I know I'm getting older but when I drive my 5 speed Mustang frequently and switch to one of my auto cars, I find myself stepping on the clutch, especially to start the car. I can't help but chuckle when nothing is there. I've owned quite a few manual cars over the decades and find that shifting is as automatic as an 'automatic'.
It all started with a 1969 Fiat 850 Spyder 4 speed, then another Fiat 128 Sport with it's 4 speed.
Here are all my 'manual' rides from Day 1 with a description under each. I should note that once I got married in 1977 I have also had an automatic car in the garage as well My wife drives manuals very well but when a car is needed for a trip to a city with it's 'stop n go' traffic, an auto is always preferable for us. In our case, it was Tampa when we lived in FL and now it's Atlanta (nasty traffic).
By the way, my first ever new car was a 1982 Mustang GT with it's 4 speed. List was $9,616.

1969 Fiat 850 Spyder - 4 speed

1973 Fiat 128 Sport Coupe - 4 speed

NEW 1982 Mustang GT - 5 speed

1980 Datsun 280ZX - 5 speed

NEW 1994 Ford Escort GT - 5 speed

1995 Porsche 911 Cabriolet - 6 speed

Current 2007 GT/CS - 5 speed

 

Oh yeah. Definitely. I recently I found myself getting into my Caliber, which is an auto, and sure enough hit that 'clutch'.

Habits. Hard to break.

/Tasty vehicles up there!

 

^^ Thanks, I'd like to have that '82 GT back as my 'classic' car. It would need to be restored though because when I sold it in 1988 it was getting rough. The paint quality was horrible and the cloth seats were wearing bad. A trip to Nova Scotia (many bad roads) really hurt the suspension too. I still really enjoyed it those 6 years.

 

yes I do, but thankfully I usually miss (the brake pedal) . . . but I did come to a very abrupt and noisy near-stop in the middle of an intersection once, while driving the wife's Camry, right at the spot where I would have grabbed second in the Mustang

 

Same here, get in my car reaching for the clutch pedal and push button start. The other day I went to back up and reached for the column shifter lol.

 

Yup, I do too. Most of mine over that last few years have been autos, but when you drive the clutch and try to go back it gets me nearly every time at least once.

Boy, that is quite the jump from the Escort to the Porsche... '82 Mustang was a looker! Some nice ones you have had over the years in those shots!

 

Nice story of all your manuals!

 

shaneyusa, yes the 911 was quite a leap but I purchased it at one of those 'now or never' times. I test drove one in the 90's and always told myself I would get one some day. As I feared the air cooled 993 prices heading up soon, I pulled the trigger on this one for $36k back in April 2009. A 14 year old used car priced the same as my 'new' GT/CS. Crazy $$$$. I only owned it for 3 years as the cost of ownership was going to be creeping up on me. $1,600 for a service was coming up and other 911 owners of those model years were starting to have a/c issues with prices starting at about $5,000 for repairs. As much as I would have liked to keep it, these further costs would have been prohibitive. I am so glad I bought it even for that short time as the experience was wonderful. Today that same car (12 years later) would be $20k higher to buy and with even more potential expenses. I crossed it off my bucket list just like the two Corvettes I owned (both automatics) after the Porsche. No more 'wants' at the moment as I have settled back into my American muscle machines which were always #1 anyway. My Trans Am ownership is now at 20 years and my Mustang just behind.

 

I find myself doing it when I am going to pass someone and then sometimes I even look down to see why I wasn't able to push the clutch in lol

 

For some reason, I never have.. Perhaps I'm either just lucky or really self-conscious

 

When I had my other Mustang which I drove all the time my second car was an automatic. I was always reaching for the clutch in the automatic. I now have the same setup but I drive the automatic way more and never reach for the clutch. So I'm guessing if you drive one style more than the other that might be your tendency.

 

Boy you sure have had a lot of very nice cars over the years! I've always liked the looks of a Porsche. Those and Mustangs were always my favorite Hot Wheels cars as a kid. I remember seeing a dark blue metallic 911 with wide tires and a huge whale-tail back in the mid-70s. Mean looking machine. Wanted one so bad, but I was just a kid and it was a real pipe dream. Still would love to have a Porsche, or at least drive one. Always hear they are a joy to drive. Only catch is they tend to be very spendy to own and maintain. A GT500 (2013-2014), a C7 Corvette and a 2019-2020 Gt350 are on my bucket list of future cars. There is only money in my way. Maybe someday.

 

I haven't clutched an automatic yet ... but I did see a sweet young thang try putting a manual into drive.

Wow, Back in the '80s my department bought some cars that were just like off the showroom. They were moved around the state and assigned to troopers for a day or night shift by the area supervisor. What we did was go to the office, grab keys, fill up, check it over, log it, and transfer our summons book, accident pad, maybe a box of ammo, some even put their shot gun in there. Make sure it had a box of safety flares in the trunk, check the oil, and just go patrol the Interstate. We moved them around to keep locals from getting to used to them. One was the twin of this car, but was a '84 as I recall, (but could have been an '82?) with just a 4 speed, but it came here from NoVa initially and it had been breathed on, rumpity rump like, carb idled rich, single exhaust then, but it would fly. Many a truck's driver remarked on the good idle. Just ride along at or 5 mph under the posted limit ... and wait for one to pass fast, do a good pace, then close up and hit the sirene and blue lights (in grille). I had a 305 Camaro run from me one night, when he got serious, I dropped into 3rd, and I walked back up to him in 3rd coming up grade out of the dip. He had initially passed me as I was starting to move after a traffic stop, I didn't think he knew the car but he said he did, he kept gradually increasing speed he said as knowing I was back there made him nervous, I too had increased speed matching his speed too as I was pacing him, untill he put it to the metal through Buffalo Creek (big dip on I-81 at 184mm). Then he hit a ramp at Exit 180A and spun out, coming to rest cross ways blocking the ramp. **** near "Tee Boned" him I did. That '84 had narrower 205/70-14 Goodyears. One day we took the '84 to the dealer to get a retrofitted 140 speedo in place of the 85 version ... and calibration checked OK..

Later on we also had a grey '86 GT with 5 speed and the duals and 140 speedo, but I think the '84 was faster. '86 had the fatter 225/60-15s on 10 hole wheels, it did feel better driving at speed. The '86 did idle smooth too, got better gas mileage in a shift. That '84 was a gas hog in comparison. Difference in Holley 4bbl vs TPI I rekon.

We also had a Buick LeSabre, a white, then a maroon Monte Carlo SS, and I recall an ill handling FWD Buick V-6. They were all great at catching CB savvy drivers dependent on "Smokey Reports" on Ch 19.

 

...I have a Saturn Sky for the last 3 years.
Since I got the '21 GT manual, I find myself reaching for
the clutch (sometimes) whenever I drive the Sky which is auto.

I've even warned my wife to be prepared for me to suddenly hit the brake in the Sky............

 

Hadn’t thought about the possibility of doing that, but haven’t done it… Yet anyway. Hope I don’t.

 

My biggest thing right now is I drive a F650 and F750 at work and you put the Automatic in neutral and set the brake which is on the floor where a Shifter for a 4X4 would be and I get in the F550's at work and I am reaching for the Brake instead of putting them in Park.
If my F150 didn't have the Auto Start on the Key I would probably be trying to start it with the clutch in though.