Calling New Mexico Opponauts

"Kat Callahan" (kyosuke)
02/10/2015 at 20:00 • Filed to: Nuevo Mexico

Howdy, oppo. I have a request. I'll be in New Mexico around the last week of March, first week of April. Something like that. I'll be changing my residency over from Texas (my mother lives in ABQ), and I'll be getting my New Mexico license.

In order to bring you more awesome happy fun times from Japan, I need to get a manual transmission license. I'm planning to do this soon. Probably this summer. However, I haven't actually driven a manual transmission, at all, not even in a borrowed car or rental, in over seven years. I still understand the theory, and people say it's like riding a bike, but... Uh... I'm pretty sure I'm going to embarrass myself and stall out a few times, and I might have to re-orient myself to transmissions with a greater amount of gears (aren't many cars six speed now?). And I was wondering if anyone in the ABQ or Las Cruces areas would be happy to loan me a car (it can totally be a beater) and help me reorient myself.

Also, how easy is the whole license exchange thingie? I've never had any other licenses but my Texas and my Japanese, and they are independent of each other.

DISCUSSION (22)

jkm7680 > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:01

It's easy Kat! You'll get the hang of it right quick.

Kat Callahan > jkm7680
02/10/2015 at 20:03

Well, I know I figured it out before. The Acura dealer in Austin actually taught me when I was considering buying a Honda EP3. I ended up getting the BMW e46.

Nibby > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:06

Turn left at Albuquerque.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:08

You probably just have to go to the dmv and provide your info, pay a fee, and get your picture taken.

Kat Callahan > Nibby
02/10/2015 at 20:08

Oh you.

Kinja'd!!!

PatBateman > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:10

BOOOOOOOOOO!!! :)

Kat Callahan > PatBateman
02/10/2015 at 20:15

What are you booing about? The move? It's for paperwork purposes. If Texas wasn't fucking asinine about personal data changes (I tried, Texas essentially said no, and took $275 filing fee for my trouble), I wouldn't have to. But I can't change my birth certificate until the data gets changed at both federal and state level (I was born in Illinois). Texas being fuckwad reactionary is the reason for this. So much for claims about libertarian, small government, etc, etc.

PatBateman > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:21

The Texas to New Mexico part. I understand why, just don't like seeing good people go!

Kat Callahan > PatBateman
02/10/2015 at 20:24

I can move back after the stuff gets changed, although I probably won't as long as my mother continues to live in New Mexico. My step father lives in Texas still, but I am not adopted, so I'm not as legally bound to him as I am to my mother. I think I'm a beneficiary, but not exactly an heir.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:40

WARNING! This is what happened to Kat's old manual civic. :P

But in all seriousness, I request some form of review for whatever car you can get your hands on. Preferably in the form of Haiku. Or RCR. Or just roll your face on the keyboard and see what pops out. OH NO WAIT!!!!! DO THE FIRST JALOPNIK REVIEW USING ONLY GIFS!!!!!!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 20:40

Wait I thought you lived in Japan. I are confused

TopSirloin > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 21:04

Having spent 18 long, hard years in the Land of Enchantment, I can tell you a few things. Firstly, there's no special license required if you want to drive a car with a manual transmission, unless they rolled that out in the past year or two, but I feel like I'd have heard about it.

I had a beater truck for a long time that had a manual transmission, alas, I got rid of it when I moved to Colorado so I can't help you there. Don't worry, everyone embarrasses themselves a few times, and then added pressure will do wonders towards making sure you learn quickly. People are pretty forgiving, and Albuquerque is pretty dang flat so rolling back in to someone at a stop light is not a huge possibility. Most manual cars are still 5-speeds, unless you have something sport oriented. My GTI is a 6-speed for example.

As for licensing, bring a whole lot of patience, a few items that prove your residency (like bills or something) and if your current license does not have your middle name spelled out in it's entirety, (most of the time, it's just your middle initial) they can require you to bring your orignial birth certificate, I kid you not. You can probably answer most questions on their website .

Good Luck!

Kat Callahan > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
02/10/2015 at 21:12

I do, but I am still a US citizen, and as such I am still also a citizen of Texas. Because of dual sovereignty, there are documents I can only change in the state in which I am a recognised citizen. Separation of powers between the Feds and the States. Texas refuses to help me, and until that happens, I cannot get the state I was born in to change my birth certificate, and without an accurate birth certificate, I cannot get Japanese citizenship because Japan doesn't understand dual sovereignty, thinks it's insane, and views state-level me and federal-level me as two different people because Fed personal data and state data do not match.

Sally O'Broder > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 22:40

Popping in from my misery to help you out right quick on this:

Each car is slightly different with a manual transmission and is going to react differently. I've found it's generally better to err on the side of shifting too early than it is to shift too late, that is unless the vehicle in question has some kind of mechanical problem other than the driver. The later the car model, the more forgiving they seem to be with this technique. I'm a short-shifter, so I've got too much experience shifting gears at low RPM than is probably good for me. Just keep an eye on the tachometer and you should be able to get the "feel" of whatever you're driving quickly enough.

The sixth gear really isn't a big deal, and if you practice with one you'll likely not finding yourself hitting top gear much if at all. I've noticed it doesn't matter as much as the usual 5 or so.

Also, you ARE going to smash the wrong pedals at some point. This is a given and it sucks. Then once you get your manual transmission feet back, beware attempting to shift automatics and also smashing the breaks when you unconsciously expect to clutch. This is a whiplash I've noticed that I only experience whenever in a situation similar to yours, so ymmv but I'm confident these terrifying outcomes are likely.

anneford > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 23:04

I don't live in NM anymore, but I grew up there (Carlsbad mostly, Las Cruces for college). Go to Andele restaurant in Las Cruces and eat the green chicken enchiladas, then go to Si Senor, order whatever the hell you want, then enjoy the best sopapilla ever made FOR FREE.

Not that that has anything at all to do with manual transmissions, I just miss that food so much.

Kat Callahan > anneford
02/10/2015 at 23:05

I grew up in Las Cruces, pre-school, and K-6. Trust me, ain't no USian Mexican food like Las Cruces Mexican food.

anneford > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 23:08

There is not. Seattle barely knows about green chile at this point. Their green enchiladas are all made with tomatillo. I just can't even deal with that nonsense. There's some Mexican places that serve up good food, but it's not what I'm really craving when I go out for Mexican. I'm going to go sigh wistfully for a while and reminisce.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 23:18

wow that's completely asinine

Kat Callahan > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
02/10/2015 at 23:22

Yeah, it's fucking annoying. New Mexico, however, will allow me to change one data point immediately when I change my drivers license over, and will allow me to change the other data point over in six months after the appropriate residency term requirement. I can then send that Illinois, and they'll issue me a new birth certificate, and with that , I can continue the Japanese naturalisation process.

Again, for all of its small government, tea party, libertarian talk, the current Texas administration is all for making personal decisions about your identity and deciding it alone has the right to determine what that identity is.

desertdog5051 > Kat Callahan
02/10/2015 at 23:54

There is no distinction between a manual and other license here. You simply turn in your old license or fake ID, such as a one month utility bill, and get your license. (that is why terrorists and ner-do-well foreigners love this state). (Fucking ex-Governor Richardson). I only have a manual motorcycle, but I have a buddy who has a manual Toyota if you need it.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Kat Callahan
02/11/2015 at 00:23

so now would you be a dual citizen with USA and Japan?

Kat Callahan > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
02/11/2015 at 00:29

For a few years, but Japan doesn't recognise dual citizenship, and after a couple of years, they expect you to choose. Same with people born with dual citizenship. After adulthood, you have a two year window.