Driving a stick
05-17-2003, 02:42 AM
#1
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Posts: n/a
Driving a stick
Don't laugh! I have never driven a manual transmission car, i've really had no desire to until i've been looking into purchasing a 2004 WRX STi sometime this summer. All of my friends, family, etc. have automatic transmission cars so I don't have anyone to "teach" me.
I REALLY want to buy a WRX STi this summer, and I want to learn to drive a manual transmission car before I place my order for a STi, so I would like to learn in the next few weeks.
I've called a bunch of local driving schools, none of them have any programs that teach you how to drive a stick. Some people have suggested I rent a car and learn on my own, but I don't want to develop bad habits and ruin the clutch or something along those lines.
What would you guys reccomend I do?
Thanks, any advice is appreciated.
(Don't laugh
)
I REALLY want to buy a WRX STi this summer, and I want to learn to drive a manual transmission car before I place my order for a STi, so I would like to learn in the next few weeks.
I've called a bunch of local driving schools, none of them have any programs that teach you how to drive a stick. Some people have suggested I rent a car and learn on my own, but I don't want to develop bad habits and ruin the clutch or something along those lines.
What would you guys reccomend I do?
Thanks, any advice is appreciated.
(Don't laugh
)
05-17-2003, 09:16 AM
#2
Registered User
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Mountains
Posts: 4,650
Car Info: 2007 Nissan Frontier
Well I was tought by my dad and I dont really know how to put it into words, cause its kinda a thing taht you need someone helping you with it like in person, but ill try!
1. First just try getting into a manual car with it just on the "On" positon w/o the motor running. Then just practice using the clutch and shifting in place; it helps you figure out where the gears are and where to move them.
2. Next after you do this adn have practiced it alot, have a friend who knows how to drive a manual take you to a large open parking lot and just practice using the clutch and shifting while actually moving. Dont worrk because it will probably be frusterating becasue you might stall it a few times.
3. Well after you have done 2 a lot, then youu have the basic down and you just gotta start practicing starting on hills and all that other crap.
hope this helps! and if I am wrong, correct me becasue its just natural now so I cant really describe it!
-Jeff
1. First just try getting into a manual car with it just on the "On" positon w/o the motor running. Then just practice using the clutch and shifting in place; it helps you figure out where the gears are and where to move them.
2. Next after you do this adn have practiced it alot, have a friend who knows how to drive a manual take you to a large open parking lot and just practice using the clutch and shifting while actually moving. Dont worrk because it will probably be frusterating becasue you might stall it a few times.
3. Well after you have done 2 a lot, then youu have the basic down and you just gotta start practicing starting on hills and all that other crap.
hope this helps! and if I am wrong, correct me becasue its just natural now so I cant really describe it!
-Jeff
05-17-2003, 10:03 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
It will take some practice to get used to manual for the first time. It took me a couple of weeks before I stopped stalling. I guess finding a manual transmission car will be the hard part for you, but once you do check this site out:
http://www1.excite.com/home/info/lea..._689_0,00.html
http://www1.excite.com/home/info/lea..._689_0,00.html
05-17-2003, 12:30 PM
#5
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Boston
Posts: 514
Car Info: 2002 Alpine White WRX
The only way to learn it is to drive. Reading material will teach you what to do but it doesn't help one bit in doing it. You need to get a rent a car, since no one you know drives a stick and practice on it for a day or two. You won't burn the clutch unless you drop it at redline all the time. Once you get the feel for it, it will be easy.
05-17-2003, 07:30 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 47
Car Info: 03 Sedona Red WRX
i taught some stupid blonde how to drive a stick on my old crx si. i took her out to an industrial park and showed her how the clutch works by having her put the car in 1st and slowly letting the clutch out until the car started moving (flat and level road) and puttered along at idle! we did that like 10 times and then we stopped and i had her practice reving the engine and holding a certain rpm. i had her play around with the gas pedal enough to where she could hold it steady at 1500rpm. then i had her do that and had her let out the clutch slowly, and explained the whole thing about applying more gas to keep the rpms up.
this seemed to do the trick in teaching her.
this seemed to do the trick in teaching her.
05-17-2003, 09:06 PM
#7
NASIOC Slut
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Location: Roseville, CA
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Well I had the same problem with not knowing how to drive manual about 2 years ago. So instead of actually buying a new car to learn how, I got an old Impreza to learn on. Granted, Its going to be my car for some time to come but it would be an option for you to get a cheap sub $1000 car for just learning on and selling it afterwards.
Luckly my mom knew how to drive manual cars, so she was able to teach me. My cousin also helped a little with teaching me the finer points of what was actually going on with the car, but in all I definatly learned that its the clutch that you have to learn first. The shifting part is the easy part, the hard part is knowing how the clutch reacts... It is a very different sensation when you are first driving a manual car, and yes you need to keep the revs up at first and let the clutch up slowly so you dont stall the car.
The best way to learn is to find a large open parkinglot or somewhere rather empty to start out on. I did that for a week or so to get used to then, then tried some spots with hills and other obsticles problematic for new manual drivers so that I could learn how to deal with those situations.
After that, its the same as when you first learn how to drive and to get past the initial fear of screwing up on actual public roads in traffic and such, which just takes time. Took about a month for me to get used to it, and another month to get completely adjusted. Its second nature for me now, and only took a few months to completely get the hang of things.
