How can I (re)learn driving stick?, It's been ~10 years since I last tried... Options

[CAMAricer]

Okay, so with all the crap that's been going on with my car, I've decided to purchase a second car (as a backup). But my options are rather limited b/c I can only drive an auto (I learned 10 years ago all in one afternoon at an empty parking lot but never touched it since). So...what is the best way to re-learn it? Keep in mind I have no one to teach me (don't know anyone in San Francisco who knows how to).

So any advice for me? Or any NorCal 6GC-ers willing to spare me an afternoon (or two) and their car to teach me? I'll compensate you for your time.

BTW, my next purchase is going to be an AE86. I figure if I'm going to learn how to drive stick, might as well learn how to drift too

[jason]

one thing at a time...

just have someone take you to a parking lot, or steadily practice pulling out on your street. pulling out is the hardest part, hold the throttle at like 2,000 rpm and then start to let the clutch out.

if you slip the clutch at first shouldnt cause too much damage... but its worse on the car compared to just stalling it.

i started by easing the clutch out without any throttle and let the idle pull the car slowly. helps you get a better feel for the clutch. - also a good thing to do when you get into a different car to see how it grabs n when, that way your not burnin up someone's expensive and pain in the ass to replace clutch

[95st-celica]

Okay, so with all the crap that's been going on with my car, I've decided to purchase a second car (as a backup). But my options are rather limited b/c I can only drive an auto (I learned 10 years ago all in one afternoon at an empty parking lot but never touched it since). So...what is the best way to re-learn it? Keep in mind I have no one to teach me (don't know anyone in San Francisco who knows how to).

So any advice for me? Or any NorCal 6GC-ers willing to spare me an afternoon (or two) and their car to teach me? I'll compensate you for your time.

BTW, my next purchase is going to be an AE86. I figure if I'm going to learn how to drive stick, might as well learn how to drift too

lol....take your time with it....go to an empty parking lot and just remember what you were told 10 yerars ago...it will take a while to get use to it but it shouldnt be that hard to pick back up

[808celica]

its kinda like a balancing beam.........with the clutch and the gas.

1. clutch down with right foot on brake
2. put into first
3. let go of brake
4.take off e-brake if needed
5. as you push the gas to 1200rpms lift off clutch by 1/4 in.
6. while doing #5 put more gas
.......

as you put more gas lift off more clutch

7. dont rev past 2000rpms because you'll be burning the clutch too much.

just think of balancing. the more you push down on gas the more you let off the clutch until the clutch is off.

*note: do not take your foot off the clutch fast or you'll burn out, panic and stall or panic and hit something.

[playr158]

dang 2k is going to burn up a clutch...

get yourself on an incline, facing up the incline.
what you want to do is let the clutch out slowly till you find the "grab point" you'll feel a little shake in the car when it gets there. This spot takes practice to get perfect. When you get it right you should be able to hold the car on the incline without using the brake nor the gas. once you can do this slowly apply the gas and let out the clutch to move forward...practice this to learn how to really get the point down.

[bccentaur3]

CAMAricer, You shouldn't be asking this. I know its been 10 years, but driving a stick is like riding a bike, You'll never forget. Just hop on it and go. It will be second hand nature to you, TRUST.

[Hanyo]

hmm learning to drive a stick in SF?
and getting an AE86?

both those ideas sound terrible. SF has one of the worst hills i've seen, and parallell parking on a steep hill is a nightmare.
And AE86 are way over prices, i looked into them. They sell for 4 grand for terrible old and out of shape car.

My advice, if you still plan on doing this. is to just practice, simple as that. practice and practice and practice. You know the basics, just practice till you get good.

You will however need to learn the e-brake trick, to keep your car from roll backwards onto another car.

[99Celica]

I personally would practice in a parking lot first, and then when you get comfortable go to a hill. Or it might be a long afternoon...

Maybe try getting a rental car? Idk the price to do this but if it's reasonable it may be worth it.

