On Sat, 14 Jun 2014 21:59:09 -0400, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>On 6/14/2014 9:12 PM, Jeßus wrote:
>> Automatics are for steerers, not drivers.
>>
>> Nobody apart from those with a disability should be able to get a
>> licence unless you pass the test in a car with a manual box.
>
>Why? Really, aside from getting a rental in other countries there is no
>practical reason to learn to drive stick shift. Let's go one better,
>before driving a stick shift, you must learn to hitch a team of horses
>and drive a carriage.

You ask me why - and then follow up with a clearly stupid analogy.
So you're not really asking why, nor are you interested in listening
as to why.

>You will be disappointed to learn that many high performance cars are
>now automatics with paddle shifters.

I 'learned' that long ago, and I'm not disappointed, because what you
call 'high performance cars are not high performance cars.

>I've owned quite a few cars with stick shift.
>can shift both up and down without using the clutch. I even know the
>shift pattern on a Borgward. So what? I can drive any place in North
>America and never have to shift.

You're steering, not driving.

>Yeah, its fun once in a while but I don't want manual on my daily driver
>and I fail to see how most people wold be a better driver just because
>they can use a clutch.

If you truly believe that, I suspect you're a very ordinary driver.
Sorry. Steerer.

>Full disclosu I've never saddled a horse.