Ideas on learning to drive a manual?

[Ika]

What's the best way to learn to drive a manual car? I've considered buying a really cheap beater to try for a year (before I go off to college), but I'm not entirely sure if that's worth it. I talked to my dad about it and he suggested renting a car for a few days to learn how to drive it. Anyone have any ideas/tips?

EDIT: note that I do plan to learn how to drive a manual through first-hand experience, the dilemma for me is how to obtain that car.

 

[ValValline]

The best way to learn is to get (borrow from a friend or neighbor) a manual trans car and learn in a parking lot . It's not hard. The trick is to get a feel for it and then build some muscle memory with practice and repetition.

I don't think you will have much luck finding a rental that has a manual trans, but if you can it's a good idea.

 

[mattpegher]

The rental idea sounds good but good luck trying to find a company that rents standard transmission. You definitely need to do a ton of practice though so the junker may be a good idea. Do you live in a mountainous area if so starting from a stop on a hill is the hardest.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
The rental idea sounds good but good luck trying to find a company that rents standard transmission. You definitely need to do a ton of practice though so the junker may be a good idea. Do you live in a mountainous area if so starting from a stop on a hill is the hardest.

Actually, I live in Ohio, so there's not much in the way of unoccupied slopes. I have heard about that being a problem so I'm not entirely sure what to do. I'll probably go slope-hunting some day...

Anyway, I wasn't sure if it was possible to learn manual in just a few days, as I'm having a hard time grasping the concept as of now.

OP was edited to clarify that getting the car would be the hard part.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: mattpegher
The rental idea sounds good but good luck trying to find a company that rents standard transmission. You definitely need to do a ton of practice though so the junker may be a good idea. Do you live in a mountainous area if so starting from a stop on a hill is the hardest.

Actually, I live in Ohio, so there's not much in the way of unoccupied slopes. I have heard about that being a problem so I'm not entirely sure what to do. I'll probably go slope-hunting some day...

Anyway, I wasn't sure if it was possible to learn manual in just a few days, as I'm having a hard time grasping the concept as of now.

OP was edited to clarify that getting the car would be the hard part.

Most people I know who have driven for a while are able to pick it up fairly easily in an afternoon, I think it's easier because you already have the normal driving part down so you can concentrate on the shifting. I picked it up in about 15min in a parking lot, then hit some hills and highways.

Try smaller mom & pop rental places, places that rent vans and trucks and also sell used cars. I've rented a couple of times from places like that when my car was in the shop and have always gotten manual cause it was cheaper.

 

[SVT Cobra]

I picked it up in about 15 minutes in a parking lot. Just have someone with you that you can ask should a problem or uncertaintly arise. But, otherwise tell them to keep quiet and let you learn from experience. A rental is a good idea from a small mom and pop place because if it is a borrowed car, they will be screaming at you if you grind the gears or something (they will of course go along).

 

[teckmaster]

I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: mattpegher
The rental idea sounds good but good luck trying to find a company that rents standard transmission. You definitely need to do a ton of practice though so the junker may be a good idea. Do you live in a mountainous area if so starting from a stop on a hill is the hardest.

Actually, I live in Ohio, so there's not much in the way of unoccupied slopes. I have heard about that being a problem so I'm not entirely sure what to do. I'll probably go slope-hunting some day...

Anyway, I wasn't sure if it was possible to learn manual in just a few days, as I'm having a hard time grasping the concept as of now.

OP was edited to clarify that getting the car would be the hard part.

you must live in the western part of the state then.
There are 2 ski slopes within 20 minutes of my parents house in north central ohio

 

[linkgoron]

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: drum

Originally posted by: Aflac

Originally posted by: mattpegher
The rental idea sounds good but good luck trying to find a company that rents standard transmission. You definitely need to do a ton of practice though so the junker may be a good idea. Do you live in a mountainous area if so starting from a stop on a hill is the hardest.

Actually, I live in Ohio, so there's not much in the way of unoccupied slopes. I have heard about that being a problem so I'm not entirely sure what to do. I'll probably go slope-hunting some day...

Anyway, I wasn't sure if it was possible to learn manual in just a few days, as I'm having a hard time grasping the concept as of now.

