1st year, I had no car up there, but I did learn stick on a friend's Escort up there. (interesting side note...another friend was teaching me at the time and he stalled it more times than I did :-P) Before my 2nd year I bought my first Subie and used it to get back and forth from home during breaks. It always got me through, no matter the conditions. I remember one particular trip where I carpooled with a few friends back up. We drove through the Bridge way (normally took the loop around Chicago and through WI) and drove across the UP in the worse snow storm I have ever encountered, with one wheel a doughnut spare! It even got up the crazy hills in Houghton once we arrived! I was so impressed with the old girl after that. When she finally kicked the bucket I bought another one just like her! Unfortunately due to lack of funding I didn't have a 3rd year up there.:-\ But living in a lake-effect area, it proved to be very useful anyway. Another good reason to get my butt back in a Soob!

 

Just talked to a dude with a 98 GT wagon, but it is an auto. Gah! What is it with our country and lazy left feet?!?

I know!

It seems that people are too lazy to shift anything anymore.

I personally love a manual car.

In an auto, you don't drive, you just exist.

 

Twitch

Long live the MT. In 1990 I bought my first Subaru (used with 19K) from a dealer here in MD and traded my dying wagon towards it. I loved the car immediately, and when I got in to test drive it, looked down and there was the stick . Was too embarrassed to say I didn't know how to shift, so I learned on that first test drive . Never went back (to automatics). By grace I'm still driving that first subaru with the original tranny but its, uhhh, not too smooth. As old trannies go, my traded wagon's AT (not a subie) used to overheat and would get stuck in first, to get it unstuck I'd have to drive backwards for a while. That got annoying especially in the summer.

The look on the dealer's face had to be priceless! Something like this?

 

The 98 GT guy was trying to convince me that the auto was a much better choice because it shifted faster and was less of a hassle. I replied that I understand the benefit of an auto, but you just can't beat a manual for absolute control of the drive. I just can't willingly spend money on a car that didn't have a manual gearbox! Maybe someday I'll get lazy and buy an auto (yahrite) but for now, it's manual or nothing!

Heh, funny story.

 

I was riding to my shared warehouse on my moped when I see that green one with the GT wheels stopped at the light opposite me! AUUUGGGHHH!! I nearly cried as it drove by, but I waved at the driver then e-mailed him later for a chuckle. I mean, what are the odds? Bit of good news a few days later too...he found what he was looking for on eBay (another rarity...AWD Toyota Previa 5 speed...what is it with Subaru owners and taste for rare cars? ) so it might be available soon! So I should know by Tuesday if he's won it and needs to sell his better ride.

 

No, not the Previa.