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I was curious how everyone here learned how to drive manual. I've never driven a manual before and was wondering how I should go about learning.

P.S. I don't know anyone with a manual car.

 
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I just got in and did it man. No lessons or anything. Just go to a BIG parking lot and figure it out! And remember, if you can't find it, GRIND IT! j/k[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

 
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I had to buy a cheap car when I moved to Washington state from Virginia. The cheapest thing I could find was a stick. A buddy of mine drove me out of town 50 miles to a place that sold cars cheap. The dealer showed me how to get the car going in 1st and I had 50 miles to teach myself the rest.

 
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just keep practicing and it will all come to you. don't forget to practice going up and down your driveway for slope practice[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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just got in and drove.....not too complicated....just takes practice...

 
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my advise is to learn where your clutch's friction point is. the friction point is the point of clutch release that the car begins to move. to do this simply put the car in 1st and ever so slowly release the clutch, paying close attention to the cars every vibration, untill you begin to feel the car respond. if you release the clutch slow enough, the idle speed of the engine will be enough to move the car without even giving it gas. once you feel the car begin to move forward, you can give gas and completely let off clutch.

 
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the day i learned was hellish. after my first try i got out of the car and was like "No way, dad, no! I hate it!!!"
uhhhh you know WHY i hated it? because my dad never said i didn't have to have the clutch all the way out in order to start giving it gas. i forget how he worded it- something about feeling the transition while i was letting out the clutch, but for reason i thought he meant that i had to let the clutch all the way and in a split second start pressing the gas pedal. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
everyone who drives stick here can only imagine....the car would buck and stall like crazy. it was my mom who finally told me what to do....

basically, in driving a manual car, you have to push the clutch in all the way when turning the car on, starting to drive, shifting gears, or pressing the break pedal. starting out- bring your foot off slowly and WHILE starting to let go of the clutch, start lightly pressing on the gas. shift into the next gear when rpms get to 3 or 3.5k or so. i usually shift into second at 10-15 mph, 3rd at 30 mph, 4th at 40-45, and 5th whenever i get to the speed i think i'll be staying at. when you get used to it all- which it WILL become second nature pretty quickly, then comes the quick, easy lesson of down-shifting. oh and don't leave the car in a gear when you are stopped and going to take your foot off the clutch....put it in neutral before taking your foot off the clutch.

 
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I actually learned manual on the 01 EX i'm driving now (I'm 16). Anyway, I always had the general idea of driving manual...but never actually did it. My dad actually helped me out a little, but after about 2 weeks i pretty much got the hang of it. Now, about 4 months later, it feels pretty much like second nature, though i still f*ck up every now and then (like tonight....grinded gears...driving too aggressively in heavy traffic )

 
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i learned on my 88 dodge omni. that was a hard car to learn on because the clutch would grab really high. i wanted to give up on it at first, but i eventually got the hang of it. i bet a lot of the people here with 5-speed civics would have a little trouble with my omni, i did when i got back in it after driving my civic for a week. i didnt stall it but it felt like i had let the clutch all the way out and then some before it grabbed (and i knew it grabbed high)

 
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Go to the mall after its closed . thats how I leared how to drive my 5 speed

 
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I did the same as emmagatorone and most of the others...just got in and did it.

 
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I learned when I drove it home from the dealer.[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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Thanks for all the advice guys! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

Right now I'm driving an auto so I was wondering how I could get some practice in a manual without buying a new car. Maybe after I pay off my 2K1 civ next year, I'll have some money to get a used manual to practice in.

 
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Here in toronto, there are quite a few freelance driving instructors who teach in a manual car. You could buy a lesson or two, that's all you'll need.

I learned on my own, but don't recommend you do it in a new car.... I taught my wife in my 02lx, and am regretting it... cause the car doesn't feel the same anymore. Anyways, if you are gonna teach yourself... main thing to learn is the clutch friction point as someone else already mentioned here. On flat ground and in first gear, release the clutch slowly without pressing any gas until the car starts to move -- keep doing that until you feel confident you know where that point is, then start applying gas. that's it. rest is all easy (until you come to a steep hill [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG] )

 
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go find someone with a beat up manual car.... best tip i can give you is... push down on the clutch and ease off of it with the E BRAKE DOWN!!! your car will move by itself if you do it right.....then once the car gets moving, give it a little gas and it'll start to accelerate...

 
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my dad taught me on a 1980 ford fairmont...after that i bought a stick...dont like autos anymore...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

 
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again i say..... do not buy a stick if u cant drive a stick. you'll be cryin to mommy and daddy to get u a new car cuz this one's "broken".

 
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<< again i say..... do not buy a stick if u cant drive a stick. you'll be cryin to mommy and daddy to get u a new car cuz this one's "broken". >>



Thats just wrong. There is always a "first time" for everything.

 
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my friend taught me on his dads Viper that he got to drive all the time. Let me tell you...thats not the best car to learn on!!!

 
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Yeah, I wouldn't even think of learning manual in a new car cause I'd probably mess up the transmission. Who wants to mess up a new car they just bought? Anyway, the best time for me to learn manual is now so that if I do buy a new manual I won't mess it up.

 
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Rent a cheap manual car from Budget or something. I learned by taking a lot of Zanax. I'm hearing impaired so when I was learning I turned off my hearing aids so I wouldn't hear the damn gears grinding. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/IMG]

R.S.

 
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enterprise rent-a-car. 50 bucks for a manual 4 spd metro. and best of all, they picker me up!!!