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

[carrrnuttt]

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...

[Neutrino]

Manuals Rule. Only granmas or woosies drive autos.

[SickLude]

Originally posted by Neutrino
Manuals Rule. Only granmas or woosies drive autos.

you should read this...

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

[SickLude]

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

[Neutrino]

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.