How'd you learn to drive a manual transmission?

[ProStreetCamaro]

Bought my 99 camaro SS and had my dad drive it back to his house. Got in it and drove it around the neighborhood a couple minutes. Then started driving where ever i felt like. Only ever stalled it once and that was in the rain trying to leave a light very easy. Dang thing would spin the tires if you drove across spit on the ground. I had absolutely no issues what so ever.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul

Ouch...I am hard-pressed to think of a more frustrating vehicle to learn on than a 2.2 S10! They are unbelievably easy to stall...moreso than even my Shelby Charger with a super-light (7.5lb, stock is 18lb) Scheiffer flywheel.

We finally got it registered and took it out. He drove it exceptionally well and said it was a lot easier to drive than the Ranger. I drove it too and it feels great, but when I got back in the Ranger the Ranger clutch felt a lot stiffer in the pedal, so I guess the ligher pedal helps, but also I think that the angle of the pedal helped. The S10 pedal seems to come out more horizotally whereas the Ranger's pedal is more vertical in the engagement area.

 

[TallPaul]

This may partly explain how the S10 is easier to drive (besides pedal angle and pressure):

Both trucks have 3.73 Axle, but the S10 is geared about 6 percent lower:

Gear: S-10 LS, Ranger XLT
First: 3.94, 3.72 (S10 ~ 6% lower)
2nd: 2.37, 2.20 (S10 ~ 8% lower)
3rd: 1.49, 1.50
4th: 1.00, 1.00
5th: 0.83, 0,79 (S10 ~ 5% lower)
Rev: 3.65, 3.40

 

[Stephen_G]

I learned via family experience, as a kid i was allowed to shift the escort wagon from the passenger seat, we got rid of that in 01 before i learned to drive. But first time with clutch and doing it all was in a 1987 Nova 5 door that was pretty much bought by a guy to teach his kid how to drive it (private property, doughnut tires, no exhaust, illegal to drive it on a public road) The thing had a [censored] shift knob on it that came off thanks to a rather quick 1-2 shift. i then relearned when i got a 2010 kia, and then when that got repoed (lost my job) i did not drive stick for 2 years, and then my new job required me to learn how to drive a non syncromesh 9 speed eaton on an off road use only fuel truck (private property again) where i do not use the high range except if i want to quiet it down.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I was 7 at the time. My dad took his 1987 F250 with > 200k miles, put it halfway up the driveway where he worked and told me to drive it to the top.

Took a lot of miles off of the clutch, the starter mysteriously died a week later, but darnit, I made it to the top of the hill.

The truck was loaded with a few thousand pounds of tools, but it had a granny gear.

After practicing for an hour, he had me drive down the hill and stop. Brake line blew as I was trying to stop haha.

From there, I progressed on to learning on a 10 speed 18 wheeler then at 18 speed.

 

[Cogito]

Whatever you do, do it in a big field with no obstructions. Learning how to slow down and downshift for corners, etc., is best done in an open area.

 

[Zako2]

I am trying to learn how to drive on manual with brother's 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ. I don't like it so far. I don't know if its the car or just the way manual transmissions work. The clutch pedal provides zero feel for when the clutch starts to engage. Engine sound and vibration provides little feel also unless the engine is about to stall. It seems like the gas and clutch balance is learned by trial and error, and then, after some practice, the car is driven by relying on muscle memory. The gear lever seems to make it easy to select 3rd instead of 1st. Granted, that's after only one day of practice.

I would love to be able to select gears in future, but the clutch pedal probably needs to go IMHO...

 

[NateDN10]

Originally Posted By: Zako2
I am trying to learn how to drive on manual with brother's 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ. I don't like it so far. I don't know if its the car or just the way manual transmissions work. The clutch pedal provides zero feel for when the clutch starts to engage. Engine sound and vibration provides little feel also unless the engine is about to stall. It seems like the gas and clutch balance is learned by trial and error, and then, after some practice, the car is driven by relying on muscle memory. The gear lever seems to make it easy to select 3rd instead of 1st. Granted, that's after only one day of practice.

I would love to be able to select gears in future, but the clutch pedal probably needs to go IMHO...

It's pretty common to hit 3rd when you want 1st for newbies. And there definitely are differing levels of clutch feel between cars. What's good for learners (lots of clutch & engine noise/vibration feel) may not be desirable long term.

 

[BrianWC]

My first experience was with my brother's brand new 2 door Ford Explorer. He bought it right before the Gulf War broke out and so it sat parked for like more than a year. My mom learned to drive on a surplus army jeep so we'd go up the road to the nearest levee and I'd practice going up the levee, holding the truck on the hill, easing back down, etc. Just a short time later, my parents bought me my first car, a used 82 BMW 320i (e21). Now, THAT was a manual trans to get spoiled on. Creamy smooth...

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: Zako2
I am trying to learn how to drive on manual with brother's 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ. I don't like it so far. I don't know if its the car or just the way manual transmissions work. The clutch pedal provides zero feel for when the clutch starts to engage. Engine sound and vibration provides little feel also unless the engine is about to stall. It seems like the gas and clutch balance is learned by trial and error, and then, after some practice, the car is driven by relying on muscle memory. The gear lever seems to make it easy to select 3rd instead of 1st. Granted, that's after only one day of practice.

I would love to be able to select gears in future, but the clutch pedal probably needs to go IMHO...


There's muscle memory involved in the shifts, but off the line it's mostly feel. Give it some time. If you're a perfectionist it will take a lot of practice before you're satisfied and it becomes truly enjoyable.