Back in my younger years when I lived in Los Angeles, I drove a standard transmission beat up Mitsubishi Lancer. One night as I was leaving a friend’s house, a girl I didn’t know asked for a ride to her house not far away. I gave her one and it turned out to be a pesky ruse. As we slowed down near “her house” all her friends ganged up on my car and made me get out so they could steal it (I know right? This really happened!) I ran to the nearest neighbors house and called the police.
“Your car seems to be right where you left it,” they said over the phone.
And it was. Turns out, none of the 6 or 7 thieves knew how to drive a stick shift.
For me, learning how to drive a standard was normal. I learned to drive on a 1989 Dodge Colt (which I wish they still made). I prefer driving stick shift because I feel more in control and it forces me to pay attention.
