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Old guy switches to stick shift!

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4.3K views 38 replies 28 participants last post by  87GN  
#1 ·
Long story…
I just traded my ’13 R/T for a 2016 Scat Pack. The two main things that made me want to trade were that I wanted the 392 power and I wanted a stick shift.

Most of you will shake your heads at hearing that I’m 73 years old, but let that fact make you hope that you’ll still be enjoying kickass cars when you’re old.

The rest of the story is that, even though I learned to drive with a stick shift, I’ve been buying cars with auto transmissions all my life, and I’ve had a whole bunch of cars. I never gave any thought to wanting to change gears. For the last many years, I chose auto simply because my wife can’t drive a manual. But she never drives my car and chooses to drive her little SUV so I decided to follow my brother’s constant urging to get a car with a stick. He’s always bought cars with manual trans.

So, I went out and got the stick-driven beast and now I’m kicking my old a$$ every day for not doing it years ago! I’ve never enjoyed any car as much as I’m enjoying this one! I honestly feel that I’ve wasted years worth of fun driving boring cars. I’ve had fast cars, expensive cars, luxury cars, and beautiful cars.

By the way, I drove fast cop cars for a living for 25 years so I know a little bit about fast.

I’ve read many of the “discussions” on forums debating the differences, but simply dismissed what I thought was hype about the stick shift experience. I wish I had listened! To me, there’s absolutely zero comparison to driving any automatic, even with the auto stick and paddles. Just not the same thing. I don’t have to tell you manual lovers how I’m feeling about it. You already know. But for any of you folks who never thought there was a ton of fun to be had, try it! This new car may well be the last one I ever have but everybody can say that I went out of this world happy!
 

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#2 ·
Beautiful car...Sticks are more fun....and you're only as old as you think you are. I hope I am still driving a manual when I am your old in just a few years...


Congrats and here is to many many more years of enjoyment for you.
 
#24 ·
About 1/3 of the cars I've owned were stick shift and I ride motorcycles, so they were all manual, of course. I spent the last 8 years driving a car with an automatic, so when it came time to sell it, I knew 2 things.

1. I wanted a car with balls as big as church bells
2. I wanted a stick shift

Chose a Black 2011 SRT8 with only 15,000 miles on it. No regrets and I named her Wendy. First car I ever named, too. haha

Pix are in my garage of course.

Welcome to the party!
 
#11 ·
73 y/o? Wow I'm not the oldest guy here after all! AARP be damned:grin2: I'm 65 and my scat pack has the 8A. I traded a 6M 12 R/T Classic for it but I'm lovin' my new ride now that I've got the paddle shifters and Sport mode working together. I know you'll enjoy your new beast!
 

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#15 ·
I've often used the analogy:

-do you want to just sit and steer? drive an automatic...

-do you want an 'involved' driving experience? get the manual...

learned to drive both at the same time, and have continuously owned a 'stick since '84 (first new car). My first two cars were used and automatics.

I got to drive a '73 Roadrunner 400 / 4-speed with the iconic Hurst linkage and Gunslinger (pistol grip) (mine was an automatic) in the early 80s and knew from that point on, my next car would be manual.

Chrysler had a great slap-stik automatic shifter, but it wasn't the same as the 4-speed tranny.
 
#17 ·
My dad's 85 years old and has always like powerful cars. He was driving a '15 Charger SXT, but wanted more power, so he started looking at Challenger R/Ts. I was driving a '15 392 SRT (that's why he wanted a Challenger). Well, when I went Hellcat, he wanted my old SRT! So that's what we did!
He can't get over how muscle cars are so good today compared to the oldies. And I love that wry smile he gets when he nails the throttle! At 85, the SRT keeps him young!
 
#19 ·
That's awesome! I hope I'll still be able to handle a muscle car, or any car, when I get 85! You're a lucky guy to still have your dad and for him to still be enjoying fast cars! I agree with his thoughts about how much better the muscle cars of today are than they were way back when.

I can understand how that SRT keeps him young. Thanks for sharing!
 
#23 ·
Kudos to you MrMac. As fast and great shifting as the A8 is, it just doesn't float my boat. I enjoy shifting gears and wouldn't want a Challenger without the manual. I'm still a youngin at 57 but have no thoughts to get rid of the manual transmission. :D
 
#16 ·
Congrats :thumbsup: Now when you get the bug and add the Barton shifter, do the Clutch Delay Valve delete, ...

Lol ;)

A Guy
 
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#20 ·
Congrats you can't go wrong with a manual. I have an A8 Hellcat that is awesome. I don't regret it because the performance combination of the A8 and Hellcat motor is great. If I had the space and wanted to spend the money I would have an M6 Hellcat also. Who knows I might buy a used M6 Shaker at some point just because I think they are cool and it would be a hoot to drive.
 
#21 ·
Yep, ever since I was on the market for my Mustang sales guys have been trying to get me in an auto. Not happening, I need at least one manual transmission car in the stable. Plus with all the talk of the manual going extinct we gotta get some of these while they're hot lol
 
#26 ·
Welcome and congrats on your B5! Stay engaged in your ride but avoid the A8 in a drag race and everything will be great for you.
 
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