Yep, that's right. Tonight for the first time in 5 years my wife attempted to drive a stick. When we were first dating I gave her about 20 minutes of lessons in her Dad's Jeep. She did pretty well, but at the last and only stop sign before getting back to her parents' house (a hill-stop) a truck load of good ole' boys pulled up behind us and had a good laugh at her attempts. She made me switch and drive it home.
Then a few weeks later we did another round of lessons in my MX-6. That went well, but we never got around to more stick-time for her.
Fast forward to today and I've had my Toyota Rav4 for about a month and a half. It's geared pretty low. On level ground you can get rolling using just the clutch, no gas. So tonight we were looking for something to do in this beautiful weather and I suggested she learn to drive the Rav. I really want her to be able to drive it on her 40 minute commute if the weather is bad or there is a problem with her car. To my pleasant surprise she said "yes."
So we drove out to my parents' house in the country so she could practice without an audience. (except for me and our two-year-old in the back.) She did GREAT! It was like it was just a day or two after our last lesson and not 5 or so years. With very few problems on the whole we drove around the country back roads and then started meandering back towards town. She ended up driving all the way home, including town side-roads with stop signs and other cars on them. Then we (she) drove to a park to practice hill-starts some more. I'm so very proud. She'll be a pro in no time and for the first time in our 3 year marriage I won't be the only one that can drive both cars!
Then a few weeks later we did another round of lessons in my MX-6. That went well, but we never got around to more stick-time for her.
Fast forward to today and I've had my Toyota Rav4 for about a month and a half. It's geared pretty low. On level ground you can get rolling using just the clutch, no gas. So tonight we were looking for something to do in this beautiful weather and I suggested she learn to drive the Rav. I really want her to be able to drive it on her 40 minute commute if the weather is bad or there is a problem with her car. To my pleasant surprise she said "yes."
So we drove out to my parents' house in the country so she could practice without an audience. (except for me and our two-year-old in the back.) She did GREAT! It was like it was just a day or two after our last lesson and not 5 or so years. With very few problems on the whole we drove around the country back roads and then started meandering back towards town. She ended up driving all the way home, including town side-roads with stop signs and other cars on them. Then we (she) drove to a park to practice hill-starts some more. I'm so very proud. She'll be a pro in no time and for the first time in our 3 year marriage I won't be the only one that can drive both cars!
Very dissapointing.
