How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

Obviously, this is only pointed at comments made by a couple people here-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kap2xwnz25w

Tina drives her roadster ALL THE TIME now, whereas, she was kindof afraid to before.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

Mrs. Mack can shift a non-synchro transmission well and used to drive our 30 Standard Roadster regularly. She hasn't tried the 31 yet but I recently unearthed the accesory pedal extenders which at 5' 0" might be helpful. She can see over the hood easier than she can in "her" 40 Packard.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

I totally get it. I had to put two electric starters on my cars just so Missie can drive by herself. Definitely think Miss T needs to be driving a T too!! ;) :D :D


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...8&d=1775152388

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...9&d=1775152429

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1775152496

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Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

My wife asked for the centrifugal advance, but otherwise she's better at driving stick (including double-clutch) than I am.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

Very well done, Brent!!

Tina HAS driven a Model T. In fact, she took the class at the California Auto Museum and drove theirs too. She said she hated it. She loves driving her Model A roadster though, so I encourage her to do it.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

My 1.5 metre tall (short) wife is a farm girl so driving the Model A is no problem for her but she does not like down shifting in traffic. That's why she likes driving the Phaeton with its synchro gearbox.BTW, being short does not limit how far she can push down the accelerator. She drives faster than I do but then, I am the one who has to keep the cars on the road.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

Well if she doesn't like driving one, then I totally understand. Nothing wrong with loving to drive a 'modern car'! :D Ironically, I let Colin's wife drive my 1909 around Greenfield Village and she did remarkably well driving and working the Model-T pedals, ...so I guess he should have said driving a stick while double-clutching, and driving a T using pedals for shifting. ;)

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

So Paul your wife doesn’t mind being referred to as “tour spouse unit” ?

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

"Tour" was a mis-spelling of "your". I couldn't edit the title, or I would have fixed it. Now, being referred to as my "spouse unit", she embraced that very early on. My career as an electrical engineer, working in electronics, I tend to be somewhat robotic in nature, which she finds very attractive, apparently. Blame it on the mild autism, perhaps, but when we first got married and I referred to her as my new spouse unit, she absolutely loved it and it stuck.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

Some of you folks are extremely lucky. I'd love for Sherry to drive our Model A. It ain't happenin' though. When she was in high school a fella tried to teach her to drive his 4-sp something-or-other. After a while she gave up and has never tried to drive anything with a clutch again. Note: we're in our 70's now.

Her father was a "car guy" and at one time many many years ago he had a big-block 4-sp Charger (the family car) that her mother had to drive. Apparently she stumbled through getting it upshifted but no matter how far she had slow down she never downshifted; she just lugged the motor until it got back up to speed.

Drive on ladies.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

My wife will either "lug the motor" as you guys say or take a corner on two wheels! I'm still undecided on which I dislike more.

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

What a timely post. Yesterday my 18 year old granddaughter asked me to teach her to drive a "stick shift." The only one we have in the family is the Model A that I've been driving for 33 years. So, on Wednesday we are going to have a lesson in a '30 Town Sedan. Wish us luck.
Marty

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

You, sir, are an inspiration! Thank you for doing that for your granddaughter!

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

When we first got married ('87), Miz Diane was willing to make the attempt at stick shift. She was a quick learner and happily rowed around our neighborhood in SMTN (Suthern Middle Tennessee). She was a little nervous in traffic but otherwise did well until...

We got stopped in traffic on a short-but-steep rise...with a car right behind her. She thought about it for 2 sec., stepped on the Ebrake, put it in neutral, said "nope!", and got out. We did the traffic-stop switcheroo and she never tried again.

She likes the Coupe and will happily ride around in it in the neighborhood. She's very sensitive to smells/odors and too much of anything strong (fuel, perfume, solvents, etc.) will trigger a migraine. I fixed the leaky carb, she'll be more likely to go with me now...but it will never be "often".

Re: How to get tour spouse unit to drive a Model A a LOT
 

I actually find it easier to (to a point) to teach people to drive a stick shift in a Model A, with the heavy flywheel and an over abundance of low end torque. They usually have issues with downshifting at first tho.

I have taught a lot of ladies in our club to drive their inherited Model "A"s.