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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11550
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| Posted: 16 March 2026 at 7:11am | IP Logged | 1
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I don't anthropomorphize my cars, i just look after them
and they seem to become part of me, like a comfy pair of
shoes. Have bought new the last couple because i wanted
specific colours and extras, such as a heated steering
wheel and seats as i work in the cold a lot, and my
arthritic, scarred hands deserve it! My current one is 7
years old and only has 18,000 miles on the clock.
Same as Vinny, in the 80's and 90's my cars only let me
down in convenient situations, such as dead batteries on
the drive, or a snapped fanbelt on the way to a rock
festival which i easily replaced at the side of the road
as i carried a spare.
Doubt i could do that with a modern car when it's a major
undertaking just to change a bulb!In the 80's and 90's i
changed headlight units, alternator, radiator, bulbs etc
myself.
Also it will seem like nothing to our American members,
but having driven my wife's automatic car, my current car
is automatic not manual, and i would never go back to
manual now! I had driven auto rentals numerous times in
America, but it was my wife's car that persuaded me to
change!
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John Harrison
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 July 2007
Posts: 1455
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| Posted: 18 March 2026 at 6:20pm | IP Logged | 2
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Some years ago I mention I bought my first Jeep a 2015 wrangler I am at
62,000 bought it w 24,000 I got it a few months before the pandemic shut
the world down.
I was unaware of the Jeep community out there the Jeep wave the ducks or
the way every Jeep owner instantly wants to talk to you about their Jeep.
It's odd to me but I have never been a car guy so it was a new thing to me.
I bought a manual transmission and a 2 door. If I had to do over it would be
an automatic four door probably a Willy or Rubicon.
Besides two batteries in 5 years the second one it was a bad day I just went
and bought a new battery instead of trying get a jump buy cables etc etc.
And I Just replaced the thermostat
Since I don't have a garage where I live I have never pulled the hardtop off
the doors or anything fun that comes with a Jeep. I removed the backseat
added some handles for getting in removed the factory rails and haven't
bothered to buy new ones yet.
I have never worked on a car till I owned a Jeep. Changing wipers used to
confuse me. Now I change my own oil. I have changed the transmission a
few times. I could have easily changed the thermostat and brakes but lack
of a garage and freezing cold I just paid the mechanic.
This the probably the first car I put any real attention into. Before it was the
mechanics problem now I try to fix it myself first. They are just so easy to
work on.
It will be my last manual tho. It's my third and I'm just too old and tired to
work this much to drive anywhere. It may also be that my Jeep is a 6 speed
whereas my other 2 were 5 Speeds and were just easier to drive and I could
easily float between gears and downshift hardly touch the clutch.
But its been paid off for over a year and I get a huge discount on car
insurance due to my employer it's basically a free car besides gas.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135942
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| Posted: 03 April 2026 at 8:01pm | IP Logged | 3
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One of my buddies in high school had a 1955 Rover that he worked on every free moment. Many were the times I perched on a stool in the corner of the garage as he poked around under the hood—er, bonnet. Sometimes actually under the car itself, which he jacked up somewhat precariously!I can still remember the old leather smell of the interior.
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Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 16400
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| Posted: 03 April 2026 at 10:47pm | IP Logged | 4
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I'm not one for anthropomorphizing cars, but our two cars have the licence plates GJR something (the older one) and HLN (the newer one, both are CRVs) and we call them Gary Jr and Helen. It's convenient!
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Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11550
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 6:31am | IP Logged | 5
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When i ordered my car i was given a small list of available
licence numbers. I picked the one that started with my
initials! I picked the one with the last three initials ZMU
cos i can easily remember it as Zombie Marvel Universe.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135942
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 1:14pm | IP Logged | 6
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Also it will seem like nothing to our American members, but having driven my wife's automatic car, my current car is automatic not manual, and i would never go back to manual now! I had driven auto rentals numerous times in America, but it was my wife's car that persuaded me to change!••• I had a friend in College who was staunchly opposed to automatic transmissions. "I don't want my car driving me!" But once he married, and especially after he became a father, he switched to an automatic, and has never looked back.
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 31937
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 1:20pm | IP Logged | 7
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That was me. Had manual up until a few years after we had our first child.
When that one crapped out, I went automatic for good. Every now and then
I still feel that left foot looking for the clutch and my right hand is on the
shifter.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135942
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 1:55pm | IP Logged | 8
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My Jag is a "hybrid", functioning as a standard or an automatic on demand. Since I have no real experience with a standard transmission, I have not tried it. (If anyone is wondering, in standard mode the brake pedal doubles for the clutch.)
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 31937
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 2:51pm | IP Logged | 9
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(If anyone is wondering, in standard mode the brake pedal doubles for the
clutch.)
*****
I can’t even begin to understand how that would work.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135942
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 2:54pm | IP Logged | 10
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Press the brake as you would the clutch. Apparently manipulating the stick shift tells the brake you’re not trying to stop.
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Brian Miller
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 July 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 31937
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 4:20pm | IP Logged | 11
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There’s no way I could get used to that
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Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 16400
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| Posted: 04 April 2026 at 5:11pm | IP Logged | 12
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I haven't driven a manual since I moved to Canada. Well over 10 years now. I do not miss it.
The car we got last year has the parking brake as a little electronic switch on the centre console near the gear shifter, while our older car has a mechanical pedal you hit hard with your foot. I still find myself slamming nothing on the floor of the newer car from time to time out of muscle memory.
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