How to learn how to drive manual?

[dannybek]

I've check the driving schools, none of my friends that drive have manual. I don't want to buy a cheap old car to learn. And no one is advertising on craigslist. Any suggestions?

 

[leftyman]

city streets are a good place to start.

 

[MiniDoom]

someone else's car...rental maybe.

 

[purbeast0]

Just get a car and learn that way.

He my first manual car is my current car that I purchased right before the new year. I never really drove it though until close to the beginning of february. Now it's cake, although sometimes still gear shifting isn't as smooth as it could be.

I'm now wondering how I went so long w/out manual. It's definitely more fun.

 

[Roguestar]

You crazy americans. We all drive manual over here, like real men. Nothing more manly than a big hard shaft in your hand that you've gotta shift back and forth.




wait

 

[MiniDoom]

I learned on a work truck, boss gave me the keys on a Friday afternoon and said the job site was 2 hours away...have fun. I was pretty good by the time i got back to work. The poor clutch was shot though.

 

[scorp00]

Go to a car dealer and mention you want to buy a manual. They will teach you to make a sale.

 

[James Bond]

Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Parking lot with a slight incline somewhere. No better place to learn how to balance the pedals. I second the dealership idea mentioned, because other than that, it's friends or buy one. I've never seen a manual in a rental car.

 

[PG]

Originally posted by: Tizyler
Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

Understanding how things work in general is much different than being able to do it.
You need experience behind the wheel to be able to drive a stick shift car well.

 

[Kelvrick]

I went out and bought a manual...

 

[handoverfist]

Go to the arcade

 

[MrPickins]

I started by going 1st, reverse, 1st, reverse repeatedly in our long driveway, then taking a few drives around the neighborhood.

You really get experience by doing, just be sure to pick a time with minimal traffic.

And allow yourself time to stall, restart, and get going again anytime you cross traffic until you're comfortable with takeoffs. I almost got broadsided one time. Lesson learned.

Edit: I had to learn because I owned the car. None of the above helps if you can't find a manual tranny to try it on...

 

[MDE]

My Dad bought a manual and if I wanted to drive it I had to learn. It took me maybe half an hour to get it down well enough to drive it on my own, and now I drive a manual.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Tizyler
Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

I'd be quite impressed if you could get the car moving within 5-10 minutes of hopping in one for the first time.

Driving a manual is like sex. You can read and watch about it all you want, but you wont have a damn clue what you're doing until you actually start doing it yourself.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Tizyler
Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

I'd be quite impressed if you could get the car moving within 5-10 minutes of hopping in one for the first time.

Driving a manual is like sex. You can read and watch about it all you want, but you wont have a damn clue what you're doing until you actually start doing it yourself.

Mrs. M4H was able to get the car moving after about five minutes of basic tutoring and close watching of me shifting. She only stalled out a handful of times (three or four, I forget) during the whole time she was driving, and she still needs to practice reversing ... but being a quick study isn't impossible.

- M4H

 

[WolverineGator]

Use the clutch to hold the car on inclines, engine brake while never matching revs (helps car slow faster).

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Tizyler
Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

I'd be quite impressed if you could get the car moving within 5-10 minutes of hopping in one for the first time.

Driving a manual is like sex. You can read and watch about it all you want, but you wont have a damn clue what you're doing until you actually start doing it yourself.

Mrs. M4H was able to get the car moving after about five minutes of basic tutoring and close watching of me shifting. She only stalled out a handful of times (three or four, I forget) during the whole time she was driving, and she still needs to practice reversing ... but being a quick study isn't impossible.

- M4H

Sure, if you have someone else who knows how to drive stick in the car with you. Reading about it on the internet and going solo would be an entirely different story.

 

[koomey]

My last car was a manual, and I had never driven it until the day I got it. I had someone with me that could drive just in case, but I ended up driving it home. It's really not that hard.

 

[Skotty]

Make sure you find an incline (facing uphill) somewhere to practice on that isn't at a stop light in real traffic. Not like you have to practice for hours every day, just a few times until you get it right. Trying to take off quickly on an incline without killing the engine or rolling into the car behind you is probably the hardest thing about driving a stick, and not something you really want to first try in traffic with angry drivers behind you.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Tizyler
Google it. That's what I did. It took me 10 minutes to learn.

I'd be quite impressed if you could get the car moving within 5-10 minutes of hopping in one for the first time.

Driving a manual is like sex. You can read and watch about it all you want, but you wont have a damn clue what you're doing until you actually start doing it yourself.

Mrs. M4H was able to get the car moving after about five minutes of basic tutoring and close watching of me shifting. She only stalled out a handful of times (three or four, I forget) during the whole time she was driving, and she still needs to practice reversing ... but being a quick study isn't impossible.

- M4H

Sure, if you have someone else who knows how to drive stick in the car with you. Reading about it on the internet and going solo would be an entirely different story.

True.

But the OP has to have at least one friend/family member who's got stick shift experience, even if they don't currently own a MT.

- M4H

 

[poopygood]

Originally posted by: WolverineGator
Use the clutch to hold the car on inclines, engine brake while never matching revs (helps car slow faster).

Good tips! :thumbsup:

 

[Zolty]

Dress reasonable and see if a dealership will let you take one out.

 

[steveox]

Originally posted by: poopygood

Originally posted by: WolverineGator
Use the clutch to hold the car on inclines, engine brake while never matching revs (helps car slow faster).

Good tips! :thumbsup:

Yeah to burn out the clutch! That won't necessarily help someone drive a manual.. it'll help someone drive a manual learn to stop faster...

 

[George P Burdell]

Just remember to be patient... everyone stalls the first few times (except The Stig).