The power of stick-shift...and a good driver.

Let me start by reminding everybody that I drive 46 miles one way to/from work.

Well tonight, cruising home from work with my co-worker at about 80-85MPH (on a 75 zone), a set of headlights come barrelling up at me from behind. I pull aside for the dude who, I guess, was in a hurry. As he passes me, I ease up behind him to match his speed (you're less likely to get a ticket if you say that you weren't watching your speedo because you were watching and matching the traffic in front of you). Well, we get up to 95 and I ease off, with him slowly pulling away. As I observe the knucklehead driving ahead of me, I notice that he cut off a couple of vehicles. I have observed this vehicle on this same freeway before and he always drives like he owns the road.

Did I mention that he had a Ford Escape GLS with the 200HP V6? Did I mention that I was driving my '99 Isuzu Rodeo with the 130HP four-banger mated to a 5-speed? I know that he had an auto...why? you ask? because that is the only transmission that comes with that particular V6 in the Escape.

Anyways...I figured I wouldn't let him slide tonight, because I wouldn't feel like I had the unfair advantage I had with my Civic. After he cuts-off another vehicle, I waited for traffic to clear up and I caught up to him (had to get up to a hundred to do this). He probably thought I was a cop coming up to him because he slowed down considerably. I passed him going about 90 and when I realized he was slowing, I slowed down to about 80. As I looked in my mirror, I see him coming up at considerable speed. When he got to my rear quarter-panel, I decided to downshift to fourth, matched his speed at 95-100, and started passing him at about 110. I left him by about 3 cars and slowed down. He kept at it so I downshifted a couple more times just to show him who's boss. Well, I musta hurt his manhood because he decided to follow me off the freeway. Well, I made a left off the freeway and he gets next to me at that light. I figured this was the real test, and I'll do my best. Light turns, I dropped the clutch at about 5000 (you can do that with a RWD 5-speed, though I don't recommend it), and absolutely SMOKED him. He was about 3 cars behind me by the time we got close to the next light, which was about a quarter-mile away, with me speed-shifting up to third at that point. I made sure he had a good look at my hazards from behind. Well, I had to turn to drop off my co-worker (who was laughing his arse off), so I slowed and made sure he (and the girl on his passenger-side) saw me laughing towards their way as they passed me. I hope his passenger was his sister...

Manuals Rule. Only granmas or woosies drive autos.

Originally posted by Neutrino
Manuals Rule. Only granmas or woosies drive autos. you should read this...

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t31030.html

oh, and CarNut, good job yo. I commend you...

The cool thing about a manual is that you control the engine. true driving is on a manual except if you can afford a sequential.