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Just went in a manual for the very first time

U

Ultima

Platinum Member
I'm gonna be getting my license soon, so I stepped into the driver's seat of my friend's '91 manual accord (first time EVER in a manual) so I could learn the basics.
Well, manuals are harder than I thought 😉. Shifting from first to second is fine, braking is fine (just gotta remember to press the clutch so I don't stall), but starting on first is what I have trouble with. The car jumps out or shudders nearly every time I try.

Since my parents only have an automatic, I was considering buying a cheap sh!tbox manual (like under $1000 Canadian, $600 US) so I could start learning. By next year I hope to buy a semi-decent used car (You may have noticed me posting a couple threads about used cars), but in the meantime I don't really need it so a scrappy car wouldn't be bad to learn manual on. Anyone got any recommendations on a car for $600 US or less that would be good to learn manual on? thx
 
600 can buy you an older Honda CRX. I learned on a domestic 5 Speed, if you drive a standard Dodge Shadow (equally as cheap as the CRX), you'll be able to drive any standard 😀 (not that easy to learn on)
 
For that price, get anything that runs well. Toyotas and Subarus are a particularly good because they stand up to abuse pretty well in my experience.
 


<< I'm gonna be getting my license soon, so I stepped into the driver's seat of my friend's '91 manual accord (first time EVER in a manual) so I could learn the basics.
Well, manuals are harder than I thought 😉. Shifting from first to second is fine, braking is fine (just gotta remember to press the clutch so I don't stall), but starting on first is what I have trouble with. The car jumps out or shudders nearly every time I try.

Since my parents only have an automatic, I was considering buying a cheap sh!tbox manual (like under $1000 Canadian, $600 US) so I could start learning. By next year I hope to buy a semi-decent used car (You may have noticed me posting a couple threads about used cars), but in the meantime I don't really need it so a scrappy car wouldn't be bad to learn manual on. Anyone got any recommendations on a car for $600 US or less that would be good to learn manual on? thx >>



Yep, it happens to everyone who is learning to drive manual but in a few days it will be natural. Worst is when you're stopped on a hill and you need to start going but there's a car behind you. If you release clutch too fast it stalls and you start rolling down but if you do it too slow your car will roll down also. You might want to pull the parking brake, release the clutch slowly and when you feel the car is ready to go add some gas while you release the parking brake. It's a failsafe method and it's very very useful when the hill is pretty steep. Just a tip 🙂.
 
I spent years driving $200 cars. At that price you can replace them every year and still come out ahead. And that's pretty much what I did.
 
Yeah, the older Toyotas are cool too, look for a late 80's Camry, the 2.0 in there is a very strong engine 🙂
 


<< but starting on first is what I have trouble with. The car jumps out or shudders nearly every time I try. >>


that's because you are not giving it enough gas... for the perfect start, rev the engine to the redline and take your foot off the clutch as fast as possible... and no matter what... do not take your foot off the gas.

1st gear suddenly became so much more fun 🙂
 
Hmm, my wife has the same problem. When we switch drivers on the thruway service area, watching her get out of the garage can be interesting. She always jerks it in 1st.
Once she gets on the road she's fine but 1st gear for her is a nightmare. Spose I should tell her to try giving it more gas. Not sure what she's doing wrong in 1st gear.
 
its not to do with the gas I think here. If the car is very jerky then you are letting the *clutch* up far too fast or its not very smooth with your leg yet. You have to be smoother with your clutch leg and it will be easier with practice.
 


<<

Yep, it happens to everyone who is learning to drive manual but in a few days it will be natural. Worst is when you're stopped on a hill and you need to start going but there's a car behind you. If you release clutch too fast it stalls and you start rolling down but if you do it too slow your car will roll down also. You might want to pull the parking brake, release the clutch slowly and when you feel the car is ready to go add some gas while you release the parking brake. It's a failsafe method and it's very very useful when the hill is pretty steep. Just a tip 🙂. >>



but with a Sh!tty car that might be a good idea since it isnt your fault!! cuz the guy behind you was to close to you and you could get sum money from it and maybe an injury?? hehe

 
With most people that kinda "jump" a little in first gear, its not always not giving it enough gas. Some people develope bad habits where when they start in first, they only pull their clutch foot half way out, pause for a second for it to fully grip, then let it out all the way. And this is what causes the jolt.

Make sure you let your foot out in one smooth motion from heel to toe
 
My dad's 87 Ford Ranger has 200k+ miles on it and it still goes well, has the worst 5 speed in the history of the world. If you learn on a Ford Ranger with a stick, you can drive anything.
 
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