google.com, pub-0264584392222390, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
top of page

Save the Manual (-Shifting Arm)

  • Writer: Erik JP Drobey
    Erik JP Drobey
  • May 18, 2022
  • 2 min read


I’ve got a few things on my shoulders these days--including a bum shoulder from old hockey injuries. After years of background discomfort, the pain in my right shoulder grew from nagging to acute to debilitating, and I finally opted for surgery, a routine procedure I underwent a couple of weeks ago. My prognosis is good, and I should make a full recovery. But I won’t be able to drive for another week, and I likely won’t be able to drive my manual-transmission MX-5 for another few weeks after that. I can barely type this article out, let alone shift through gears.

This sign could refer to the MX-5, but not me!

It could be worse. Back in 2013, I was off my feet entirely (and unable to drive) for over six months (thanks to another hockey injury). At the time, though, I wasn’t driving a manual, or anything remotely as fun or engaging to drive as the MX-5. And I wasn’t commuting 25 miles to work every day.


It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’m surprised at how much I miss driving the Miata. I’m surprised not only because I like the idea of using public transit (though more on that later), but also because almost all my driving for the past few months has been of the mundane variety: commuting; running errands; enduring city traffic on my way someplace. Because I’ve had little time to take a drive just because or embark on a road trip, the MX-5 has been about as appliance-like lately as a convertible roadster can be.


Even as an appliance, though, the MX-5 is fun. And—smirk as you might—it’s actually practical as a daily commuter. The little car has returned over 30mpgs so far, and, as long as I’m not taking a Costco run, it’s great to run errands. And when I’m visiting my girlfriend, who lives in No-Parking North Beach, I can find more precious few parking spots with the Miata than most.


It's practical!

So, even at its most prosaic, the Miata is a car I enjoy driving—and miss driving now. A lot.



It doesn’t help that taking public transit to work is more of an odyssey than a commute. From where I live, I have to walk over a mile to light rail, take that to a train, then take a shuttle from the train to work, a journey that took almost two hours one particularly bad day last week. I don’t mind walking or taking transit, but that’s quite the schlep every day.


I am fortunate that I will heal fully, and as soon as I’m medically cleared, I’ll take the Miata for a proper drive. And I won’t take driving such a fabulous car for granted any longer.


I'll take the MX-5 on a proper drive as soon as I'm two-armed again.

I’ll also try avoiding any more injuries—at least for a little while (I miss hockey, too!).


It's not just the car disease with which I'm afflicted.

Erik JP Drobey lives in San Francisco. He chronicles some of his culinary and vehicular adventures on Instagram as @zjpd.


The views and opinions expressed here are his own and may not align with the founders of Everyday Driver.

 
 
 

537 комментариев



Alex Alexeeev
Alex Alexeeev
a day ago

Qachonki o‘yinda nimagadir umid qilsa bo‘lsa, o‘ynash yanada qiziqarli bo‘ladi va aynan shu sabab pin up casino online’ga tez-tez qaytaman. Ko‘plab slot va stol o‘yinlarini sinab ko‘rib, har safar platformada yangi o‘yinlar paydo bo‘lishini ko‘rdim va bu, har safar o‘zgacha kayfiyat beradi. Bonuslarni olish oson—kutib olish sovg‘alari, bepul aylantirishlar va cashback tezda akkauntga tushadi. pin up casino online tajribasi faqat baraban aylantirish emas, yangi imkoniyatlarni ochish va har doim bonuslardan bahramand bo‘lishdir.

Лайк

Lucy Reginald
Lucy Reginald
6 days ago

xoso365 xoso365

cpspai cpspai

ethminer ethminer

nr7 miner nr7 miner

optominer optominer

opto miner opto miner

EarnMining EarnMining

bay miner bay miner

bj mining bj mining

ri mining ri mining

gmo miner gmo miner

gmo miner gmo miner

Лайк

Lucy Reginald
Lucy Reginald
6 days ago

xoso365 xoso365

cpspai cpspai

ethminer ethminer

nr7 miner nr7 miner

optominer optominer

opto miner opto miner

EarnMining EarnMining

bay miner bay miner

bj mining bj mining

ri mining ri mining

gmo miner gmo miner

gmo miner gmo miner

Лайк

Lucy Reginald
Lucy Reginald
6 days ago

xoso365 xoso365

cpspai cpspai

ethminer ethminer

nr7 miner nr7 miner

optominer optominer

opto miner opto miner

EarnMining EarnMining

bay miner bay miner

bj mining bj mining

ri mining ri mining

gmo miner gmo miner

gmo miner gmo miner

Лайк
Recent Posts
BlipShift-4web_edited.jpg
Amazon-4web.jpg
Griots-Thumbnail.jpg
DailyTriple-250.jpg
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square

© 2007 - 2025  by Everyday Driver

bottom of page