[BEAR-AvHistory]

Just some random thoughts from an old fart.

Got my drivers license December 1969

My first car was an AT.

Learned to drive stick bringing home my first sports car TR-3A

First motorcycle was a BSA Lightning in a land of Hogs

Raced both drag & sport in the dim past

In the dim past sticks were quicker than AT. NHRA split classes by MT & AT. Ran sticks. Was one of the last in my group to go AT. Modified AT that was manual shift only.

Lived in England for 8 years passed test for a UK drivers license on the first try (Europeans will understand that comment) My cars were AT's

Think US love of sticks is nostalgia and/or looking for the 'feel' of driving. Also bragging rights that they are 'true' drivers is a big draw.

BMW still makes sticks in some performance cars because there is a viable US market for them.

Have a Z4 because at the time GM was not building the C8 I wanted.

5L DOHC V8 with a 7DCT. (My Cobra is a 5L DOHC V8 with a 5MT) no practical way to install a DCT

They are close with the Z06 but the price opens up some other very nice alternatives.

Least expensive new car I have owned was a FIAT 124 4 door.