roberto G.
02/02/2014 at 11:32

When I was a few months under the age of 16 my first driving lesson was in a Mustang with a manual, driving from Denver to Boulder and back in a snow storm. everyone survived, even the car. Then again I was in fear of what my father would do if I did crash his Mustang. I grew up to love using a manual and driving in the snow. I almost miss the snow now that I've been on the California coast for the last 30 years.

thebigbossyboss > BJ
02/02/2014 at 11:32

Yup. Same car as my summer beater. ;)

thebigbossyboss > BJ
02/02/2014 at 11:34

We were going between 20 km/h and 40 km/h. It looks like the actual "bumper" is okay. It appears just the cover got messed up.

thebigbossyboss > McMike
02/02/2014 at 11:43

Thanks for the encouragement man. Me and my friends friendship will persevere, he's a good guy. He made a mistake. Sometimes life happens.

505Turbeaux > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 11:54

I taught my ex wife to drive stick on a FWD Audi 4000 CS I bought to bang around in. She dropped the clutch so violently it just about ripped the control arms out of the car. Never again

AthomSfere > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 13:05

I have taught a few people to drive manual, but since it is my baby I always choose a location with the following:

Wide open - parking lot usually

No obstacles - cars, snow banks etc.

one steep hill for the final test

On the hill, I make the park half way up. They pass if they don't roll backwards or kill the engine.

One of my first tests though, is teaching them about the clutch point, friction point. I teach them what it feels like to kill the car with no clutch, and that it is OK to over rev just a little and burn some rubber when first learning.

deekster_caddy > thebigbossyboss
02/02/2014 at 13:24

Glad you guys are okay. Bumper is repairable/replaceable. Much worse could have happened.

purplepeopledesign > AthomSfere
02/02/2014 at 16:38

My Dad taught me . Even though I'm not a very good teacher, I used the same method to teach a friend some years ago.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

wkiernan > thebigbossyboss
02/03/2014 at 13:59

Look at the bright side. At least it's easy to fix, with all the damage on the outside where you can get at it. It could be your 2nd gear synchronizer that got mangled.

N/A POWAAAHH > 505Turbeaux
02/07/2014 at 22:01

ohh. my. god.

I own dead car brands only > thebigbossyboss
02/08/2014 at 00:07

If it helps. My best friend totaled my car. We were caravanning and the Saab stopped quicker than his Mustang. Ran into me at 50 mph. Shit happens.

thebigbossyboss > I own dead car brands only
02/08/2014 at 13:27

That is horrific. Sorry to hear.

acethei56 > thebigbossyboss
01/06/2016 at 04:56

YOU are not happy? You’re not the one with a friend that takes you out to destroy things and make them pay for it.