Just bought a car with a manual transmission.

[jtusa]

2002 Maxima SE 6-speed. Nice car, drives great. I'm picking it up pretty quick, but the whole stop to start thing is messing with me. Let's just say the ignition and starter are being thoroughly tested. I'm not even close to mastering the downshift yet either. Those have been the two hardest things.

Although I'm already starting to agree with the advocates of manual transmissions, they can be lots of fun and it isn't as much of a hassle as I thought it'd be. I'm sure I'll think that even more once I get the hang of it.

 

[desiplaya4life]

man driving a manual transmission is AWESOME!. just the feeling you have the power in your hands is great. but i never been thru traffic/rush hour experience. that must get horrible. :-/

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: desiplaya4life
man driving a manual transmission is AWESOME!. just the feeling you have the power in your hands is great. but i never been thru traffic/rush hour experience. that must get horrible. :-/

That's my biggest concern, if I hit it at the wrong time, traffic on the way home from work can be a lot of stop and go. The three people that talked me into a manual said it's not that bad though.

 

[Looney]

It's not any harder in traffic, just more tedious. Although if this is your first time, you should pick it up when the streets are better... less chance of a stall and embarassing yourself.

Really though, have the guy that's selling you the car to show you. 15 mins, and you'll be able to drive home. Just stay away from any uphills stops on your way home.

 

[Excelsior]

Before you know it, driving a stick will feel quite natural. Just give it time and practice on the streets when they are less crowded.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

You are lucky you are learning on a new(er) transmission... I could couldn't even tell if the car was in the correct gear, I just had to hope.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
You are lucky you are learning on a new(er) transmission... I could couldn't even tell if the car was in the correct gear, I just had to hope.

LOL that's funny. But i've heard that the Maxima's transmissions aren't very smooth.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

After a very short while, it becomes automatic - you don't even think about it.
I'm driving an auto now ('98 Cavvy) but used to drive lots of manual a few years back ('91 Accord, '85 Volvo 240, '80 Mitsu Galant).

 

[Strk]

Nice

My next car should be a manual, although I haven't decided on the car yet.

 

[ballmode]

I drove a miata this past weekend and it's the easiest stick i drove

 

[Brutuskend]

AFTB

(automatics for the BORE)

 

[altonb1]

why buy a manual tranny if you aren't comfortable driving it?

 

[SampSon]

Practice makes perfect.

 

[ISAslot]

i just joined the manual club recently myself with a 1987 Toyota Tercel.

I've picked it up faster than I thought I would.

On my last drive, l did great. Until the drive home that is, which is all uphill. I stalled twice at the same light.

 

[IronWing]

Learning manual takes a few days at most. Learning to refrain from stomping on the clutch when you come to a stop sign and you're driving an automatic takes a lifetime.

 

[Reckoner]

The Holy Grail of learning to drive stick

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: altonb1
why buy a manual tranny if you aren't comfortable driving it?

How else are you going to learn? Lucky for me both of my parent's cars were/are sticks.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Once you go manual you will never want to go back...untill you get married or something and your SO cant drive stick so you have to stop.

Starting and stopping are deff the hardest part..but you'll get used to it pretty fast. Just drive around all day for about 2 days and you should be able to drive it ok. THen you will steadly just get smoother and smoother.

I had to learn stick in bassically a day cause I was picking up my car during a weekend during school. I drove 2 hours home fine.

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
Once you go manual you will never want to go back...untill you get married or something and your SO cant drive stick so you have to stop.

Starting and stopping are deff the hardest part..but you'll get used to it pretty fast. Just drive around all day for about 2 days and you should be able to drive it ok. THen you will steadly just get smoother and smoother.

I had to learn stick in bassically a day cause I was picking up my car during a weekend during school. I drove 2 hours home fine.

I always hear people say that once you go manual you won't want to go back. I think it's all subjective. Personally, I'm trading in my manual for an automatic this week and couldn't be happier. Manual's not for everyone.

 

[Kalvin00]

I'm 17..I learned to drive stick on a Tacoma..not exactly the smoothest tranny in the world, but roughly a year later, i'm pretty damn good at driving it.

Considering buying a car soon. I've driven friend's cars, clutch engagement is so much easier..you dont have to be quite as precise as in my truck.

edit: I picked up driving manual really fast. I think i've stalled it once out on the roads in almost a year.

 

[ViviTheMage]

stop staling!

I hgad my first manual a lil bit ago.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
Once you go manual you will never want to go back...untill you get married or something and your SO cant drive stick so you have to stop.

Mrs. M4H will either learn to drive a manual, or get very familiar with public transit.

- M4H

 

[Eos]

One thing is to not press the clutch in everytime you press the brake pedal. This is especially true in stop and go. The car will run fine at 3000-3500 rpm in first (or second) gear between stops. Let out the clutch and continue to accelerate. If you see traffic starting to slow down 4 cars ahead of you (you do look more than 1 car ahead, don't you?), let off the throttle slightly and the car will slow. You can leave the clutch out until right before you stop. Really. If you press it in and out when it's unecessary, you'll do a lot of slipping of the clutch when you try to let it out while still rolling. And rocking of the car as well.

Don't lug the motor. That engine runs fine at 4500 rpm. Keep the engine revving by choopsing the correct gear for city intersections or slight curves.

 

[DainBramaged]

Awesome car. Keep practicing and it will reward you.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
I'm 17..I learned to drive stick on a Tacoma..not exactly the smoothest tranny in the world, but roughly a year later, i'm pretty damn good at driving it.

Considering buying a car soon. I've driven friend's cars, clutch engagement is so much easier..you dont have to be quite as precise as in my truck.

edit: I picked up driving manual really fast. I think i've stalled it once out on the roads in almost a year.

Huh, I was about to say that the Toyota sticks I've drive have had the most user-friendly clutches I've experienced; light pedal and not grabby. I learned to drive on an '89 Toyota Truck.