Manual Transmission Duh

A little background. I have been driving manual transmission cars for 37 years.  My wife as well. In all the cars we have had together over 35 years only 2 were automatics.

The cars were/are mostly Japanese with a handful of Dodges in there.
ALL had the following shift pattern:



On Black Friday 2017 I purchased a 2018 Subaru Forester with a manual transmission. This is our third Forester. My wife drives an older model.
I like this car. Nice size. Nice height. Electronic gizmos for sound and climate. Nice ride.

We were driving home from camp on Sunday. On the highway with the cruise control set to 75ish and in 5th gear.
My wife says "Look." while pointing to the shift knob "Is this a 6 speed?"

I look down and see this:



"I don't know. Let's see." I reply.
I turn off cruise control and shift into 6th. The computer shows the MPG jump by 4 MPG.

Son of a GUN!!! I have had the car for 7 months and I never knew
I have been driving it as a 5 speed the whole time. I do a lot of highway miles and in 5th gear the car never whined as a manual does when you are in too low of a gear. I checked the owners manual and except for a loss of MPG there is no problem in only using 5th gear as a top gear.

Now I am driving it as a 6 speed. I have to mentally override my muscle memory and reluctance.   6th gear is about where reverse would be on a 5 speed. The gear shift has a slip collar to pull before you can engage "reverse" but still my hand balks to pull the lever down into the 6th gear. It gets less every trip.

So that is my senior moment that lasted 7 months. a 6 speed. Whaddaya know?

Phil

Phil, that's too funny!

Just think about the possibilities as you age further!

Funny how the human brain works.  Try this quick test to see what I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo

Great story!

OK, I got 8 passes and no I didn't see the gorilla as anything other than being in the way.

OK, I got 8 passes and no I didn't see the gorilla as anything other than being  in the way.

I got 14 passes and whether or not the person in a very bad gorilla suit was there is not what was asked.  Indeed, if one didn't see it it just means he or she was concentrating on the task at hand.  Which person would you want as a pilot on the plane you're on going to see granny?

As for your experience, PhilNH5, no harm no foul.  Now you know.

Yeah, the point of the exercise is to show that the way the human brain works we focus on what we think is important. We did this as a work exercise several years ago and I don't think anyone saw the gorilla.

Tying this back to PhilNH5 , don't worry at all. In this instance your brain worked the way most folks do.

Great story, Phil and Subarus are fantastic cars, especially, in the snow and off road.

I counted 15 passes and noticed the gorilla, right away. It must be because I am an ESL teacher so I am well aware of most things that my students are doing.

I remember the first time I got to drive my grandad’s old Jeep. R is where 1st normally is and 1st is where 2nd gear should be. They knew what was going to happen so they made sure there was nothing and noone was in front or behind. Boy they had a good laugh. Btw, 3 gears only on that gem. I hope some day it will be mine

Yeah, the point of the exercise is to show that the way the human brain works we focus on what we think is important.  We did this as a work exercise several years ago and I don't think anyone saw the gorilla.

Tying this back to PhilNH5 , don't worry at all.  In this instance your brain worked the way most folks do.

It also explains how a driver can truthfully claim not to have seen the motorcycle he turned into despite broad daylight and clear unobstructed conditions. Their brain wasn't looking for it and didn't expect it so it never registered. Always drive defensively.