Learning to drive manual

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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I would like to drive manual, however the problem is how to get my hands on a car with manual transmission. Do any rental car companies have any rental cars with manual transmission? I've been told that I could rent a U-haul truck, but I dont want to do that unless I have to.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
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Best advice: practice driving in an open parking lot where you can't hit a thing. Ask a friend or family member to borrow or teach you on their standard car.
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
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Only rental company in the States that I know of that might is some place in L.A. (or maybe Vegas) where you can rent high-end sports cars (Porsche, Ferrarri, etc.) for like $100/hr or something.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Best advice: practice driving in an open parking lot where you can't hit a thing. Ask a friend or family member to borrow or teach you on their standard car.


Thats what I thought about, but the friend that I know that has a manual has a mitsubishi 3000gt vr4 and he wont let a n00b like me drive that car. He also drives a saab, but says the clutch is almost worn out, otherwise he'd let me drive it.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)

Yup, I just learned too. After first gear, its really easy.

Where do you live? There used to be a company called Ugly Duckling or something that rented out really old cheap cars. Is there anyone you know with a manual transmission car you could learn on?
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)

Yup, I just learned too. After first gear, its really easy.

Where do you live? There used to be a company called Ugly Duckling or something that rented out really old cheap cars. Is there anyone you know with a manual transmission car you could learn on?

I live in CT. I'll see if I can ask anyone else around.

 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
I've had the same problem... no one will let me learn on their car... but as far as I've seen... rental companies have manual tranny cars... question is... will they know you've fuct it up ? And do you really want to look like an @$$ driving it off their lot for the first time (maybe bring a friend who already knows)...
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: rh71
I've had the same problem... no one will let me learn on their car... but as far as I've seen... rental companies have manual tranny cars... question is... will they know you've fuct it up ? And do you really want to look like an @$$ driving it off their lot for the first time (maybe bring a friend who already knows)...

Exactly. Bring a friend with you who knows..then just go to a parking lot.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
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I've talked to the friend that drives the 3000gt and he'll come with me to a rental car lot. Now finding a rental car company with a manual tranny car is the next step/challenge.
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
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Originally posted by: tontod
I've talked to the friend that drives the 3000gt and he'll come with me to a rental car lot. Now finding a rental car company with a manual tranny car is the next step/challenge.


If you live in Europe it's no problem...in the U.S...good luck.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Originally posted by: tontod
I've talked to the friend that drives the 3000gt and he'll come with me to a rental car lot. Now finding a rental car company with a manual tranny car is the next step/challenge.
Not that I'm suggesting you go to Cancun, but when I searched expedia for rental cars there, the base prices of < $30/day were manual tranny cars... so they are available...
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
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71
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: tontod
I've talked to the friend that drives the 3000gt and he'll come with me to a rental car lot. Now finding a rental car company with a manual tranny car is the next step/challenge.


If you live in Europe it's no problem...in the U.S...good luck.


Yeah, I'm in the US.
 

conjur

No Lifer
Jun 7, 2001
58,686
3
0
Originally posted by: m2kewl
Originally posted by: conjur
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope is something I'm afraid of.

Two words:

Hand brake

Two words:

no skills

:p

Not for me!!

For a n00b ;)

I used to have to deal with a stop sign on a very steep slope right at a RR crossing. And this was back with my '85 Dodge Shelby Charger that had a clutch like a dump truck.
 

Vadatajs

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2001
3,475
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Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru

What's special about it? AWD? Easier to handle?

 

freebee

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2000
4,043
0
0
There are no large rental companies in the US that offer manual trans cars. Avis, Hertz, Alamo, ERAC, Budget, etc. are autos only. You might call around to a driving school that offers lessons in stick shift but even that is somewhat rare.

<---also looking to brush up on rusty manual skills in preparation for 04 S2k. And i've never quite figured out that double clutch thing which seems kinda useful in certain situations.
 

freebee

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 2000
4,043
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Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru

What's special about it? AWD? Easier to handle?

Hill holder
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Originally posted by: freebee
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru

What's special about it? AWD? Easier to handle?

Hill holder


Excuse my ignorance, but I'm not sure what you mean? :eek:
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Originally posted by: freebee
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru

What's special about it? AWD? Easier to handle?

Hill holder


edit: whoops, triple post.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Originally posted by: freebee
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: tontod
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

:)


True, but rolling back from an upslope and nailing the guy behind me is something I'm afraid of.

one word: subaru

What's special about it? AWD? Easier to handle?

Hill holder


edit: whoops triple post. Keep getting an error when I post, but the post updates anyway.