How hard is it to learn to drive stick?

[MBrown]

You can get it in an hour. My dad taught me when I was 14 and in an hour I had it down.

 

[SZLiao214]

I really want to try one of the newer cars that have a stick shift. The only manual car that i have driven has been my friends 99 civic.

 

[Journer]

taught my g/f how to drive one in minutes...she would need some more practice before going on the road...but serriously...it isnt hard

 

[Kyanzes]

Just be very cautious with the break when you sit back to an AM after you practiced on a manual

 

[Hyperlite]

It depends on the car in some ways, I learned partially on my '98 Isuzu Rodeo, and partially on my dad's 2004 BMW 540i 4.4L. The clutch extension and feel on the BMW are (expectedly) vastly different (and more difficult to master) from my car. But damn, that BMW was fun to drive up the coast of cali. Its second nature now, and i have only been driving for just over two 1/2 years. I'll buy manual's until my arthritis is too bad to move my right arm and left leg.

 

[soydios]

We used to have a BMW 540i 4.4-liter with the 6-speed. Great car, but my parents sold it before I got my driver's license.
I'm learning to drive a stick on a replica Shelby Cobra. I never have to worry about stalling it, ever. 345-hp 302-cu.in. in a 2000-pound car means that it just goes whenever you pull your foot off the clutch pedal. The only remaining issue I have with it is starting smoothly and in a timely fashion.

As for learning to drive a manual, it's easy. Just go to an empty area (parking lots work well) and figure it out. You'll get the hang of it after a bit.

M4H: "The saying 'Easy to learn, hard to master' comes to mind."
/agree

Dullard: "With just a few hours of practice you should have the basics down. About all you need to know is one thing: if the car is stalling, press either the gas or the clutch down more than you are pressing it. If you do that, you should be able to drive on flat surfaces without problems on the first day.

Doing it perfectly while stopped uphill on a steep slope covered in gravel and/or ice is another story though. That takes a lot of practice. And hopefully your first time practicing it isn't with an expensive car tailgaiting you."
/agree