For stick shift drivers - how did you learn?

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I'm planning on getting a new car within the next 12-16 months, and I really really want it to be a manual. My sister's ex-boyfriend taught her to drive a manual, and she's now driving an RSX 5-speed. I would really like to learn to drive stick - I've asked my sister about it before, and she said she doesn't want to teach me. I don't really blame her, as she's got a brand new car (her ex's car was a beater Plymouth), and she's really protective of it. I'd be the same way if I was in her position.

However, I've called every driving school in the Ann Arbor area, as well as the Michigan Secretary of State (same as the DMV for folks who don't know), and none of them can give me any information on manual driving instruction.

Any suggestions? I'd ask my friends, but most of them don't have cars, as they're only here for college.
 
datalink7

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
6
81
Me and my friends drove to a town 45 minutes away because they had a good movie theatre.

My friend with the car handed me the keys and said "you're driving back" and got in the passenger side.

It was an interesting drive back :p (I already knew how to drive an automatic).
 
F

fs5

Lifer
Jun 10, 2000
11,774
1
0
I learned in an 81 rx7 I bought for $300, drove around neighborhood, no insurance, then sold it for $200 after I was done. :)
 

Originally posted by: datalink7
Me and my friends drove to a town 45 minutes away because they had a good movie theatre.

My friend with the car handed me the keys and said "you're driving back" and got in the passenger side.

It was an interesting drive back :p (I already knew how to drive an automatic).
Click to expand...
Man, why can't that happen to me! I feel bad asking people to rag on their transmissions for a couple hours!
 
G

geckojohn

Diamond Member
Nov 28, 2000
4,679
0
0
All you need is practice... my dad taught me on his old VW beetle. You just need to practice and have some patience. Once you learn, you'll never forget. I've had a stickshift since i was 16, and have had one ever since.
 
thebestMAX

thebestMAX

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2000
7,516
138
106
With my Dad On a 49 Plymouth Coupe with 3 on the tree! Wish I still had that car. Hated it then, not "cool".
 
B

BamBam215

Golden Member
Feb 17, 2000
1,217
0
0
couple of hours in a large empty parking lot and you should be fine. After that it'll probably take you a month or so to get fully accustomed to your car and it's quirks.
 
S

Spac3d

Banned
Jul 3, 2001
6,651
1
0
Learned on a friends accord before I had a license. Haven't driving a stick in 5 years.
 
F

freebee

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2000
4,043
0
0
Just get a rental. And practice. Though personally I'm a big fan of rental automatics. I've neutral dropped many a GM automatic....you can practice writing your name in the parking lot with tire rubber.:)

You can even reward yourself and rent an exotic (usually only available in the big cities). Don't tell them you are practing driving...say you are going to the prom or something.
 
H

HiTek21

Diamond Member
Jul 4, 2002
4,391
1
0
My Mom. She pulled over to the curb said to get in the drivers seat and she was going to teach me to drive stick.
 
W

WinkOsmosis

Banned
Sep 18, 2002
13,990
1
0
Buy the car and learn on it. That way you can't back out, unless you're like that pansy who returned his Civic and got an auto.
 
DainBramaged

DainBramaged

Lifer
Jun 19, 2003
23,454
41
91
Originally posted by: freebee
Just get a rental. And practice. Though personally I'm a big fan of rental automatics. I've neutral dropped many a GM automatic....you can practice writing your name in the parking lot with tire rubber.:)

You can even reward yourself and rent an exotic (usually only available in the big cities). Don't tell them you are practing driving...say you are going to the prom or something.
Click to expand...

:Q

/reminds self to never buy a used rental car
 
K

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
1,348
136
Until I moved to the US, I didn't know automatic transmission existed.
 
Demon-Xanth

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
2
81
Trial and error mostly. I got okay at driving a stick with a 6 speed attached to a Cummins diesel. Which made it easy since it's kinda hard to F that one up. I got good with my Dakota though, also learned how to do good burnouts with it :)
 
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