Being behind the wheel with a manual transmission is awesome.
This post is written in conjunction with the 30 Days of Writing, a blog challenge devised by Nicky and Mike at “We Work For Cheese.” I’ll be participating throughout the month of June. If interested, you can see my post with the details of the challenge.
Please note that some of these posts will be serious, some will be normal, and some will be an attempt at humor. This one is on the fun side.
There’s something to be said about feeling in full control of your car.
Heading down the road, shifting away, feeling the RPMs kick in and take off. A quick downshift on a corner and feeling as the car catches the road and smoothly glides into the next straightaway.
Several years ago, I was in the hunt for a new car. But this was one of those types of searches where I didn’t have a lot of time. My then-current car had engine issues and it wasn’t really reliable or safe to drive.
So I needed new wheels.
I've had this car since 2005 and I still love driving it.
About the only thing that I needed to have was a stick shift. Everything else was negotiable.
I searched and searched to no avail. The car dealer I always went to couldn’t get me what I had wanted. I opened my search and looked all over. Nobody seemed to have anything that met what I needed — in other words a stick shift with the mileage to match the price. (Sorry, I’m not paying $275 per month for five years for a car with 85,000 miles on it… not happening).
Then I got talking to the one salesman at Volkswagen. For some reason, I inquired about lease deals. I had never really considered a lease. With my job at the time, I put a lot of miles on a car. So it wouldn’t make sense.
He told me a great deal on new Jettas.
Intrigued, I went over to test one out. It had been a while since I had driven stick shift, so I asked him about the clutch and everything else. He told me to “get on it,” and “not to worry.”
Apparently, when VW people visit the dealership — as well as others — they really push the cars, as that’s what the cars are made to do. That’s according to the salesman, anyway.
I took the car out slowly. My test drive was no more than four or five miles, but I punched it a bit. I tested the feel of things. I shifted through and really got a feel for how things went.
When I got back to the dealership, I asked how long it would take them to get it ready.
After the paperwork and a day wait for detailing etc., I picked up my new ride. It had a whopping 325 (or so) miles on it. This was my first new car and I was stoked.
My car is now approaching 150,000 miles. It’s had a few downs along the way, but overall, it’s been one hell of a car. I’ve seen a lot through the windows of this car. And it’s still fun to drive it.
I was thinking about that Sunday as I drove through some country highways with the twists and turns I’m so used to. The sky changed from a brilliant blue to dark storm clouds and back to blue.
This car is more than two tons of metal and parts. It’s been a part of my life since 2005. It’s been so many places throughout the Northeast. Maine, New York City, Philly, Washington D.C., and other places. It’s visited Canada more than once. This car has traveled seasonal roads and zipped along long and straight highways. It’s been at events and everywhere else.
I've seen some great views from behind the wheel of my Jetta.
And for that, I love it.
As I came home today from a few different events, I thought about what this car has been through. I slipped through the gears with the ease that it has always had. As I crested one of the mountains I drive up over, I saw the tail end of a rainbow. Quite the view. I stopped and attempted a few images before I got back into the car and continued on.
It’s funny, too. Outside of taking it into the shop, only two or three other people have been behind the wheel of this car. That’s how much I think of this car and what it’s like to be behind the wheel.
I know, one day, I’ll have to move on to a new car. And that day will be hard, without a doubt. But no matter what, this will be one car that I’ll never forget. It’s been the best car I’ve owned and I’ve never felt more comfortable behind the wheel of any other car.
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That’s a pretty sweet “new ride”…my “new ride” was an 1976 Dodge Colt. The engine seized on me while I was on the highway between Chilliwack and Hope, BC. It does however bring up the memory of the first time I hitch-hiked…I hope hitch-hiking is one of the prompts, there’s a story!
Great post! Totally got a terrific visual on your new ride…did I mention mine was a shitty Dodge Colt?…I did, didn’t I…
I had an 87 Dodge Colt as my second car. I loved that thing. Went everywhere. Almost like a 4WD. I’ve never hitch-hiked though. I’m sure you can find a way to put that into a story for one of the prompts!
That post was a great read! My first two cars that I bought were manual and I really miss that feel. No such thing as a manual momvan…
laughingmom recently posted..30 Days of Writing – Behind the Wheel
My first two cars were also manual, then I went on a string of automatics before getting this Jetta. I love driving manual!
Those Germans know how to build cars. I’ll never forget the Woody Allen movie where he finds a 2000 year old VW bug — and it starts!
