Best way to learn how to drive a stick?

Beitzel15 · 06-23-2009, 09:33 PM

If everything goes as planned, I'll hopefully have a new camaro ss next year sometime and would like to get a manny over an auto just because they seem to go together.(muscle car & manual)

Im about to buy a used car, around 2000-3000, just to get me around, back and forth to college and what not and thought about buying a manny to learn on, instead of learning on a 35,000 car...

Everyone tells me theres nothing to it and I've drove my sisters up my road and back down but never got out of first haha. It seems easy as long as you're going on a straight road but I worry about being on a hill in traffic... And I also worry, what if I just dont care for a stick shift and then Im stuck with a 3000 car I hate?

*Mindz* · 06-23-2009, 09:37 PM

Go buy a honda civic for 800 bucks or something. Treat it as a learning car only. If you don't like it, you're not out a couple grand.

As for learning to drive a stick, if you can get out of nuetral and into first, second and above is nothing. Literally.

It's the same for a hill, just allow more rpms as you let the clutch out as it will drop faster. You can also engage the e-brake to help until you get going and just release the e-brake when you're rolling. Wears the e-brake faster, but it helps when you're first starting out.

hb-rocks · 06-23-2009, 09:37 PM

Just fly out to my parents house in Ohio and you can learn driving a stick for free.....(while you mow 3 acres of grass on a 1952 International Farmall tractor)

FenwickHockey65 · 06-23-2009, 09:37 PM

Learn first...make sure you're completely comfortable and have experience before you buy a manual.

6 Shooter · 06-23-2009, 09:40 PM

Get a manual for a weekend at a car rental!

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

hb-rocks · 06-23-2009, 09:42 PM

Seriously....sticks are very easy to learn.....you may once in a blue moon get a tricky situation (like on a large incline of pee-gravel with a line of cars sitting behind you).

Find a good friend that will let you practice with theirs or go rent one (as was already suggested!)

Zabo · 06-23-2009, 10:06 PM

I'd go the honda route as well. Smaller cars like cheap old civics need high revs to get going, and when you get to the SS it'll be twice as easy due to the torquey nature of the engine. Or you could try a bike, that's how I learned in traffic tactics..

And almost killed myself a few times. XD

Iroczlover · 06-23-2009, 11:24 PM

I thought all men knew how to play with their stick..................... I mean drive a stick lol

Number 3 · 06-23-2009, 11:24 PM

Half hour tops in a parking lot. Just learn to feel the clutch engaging and learn to give it a bit of gas.

For hills, if you have a hand brake, use it to help keep the car from rolling backwards.

It is nothing more than building confidence.

It isn't as hard as it seems, but you need to prove that to yourself.

Beitzel15 · 06-23-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindz

Go buy a honda civic for 800 bucks or something. Treat it as a learning car only. If you don't like it, you're not out a couple grand.

As for learning to drive a stick, if you can get out of nuetral and into first, second and above is nothing. Literally.

It's the same for a hill, just allow more rpms as you let the clutch out as it will drop faster. You can also engage the e-brake to help until you get going and just release the e-brake when you're rolling. Wears the e-brake faster, but it helps when you're first starting out.

I havent seen a car for $800 that wasnt a total piece of crap lol.

care to show me where im not looking? haha

MrIcky · 06-24-2009, 12:06 AM

IMHO, although it would take a little bit of pride swallowing, just hire a driving instructor. It's going to be a lot less intimidating to have some guy that you are paying not to make fun of you. It won't be expensive because it would just be a 1 or 2 day class.

But really it all comes down to starting on hills. After that it's cake. You could always just let a little space clear in front of you and use launch mode though

.

n!ght r!der · 06-24-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beitzel15

I havent seen a car for $800 that wasnt a total piece of crap lol.

care to show me where im not looking? haha

its supposed to be a piece of crap because its just a practice car

bradRS · 06-24-2009, 12:22 AM

This will sound goofy...but visualize it.
Racers do it...and it works.
Just find a quiet place to close your eyes and train your brian...your body will follow when it's time.

Beitzel15 · 06-24-2009, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrIcky

IMHO, although it would take a little bit of pride swallowing, just hire a driving instructor. It's going to be a lot less intimidating to have some guy that you are paying not to make fun of you. It won't be expensive because it would just be a 1 or 2 day class.

But really it all comes down to starting on hills. After that it's cake. You could always just let a little space clear in front of you and use launch mode though

.

Im going to have my dad show me. He grew up in the 60's-70's and had countless muscle cars, so I trust his manual driving skills.

& about the 800 car... It's not really just a practice car, it'd be my car for the next year or so haha.

