Anyone here first learn how to drive on a stick shift, not an auto?

[Atomic Playboy]

I learned to drive on a manual. I didn't drive my first automatic transmission until I was in my early 20s. Auto is certainly convenient, but stick offers so much more control, and it's honestly not that difficult to drive; it becomes muscle memory so you don't even concentrate on it while you drive. But my girlfriend can't drive manual so we've got automatics for now.

 

[lupi]

Learned on 3 speed column shift like any real man.

 

[Pantlegz]

Yes. I haven't owned an automatic car either. I really don't like driving automatics but if I lived in a big city I would probably get one just because manuals in traffic are a pain in the ass...

 

[lupi]

I learned to drive on a manual. I didn't drive my first automatic transmission until I was in my early 20s. Auto is certainly convenient, but stick offers so much more control, and it's honestly not that difficult to drive; it becomes muscle memory so you don't even concentrate on it while you drive. But my girlfriend can't drive manual so we've got automatics for now.

Stick sucks ass on a city commute vehicle.

 

[Crusty]

Yes. I haven't owned an automatic car either. I really don't like driving automatics but if I lived in a big city I would probably get one just because manuals in traffic are a pain in the ass...

IMHO I find it to be just the opposite, and Austin has some really shitty traffic.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I learned to drive with a stick shift.

The main thing is not to start out doing it in places with other drivers around. Find some place with lots of space, and noone else there. In my case it was a large empty parking lot. And then just work for a while on starting and stopping.

This is the way I taught my kids

• Start out in a private driveway to practice heel/toe starting/braking
• Then go out to an empty parking lot. (Gear shifting)
• When comfortable, try an empty back road with a couple of hills.
• Practice stopping on the hill.
• Then a traveled road.
• Then a freeway, empty
• Finally heavy traffic

 

[paperfist]

park on hill.

tell her to start car.


be patient.

Check that your insurance company is going to cover the impending accident first

Driving stick is easy on flat streets. I first learned in one with my uncle taking me to a parking lot first so I could learn the right amount of clutch to let off while gassing it. Once that was mastered we hit the streets where I'd pass by parked cars so close my uncle would just about be sitting in my lap. The hill though, ugh, they still suck today.

 

[Saint Nick]

I learned on a stick shift before an automatic. Three on the tree!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I learned on both at the same time. My first time on the road was an auto and I took the driving test on an auto, but I was comfortable with a manual before I got my license.

 

[Fritzo]

Stick sucks ass on a city commute vehicle.

Eh...depends on the car. Something with a high rev engine like an S2000 means you can stay in 2nd the whole time

 

[bobross!]

I have never driven a stick before in my life.

 

[cronos]

Yes.

I didn't drive a car with automatic transmission until after 10+ years of driving stick. Believe it or not it was pretty nerve wracking this way also (there was also the major change of driver's side/lane at the time as well, that added up to it). I couldn't believe it when it's time to make a turn and realized that I had to depend solely on the brake to slow the car down.

 

[Red Storm]

I learned on an automatic, and I've always driven an automatic. Our family didn't have any manual cars when I was 15, so I used what I had.

Seeing as how I work in DC, I sure as hell wouldn't want to drive stick.

 

[cronos]

I learned in a stick. Suzuki Samurai! Took my drivers test in it too.

LOL my first car was an '88 Suzuki Katana, which is essentially the same thing as a Samurai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Jimny)

I loved that car. It looks pretty much exactly like this (also red in color):

 

[Crusty]

Eh...depends on the car. Something with a high rev engine like an S2000 means you can stay in 2nd the whole time

I just idle along in 1st gear when traffic is really bad, easy to do in my Accord. Slowly release the clutch and the car just drives itself.

 

[Fern]

Yeah, I learned on a manual transmission (3 on the tree).

Like everyone says, practice somewhere like a parking lot etc first. Only go out actually driving once they are completely comfortable using the stick shift/stopping & starting.

Fern

 

[dbailey]

have her rent one. then if she burns out the clutch, at least it won't be yours.

How's she going to rent one if she doesn't have a license?

 

[SphinxnihpS]

Bets way to learn. I learned on Corvette in a new development/subdivision when I was 12.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

My first car was an auto, but I learned to drive stick on one of these:

Actually, before I had even driven a car, I knew how to operate that tractor, a bobcat, and backhoe. So naturally my first car was an automatic "plush cruiser". ('84 Cressida)

Nice Massey-Ferguson

 

[TheVrolok]

Fixed. Sad to see today's kids spoon fed yet another thing in their lives. I'd say half of them can't drive a stick properly.

I learned back when I was learning to drive.. probably haven't driven a manual in over a decade, though.

 

[DrPizza]

Yep, learned in a Datsun 210, first car I owned. I taught a couple people how to drive a stick as well. Find a hill where if you roll backwards, there's nothing to roll into. Start on the hill.

I'd prefer a manual to an automatic any day, but haven't had a manual in almost a decade.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yes.

I didn't drive a car with automatic transmission until after 10+ years of driving stick. Believe it or not it was pretty nerve wracking this way also (there was also the major change of driver's side/lane at the time as well, that added up to it). I couldn't believe it when it's time to make a turn and realized that I had to depend solely on the brake to slow the car down.

Yeah, I'm pretty certain I'd crash into a tree if I was heading to a corner and realised someone had stolen my clutch pedal. :awe:

 

[GTaudiophile]

I did. But actually I was flying planes first and then starting learning to drive stick.

 

[Shawn]

No, but my first car and current car are stick.

 

[caddlad]

y3 speed on the column. them's were the good old days.

Three on the tree. You kids and yer fancy aut-o-matic transmissions. Spoilt rotten, I say!