ms3 for new driver??

[newcomer001]

New to here and want to say hi to everyone. Anyway, i got a question due to ms3. I like the car a lot after reading some reviews of it. However, I don't know how to drive stike. Do you guys think it's a good idear for a new stick driver to buy a brand new ms3? Any reply are appreciated!

Update: I don't mean to use the ms3 to learn to drive. I noticed that most of the ms3 drivers have a long time stick driving expriences(3 years, 5 years or even 10+). My question is can I handle the car well after one or two weeks praticeing. Thanks.

 

[NCZ13]

No reason not to. Its very easy to learn, and becomes second nature after a couple weeks of driving.

Im sure you have some friends who drive stick who wouldnt mind giving you a couple lessons.

 

[Young Roids]

It would be fine for a first time driver.

 

[mspeed3420]

Absolutely! If you want to drive a car in stick shift, learning takes a couple weeks and youll be a master in a month. There are obviously some downers (harder to talk on phone, ect) but its much more fun, you feel much more in control, ect. So as long as you want to drive stick, it doesnt really matter what you learn on, but I do find the ms3 clutch and gear box pretty easy to get used to if thats any help.

 

[newcomer001]

Thanks a lot for the replys. I forgot to mention that I live in SF where has lotta hills. I definitely like to drive stick and I wonder the ms3 is a good choice for new stick driver. Will the car has too much power for a new guy to handle?

 

[Captain KRM P5]

a yugo CV in the wrong hands can be a dangerous car. when you get right down to it, any car is an extension of the mentality and maturity of the person behind the wheel. my brother's girlfriend bought her ms3 last month and it is her first stick car. she has acquitted herself well with it thus far. don't go nuts on it while you are breaking it in or learning the ropes. if you have your wits about you, you will be fine.

 

[SHaW]

Okay, I live in an area where there are so many hills and my area is freaking called "Anaheim Hills" to begin with. And that's besides the point I am making here. Well, the MS3 was the first manual transmission car I have personally owned and learned "stick" on it once I purchased the car. I practiced for about a week on hills on my area where there is less traffic before taking it out more and more, where the streets were more uphill than downhill. Not hard at all as long as you learn your clutch balance. I would highly recommend this car; pure enjoyment.

 

[dandydaniel]

compared to learning on a honda or acura then I would have to say that the MS3 is a pretty darn hard car to learn stick on.

 

[BillTheCat]

compared to learning on a honda or acura then I would have to say that the MS3 is a pretty darn hard car to learn stick on.

QFE

Generally speaking, Honda's clutches are a lot more forgiving than the cluitch in the MS3. The MS3 clutch isn't horrible, but it is slightly finnicky.

More important than the clutch ease of use issue, however, is the power. If you're an inexperienced driver, extra hp can help keep you from stalling out on hills, or it could launch you over a curb & into a fire hydrant.

So it all depends on your temperament & personality. If you can avoid the temptation to play Speed Racer on city streets while you learn to work the clutch, downshift, etc., then you'll be fine. Well, that and you need to be hard to fluster, because you are almost guaranteed to miss a shift here & there, grind a gear or two, and stall out on an incline at a traffic light with dozens of angry commuters behind you.

 

[zilch321]

I'm amazed people here would suggest that you buy the ms3 as a first drive for a new stick drive. I personally think the ms3 isnt a very forgiving clutch and I've been driving stick for 17 years. You say you like to drive stick but you dont know how? I'm a little confused by that statement. Keep in mind if you burn up your clutch trying to teach yourself on the streets of San Francisco the dealer might not cover the repair. I think some people offering advice here are not being realistic.

 

[CHICO2003]

yeah no kidding... bad advice FTL

I'm not saying don't get the car. By all means, it's a GREAT car. But learn stick on something else. Call up some rental car companies and see if they have stick shifts. We have a place called 'cheap auto rental' that has some... in which I taught the wife how to drive using it. (no way I was gonna let her destroy my clutch/tranny in the process)

As for how long it'll take to learn. Whoever said 2 weeks... lol come on! Maybe 2 hours at the most! In fact... once you get the concept down (and that can/should happen before you even sit in the car) it'll just be a matter of getting the timing down and feeling comfortable.

