To those who learnt auto driving before stick

[CAMBAM_6]

It took me about 15 minutes to learn how to drive stick. It took a couple weeks to get pretty good at it, no more stalling and that awkward bounce when i hit the gas before releasing the clutch. I learned how to drive in an automatic and the first car I bought was a used 91 Honda Crx Si manual and I had to get someone to drive it home for me..lol

[Xti]

Well, here is my opinion. You can learn stick in 15 minutes, and get comfortable without stalling in 1 day. But to drive it skillfully as where you can Rev-match it and down-shift, and engine braking it smoothly ? You will need 1 month. Best is to get a friend who can drive it this well to ride with you

Even if you know how to drive a stick-shift skillfully, every car is different, and so you will need a few weeks if you buy a new car.

[Frishkorn]

This was my first manual car. Owned two automatic Toyota Corolla's previously and have been driving those for 11 years. I've always understood the mechanics behind driving a stick, just never had a reason to own one until I bought the FR-S. I've been driving it for three months now. Took me a good three days to stop stalling it on occasion. Three months in though I still don't feel like I'm 100% smooth coming from a complete stop.

I would say most of all, just don't get discouraged. We've been brainwashed that a car should always feel like our automatics did. I nearly sent the car back to Toyota because I was being too hard on myself about my shifting ability. Read around and you'll see a lot of folks talk about how they've driven sticks for years and still had trouble with the car.

Been working on my rev-matching downshifts now, and damn does it feel / sound awesome when done correctly.

[schmearcampain]

It helps if you have a good understanding of how a manual transmission actually works and can visualize the parts IMO.

[Jyn]

I drove an auto for 8 years, the FR-S was the first manual transmission car I've owned. It took me about 3 months to where I felt comfortable having a passenger and not forewarning them that I'm still learning.

[Veloist]

Originally Posted by Jyn

I drove an auto for 8 years, the FR-S was the first manual transmission car I've owned. It took me about 3 months to where I felt comfortable having a passenger and not forewarning them that I'm still learning.

I agree...I've been driving stick for 1.5 months, and I'm not consistently great. Some drives I'm smooth, some drives I'm just out of it not balancing clutch and gas well.

I've been driving auto for 4 years though. I learned in a Yaris in about 1.5 hours. After that, I got the concept of not stalling.

My motor component of balancing gas and clutch and effectively keeping the car alive was developed from bringing the FR-S out my garage and putting it back in whenever I washed it.

If you practice slow maneuvers--like going in or out from a garage or going up a driveway at no more than 1500 RPM, you should be comfortable driving around in less than a week. You really get a feel for where the clutch bites the more time you spend slipping it at RPMs just above idle. Since this is a necessary task at slow movements, it won't be detrimental, but I wouldn't spend half an hour doing it when the car is still breaking in.

Another tip that separates auto from manual driving is the throttle. I would spend some time getting a feel of the throttle response--put it in neutral and see how it feels to slowly bring the car up to 2000 RPM, so you get a sense of the lag between your neuromotor processes and the actual mechanics of the car.

On the other hand, I think it takes an indefinite amount of time to be proficient. Practice everyday and always be aware of what mistakes you are making so you can solve them and subsequently improve!

[1Cor10:23]

Watch youtube videos on how a MT mechanically works (Eric the car guy, I think it was has a really good video).

If I had to teach someone right now, the most important skill is accelerator pedal feel - gotta be able to know instinctively how much pressure it takes to get your RPM to hover at around 1K RPM.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by phastafrican

Taught my wife in 3 hours. She drove by herself the next week. Stalled a few times, but got the hang of it shortly after. Key is spending time practicing half clutch. Learn to hold the car on hill with only the clutch, and learn to get going without throttle. Get comfortable with that, and the rest will come naturally within moments.

BAD BAD IDEA! Clutch in or clutch out never ever clutch part way. If everybody does this I am going to buy stock in the company that build the replacement parts.

[eSOLOR]

I learned manual on my BRZ and took me about 4 months to feel comfortable in traffic, but that's only cause it's not my daily driver. Also keep in mind that some people have a hard time shifting smooth, even those who have been driving stick for years so don't feel discouraged. I used to think I sucked at driving stick till I drove my friends ST. It felt too easy. The twins are less forgiving.

[continuecrushing]

everyone praising "start by learning on hills" explains why some people go through their clutch after 15k-30k miles...And "holding" yourself on a hill with just the clutch? Jesus Christ.

Start by learning how to shift/clutch/brake in easier environments before trying hills and such. Once you know how everything works, then try hills.

[n2oinferno]

When I was much younger and after driving manual transmissions for years, and then getting an automatic, I had to re-learn to drive it. So many times I'd put down my left foot to realize there's no clutch.

[Xti]

ROFLMAO, taking the hill with Manual by using the clutch only ? I suggest you to learn manual transmission again.

Hint "Use your hand-brake"

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by n2oinferno

When I was much younger and after driving manual transmissions for years, and then getting an automatic, I had to re-learn to drive it. So many times I'd put down my left foot to realize there's no clutch.

Been driving mostly standards for 40 years and to this day my wife gets a chuckle out of how many time I punch that invisible clutch and reach for the missing shifter in her automatic SUV! Pretty much every stop or turn for the first 10 minutes of the trip. Her CVT transmission still freaks me out with it's lack of shift points as well.

[Xti]

What ? I am not a pro Manual Driver where I can start moving the car uphill without the use of the gas pedal.

Please phastafrican Enlighten me

Because this sounds so Awesome.

Originally Posted by phastafrican

This challenge is further increased where there is resistance in the form of an incline or hill. If you can navigate through stop-go traffic on an incline for an hour without NEEDING your throttle pedal, you can drive anywhere. I come from a 3rd world country where you'll hardly find any automatics and it is part of your test to get the car going from an incline without using the gas pedal. Also common in other countries. A quick review of Clutch control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia might be beneficial.

Also, 3rd world country is where you get the idea of using the clutch and balancing the throttle out = different than riding the clutch ? ok, i got it. It is slowly riding the clutch, and or slowly burning the clutch

Anyone who can drive manual trans can always hold the car up-hill with clutch and throttle, it is not a hard thing, it is just killing the clutch, and it requires throttle input. I can't ingest the idea of moving the car on a hill or an incline for the matter without throttle input

You can start moving the car without throttle input only on a flat surface, if the car has enough HP/torque to do so.