Just to start off, I am 31 years old. My first vehicle was a 1986 Corolla with a manual transmission. So for the past 15-16 years I have been driving stick. I remember my dad trying to teach me and it was frustrating and nerve racking for both of us. Everyone learns differently over the years, so I never found someone telling you exactly what to do to be very productive.
I basically remember learning by figuring stuff out myself when I got out of school. Both parents were still at work and I would mess with learning the clutch. I would back out of the drive ways and pull back in. After that I would be a careless 15 year old that would putz around my neighborhood. Parents had no idea, but hey, that's how I learned. I am definitely not the best, it still takes me a bit to adjust to certain vehicles, and my wife is a better driver than I am (no problem confessing this lol), but I am fine. I drive like someone who's primary vehicle has always been with a manual transmission.
Fast forward to today, my best childhood friend is looking for a new car and wants something practical but also enjoyable to drive daily. He's cross shopping Fiesta/Focus ST's, GTI's, WRX, etc. He never drove or attempted to drive a stick shift ever. But now he wants to learn.
We tried two different vehicles, the ST and his brother-in-law's Camaro SS. Both attempts were not very good. Dozens of stalls, not grasping the third pedal concept, thinking of every motion too independently if that makes sense. It is definitely frustrating. I tried my best to not be like how my father was. Gave some run downs of this and that, even let him go ahead alone to not feel pressured or anxious. Still no better. I thought the SS would have been the easiest. Lots of torque and a more forgivable clutch... Ive always found vehicles like this to actually be some of the easiest to learn on.
I've taught a handful of friends to drive stick growing up and it was always pretty simple. They grasped the concepts, and a good 30 minutes in an empty parking lot got them in enough time that they could actually take the car out on the road. I didn't sense this here.
Do you feel age has something to do with this? 15+ years of driving an auto might make you less inclined to pick up a new driving concept when you're so set in your ways. I know he really wants to drive a manual but I am starting to have doubts as to whether or not it will just 'click' for him.
I basically remember learning by figuring stuff out myself when I got out of school. Both parents were still at work and I would mess with learning the clutch. I would back out of the drive ways and pull back in. After that I would be a careless 15 year old that would putz around my neighborhood. Parents had no idea, but hey, that's how I learned. I am definitely not the best, it still takes me a bit to adjust to certain vehicles, and my wife is a better driver than I am (no problem confessing this lol), but I am fine. I drive like someone who's primary vehicle has always been with a manual transmission.
Fast forward to today, my best childhood friend is looking for a new car and wants something practical but also enjoyable to drive daily. He's cross shopping Fiesta/Focus ST's, GTI's, WRX, etc. He never drove or attempted to drive a stick shift ever. But now he wants to learn.
We tried two different vehicles, the ST and his brother-in-law's Camaro SS. Both attempts were not very good. Dozens of stalls, not grasping the third pedal concept, thinking of every motion too independently if that makes sense. It is definitely frustrating. I tried my best to not be like how my father was. Gave some run downs of this and that, even let him go ahead alone to not feel pressured or anxious. Still no better. I thought the SS would have been the easiest. Lots of torque and a more forgivable clutch... Ive always found vehicles like this to actually be some of the easiest to learn on.
I've taught a handful of friends to drive stick growing up and it was always pretty simple. They grasped the concepts, and a good 30 minutes in an empty parking lot got them in enough time that they could actually take the car out on the road. I didn't sense this here.
Do you feel age has something to do with this? 15+ years of driving an auto might make you less inclined to pick up a new driving concept when you're so set in your ways. I know he really wants to drive a manual but I am starting to have doubts as to whether or not it will just 'click' for him.
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