Best way to learn how to drive a stick?

[Mindz]

pieces of crap last 12 months at least.

[TheNetGarage]

I too would practice on an older car.

Here is a few pointers. I learned stick later at age 23 . I will give you a few pointers that NOBODY EVER GAVE ME that would have helped the light bulb go on faster.

1 - The Clutch is NOT and on/off switch, there is very much a middle ground. Letting up too fast and "dropping" the clutch at too low of an RPM is the cause of most stalls. Sit and Practice rolling forward. Put the car in first with the clutch fully depressed. Rev up to about 3000 RPM and practice letting the clutch out just til it starts to grab and let the car slowly roll forward ten feet then depress it again. Do this several times untell you start to get a feel for the "sweet spot" where the clutch starts to grab and acceleration begins!

2 - Once you learn the sweet spot the goal is to get the car propelling forward to exit the "sweet spot"(letting the clutch pedal up fully) before you burn up the clutch. The longer you stay in that sweet spot the faster you will wear out the clutch.

3 - Once a car is rolling you never go back to first until the car is at a dead stop. If rolling up to a light at more than 3 miles an hour and it turns green, go to second and begin your acceleration from there.

It is really about "working the clutch" and finding the right mixture of gas and clutch. But in this car as long as you give it ample gas you are fine. You kind of need to control forward motion more with the clutch than with how much gas you give it, so keep the RPM's up and work the clutch. I hope that makes sense!

As far as damage, unless you are really popping the clutch and whaling the gas, you will mostly just wear the clutch out faster. My first stick was a brand new car and I had to replace the clutch at 30,000 miles!

Now I have got it down, my CRV has 90,000 miles and the clutch feels like the day I bought it, and I sit in NY City traffic for hours which ways heavy on the clutch and my left leg!

Good Luck, do not over think, it is a feel, like riding a bike or playing drums. The more you stress the stiffer you get and the more clunky you drive.

Chill out and relax....be cool

[JewelZ]

I need to read this, lolz

[FPKILLA]

I will tell you in all confidence I don't drive stick...never had at least... I learned on my buddies honda civic si...lol alot different from a camaro but I've been learning for the last two weeks ever since the dealer called and told me my car was built and shipping...good luck...it's really not that hard... I drive a standing forklift at work and everything was hard as hell in the begining but it's just like everything else once it becomes second nature you will be awesome... once again good luck..

[UCI CamaroFan]

Originally Posted by 6 Shooter

Get a manual for a weekend at a car rental!

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

Good luck trying to find a place that rents manual transmissions.

[hb-rocks]

Originally Posted by UCI CamaroFan

Good luck trying to find a place that rents manual transmissions.

hmmmmm....this could be an issue here in the states...!
We got a stick the last car we rented but that was in Germany (a Puegeot)

[John Farnen]

Simple, on a flat area, push in the clutch and feel where each gear is, put it in 1st, slowly let out the clutch until you feel it start to move, give it gas slowly and let the clutch all the way out slowly, when you are going about 10mph, push in the clutch and do the same through each gear, when you feel comfortable, try it faster. Then find a deserted hill, not too steep at first, either use the hand brake, or put your foot on the brake, let the clutch out to where it just starts to engage, drop your rt foot from the brake to the gas, you'll need more than on the flat, give it gas and let out the clutch. Get that down, then find the steepest hill you can and try it. If you master a steep hill, you're done.

[Xanthos]

I'll add one that I think a lot of people overlook -

Make sure to practice holding the vehicle in place on a hill without using the brake (only the clutch and maybe a little gas). Once you get good at that, starting on a hill without rolling will be no problem at all, and you won't even need to use the handbrake.
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