I learned how to drive a stick, in the hills of Berkeley when I was 12 on my mom's Mustang Turbo. I think my first lesson was in the parking lot of the horse track. Then she made me drive up the hill to go home. Accckkk.

I even took my driver's test in that car.

Huh. I got into an argument with a friend who insisted the handbrake thing was only if you were learning stick and otherwise shouldn't be used, whereas I said it was a good technique to use on steep hills even if you were experienced at driving stick.

I never used it until I got to SF, but there are some hills here that are so steep that there's inevitable roll-back no matter how well you engage the clutch.

I wonder if Subarus are extra popular in SF because of that nifty clutch system.

Just the other day in Pac Heights, I saw a guy in a BMW roll back pretty significantly, followed shortly by that lovely burning smell.

done. yeah I never have sound on at work so I never know.

Thanks!

I do the handbrake thing if I'm on a steep hill and there's a car right behind me.

I learned on stick -- my parents insisted. Came in handy over the years.

I learned on stick -- my parents insisted.

Ditto. I kept whining at my mom, who just smiled and pointed at the car. "Get in and drive!"

I would never own an automatic now. I want that (illusion of) control.

Panko-crusted goat cheese rounds from Whole Foods are of the devil's hands.

And very, very nummy.

Screw illusion of control. I want that need to pay attention to the car's current state to keep me from distractifying off to la-la land.