This was a very enjoyable read.
injaynesworld recently posted..injaynesworld we’re "Behind The Wheel In A Purple Haze…"
Agreed! They definitely know how to build cars!
We have 3 BMWs. One is a 2006 wagon (5 series), and we need that for our two big dogs. It’s an automatic and that’s fine with me. It actually has pretty good “giddiup” like all Beemers. Alex has a 2011 3 series sedan that he uses for his commute of 50 miles each way to and from work. It’s a work horse and gets good mileage with a stick shift. Our weekend car is a 2001 M Roadster. Now this is not a fancy car, but it’s a fast car and loves to go! (My personal favorite is the wagon. I can drive a stick, but I prefer an automatic.) VW’s are marvelous too! They just keep going and going and going. The Germans know what they are doing!
Linda Medrano recently posted..Behind The Wheel
Since I was a kid, a BMW has been my dream car. One day, I hope to live that dream with one BWM, let along three! 😀
I’ve driven many stick-shifts over the years and they’ve always been very dependable. Funny, not that I’m in the market at the moment but the other day my wife asked me what kind of car I might buy when my Mitsubishi Outlander bites the dust. Without hesitation I said “a Volkswagen”.
nonamedufus recently posted..30 Days of Writing – Day#4 – Behind The Wheel
I agree. Some of the best cars I’ve owned were stick shift. And I won’t hesitate with a VW next, either. I love this car!
A few years back, a buddy of mine lent me his VW Golf. I’m decent with manual transmissions, but it took me about 20 minutes to get out of a parking spot before I realized that in order to hit Reverse, you had to push DOWN on the shift. By the photo, it looks like that’s not the case with Jettas.
No, it’s the same. Down and to the upper left. All VWs are like that, as far as I know.
How about this though? In 2010, I was in Ireland and got a lift back to my hotel following a photo walk. The guy drove a VW Golf and it was stick shift. But remember, they drive on the other side of the road. Really wild watching him flip through gears on the other side of the seat!
Right…even though the diagram shows R to the left, you still need to know to push down.
My brain hurts thinking about shifting left handed. I guess you get used to it cause you have no choice!
Ha! Yeah, I imagine if that’s how you always did it and went by it, it’s easy. But if I got a rental and it was a stick shift? I’d be screwed!
I know if you love your friend too much people will call it a bromance, but what if it’s a car? A Gomance? (doesn’t have quite the right ring to it)
If I were God… recently posted..Behind the wheel or under it
Oh my. That’s an interesting thought. Carmance? Automance? Speedmance?
We’ve had VW’s in the past but we went for a Honda Jazz last time and Mo loves it. I don’t drive so I’m only interested in how comfortable it is for me 🙂
Babs – Beetle recently posted..Behind the Wheel
I hear about the comfort! This VW has been one of the most comfy cars I’ve owned. But I always thought Hondas that I have been in over time have been comfy. If I hadn’t found the Jetta deal, the Honda dealer was actually next on my list.
I can totally relate to your feelings for your car. I know what it’s like to have the perfect car. It fits you to a T. It’s fun to drive, easy to navigate. It looks great. And when it comes time to replace it for whatever reason, the feeling of sadness. I understand! I’ve been around that block a few times. It sounds like its still going strong, though. Enjoy!
Linda recently posted..Quote of the Week
So true, so true. Love that feel of having something that is “me!”
My brother had a VW, I think it was a Golf. He used to be a courier between Toronto and Montreal. A particularly nasty winter day, an 18-wheeler slid across the highway and straight into him and two other cars. His car was actually wedged under the trailer and he had to be cut out of it. A cop at the hospital told him that if he would have been driving any other kind of car, he would have been shmushed. Yes, that was the word he used. German engineering, indeed!
Oh, and I nearly forgot! I award you 200 points! 🙂
Nicky recently posted..Mrs. Hyde
That is a scary story! Glad the VW saved him. That’s definitely crazy.
I’m just experiencing the same thing now. Except one of my non-negotiables was that it had to be automatic. I bought my first car about a month ago and it’s a nice big blue 4WD which I’ve named Betty.
Michael D’Agostino recently posted..I’d Like to Thank the Academy…
I got very bored with automatic. Stick shift gives me the feeling that I have full control over the car, which is nice. I would have loved to have gotten 4WD in something … or even AWD. Alas, I had to move quick, so I wasn’t picky on that item!