Fits with the Honda

As I mentioned in the previous post, I bought my first car. I started by researching and narrowing my options based on two criteria: gas mileage and price. That placed hybrids out of the question because, though they do well in the first category, they are not too friendly with the greens in the pocket. Next, I went to a few dealers to see what they offered and to negotiate a price. After about two weeks in this process, I bought the car last Thursday and my dad drove it home. My dad had to drive it home because I bought a car I could not drive.

The idea to buy a manual car first occurred to me last year when I went to Argentina. There, as in Cuba, everyone drives manual; the difference between the two are, that while the street of Buenos Aires are congested with cars, the streets of Cuba are congested with bicycles. Anyway, while I was there, my cousin explained to me how manual cars function: use the clutch to disengage the motor from the wheels, and set the gears; release clutch, accelerate and you are good to go (almost). After my one day lesson I decided to master the skill, so I bought a manual car.

I started practicing that same day with my dad: start car... Why won't car start? "you have to press the clutch" responded my dad. Oh right, next try -- start car, set to first, release clutch... The car jerks like an angry horse trying to drop me from the saddle and shuts down. "You have to release the clutch slowly and accelerate as you do so" explained my dad. I see, simple enough; for the rest of the day I was unable to engage first without that car jerking like an angry bull, though I managed not to shut it down every time.

After first day practice, it occurred to me that buying a manual car two weeks before driving it to Wisconsin might not have been such a good idea. That, however, could not be helped so there was nothing for it but to learn. The next morning I took it to drive it around the block; surprise surprise, I was able to engage the first gear smoothly, occasionally. After the 10 am World cup game, I went at it again and successfully drove it on a main street near my house. While the car occasionally turned off because of poor timing (specially when I felt rushed to get it moving), I had pacified the angry beast -- no more jerking. That afternoon, after the 2:30 pm World Cup game, I even took it on the highway. I was praying hard the highway would not be congested so I did not have to stop and go -- not my lucky day. Two exist before the one I had to take the highway turned from 4 to 2 lanes and all the cars were slowing down -- great, my heart rate started going triple digits and rising. Ok, just stay cool; whatever you do, make sure the car does not come to a full stop while going uphill. Keeping the car at 5 mph, I was able to go through the heavy traffic without coming to a full stop. I took my exit and had to stop at the traffic light; as the light turned green and I tried to get the car moving the thing turned off. I turned it back on. Tried again; the car turns off -- by this time the cars behind me were quite annoyed; but there was nothing for it, I had to wait for the next green light.

After four days of driving manual I feel fairly comfortable; though the car occasionally turns off when I try to get it moving too quickly, I can always get it moving if I'm patient -- the trick is not to rush. My driving style has suffered substantially: I look like an 80 year old coming off a traffic light. Getting from zero to cruising speed takes me so long that inevitably the driver behind me switches lanes, looks at me as they pass me, and gets in front. There is nothing for it; I must be patient. Soon enough it will all be automatic.