When I met my wife in '79, I had a '78 Datsun 200 SX 5 speed, a '58
Beetle, and a '64 splittie.  I taught her to drive with a clutch and she
used to drive the splittie the most ... which wasn't easy as operating
the shifter on that one was a lot like stirring soup.

Over the years, though, she has sworn off manual transmissions so now,
if we're taking a Vanagon on a long trip and I want help driving, we
have to take the 7 passenger which is automatic.  She refuses to even
try with the Westy 4 speed and we've had it for 4 years now.  Oh ... and
I did install cruise control ... heheheh.

Mike

George Thorburn wrote:
> Sam wrote:
> "All miles were personally driven by myself since it has a standard gearbox
> of which most women are afraid".
>
> Boy Sam are you in trouble now.
> My wife learned to drive on a Toyota Corolla with 4 speed standard transmission.  (Her dad was recovering from triple by-pass surgery when he was teaching her.) Most of the cars and trucks she has bought or driven since have been standards including our Westfalia.  My daughter learned to drive on a Jetta and is currently driving a Suzuki Swift with a 5 speed.  My daughter occasionally drives the Westfalia.  Having two or more drivers that can drive the camper makes long trips much more pleasant.  (who needs cruise control)
>
> George,
> '85 Westfalia (4 speed manual transmission)
>