Shift into drive: Toyota Canada helps drivers learn the gears and reclaim the fun of driving with #S

a manual hybrid?

 

booooo...

 

Maybe the Mustang hybrid?

 

A percentage of the popularity of The Honda Fit comes from a group that buys them because they are available with a stick shift.

I've gotten too old and lazy now. Last 3 vehicle I've owned have all been automatic.

But I love a manual. The ones I've had in my lifetime were a lot of fun to drive.

But it does seem to be dying.
More and more young people don't even learn a stick shift.

In my family....when getting your licence you could learn to "drive" using an automatic, BUT it wasn't considered you really knew how to "DRIVE" until you had mastered a stick shift.

I do miss it.
But at my age now?
Don't know if I'd go back. Probably all automatic from here on out.

 

My first driver's ed was in a '58 Volkswagen (Bug), with manual, and no synchromesh going from second to first. I didn't really follow through with that. I have less than fond memories trying to parallel park on a steep hill...

And when my wife and I finally got on the road it was in an automatic from the get go. In all the ensuing years I've only once driven a manual transmission Civic, literally once. It was an interesting novelty, but oh geeze: I wouldn't want to do it day after day.

I did have a string of motorcycles, obviously manual, but that's different I think. Even with bikes, it's a full-time job, constantly going up and down through the gears, don't miss it.

Manual transmission cars are still much more prevalent in England and the continent? Or is that waning too?

 

Last time I checked. the manual Corolla was only available in the expensive "S" trim. That is not exactly "back to basics" pricing.

 

The S is used to denote a sportier trim. In the US, the SE is priced higher than the LE, and I'd guess an S here would cost more than the L.

 

From the 2019 brochure: The SE has the 6MT. I believe the older S trim is now SE.



By the way, I see the Corolla Hatchback listed too, It is only available in SE & XSE.

 

My daily driver is a 5-speed Camry. ALL of my cars, except my 1957 Chevy Bel Air, which I had as my first car as a teenager, have been standard shift.

When I purchased the Camry, the salesman insisted they did not make manual transmissions, I insisted they did. He finally relented, but said they had to come from Japan and I would have to wait for it -- I did.

Both of my kids learned to drive manual -- daughter hates it, but can do it. Son loves manual.

I think if I ever get a new car, I may finally give in and go for an automatic, various injuries over the past decade (one a broken left foot), have made it problematic at times to drive with a clutch.

 

You have a manual transmission Prius?? That's unique.

 

I HAVE A CAMRY.

Wife has the Prius. I pretty much only drive it when I repair it. I really do not like driving it. I especially do not like, nor have I become used to the braking on the Prius. I often put forth too much force and come to sharp/sudden stops when I try to brake while piloting the Prius.

If I had to guess, I would say I have driven the Prius less than 20 hours over the past decade.

 

You don't have to shout! I was just taking you at your word.

 

I like to shout. For those of you that follow college athletes, this version of the old Animal House classic should prove entertaining -- even has "phil dunphy from Modern Family" -- paid for by University of Oregon's Uncle Phil (Phil Knight of Nike fame).

Marcus Marriota gets into it with Puddles, the duck. Galen Rupp (runner), Kenny Wheaton, Joey Harrington, Dennis Dixon....

 

Not everybody is hard of hearing like you

(BTW, I wear hearing aids too.)

 

A Corolla is a Corolla, right? The US hatch is available in SE & XSE trims. Both trims are available with the 6 speed manual transmission, apparently.

 

I would LOVE for my next car to have a clutch!