06-23-2009, 09:33 PM	#1
Beitzel15 Drives: No camaro yet :( Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: nc Posts: 63	Best way to learn how to drive a stick? If everything goes as planned, I'll hopefully have a new camaro ss next year sometime and would like to get a manny over an auto just because they seem to go together.(muscle car & manual) Im about to buy a used car, around 2000-3000, just to get me around, back and forth to college and what not and thought about buying a manny to learn on, instead of learning on a 35,000 car... Everyone tells me theres nothing to it and I've drove my sisters up my road and back down but never got out of first haha. It seems easy as long as you're going on a straight road but I worry about being on a hill in traffic... And I also worry, what if I just dont care for a stick shift and then Im stuck with a 3000 car I hate?

06-23-2009, 09:37 PM	#2
Mindz E.B.A.H. Drives: you wild... Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: In the happy padded room wearing a jacket that makes me hug myself... Posts: 18,420	Go buy a honda civic for 800 bucks or something. Treat it as a learning car only. If you don't like it, you're not out a couple grand. As for learning to drive a stick, if you can get out of nuetral and into first, second and above is nothing. Literally. It's the same for a hill, just allow more rpms as you let the clutch out as it will drop faster. You can also engage the e-brake to help until you get going and just release the e-brake when you're rolling. Wears the e-brake faster, but it helps when you're first starting out. __________________ Blue Rush, 2010 SS [Car of the Week 3/22/2010] Traded in on...ZLZBUBB, 2013 ZL1

06-23-2009, 09:37 PM	#4
FenwickHockey65 General Motors Aficionado Drives: 2023 GMC Canyon, 2023 Expedition Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 37,375 View My Garage	Learn first...make sure you're completely comfortable and have experience before you buy a manual. __________________ 2023 GMC Canyon Elevation 2023 Ford Expedition SSV (State-Issued)

06-23-2009, 09:40 PM	#5
6 Shooter Six Speed Freak Drives: 2000 LS6 Millennium Yellow Roadster Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA - DMax Dually 5th Wheel Living Posts: 79	Get a manual for a weekend at a car rental! Later . . . . . . 6 Shooter __________________

06-23-2009, 11:24 PM	#8
Iroczlover The Krazzy bytch Drives: Which car I have 9 vehicles? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yelm, wa, Hell if I think about it to much Posts: 7,918	I thought all men knew how to play with their stick..................... I mean drive a stick lol __________________ Heart breaks everyday when you cant take care of your family because you are unemployed, cant give your family what you want or what they need I am not a man I have boobies. Cars are like women, If you treat her rough shes going to complain & you will hear about it. If you treat her right she will purrrrrrrrrrrrr Current cars owned , 72 Skylark vert,86 fiero GT Sold , 87 Iroc-z (sold), 90 Vette Vert SOLD , 95 Z28, 99 Silverado K1500 Totaled, 2010 CGM Camaro 2ss/rs (had to sell & I hate it ) ,2012 Cruze LT repoed. Current current list lol 2006 Silverado 2500hd.

06-23-2009, 09:37 PM	#3
hb-rocks Drives: Chevy Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: HB CA Posts: 567	Just fly out to my parents house in Ohio and you can learn driving a stick for free.....(while you mow 3 acres of grass on a 1952 International Farmall tractor)

06-23-2009, 09:42 PM	#6
hb-rocks Drives: Chevy Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: HB CA Posts: 567	Seriously....sticks are very easy to learn.....you may once in a blue moon get a tricky situation (like on a large incline of pee-gravel with a line of cars sitting behind you). Find a good friend that will let you practice with theirs or go rent one (as was already suggested!)

06-23-2009, 10:06 PM	#7
Zabo Gunning for Sixth Drives: '03 ZR2 Blazer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Woodhaven, Michigan Posts: 9,358 View My Garage	I'd go the honda route as well. Smaller cars like cheap old civics need high revs to get going, and when you get to the SS it'll be twice as easy due to the torquey nature of the engine. Or you could try a bike, that's how I learned in traffic tactics.. And almost killed myself a few times. XD

06-23-2009, 11:24 PM	#9
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,301 View My Garage	Half hour tops in a parking lot. Just learn to feel the clutch engaging and learn to give it a bit of gas. For hills, if you have a hand brake, use it to help keep the car from rolling backwards. It is nothing more than building confidence. It isn't as hard as it seems, but you need to prove that to yourself. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

06-24-2009, 12:06 AM	#11
MrIcky Drives: Dodge Ram Megacab & Cobalt SS Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boise Posts: 1,536	IMHO, although it would take a little bit of pride swallowing, just hire a driving instructor. It's going to be a lot less intimidating to have some guy that you are paying not to make fun of you. It won't be expensive because it would just be a 1 or 2 day class. But really it all comes down to starting on hills. After that it's cake. You could always just let a little space clear in front of you and use launch mode though .

06-24-2009, 12:22 AM	#13
bradRS Drives: Pontiac Solstice GXP Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 79	This will sound goofy...but visualize it. Racers do it...and it works. Just find a quiet place to close your eyes and train your brian...your body will follow when it's time.

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