Pulled a Homer

[keaton5.0]

Stalled mine a few times accidentally putting it in 6th thinking I was in reverse. I've got 2 other manual cars, 93 5.0 Mustang and an 86 fiero 4 speed. All 3 have different gear patterns and it is a nightmare lol. The reverse " lockout", if you can even call it that, on the fiero is the worst thing I've ever seen. It's incredible Pontiac was in business as long as they were.

 

[XuperXero]

I used to have a 350Z... I preferred the reverse location of that over the FiST, easier to get in just in case an idiot understeers into you in snow (Toronto natives should know) and you need to GTFO. FiST doesn't get in reverse as fast.

 

[FatGuyInALittleCar]

My S4 had the same pattern as my Fist, but you pushed down on the stick to disengage the lock-out. It was hilarious at my first FiST test drive, trying to find reverse by pushing down... the sales guy patiently corrected me. I should have known as I had an SVT Contour back in the day that had the same lift collar lock out.
No one "powershifts" down into first, meaning that reverse is more safely tucked away up and over rather than down and over by sixth... Just my two cents.
Also, with all my cars, I do all I can to back into spaces that have curbing or cement stops. If I can't back in, I try to choose a spot that doesn't have those particular obstructions.

 

[degnerd]

I feel ya bro , I drive a 2000 focus for a daily driver , and my ST on the weekends , driving both all the time with total opposite reverse gear patterns does suck ,when u go from one to another u must remind yourself about reverse , I can see what happened to u very easy , down and right , up and left it becomes like a reflex muscle memory movement , hard habit to break .

I went from a '02 Focus,'98 Ranger,'08 Focus. All 5 speeds. Thanks for relating!

 

[degnerd]

Stalled mine a few times accidentally putting it in 6th thinking I was in reverse. I've got 2 other manual cars, 93 5.0 Mustang and an 86 fiero 4 speed. All 3 have different gear patterns and it is a nightmare lol. The reverse " lockout", if you can even call it that, on the fiero is the worst thing I've ever seen. It's incredible Pontiac was in business as long as they were.

My brother had a Fiero for a few years. I don't remember him having much good to say about it.

 

[Hijinx]

I was once told (or heard) that a great driver quickly adjusts to whatever he's driving, not using other cars or what he's comfortable with as an excuse.

 

[Boro]

This is my first manual so I picked up on the reverse lockout thing in no time, I really don't mind the design at all. I did embarrass myself at the dealership a little though, dealer got in for the test drive and I sat there for 5 very long minutes just trying to figure out where reverse was before I noticed you could pull up on the ring...

 

[degnerd]

I was once told (or heard) that a great driver quickly adjusts to whatever he's driving, not using other cars or what he's comfortable with as an excuse.

Great driver...... One thing I've never claimed to be

 

[StayPuft]

This is the first car I've owned with a 6 speed manual tranny (owned many 5's,a few 4's,and one 3 on the tree). I've always had a bad habit of pulling too close to the concrete stop in many public parking spaces,usually scraping the nose. Not with this car! So I told myself. Anywho......I'm used to having reverse on the far right(where 6 is on the ST),not To the left of 1st. Well,you probably figured out what happened. On a slight downward incline,approximately 2 ft from said concrete stop,I put the car in "reverse",give it some extra gas to pull away safely,and SCRAPE!!!!! Anyone else think this is a bad design,1st and R right next to each other? I text drove a 370Z 6 speed with R to the right of 6. That way, either you go back or the vehicle dies.

I have a 72 C10 truck with 3 on the tree and whenever I shift into 2nd from neutral I'm always thinking "self, just don't slide it up into reverse"

 

[degnerd]

I have a 72 C10 truck with 3 on the tree and whenever I shift into 2nd from neutral I'm always thinking "self, just don't slide it up into reverse"

Now that's funny! I'll have to try that!

My 3 on the tree was a '74 Ventura. If you weren't very deliberate going 1,neutral,2, the linkage would jamb up. Had to pull off the road a few times to pop the hood,grab a screwdriver,and un-jamb it. Best $50 car I've ever owned though!

 

[TheStig]

I like the current design. My father owns a 350Z and I've driven it a few times. I don't like how they did the Reverse where you press the entire knob down. I would like it better if they did it with the lock mechanism like ours.

Mazda used the same design on the Speed 3's and 6's. Push the knob down then far left and up for reverse. Hated it since the knob didnt feel right when you put your hand weight on it.