However, I dont think that learning on an STI would be very good, because it has alot of power and you dont want to ruin the clutch on a brand new $30,000 (unless of course you feel you can afford to do that, or possibly afford any new-learner related disasters that might happen with the car)
Luckly my mom knew how to drive manual cars, so she was able to teach me. My cousin also helped a little with teaching me the finer points of what was actually going on with the car, but in all I definatly learned that its the clutch that you have to learn first. The shifting part is the easy part, the hard part is knowing how the clutch reacts... It is a very different sensation when you are first driving a manual car, and yes you need to keep the revs up at first and let the clutch up slowly so you dont stall the car.
The best way to learn is to find a large open parkinglot or somewhere rather empty to start out on. I did that for a week or so to get used to then, then tried some spots with hills and other obsticles problematic for new manual drivers so that I could learn how to deal with those situations.
After that, its the same as when you first learn how to drive and to get past the initial fear of screwing up on actual public roads in traffic and such, which just takes time. Took about a month for me to get used to it, and another month to get completely adjusted. Its second nature for me now, and only took a few months to completely get the hang of things.
However, I dont think that learning on an STI would be very good, because it has alot of power and you dont want to ruin the clutch on a brand new $30,000 (unless of course you feel you can afford to do that, or possibly afford any new-learner related disasters that might happen with the car)
05-18-2003, 03:17 AM
#8
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Definitely get the STi if you can... and DON'T jump in without learning first. Just go buy a clapped out GL or something (with AWD or 4WD preferably) and learn. It's cheap, so if you break it, who cares? When you get the hang of it, hop in the STi and jam. 
05-18-2003, 12:41 PM
#9
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Re: Driving a stick
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jag32
I've called a bunch of local driving schools, none of them have any programs that teach you how to drive a stick. Some people have suggested I rent a car and learn on my own, but I don't want to develop bad habits and ruin the clutch or something along those lines.
OK, if you can rent a stick (few rental agencies even stock them) and especially if you can rent one from a place with a HUGE parking lot on Sunday, do the following.
1. Practice using the clutch while it is stopped.
2. Then depress the clutch all the way (that is CRITICAL, when using the clutch always depress it 100% except when actually using to shift gears), and turn on the ignition.
3. Then put the car into first with clutch depressed.
4. This is the biggest error for beginners: make sure that you've given the car enough gas, say 500-1000 rpm, before you start to gradually release the clutch. Get used to where the clutch starts to engage in the car you're using, they vary a lot depending in part on the shape the clutch is in.
5. Let yourself drive in 1st for awhile.
6. Then shift gears, making sure every time that you shift you are applying adequate gas.
7. When you stop, make sure you depress the clutch all the way as you are applying the brakes. You can also downshift as you slow down but that is a refinement.
Hope that helps! There really is not that much too it.
I've called a bunch of local driving schools, none of them have any programs that teach you how to drive a stick. Some people have suggested I rent a car and learn on my own, but I don't want to develop bad habits and ruin the clutch or something along those lines.
OK, if you can rent a stick (few rental agencies even stock them) and especially if you can rent one from a place with a HUGE parking lot on Sunday, do the following.
1. Practice using the clutch while it is stopped.
2. Then depress the clutch all the way (that is CRITICAL, when using the clutch always depress it 100% except when actually using to shift gears), and turn on the ignition.
3. Then put the car into first with clutch depressed.
4. This is the biggest error for beginners: make sure that you've given the car enough gas, say 500-1000 rpm, before you start to gradually release the clutch. Get used to where the clutch starts to engage in the car you're using, they vary a lot depending in part on the shape the clutch is in.
5. Let yourself drive in 1st for awhile.
6. Then shift gears, making sure every time that you shift you are applying adequate gas.
7. When you stop, make sure you depress the clutch all the way as you are applying the brakes. You can also downshift as you slow down but that is a refinement.
Hope that helps! There really is not that much too it.
05-18-2003, 08:22 PM
#10
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My friend told me that if you get your car on your driveway or anywhere where there are no cars and slightly slanted, you can start the car put the clutch in and let it off slowly until it goes forward. Then press the clutch back in the slide back a few feet then do it again to go forward. Keep doing that to get the feel for the friction point for that car. Im not sure if this is bad for your clutch or anything, does anyone know?
05-28-2003, 07:36 PM
#14
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Originally posted by BAN SUVS
Definitely get the STi if you can... and DON'T jump in without learning first. Just go buy a clapped out GL or something (with AWD or 4WD preferably) and learn. It's cheap, so if you break it, who cares? When you get the hang of it, hop in the STi and jam.
Definitely get the STi if you can... and DON'T jump in without learning first. Just go buy a clapped out GL or something (with AWD or 4WD preferably) and learn. It's cheap, so if you break it, who cares? When you get the hang of it, hop in the STi and jam.
05-28-2003, 09:11 PM
#15
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Make nice with someone with a old bug or transporter. Learn on one of those and you will be able to drive anything. Chances are if you can sit at your computer and drink a soda at the same time ,you can learn to drive stick. Just please dont practice with a wrx or sti no matter how much or little dough you have. Once you learn manual trans youll see what true driving control is.