[overdrivex]

Hey guys. I'm looking into learning to drive stick since all I've driven is automatic, and I have an interest in driving stick as well. What can I do to learn to drive a stick? I did drive a friend's car for an hour or so once, and I was able to get the car stopped and moving again several times, but still stalled every now and then. I don't think he would let me do it again since well...I probably put some unnecessary wear on his clutch. Anyway, what are some ideas? I was thinking of classes but need to find some.

[dreamingat30fps]

I learned to drive stick in my friends old Bronco 2. We went out maybe 1-2 times. Then I went and bought my first car, stick. Obviously no where near as easy to drive as that Bronco that was so old and worn out you could pretty much just slip it into gear without even using the clutch. The road out of the dealer was on an incline and had a red light at the end. Needless to say I sat through like 2-3 lights because I kept stalling it, people were pissed. Although a pita at first I did eventually learn.

So I say maybe get your friend to let you go a couple more times then just go for it and get the car (assuming you want to get a stick car, otherwise not sure). Also every car is different so even if you already know how to drive stick, every car will be a slightly different experience and will take a bit of time to master that specific car.

[fcman]

Everyone I've ever talked to has learned on their own car, that's how I learned. I know there are some places out there that offer classes but I dont personally have any experience with them.

[P1]

Rent a manual car for a few days.

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by P1et

Rent a manual car for a few days.

This.

The best, and most economical, way to learn to drive stick.



I did it in Australia, "do you know how to drive stick?" ... Yeah!!! ... Stalled 5 times getting out of the rental car garage. Drove on wrong side of the road for 3 days (they all drive on the wrong side down there)... By the end of the 3 days I was driving and shifting smoothly.

[MYovichZ4]

If you've got the cash, there's plenty of driving schools out there.

OR if cash is tight, find an arcade with a "Race Driving" or "Hard Driving" sit down video game. It had a very realistic program for manual. It won't have much of a feel of the actual transmission as a car, but it will help you get used to using a stick without burning out the clutch on someone's car.

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by ddk632

This.

The best, and most economical, way to learn to drive stick.



I did it in Australia, "do you know how to drive stick?" ... Yeah!!! ... Stalled 5 times getting out of the rental car garage. Drove on wrong side of the road for 3 days (they all drive on the wrong side down there)... By the end of the 3 days I was driving and shifting smoothly.

lol and when you burn out the clutch its not your worry

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by P1et

Rent a manual car for a few days.

Manual rental cars are few and very far between in the US for this exact reason (people don't know how to drive them). That said, almost every rental car in Europe is a manual so the OP should take a trip over the pond for a few days to get the full experience!

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

lol and when you burn out the clutch its not your worry

That is precisely what makes it so economical!!!

[ddk632]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Manual rental cars are few and very far between in the US for this exact reason (people don't know how to drive them). That said, almost every rental car in Europe is a manual so the OP should take a trip over the pond for a few days to get the full experience!

True. Interesting and didn't think about this ... Apparently no one rents manuals in the US.

http://www.bug.co.uk/blog/2007/08/13...ual-in-the-us/

Except these guys who keep some manuals for their Euro customers according to the above post...

http://www.wheels9.com

I am sure there are others here and there.

What's the world come to, eh?

[P1]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Manual rental cars are few and very far between in the US for this exact reason (people don't know how to drive them). That said, almost every rental car in Europe is a manual so the OP should take a trip over the pond for a few days to get the full experience!

Perhaps the big box places such as Hertz and Avis, but maybe a more local outfit might have manuals? Or go rent work truck or work van?

[Rotorocious]

I learned after I bought my first car.....a Fiero GT. Yeeeeyaaaaa.

My dad had to drive it home for me since I couldn't. Eventually I just took it out for a day and figured it out. Don't be scared about it.

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I learned to drive stick in my friends old Bronco 2. We went out maybe 1-2 times. Then I went and bought my first car, stick. Obviously no where near as easy to drive as that Bronco that was so old and worn out you could pretty much just slip it into gear without even using the clutch. The road out of the dealer was on an incline and had a red light at the end. Needless to say I sat through like 2-3 lights because I kept stalling it, people were pissed. Although a pita at first I did eventually learn.

So I say maybe get your friend to let you go a couple more times then just go for it and get the car (assuming you want to get a stick car, otherwise not sure). Also every car is different so even if you already know how to drive stick, every car will be a slightly different experience and will take a bit of time to master that specific car.

Thanks! I could probably ask him again, and I think I might. If he does, then that would be good. And yes, I plan on getting a stick car eventually, just not sure when.

Originally Posted by fcman

Everyone I've ever talked to has learned on their own car, that's how I learned. I know there are some places out there that offer classes but I dont personally have any experience with them.

Thanks! I looked up some classes, and the two near me that actually offer manual transmission lessons are $185, and the other is $229, both lessons running for two hours.

Originally Posted by P1et

Rent a manual car for a few days.

Originally Posted by ddk632

This.