But like I said... don't learn on a brand new car. that's just wrong

 

[Unkillable2]

i had a 30mins manual lesson on a cobalt and then when ahead and bought a ms3... i can pretty much drive it with no problem but it just jerks alot when shifting and stall a couple time cause i was used to it yet but after like 3 weeks i can say i mastered the clutch, hardly any jerks.

 

[Kain]

However, I don't know how to drive stike.

You're in luck. This car doesn't have one of those.

 

[truredspeed3]

The ms3 is more difficult to drive than say an Infiniti G IMO of course. Everyone is gonna hate me for saying that, but I dont care.

 

[CHICO2003]

Well at least he didn't say an MS6 That car (in stock form) probably has the worst clutch ever

 

[martin_nj]

coming from my previous car this car's grab point is way different and took me a few min to get used ...

overall though i would say no, don't get a MS3 for your first car.

yes to getting a stick though...

just my opinion of course but i think all ppl should gradually build up -
started with a 95 saturn sc1, stick
89 bmw 325i stick
91 bmw 535i stick
09 mazdaspeed
my bike history follows sim
started with an 88 fzr400 (400cc small engine)
then 96 yzf600
then 04 honda 919
now an fjr (1400cc aka 1.4L engine)

yes its true in america you can go buy a ferrari or a haybusa for your first car and that works out well for some people, but in reality nearly every other country has a graduated driver license for either cars or bikes...


so yah just my opinion, no need for flame wars... =]

 

[eg6motion]

hmm, I'm a bit surprised at the responses. I'd say the MS3 is not a good first-manual car. Learn on something else. Seasoned manual-vets can have a hard time battling the clutch, torque-steer, and peaky-turbo. I would never let anyone learn on this car, especially if they had not driven anything with at least 200whp before.

 

[specvspeedfreak]

i had a 30mins manual lesson on a cobalt and then when ahead and bought a ms3... i can pretty much drive it with no problem but it just jerks alot when shifting and stall a couple time cause i was used to it yet but after like 3 weeks i can say i mastered the clutch, hardly any jerks.

"mastered the clutch" is a false statment. You cant't make anyone believe that in 3 weeks you can do anymore than just the basics to get you around and not looking liking a newbie at it. mastering the clutch is more then just driving it normal...
try some heel toe shifting, standing burnout,clutch less for starters and then see see if you can keep that statment.


... also.. MS3 might be a bad car to start off with cause of the obvious reasons.. what you need to is understand the basic concept of how everything works (in your head) and kinda feel and visualize it as your attempting to slip the clutch out. 1st gear is the hardest ...thats all. some people release the clutch till it slipping then press the gas and some press the gas before it starts slipping... I like the first way.
after 1st gear you dont need to use any gas to keep moving (just know that)... after you got that down its all about being smooth and with the ms3 is hard .. its kinda like a on/off clutch..just find where the clutch starts slipping so you can perfect your driving from there.

 

[dudeomg_az1]

The ms3 is more difficult to drive than say an Infiniti G IMO of course. Everyone is gonna hate me for saying that, but I dont care.

I strongly disagree.

Having owned a G35 before having my Ms3 I can tell you the Ms3's clutch is much, much easier to learn.

 

[newcomer001]

You say you like to drive stick but you dont know how? I'm a little confused by that statement.




Sorry about the confusion. I have driven my friend's stick once and I pretty like the way it works. I guess I wanted to say that I have tried stick but still don't get it. The biggest problem is to start moving on the uphill. Anyway, it's sure that I won't learn to drive on a brand now car. Maybe I will pratice for two weeks before getting the ms3. Or should I just get a used civic or something simliar to drive for a while first.