its really not that bad...i have driven an auto for the majority of my life and was just taught the basics of driving a stick here and there with friends....just takes practice...i havent driven stick in a long time and i pretty much became comfortable with it after driving it for like 3 days...just go to an empty parking lot (preferably one that is slopped and flat) so you can practice starting out in first gear from a standstill on flat ground and on a slant too...you will get the hang of it sooner or later...

and if you dont know really how to drive a stick, just have a friend that knows how go with you...as long as he doesnt mind the jerking and the stalling lol...subies arent that hard to learn on...gluck mang

 

You might think about learning on something other than a WRX, if that's possible. It's not a hard car to drive once you're used to it, but it could be tough for a beginner. The AWD isn't as forgiving as say a FWD when trying to learn. Find someone with an old beater that will let you try. Then as soon as you get the hang of it, try it in the WRX.

And yes, definitely go to an open parking lot.

 

haha, i have never drove a stick before i purchased my first car. let me tell you, i drove it out of the lot. i did die out at least 20 times before reaching home. if you know the basics, then just do it. its fun to have people honking at you cuz your stuck at a green light dying out. but really, it only took me like 2-3 days to get it down after that.

 

definetely learn on a really sloped hill, cuz that is the hardest, espec. when u have a d00d giving you ~3" of rear space. once you learn that, it is easy. it was easy for me, cuz i ride dirt bikes. it is really easy tho.

 

it took me about 10 minutes to learn, and it was in the wrx. but as with PryoManiac i have been riding dirt bikes and ATV's for about 8 or so years so i already new the basics. ide actaully think about getting the basics down on a ATV or dirtbike and then going to the car instead of trying to learn from scratch in the car.

 

Thats the way I learned. When I was 15, my dad took me to an empty parking lot with multiple levels. He drove there, parked it on an uphill slope, got out and we switched seats. We didn't leave the parking lot until I didn't stall the damn thing.

I can't believe he let me do that to his clutch, but after that I never had a problem with driving manual transmissions.

 

Dont worry, its not that hard. Just be patient. Driving stick takes time. My dad taught me how to drive stick in his porsche. I was 10 and he got out of the car and told me to drive. It took me a few minutes, but I got the hang of it. Once you feel comfortable, then go practice on some steep hills. As some people here know, driving stick in san francisco on these steep a** hills sucks! A good tip, would be to learn how to use the parking brake. I never use it because it feels very uncomfortable, but a lot of my friends will use it on super steep hills (San Fran). Good luck and have fun learning! Oh btw, dont worry about the smell, its just your clutch burning = )

 

I had never driven stick before I got my WRX (4 weeks ago), I had a friend drive it home from the dealer cuz i certainly wasnt gonna try and drive it off the lot, but I took it around my neighborhood that night, and I pretty much jumped right into it, only stalled it once that night I think the WRX is a pretty easy car to learn on if you ask me, just as long as you understand the basics. The only "hard" parts about stick are starting off, and getting a smooth 1-2 shift, im still workin that one out. It just takes practice, thats all. Im still not COMPLETELY comfortable w/ stick, but its definently better than the first week i had the car. Ive only stalled the car in actual traffic twice since i got the car, and that was the first week as well...man thats embarassing, but oh well, it happens to everyone learning to drive stick, Just some pointers:

1. when coming to a stop, do not try to shift these cars into 1st gear unless you are almost completely stopped, or else you will just grind....i learned this one rather quickly the hard way...haha
2. Just concentrate on what you have to do, leave the radio off, that way you can hear the engine revs better...hell, im just now starting to listen to my radio at a respectable level, but somtimes i still have to turn it down, like if i need to make a quick cut across traffic in a left turn or somthing.
3. just be patient, its really not as bad as you think, eventually it'll get easier and easier. im finally starting to really enjoy driving my wrx now, the first couple weeks i was too nervous and concentrating too much about my shifting to enjoy the car, but everythings finally falling together. in a few more weeks i'll be that much better and enjoy the car that much more Good Luck!!

 

i agree with VRWRX

 

I just wanted to give you a few tips.

1. I totally agree with IDAFC21 on the shifting into 1st. Just don't do it until you're stopped.

2. If you're having problems putting the car into reverse, then put the stick back to neutral, then release the clutch and then try it again. People have been having problems with reverse. As my car gets more miles(4000) i've noticed that its has got a lot better.

3. *IMPORTANT*
Just remember that your car doesnt need a lot of gas to get going. I get the car moving at about 1000-1500 rpms. With more people in the car, you will need to give it more gas, but its still not a lot. Be careful, I just don't want you to burn the clutch.

 

now, im just the opposite. i gas it to about 2,500 RPM,and control my movement with the clutch. when i was learning, i would never give it enough gas, and i would end up stalling. so, i disagree. you can never have to much gas. GIVE IT THE FREAKIN GAS!!! just remember that.

 

You are probably burning your clutch really bad! When I started, I would give it too much gas, but as I got better the rpms have gone down. The only time I go above 2000 is when I'm racing. Be careful pyro about burning your clutch.