Learning to drive stick.

[arrfep]

What is the best way? I'd like to learn to drive a manual (I know, I know. And I'm a 26 year old male. How pathetic is that). Here's the problem. No one I know drives a manual except my brother, who lives in another state, and my dad, but his car is a little old roadster that I would be too nervous to drive...his toy car.

Other than that, I know no one who has a manual automobile. So how do I learn? Can I take lessons somewhere?

Or should I find the car I want to buy and then learn on that? I'm afraid that would end up putting lots of unnecessary wear on a new-ish car. I completely understand the concept of a manual transmission, the mechanics and the procedures, I've just never had the chance to execute. So let's hear it.

How did you learn?

CLIFFS:
1.) Want to learn to drive stick.
2.) No access to manual car.
3.) How to learn?
4.) How did ATOTers learn?

 

[Reckoner]

You won't find many auto schools offering manual these days (for obvious reasons). Buy some sh!tbox and learn on that.

 

[Anonemous]

rent?

 

[tailes151]

Yeah, rent a cheapy and take it to an empty parking lot. It won't take too long to get the hang of.

 

[SZLiao214]

Two choices. Try to find a friend that knowns how, you may have missed one or two. Second you can buy the cheapest pos car that still runs and learn on it.

 

[Colt45]

buy a vw bug!

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: Colt45
buy a vw bug!

Should be available some where for cheap, and will already probably have ground up gear-box with lots of slop, so he can't make it any worse.

 

[dbk]

um...you're SOL.

 

[Black88GTA]

Ebay is your friend

Pick any one of these bad boys that runs and learn on that. Or, do what I did and get a summer job as a service porter at a Chevy dealership and learn on everyone else's cars

 

[dak125]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
rent?

Manual rentals aren't available anymore, I tried finding one to teach my sister. Here's another vote for learning on a piece of crap. But, at the same time, the experience will probably differ so greatly from some POS that barely runs to a newer manual car that you might just be better off learning on a newer car.

 

[arrfep]

Originally posted by: tailes151
Yeah, rent a cheapy and take it to an empty parking lot. It won't take too long to get the hang of.

LOl. Something funny about renting a car, being walked out to my car in the parking lot, and waiting for the rental people to leave so I can try and get the car started.

Actually just had an idea while reading a thread about finding women on Craigslist. Thinking maybe I can offer someone 50 bucks or so to let me learn on their beater. No shortage of broke people on CL.

Thanks guys. Never ceases to amaze me how quickly responses come here.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
You won't find many auto schools offering manual these days (for obvious reasons). Buy some sh!tbox and learn on that.

Wrong.

Safest way provides training for manual trannys...

 

[Reckoner]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
You won't find many auto schools offering manual these days (for obvious reasons). Buy some sh!tbox and learn on that.

Wrong.

Safest way provides training for manual trannys...

I said many, not any.

 

[RedArmy]

Here's my 5 step guide so that anyone can drive stick on their first try
1. Push in clutch
2. Put in any gear (It's your choice!!!!!!)
3. Make the needle on the tach hover right above the red line
4. Take foot off clutch (Be quick!!)
5. Shift into a second gear of your choice (oh the possibilities!)*

*Disregard using the clutch to shift into the second gear of your choice as power shifting is the wave of the future, F the synchros and clutch, show them who's boss!!!

U r n0w teh m45t3rzzz!!!

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
You won't find many auto schools offering manual these days (for obvious reasons). Buy some sh!tbox and learn on that.

Wrong.

Safest way provides training for manual trannys...

I said many, not any.

Safestway is a very commonly used driver training program in my area. There was also another driver training program a bit futher down from where I live where you get to drive a mustang instead of a dodge neon or nissan maxima. (1995/1998)

 

[Aftermath]

I learned how on the drive home from the dealership with my '95 Accord wagon (2.2L I4, lacking the mad V-TEC powa.)

The very first time I drove was in an '89 F-150 with a 4 speed standard. I never really got it going very quickly, so I never got any further than second gear. But combining that limited experience with the knowledge of how a standard transmission works, and getting some simple advice on the "no gas" method of learning, I got the car home with only one stall (on a slight hill.)

I ended up getting dropped off at the dealership around 11pm to drive the car home with less traffic. (I explained the situation to the guy I was working with at the dealership, it wasn't a problem at all.)

It wasn't a graceful trip home, and it took me a little while before I was confident driving around town, but it's really not that difficult to learn how to drive a stick. Especially if you're the type of person who's good at just feeling your way through things. Some people just have an incredibly difficult time looking at the clutch like an analog system and insist on popping the clutch over and over and over.

This is coming from someone who considers his clutch to be a bit "sticky." I really have to baby it in my car to keep it smooth, but when I drive my wife's Neon it's a whole different story. That car is very smooth.

 

[chuckywang]

I learned when I bought my car, a 2002 Subaru WRX Wagon.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Colt45
buy a vw bug!

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

my first car and i learned on that and so has everyone i know. great car to learn on and has a strong tranny so you wouldnt have to worry about messing it up

 

[I Saw OJ]

If they dont rent out cars with a stick anymore you might be SOL. How about going with your dad to a used car lot, say you are really interested in the car but want to swing it by your family mechanic for look over. Take the car out for an hour or two and learn on that. Shouldnt take much longer than that to learn unless you have a learning problem or something.

 

[ImDonly1]

Some people say, go to a dealership. Tell them you are interested in test driving their manual car... pick any car... preferrably a cheap one. Go test drive. Have some fun. Then leave. Or just learn on your first car... learn it in a couple days can't put that much wear on the car?

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
rent?

 

[spacejamz]

honestly, if you owned a car (that wasn't a beater) with a manual transmission, would you let a friend learn how to drive a stick for the first time in it? how much damage could a newbie potentially cause while learning to drive stick?

I haven't driven a car with a manual transmission in awhile...my last manual car was a brand new 99 Honda Prelude (man that was a fun car)...I don't think I would have let a friend learn how to drive a stick using that car...

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: ImDonly1
Some people say, go to a dealership. Tell them you are interested in test driving their manual car... pick any car... preferrably a cheap one. Go test drive. Have some fun. Then leave. Or just learn on your first car... learn it in a couple days can't put that much wear on the car?

LOL! Going to a dealership to learn to drive a stick would be a nightmare. You'd end up embarrassed and the salesman would be like wtf. Yea, go in to test drive a nice high priced vehicle and don't tell him you can't drive a stick. Then after you buckle up, give him the ride of his life... I hate car salesmen!

 

[DougK62]

Every driving school in my area has manual trans cars to teach people on.

 

[Journer]

buy a manual tranny car...find someone to show you the basics or look up info online...that shoudl be all anyone needs....its a very simple task people, geez