Nowadays, driving a manual gearbox, or a “stick-shift,” car is a lost art. 90% of new cars sold in the States are automatic, and with cars evolving more and more towards autonomous driving, stick-shift seems irrelevant. Which I think is a shame, because if everybody knew how to drive manual, the world would be a better place--not just because people would learn how not to drive like idiots for once--but because it would make people a little bit wiser. What lesson could you possibly learn from an addition of a third pedal and a lever that sticks from the center of the car, I hear you ask. Well, you who still have yet to learn many, let me tell you about the kinds of lessons the manual gearbox can teach you about life.
1. Sometimes the old ways are better.
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No matter how advanced automatic gearboxes have become and will become, cars that shift themselves will always lack that pure emotional connection between man and machine the manual shifter has that many people appreciate, even if they’re not massive car nuts. As humans, we were wired to love and crave that physical, personal and emotional connection, and in an evermore digital world, doing things the old-fashioned way is sometimes the most refreshing.
2. One at a time
With a manual, you can only pay attention to the task at hand: driving. You can’t text and drive, you can’t eat or take a selfie while driving when you have to change gears so often (even if you don’t drive a manual, don’t do any of those things unless you want to return home in a small plastic bag.) It trains your mind to focus on one thing and finish doing it before doing anything else, and that’s a good approach to life’s many, many responsibilities.
3. To enjoy the open road, you have to sit in the traffic first.
Sitting in traffic in a stick-shift is about as aggravating as a hundred Georgian mosquito bites (Georgians know the struggle) thanks to all the trickiness that’s involved with the manual ‘box, but because of that, you appreciate the open road afterwards just a little bit more. You learn that for good things to happen, you have to sit through rough times, and because you sat through the bad times, you enjoy the good bits just a little bit more.
4. Keep learning new things.
After conquering the perilous mountain that is mastering the manual gearbox, you feel like the f***ing master that can conquer anything. That feeling after you master a new skill is an addicting satisfaction that us humans keep coming back for more and master another skill. Follow that instinct; there’s more to do than can ever be done, and there are so many cool things to learn about in the world.
5. Practice really does makes perfect.
This two-second footwork for downshifting (changing to lower gear) might seem easy, but the coordination required to pull it off without upsetting the car is impossible without constant practice. Every one of us are tired of hearing “practice makes perfect,” but it’s a phrase that so many of us forget so easily.
6. Mistakes will be made, and that’s okay.
You are expected to mess up when learning to drive a manual gearbox; you’ll stall, bog down and jerk about as you’re figuring out when to step on the clutch and when not to. Then, through (millions of) trial and error, you’ll eventually get it down. If you keep in mind that we’ll make mistakes as we learn, you’ll spend much less time crying on the bed wondering why you’re so useless. Remember kids, learn through your mistakes and [insert motivational phrase of your choosing here.]
7. It’s okay to like something other people don’t.
I love cars and everything that pertains to cars, that’s why I love the manual. To other people, they could care less; cars are just metal shells that you move about in. When you have passion in something that majority of the world doesn’t really care about, sometimes you get weird looks; sometimes you get embarrassed, but that’s fine. It’s fine that you like poetry, pottery, Quidditch, collecting rocks or anything that other people don’t really care about. How boring would the world be if everyone liked the same thing?
8. The fun is worth the extra work.
Sure, it might be a bit of a chore, but there’s nothing more satisfying than a great manual gearbox. When the roads are open and the timing is right, all you want to do is row through the gears like nobody’s business and rip through the asphalt. Some of the most satisfying and fun things in life sometimes require a bit of work, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be all worth it.
9. Reflect on your own actions
As you’re driving down the road, and you’re shifting gears every so often, you start to think, “Ooh, that gear change could’ve been smoother,” or “I wonder if I can shift faster.” Anybody who drives a stick-shift has thought that at least once, and if they didn’t, they’re lying. You start to think about your every move and you start constantly looking for room for improvements, and that’s a great trait for anyone. If people started reflecting on their actions like manual drivers reflected on their last gear change, there would be much fewer immature fools running about in the world.
10. Take control.
One reason why some people still stand by the manual gearbox is because it allows the driver the most control of their cars, without the influence of computer-programmed safety nannies that automatic cars have. At the end, isn’t that all we want? We want to live our life, love who we want to love and spend our days without judgement from society and other people.