[ILuvMyCelica95]

I think it's very hard to try and write how to drive stick. I personally think its all about how the clutch feels and every car is different. I know since my swap i've driven my car and my b/fs car and his clutch doesn't pull like mine does and it's a totally different feel.

I think you should try again in a parking lot first, then find a road or even parking lot where you can practice on a hill.

[politicsareevil]

People keep saying practice in a parking lot.. how does he get the car to the parking lot in the first place... drive it there? And if you are talking about the parking lot where he may be buying the car, then the dude selling it can teach him. If he is a serious buyer the seller wont mind.

- Matt

[ILuvMyCelica95]

I think everyone is indicating that he should practice before he buys a car...

If he's learning I assume he'd be borrowing someone's car... the owner of the car can drive him to the parking lot and teach him.

People keep saying practice in a parking lot.. how does he get the car to the parking lot in the first place... drive it there? And if you are talking about the parking lot where he may be buying the car, then the dude selling it can teach him. If he is a serious buyer the seller wont mind.

- Matt

Um no. A dealer is not going to teach someone how to drive standard. That's the most ridiculous thing i've heard.

[politicsareevil]

I worked for a honda dealer for 2 years... we tought people all the time.. BUT as we all know.. honda people are dumber than toyota people. I only worked there to get discounts from our toyota place. but yeah dealers will help you learn BUT. I doubt an 86 is at a dealership.... It will be a private owner and yes they will teach you if they really want to sell the car.

[ILuvMyCelica95]

I think that's crazy there is a liability issue of teaching someone to drive on your car especially if you don't know them. That's just my .02

[politicsareevil]

I totally agree with you. a dealership shouldnt teach people.. I'm just saying.. my dealership did. I thought it was stupid too.

[jdg371]

My dealership taught a customer how to drive manual, a week later she needed a new clutch.

It's all about feeling it.

[_mikeE]

Just have confidence bro, I'm assuming you already know the "concept" of driving manual, so yes, it will be like riding a bike like one of the member said before, i'm sure it'll be like second nature to you once you actually start driving, you'll just need some practice runs to get it smooth, but i'm sure you'll be fine just making it home, just take your time with it--no rush on the streets.
I say drive in the city/streets rather than highway because it'll force you to use your clutch more which hand in hand, will gain you the feel the clutch sooner. Plus, fear usually makes people act well if you know what i mean. Anyhow, take your time, and bring it home and just drive up and down your street or something, and be like me when I still had my beginners' license and took out my "saturn" at the time--and learned how to drive stick late at night.
GL to you bro!

[Celiracer18]

driving a standard is like riding a bike. once you learn you never forget. (atleast the concept)

[GriffGirl]

I agree w/what a lot of people are saying, driving a stick is like riding a bike, you just have to get a feel for it again after a while.

But I couldn't agree more w/the statement about driving a stick in San Fran. I consider myself fairly good at driving a stick, of the 4 cars I've owned, 2 have been stick (including this one). If I lived in San Fran there's no way I'd drive a stick. Simply no way. I know people do it, but I think Seattle is hard enough w/some of the hills, I wouldn't want to do it in a place like SF.

[hongkongnerdboy]

well if you want to drive stick, then drive it.
dont stop just becuase theres lots of hills and stuff
like i did a manual swap to auto becuase i hated traffic everyday and now i regret it
so, basically do what floats your boat (useless info about what i said earlier)

[CAMAricer]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll definitely hit up a parking lot at night when I get the chance.

But like some of you have pointed out...getting to the parking lot will be the trick. I got no one to drive it there for me...so I'll get the guy who's selling me the car drop it off there for me. That way I'll have "extra" motivation to learn quickly or I'll have to leave it there overnight until my next practice session

Hope y'all right about it coming back like riding a bike. Like I said, I did all my training in one day and I never practiced since. All I remember was getting it started and rolling was the hard part...once it's in motion, it becomes easy.