Learning to drive manual

[tontod]

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]

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]

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.

 

[KarenMarie]

if you can master first gear, it is all a breeze after that.

 

[Excelsior]

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

Indeed.

 

[tontod]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[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

 

[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)...

 

[Excelsior]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[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

 

[conjur]

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?

 

[tontod]

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]

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.