Where/how can I learn to drive stick?

[UncleWede]

^ and he has the picture to prove it

[Litos]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

^ and he has the picture to prove it

TBH, I do have the picture, but it's not scanned in or I would have already posted it HAHA !!!!

the original picture is hanging on my wall at home - 1997 black Chevy Cavalier with Eagle Alloys

bought it February 1999....

edit: LMFAO I DO HAVE IT !!!!

here it is parked on a hill outside of my old Marine Corps Barracks in Oceanside California

[UncleWede]

I thought that was your sig picture ; )~

[Litos]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I thought that was your sig picture ; )~

lol - nope...

picture in my sig was taken a few months ago...

the Cavalier was my second car - first one I actually bought by myself when I was 18 years old....

I've had about 12 cars since then.....

[PSUSMU]

Paying to learn stick is sad. Either borrow someones' car to learn and offer to cover any repairs, or just buy the car and make yourself learn (I've personally never heard of someone damaging a clutch while learning).
I bought a 5-speed GTI in 2004 - had my dad drive it home and teach me.
I've been driving stick for 10 years and have never replaced a clutch. Still stall couple times a year by accident.

[Taskmaster]

Watched my friends drive - sat in a manual car and practiced (while sitting still) and then bought my own and learned how to drive it on the spot.

[954Stealth]

Props to the cav....i had a Neon in '99 that I sold before suffering through bud/s

[overdrivex]

Thanks guys! I guess finding a beater car would be the best way to learn then. I mean that way I'll have a car to drive that has a manual in it so I won't forget. My parents don't know how to drive a stick...I have an uncle who knows (learned in Australia), but he hasn't driven a manual for about 10 years...I'd pretty much be on my own. Any suggestions on a beater car?

[m3ray]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

Thanks guys! I guess finding a beater car would be the best way to learn then. I mean that way I'll have a car to drive that has a manual in it so I won't forget. My parents don't know how to drive a stick...I have an uncle who knows (learned in Australia), but he hasn't driven a manual for about 10 years...I'd pretty much be on my own. Any suggestions on a beater car?

Any Honda. Super easy clutch and gear box.

[Toybota]

I had the benefit of a best friend who bought a manual 1997 civic for $300 on which both of us learned how to property drive a manual. Trying to teach my sister on my brand new F30 has not been quite the same experience...

[Devious21]

I had this same problem. Didn't know anyone with a manual to practice on and finding a manual to rent is impossible. I read up as much as I could, watched videos, etc. Then I had a friend do a manual swap on my auto. Got it back on a Saturday, practiced driving it all weekend and I commuted to work Monday morning.

The clutch was brand new when we swapped it. I probably roughed it up a bit learning but you'd never know. It drives perfectly fine.

I would just find the cheapest manual you can buy and drive the hell out of it. If possible, have a friend who drives stick, test drive it/drive it home. I had a friend in high school who bought a stick to learn on. After a frustrating week of not making much progress, a mechanic tried to drive it and was shocked at how bad the clutch was. He thought we had it towed there because he couldn't believe my friend was able to drive it to the shop. The previous owner had supposedly replaced the clutch himself. Once it had been fixed, my friend learned really quick.

Good luck.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

Thanks guys! I guess finding a beater car would be the best way to learn then. I mean that way I'll have a car to drive that has a manual in it so I won't forget. My parents don't know how to drive a stick...I have an uncle who knows (learned in Australia), but he hasn't driven a manual for about 10 years...I'd pretty much be on my own. Any suggestions on a beater car?

Don't buy a VW - I found (even after driving stick for years) that they had a pretty awkward and annoying clutch takeup. I think it would make it more difficult to learn.

I second the Honda - very easy, good learning car.

[Billup]

Originally Posted by m3ray

Any Honda. Super easy clutch and gear box.

This.

