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- 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 GT Retired: 2002 Protege 5
hey guys and gals just wondering how long it took some of you to learn how to drive manual
how long to learn manual
- Thread starter djdanny5000
- Start date
concept and application - a few minutes in a parking lot or some very dead roads
doing it well - varies from person to person - practice makes perfect
I had driven friends cars - so I knew what to do. But when I bought my first manual (85 Jeep Cherokee), I test drove it with no problems. Bought it, took it to a gas station - filled the tank, and spent the next 20 minutes trying to get into first without stalling. First week was a little rough, I'd make stupid mistakes like forgetting to downshift in a parking lot and stalling from leaving it in 3rd or 4th.
Ultimately, just keep the radio off and pay attention to what the engine is doing. When in doubt, more clutch, less gas - the goal is to be smooth. Anyone can tach it up and slip/dump the clutch, but driving stick smooth is arguably what the goal should be.
doing it well - varies from person to person - practice makes perfect
I had driven friends cars - so I knew what to do. But when I bought my first manual (85 Jeep Cherokee), I test drove it with no problems. Bought it, took it to a gas station - filled the tank, and spent the next 20 minutes trying to get into first without stalling. First week was a little rough, I'd make stupid mistakes like forgetting to downshift in a parking lot and stalling from leaving it in 3rd or 4th.
Ultimately, just keep the radio off and pay attention to what the engine is doing. When in doubt, more clutch, less gas - the goal is to be smooth. Anyone can tach it up and slip/dump the clutch, but driving stick smooth is arguably what the goal should be.
I learned on a 94 hyundai scoupe which I am currently still driving but the basic concept took me like 5 minutes to understand but actually doing it and doing it well is the real challenge. I would suggest getting a beater car and driving that and then getting a better car. Practice makes perfect.
I learned how to drive a stick with no clutch ,the dune buggy had a broken clutch cable ,started it in gear then shifter up and down without the clutch ,the first standard I drove on the stret was a 3 speed on the coloum (sp) .
The whole ideas ids to be smooth when shifting and not slip the clutch ,what ever you do dont leave your foot on the clutch pedal .
Another thing to learn is taking off on a steep hill , this is the only time you should slip the clutch ,if you do this right you can hold the car on the hill without the brakes ,it is a matter of finding the point where the gas and clutch will hold the car without using lots of revs
The whole ideas ids to be smooth when shifting and not slip the clutch ,what ever you do dont leave your foot on the clutch pedal .
Another thing to learn is taking off on a steep hill , this is the only time you should slip the clutch ,if you do this right you can hold the car on the hill without the brakes ,it is a matter of finding the point where the gas and clutch will hold the car without using lots of revs
TheDutchGun
Member
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- 2006 Ford Mustang GT
A couple hours in an empty parking lot on 1993 Honda Civic Hatch.
Only thing you really need to learn is taking off in 1st. the rest is like butter.
Only thing you really need to learn is taking off in 1st. the rest is like butter.
shane02pro5
25ish_psi
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- New Caney TX
I learned how to balance the clutch by going up and down our inclined driveway without ever leaving the driveway. Just don't crash into your house or roll into the street into a car!! Okay maybe that's not a good idea! Worked for me though took about a couple hours and I was ready to hit the streets.
but it only took a few mins to get the concept down. But it takes months to get the swing of it in traffic. Empty parking lot or hill is one thing, in traffic under preassure....entirely different- :
- 2003 Subaru WRX Wagon, 2000 Miata
a few minutes to learn the concept. drove around for a week to really get it down. now it's second nature.
Karma_hunden
Member
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- '04 protege, then '05 mazda 3i, then '06 MS6 GT, now '10 RX8 R3
it take a few minutes to learn the concept. You should be good at 400 miles of driven the car...perfect after 600-1000.
I learned in a friend's turbo Supra. Took about a day to get the hang of it. Then I bought my own manual trans car ('97 Cavalier), and it only took a couple of days to get to the point where it was pretty much second nature.
When I bought my SVX, I had to conciously remind myself not to reach for the (nonexistent) clutch pedal while driving.
When I bought my SVX, I had to conciously remind myself not to reach for the (nonexistent) clutch pedal while driving.
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- 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 GT Retired: 2002 Protege 5
yeah well i just started learning tuesday night in an empty parking lot and i was getting a we bit better. My biggest problem is launching in 1st gear the rest is pretty easy just need to learn to smooth it out a bit. It's my third day owning the car now and I have been driving in traffic but launching in 1st takes me foreeevvveeerrrr. I guess practice does make perfect.