OP was edited to clarify that getting the car would be the hard part.

you must live in the western part of the state then.
There are 2 ski slopes within 20 minutes of my parents house in north central ohio

Cleveland suburb, actually. There are slopes in this general geographical location, just very few that I know of nearby. I do know of one 45º slope a few minutes from home, but I'm afraid as hell to go there again (AUTOMATIC windstar's engine stalled after I tried to start from a stop; eventually ended up rolling back and hitting the car behind me, luckily for no damage).

 

[Staples]

I don't think anyone rents out standard transmission cars.

The whole idea of anyone learning ruining their car is upsurd.

I bought a car, learned and now it is fine. As long as you know what not to do, the clutch will be fine. I taught myself with stuff I read off the net. No one ever was in the car with me.

And even if you do manage to burn the clutch a few times, who cares, the clutch is very very strong and will last years even taking abuse.

 

[iamwiz82]

I learned by having to drive a brand new car I had just bought home

 

[teckmaster]

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

whats illegal about it?

not like it was a motorcycle where I need another class on my license

 

[spidey07]

Allow a friend to teach you the basics.

once you have those down, buy a manual car.

You'll learn.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

How would that be illegal?

 

[linkgoron]

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

How would that be illegal?

Where I live you can't drive a manual car if you get your license on an automatic. It's a different type of license.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: linkmoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

How would that be illegal?

Where I live you can't drive a manual car if you get your license on an automatic. It's a different type of license.

You might have phrased your question as, "Is illegal to drive a manual transmission in your state without a special license AS IT IS IN MINE?"

heh

 

[AZGamer]

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

How would that be illegal?

Where I live you can't drive a manual car if you get your license on an automatic. It's a different type of license.

It's not like a motorcycle or even a commercial vehicle/tractor-trailer. Where do you live, out of curiosity?

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: eos

Originally posted by: linkgoron

Originally posted by: teckmaster
I learned very quickly how. I had learned on and always drove automatics. Then I saw a brand new car I wanted that was manual. So I went inside, bought it and drove it home. Didn't even test drive it. At the time, I lived a good 20 miles away.

errrr, isn't that ilegal?

How would that be illegal?

Where I live you can't drive a manual car if you get your license on an automatic. It's a different type of license.

where tf do you live?! (Your profile is hidden)
That's ridiculous... I've never heard of such an idiotic thing in the United States. You in some backwards foreign country or something?


Oh, and to the OP: Big parking lot to learn how to go from stopped to 1st and 2nd gear. If you can go from 1st to 2nd, you can go from 2nd to 3rd to...

AND, if you can, find a hill somewhere that doesn't have traffic (there's a school near me that has a relatively steep hill down to its parking lot.) Drive half way up the hill, stop, then try to drive the rest of the way up the hill without rolling backwards. That's one of the most important skills - people don't mind too much if you stall in front of them. But, they seem to be a little irate when you roll backwards into them. Perhaps a good in-between step is to practice shifting from 1st to 2nd while driving up the hill... it helps increase your shifting speed.

 

[fbrdphreak]

OP, I was interested in the same thing a while ago and could not find a place that rents manual transmission cars.

Hope you have a friend with a manual! Offer to buy them a tank of gas or something

Or maybe if you want to buy a manual soon, just buy it and maybe have someone who knows how to drive it get it home for you. Then just learn!

 

[spidey07]

meh, I learned by buying one after spending 30 minutes in a parking lot with a friend.

It really isn't hard, just takes practice. by buying a manual you are in essence forcing yourself to learn.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
OP, I was interested in the same thing a while ago and could not find a place that rents manual transmission cars.

Hope you have a friend with a manual! Offer to buy them a tank of gas or something

Or maybe if you want to buy a manual soon, just buy it and maybe have someone who knows how to drive it get it home for you. Then just learn!

Yeah I have a few friends who drive manual cars, but the main concern there is awkwardness. I know if a friend asked me to teach him to drive manual I'd feel a little weird, especially about letting someone else drive my car (all the manual drivers I know own their cars). I guess it's an option, but I'd rather leave it as a last resort.

 

[spidey07]

What???

These are your friends. You are allowed to ask them to teach you stuff. As long as you don't leach off of them then what is problem?

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: spidey07
What???

These are your friends. You are allowed to ask them to teach you stuff. As long as you don't leach off of them then what is problem?

I'm just saying I wouldn't feel comfortable having someone (even a friend) learn to drive in my manual car, if there's a risk of ruining something.