Find an old EG hatchback or coupe for like $1,500 with a 5 speed. I learned on my EK hatch with blown out shift linkage bushings. Stalled a million times. Was driving consistently by the end of the day.

By far the easiest clutch to learn on. You can feel the engagement point pretty easily compared to VW's and such.

[overdrivex]

Thanks! So it sounds like many of you actually did learn how to drive a manual on your own. Thats a little more encouraging. Would a Mazda, Kia, or Hyundai be good too? I'll try to find a Honda though...my family's had a good record with Hondas.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by overdrivex

Thanks! So it sounds like many of you actually did learn how to drive a manual on your own. Thats a little more encouraging. Would a Mazda, Kia, or Hyundai be good too? I'll try to find a Honda though...my family's had a good record with Hondas.

Mazda's are pretty easy too, my wife learned on a Mazda 3. No experience with Kia or Hyundai so don't know.

[2011CrazE89]

My first experience driving a stick was a nightmare. I was 18 and got a great deal on a used Plymouth Horizon. Probably the biggest POS car you can own. But to an 18 year old with $900.00 to his name it was freedom. Signed the papers and drove it home. I must have stalled out 40 times. My 10 minute commute home took me over an hour. Within a couple days I was a pro

[John 070]

haha OP it's not like driving a stick is something amazing, like getting your MD or something.

There was a time when everybody knew how to do it. Before the lazification of America. The reason why only 5% of cars on the lot are manuals, is because nobody wants them. Not because they are difficult to drive.

You want to drive a stick, you will, it's not difficult at all.

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by Joekerr

Mazda's are pretty easy too, my wife learned on a Mazda 3. No experience with Kia or Hyundai so don't know.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by 2011CrazE89

My first experience driving a stick was a nightmare. I was 18 and got a great deal on a used Plymouth Horizon. Probably the biggest POS car you can own. But to an 18 year old with $900.00 to his name it was freedom. Signed the papers and drove it home. I must have stalled out 40 times. My 10 minute commute home took me over an hour. Within a couple days I was a pro

Thats encouraging to hear. Maybe I'll just go out and buy a stick shift car at some point...pretty much the only way to learn.

Originally Posted by John 070

haha OP it's not like driving a stick is something amazing, like getting your MD or something.

There was a time when everybody knew how to do it. Before the lazification of America. The reason why only 5% of cars on the lot are manuals, is because nobody wants them. Not because they are difficult to drive.

You want to drive a stick, you will, it's not difficult at all.

Oh I know hahaha. Its just that nobody in my family has ever driven a stick (with exception of my one uncle) nor have I really been able to be around one long enough to get to know how it really works. Thats the only reason why it seems pretty amazing to me.

[Greenkirby21]

Kinda similar story as you! My brother took me out in his WRX STI and after I stalled it 3 times in 1 hour we went back home. No rental cars I could find. My friend let me borrow his 1991 Jetta for an hour. After that, I picked up my corvette and dad took it home. I started off just in the neighborhood practicing the engagement point of the clutch, and after awhile you get it!

[Lups]

Originally Posted by m3ray

I have travelled all over America and have yet to find a rental company that offers cars with an MT.

OP my suggestion is get a real old beater with a stick and learn on it. This way you wont fry your clutch or synchros on the “nice” car you plan to get

I was told by Hetz and many others is't a liability issue.

[Nkc]

Grow a pair and drive one. My grandma drives stick and she's 78. Seriously what the hell is happening these days?

[overdrivex]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

Kinda similar story as you! My brother took me out in his WRX STI and after I stalled it 3 times in 1 hour we went back home. No rental cars I could find. My friend let me borrow his 1991 Jetta for an hour. After that, I picked up my corvette and dad took it home. I started off just in the neighborhood practicing the engagement point of the clutch, and after awhile you get it!

Yeah I figure starting off in the neighborhood or a parking lot getting the engagement point is the best thing to do first. Gonna start searching for a really cheap Mazda Miata now...