To those who learnt auto driving before stick

[dreroc-z]

I recently picked up a 97 Accord as a regular car since its almost time to put my Camaro away for the winter months and I had a friend drive it about 10 minutes from my house. I drove it home that night and that's when I learned to drive stick. I learned pretty quickly but I've only driven the car for a total of about an hour so getting into first is a little shakey sometimes but its not bad at all.

[dnieves]

I support the training wheel method of learning. I think it's better to learn on a AT first so you can become a better defensive driver without the distraction of shifting gears. Once you're able to navigate the sea of stupid drivers unscathed then you can shift your focus to a MT. There are people that are too scatter brained to even be driving they'd be the idiots peppering the streets with stalled cars and flaming clutches!

I learned how to drive stick 5 years after getting my license, took a day to learn mastered it within months but stopped driving MT for years now I'm average (FR-S MT is weekend only car).

[jainish007]

I personally was born in India and I always sat with my dad in front when he drive and that's where I learn the concept of driving a car. When I turn 15 I came to US and in year I started driving but it was Auto. So I was always curious to know how I would do with a manual. Now I turned 21 this august and bought the FRS. I wanted to get manual and family kept urging Auto. I was bit hesitant too to but manual since I've never drove manual. But I was determined that I didn't wanted Auto so I asked my friend who had miata manual and I drove with him for hour or so at midnight before the day I had to buy my car. I got hang of it quickly and with my FRS I was confident driver within 1 day.

[paulca]

Never driven an auto. Learnt on a manual. Learning the basics of "setting off" is easy, you get that down in the first 2 or 3 hour long lessons. Learning to be smooth and jolt free in every gear change, especially once you finish "learner style" and start to mash the pedal a bit more takes quite a while longer.

To those whining about slipping the clutch, grow up, seriously. There are so many things that simple REQUIRE you to slip the clutch to achieve that it's just stupid to say you should avoid clutch slipping. All you have to bear in mind is that slipping wears the clutch, big deal, it's a wear item just like brakes and tyres, deal with it. Obviously there are really bad things for it, putting high torque through a slipping clutch is bad for it as is sitting on the clutch on a hill for long periods, as is towing things heavier than you are meant to. Normally everyday use; the odd hill start, the odd hill hold, slipping along at 2mph in traffic, maneuvering on hills into parking spaces etc. All fine, it's part of a clutch's MO and normal life.

On my daily commute there are many junctions on hills, I would estimate that only 30% percent ever use the handbrake another 30% sit on the foot brake and then roll back 6 inches as they set off, the rest hill hold. Personally, if I'm going to be sitting for a while, like longer than 10 seconds I use the handbrake. There are also many tail backs of traffic moving at an average 2mph, yes you can sit and build up a gap and then drive in first, but sometimes this isn't practical as you'll just let lots of people in in front of you and you'll get beeped at. So like most people I try and "mill along" clutch up in first, but if I need to creep slipping the clutch I will.

EDIT: and yes, open the phone book here and you will find hundreds of local companies selling "Tyre, Brakes, Batteries and Clutches". Clutches are not always that expensive. I believe the friction disk for the GT86 is around about £200 ($350) in the UK + about £40-80 fitting cost (assuming it can be changed without dropping the engine). I would imagine that changing a clutch in a car is a fairly specialised job in the states due to such low demand for it, so it is probably more expensive.

EDIT2: http://www.fensport.co.uk/Parts/Model_108/Category_3/

Fensport - Standard clutch drive plate = £90 But you'll need the clutch cover (contains release springs) which is another £80.

[Accurate Race Shop]

Originally Posted by sci3

Ive driven auto for 3 years now, how long roughly would it take to learn manuel driving and feel confident by myself?

How long did it take you?

It all depends on the person and how fast you pick it up. I had a friend that would still stale his car months after learning to drive a manual and I thought myself from an internet video and was fine in 30 minutes. Some people seem to catch on faster than others with different things. I definitely would not beat yourself up if it takes you a week or 2 to fully get the hang of it and feel comfortable starting on hills and shifting in slippery conditions.

Sent from my Q10

[Tcoat]

sci3 - My apologies for taking your very simple request for info and turning it into a major debate!
Of course anybody is welcome to use/abuse their cars as they wish.
Mine is far from "babied" and I intend to drive it like it was meant too be for many year but that does not mean I want to abuse it though.
Was just hoping to help some people save some cash but if you want to replace the clutch more often that is your call.
Apparently from the responses it will be cheaper for me to pack my car up and send it to " a third world country" or the UK for a new clutch as they seem to grow on trees there and are incredibly cheap and easy to replace.
The majority of the "it's OK to slip the clutch" posts tend too immediately go on to say that you should not hold on hills (which was my point in the first place).
The owners manual specifically says NOT to do several of the things some guys say are the "best way" but of course it was just written to protect the company not really accurate (yes, more sarcasm).
So wade through all this and decide how you want to drive and how often you are willing to spend the money too replace the wear parts on your car!

Well I am off to clean my car with a sandblaster since it is going to get stone chips anyway so might as well speed up the process!

[rs999]

I drove my GTI to work today, DSG, turbo, and so much quieter.

I wonder if I'd enjoy my FR-S much more if it was automatic?

[ronboogieon]

A year later and I'm still learning new things. Driving in stop and go traffic will teach you a lot about driving stick.

[fusaichi_pegasus]

I took a lesson from a driving instructor.

Back when I turned 16 there was a hand me down from a relative, a Cavalier with a 4 speed manual parked in the driveway. My parents didn't know how to drive a manual so they hired an instructor.

The guy showed up in a Nissan sentra with 3 pedals on both sides. The first hour all we did was me sitting in the passenger side working the pedals getting into 1st. It took that long. The second hour I drove it and we never got past second gear.

I was on my own after that and after like 4 hours in the Cavalier I was as good to go.