Learning to drive manual

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,151
635
126
The hill holder automaticall engages the brakes to hold you on a slope. Its pretty cool. Anyway, if your friend's Saab needs a new clutch its the perfect car to learn on. I don't know why he would tell you otherwise. You'll get the most abusive part out of the way and then maybe he'll let you practice on the Mitsu.
 

shimsham

Lifer
May 9, 2002
10,765
0
0
practice on a riding lawnmower that has a clutch. not the exact same thing, but gets you used to the idea. same prinicple, just practice taking off smooth, without popping the clutch. then all you have to worry about is the gas. :p

i know it sounds silly, but it helped me a great deal.
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,032
125
106
Originally posted by: freebee

<---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.

Your thinking of something else. There is nothing to figure out about double clutching and its not usefull unless your syncros are worn out or your driving something for the 50s. Clutch in pull out of gear and into neutral, clutch out, clutch in, and into whatever gear you want and clutch back out. Bam you just double clutched.
 

Jombo

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,048
0
0
Originally posted by: 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.

;) maybe he's ;) telling you ;) something ;)

it sucks that you can't find a car to practice on. in that case, yer first car just maybe the best bet.
 

KokomoGST

Diamond Member
Nov 13, 2001
3,758
0
0
Actually AWD is sometimes harder to learn since it is easier to bog the car.

Just practice on some small slopes and let yourself slide back and try to move the car then... (no cars around of course) that'll help you with that aspect. I overcame that fear after a few days of practice. I also own a car with a heavy aftermarket clutch, even the steepest hills it's fine.
 

SammyBoy

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
3,570
1
0
if you only have 1 friend with a manual car you need new friends...or more friends. I learned on my great uncles car, my buddies sh1t box, and my other buddies saab. Now i got a GTi and i drive it like I've been driving stick for a month! When it infact has only been 2 weeks! SUPER NASTIES!!

anyhow, it's fun.

Also, LMAo at the double clutch comment, someone took fast and the furious to heart, goddamn granny shifter.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Damn, that's fscked up. I never knew that manual rentals were so hard to come by. :Q

Hmm..

Most tow yards have weekly or monthly or even all the time- sales.

Find a manual for 200$ that drives(they certainly exist), and beat the sh!t out of it. :D
 

Jombo

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,048
0
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Damn, that's fscked up. I never knew that manual rentals were so hard to come by. :Q Hmm.. Most tow yards have weekly or monthly or even all the time- sales. Find a manual for 200$ that drives(they certainly exist), and beat the sh!t out of it. :D

i'd imagine having people like yourself is the reason why the rental companies have all gone autos. since they dun care about your gas milage, nor your fun meter, and the extra cost of getting auto prob out saves having to replace clutches repeatedly.. the new world def ain't the europe..
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,831
2,008
126
Originally posted by: Jombo
i'd imagine having people like yourself is the reason why the rental companies have all gone autos. since they dun care about your gas milage, nor your fun meter, and the extra cost of getting auto prob out saves having to replace clutches repeatedly.. the new world def ain't the europe..

What? That doesn't make any sense.

 

Jombo

Golden Member
Aug 19, 2001
1,048
0
0
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Jombo i'd imagine having people like yourself is the reason why the rental companies have all gone autos. since they dun care about your gas milage, nor your fun meter, and the extra cost of getting auto prob out saves having to replace clutches repeatedly.. the new world def ain't the europe..
What? That doesn't make any sense.

it's much easier to ruin a manual tranny than an automatic. esp by those that either don't know how to drive a manual, or those out to peel out at every traffic light etc. you get the point right?

so looking at the cost of things, and residuals of cars that came of the rental car circulations, i'd imagine american rental companies chose to outfit their cars w/ auto tranny rather than a manual.

where as in europe, or many other countries, manuals are more prevalent, for whatever reason, i'm sure fuel economy is one of them. and most drivers know how to drive a manual, so they outfit their rentals w/ a manual.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,831
2,008
126
Originally posted by: Jombo

it's much easier to ruin a manual tranny than an automatic. esp by those that either don't know how to drive a manual, or those out to peel out at every traffic light etc. you get the point right?

so looking at the cost of things, and residuals of cars that came of the rental car circulations, i'd imagine american rental companies chose to outfit their cars w/ auto tranny rather than a manual.

where as in europe, or many other countries, manuals are more prevalent, for whatever reason, i'm sure fuel economy is one of them. and most drivers know how to drive a manual, so they outfit their rentals w/ a manual.

Yeah, but you said people like Eli. What did he do?
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Any more ideas? Only option I see is renting a 24' U-Haul truck for $40 a day.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Don't rent a uhaul :) I have a lot of experience driving manuals and find that the transmissions in those things are ridiculously bad. You rent a uhaul and master on that htough and you can drive anything :D