The best, and most economical, way to learn to drive stick.



I did it in Australia, "do you know how to drive stick?" ... Yeah!!! ... Stalled 5 times getting out of the rental car garage. Drove on wrong side of the road for 3 days (they all drive on the wrong side down there)... By the end of the 3 days I was driving and shifting smoothly.

Trust me, I've been searching, and searching for a place that rents out manuals, but nobody around me does. Kind of sad really.

Originally Posted by YovichZ4

If you've got the cash, there's plenty of driving schools out there.

OR if cash is tight, find an arcade with a "Race Driving" or "Hard Driving" sit down video game. It had a very realistic program for manual. It won't have much of a feel of the actual transmission as a car, but it will help you get used to using a stick without burning out the clutch on someone's car.

Hmm that sounds like a good idea. Although, I would rather have time behind the wheel of a real car.

Originally Posted by Rotorocious

I learned after I bought my first car.....a Fiero GT. Yeeeeyaaaaa.

My dad had to drive it home for me since I couldn't. Eventually I just took it out for a day and figured it out. Don't be scared about it.

Thats the same way my friend learned. I was pretty nervous when I tried out his car since I was worried about burning up his clutch. I guess if my nerves weren't as bad, maybe I could have been a little more successful with driving the car.

[Joekerr]

OP - you'll probably be a bit better next time out. I figure I can teach anyone (on their car, not mine) to know the basics in about 2 hours. Should be able to drive by that time - still be challenges (ie. starting on a hill, but there are tricks for that too).

So the fact that you've already had some time in the car means you'll probably be a bit better next time.

I'd say the key to learning stick is to feel where the point of engagement begins. Its different in every car, but once you can feel where the clutch is starting to engage, that's key. You can effectively keep the clutch depressed at this point, let off the brake, and the slightest (and I mean slightest expressed in terms of millimeters) little let out of the clutch from this point will start the car rolling on a flat surface. Once rolling, smoothly let out the clutch (don't dump), and if you do that you won't stall, or jump the car...but must be smooth - speed is not the trick here.

As I say, biggest key I think is clutch engagement and being able to feel it. Means radio off, no other distractions. To feel the engagement you will need to stall it a few times until you get it - just accept it will happen and in fact make it happen. The RPM's will dip a little on initial engagement, that's another visual sign, but what you should be after is the feel of the car, through the feet.

Good luck!

[Billup]

Bought my first car as a manual, taught myself.


Bought my motorcycle, taught myself.


Manual is fairly easy. If you have someone generous enough with an old 5 speed or something, just play with it for the day. You should be fluent enough after a solid day of practice.

[kevinbahnz]

Just keep practicing. I've practice on friends cars here and there until I bought my first manual car a brand new 2001 330ci. I think I stalled once or twice during the test drive.

[MrPrena]

Rental car or borrow a beat up manual car from friend, and ask him/her to teach you. Of course, you might have to give him/her some thank you $$ for wear and tear! haha

Learning the manual would be a great experience. HOwever, it is becoming obsolete. I currently drive a 6MT, and I just have a feeling that this will be my last manual. Rev matching or decluching every downshifting isn't fun.

[m3ray]

I have travelled all over America and have yet to find a rental company that offers cars with an MT.

OP my suggestion is get a real old beater with a stick and learn on it. This way you wont fry your clutch or synchros on the “nice” car you plan to get

[Maestro]

Go find some old car or truck with a manual clutch and find some hills and have your friends pull up behind you and stop with in a foot of your bumper and the goal is not to hit their car. If you can master this you can drive any new car with a clutch. New cars are far easier than what they use to be.

To put in perspective, I taught my son on my 335I and it took a number of days of trying before he got it right, then he bought a GT mustang which had manual clutch and he almost had to learn all over again, it gave him problems at first.

I learn to drive a stick on a old time truck with 3 on three tree and tractors and I can pretty much start on a hill without rolling back. But the BMW has created some bad habits since it hold the brakes on a hill.

[John 070]

This is the responsibility of every parent. Problem is nowadays, even parents don't know how to drive a stick.

I guess then it would have to be a willing friend.

Back when I was in college, I lived with a family, and the wife beating drunk husband rented me a room because he figured his wife cannot speak English.

She got herself a 2nd hand car with a 5-spd, and so she asked me if I could teach her how to drive it. Well, I did, and turns out I could speak to her in their native tongue, so not only did I teach her to drive, we did other fun stuff together too.

[ddk632]

Yeah, considering the problem of finding MT rentals in the US, I'd say just buy a beater and learn on it.

To be honest, after I learned in Australia it was a year or more before I actually bought an MT car - my first BMW, too, an E36 325i - and pretty much had to learn all over again though not from complete scratch..

Bottom line to get good at it, where it becomes second nature, nothing is better than just buying an MT beater and daily driving it.

[Litos]

I learned riding dirt bikes when I was 11 years old...

gas, clutch, gears...

applied it to the car 9 years later when I bought my first car in Carlsbad, California.....