Tips on learning to drive a standard transmission?

Question

I am going out to learn to drive my boyfriend's car tomorrow and I am terrified to say the least. I have been driving automatics for many years (I am 27) but have been too scared to learn to drive a standard. My boyfriend and I have been together over 2 years and have a new baby and I am trapped in the house if he isn't here to drive me. I got rid of my car a year ago because of money issues. Anyways any tips on how to conquer my fear? I am so worried about stalling at an intersection and having people honk and give me the finger!!!

Answer 1

Give yourself permission to learn and make mistakes, for starters. People do stall at intersections. It happens.

Do you have a parking lot to practice in? I'd begin there with starting and stopping, then move to a quiet neighborhood. Do a lot of starting and stopping. Then on a hill. Go out for a lot of half-hour or hour practice sessions before you try to go anywhere. It will become second nature eventually, but it takes some time.

I'm teaching my son standard (I learned on one, he's been learning on his father's automatic) and it's just a matter of practice, practice, practice. If you find you have to go out in traffic, give yourself the time you need, stay to the right, and remember, your hazard lights can signal to anyone that you're a driver having some challenges, so put them on, they'll go around, and no one will be upset for long. Keep at it!

Answer 2

DO NOT be nervous! It's not that hard. What you might want to do is go to an empty parking lot to start. Get a feel for driving around there slowly before taking it out on the road.

Also, don't be afraid of the gas. In most cars you need to coordinate a little gas with the release of the clutch pedal.

In the end it's kind of like riding a bike. Not so much something that you can explain as something you just get a knack for.

Oh and once you are comfortable enough have him take you to a hill and show you how to start the car off on an incline. I usually use the emergency brake to hold the car in place while I release the clutch and then release the brake with my hand as I start to accelerate. (All happens very fast.)

Answer 3

The best thing to remember is balance. As a new Mom I'm sure you are getting that practice in every other aspect of your life to keep sane. Anyhow, when driving a stick shift, just be sure to have your feet even on the gas and the clutch when getting out of first gear. When I say even I mean when you are stepping on the gas ease off the clutch at the same speed. Overdoing one or the other will definitely result in stalling and jerking of the car. Once you are out of first its just a matter of feeling the car and it will let you know when it is time to shift. Practice, practice, practice on a flat street if possible is all you really can do. Don't be afraid, once you get the hang of it, it is actually alot more fun than an automatic... except on hills and in traffic of course. Good luck!

Answer 4

LOL LOL I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at the "stalling at an intersection and...getting the finger".

My first time driving a "stick" (at 17 yrs old) my BF (at the time) was so kind, he tossed me the keys, said "you have a license now, could you go get me a soda and some chips". I must have killed it a dozen times, just on the way to the store, 5 short blocks away.

Then, on the way back, a guy on a moped pulled up along side me and coached me. He was soo sweet...he just told me to relax, make sure I was giving it gas as I was letting off the clutch (right foot goes down on the peddle as left foot comes off the clutch) and just told me to find the feel of the clutch point. I killed it only a few times on the way back.

I would suggest going to a big parking lot when it's near empty to practice 1st, that way it's very unlikely that you will piss anyone off.

Good luck and once you learn, you'll be able to drive any stick, any time, once you find the clutch point for it.

Answer 5

Spend time getting to know the clutch pedal before you even move off.

When you lift it in gear there will be a "bite" point where the power is just coming through. If you lift above this with the brake on or will too little power, you'll stall. Have a few goes at moving off on your drive/street if you can to know how much power to have on when you lift the clutch up.

Hill starts in a manual are tricky, you need to hold it on the bite and give it power and then release the parking brake.

don't be scared of stalling it -- accept that you may do it once or twice, you may even get peeped or sworn at, but you'll get the knack of it quicker by doing it than by not doing it !!!

Answer 6

The most important aspect of driving stick is the "gas-to-clutch ratio", as I like to call it.

When you drive stick, and are sitting at a stop light, you will be holding the clutch all the way in (to the floor). When the light changes, you need to let off of the brake with your right foot, and place that foot onto the gas. As you give the car gas with your right foot, you will need to start letting out the clutch with your left foot.

If you start to stall, try either giving it more gas, or pushing the clutch back in.

Basically, the car needs to get gas before you can let off of the clutch, or you will stall. If you let off the clutch too fast, you will stall. If you don't give it enough gas, you will stall. The best practice seems to be revving the engine while slowly letting off of the clutch; you will realize when you start to move. If the car acts like it is going to stall, then give it more gas, but keep letting off of the clutch at the same speed. Worst come to worst, you can always just puch the clutch back in :)

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

My main advice is that you don't have to be a rookie driving for people to give you the finger. I drive for nearly 17 years (500k km done) and from time to time I still cross some people that show me theirs.

Don't worry about it. I just couldn't care less about it. I just think "what a nice people", or "what an a$$hole" depending if I'm with good humor or not.

My cars all were manual shift. I guess it will be a Little difficult to go from automatic to manual but I'm sure you will get used to it.

Good luck... try not to worry too much. It will be fun for sure!

V.

Answer 8

I think this is the most important thing.

When you let out the clutch, at first nothing happens. Then it begins to take hold and the car starts to move. At just that point you must stop letting out the clutch (and press down lightly on the gas to take the load). You actually don't quite stop letting out the clutch, just slow the process way down. But if you think "stop" you'll do the right thing.

Most people keep letting out the clutch just like they were doing before it starts to move the car. Sure stall.

Answer 9

it's not that tough, I've taught many people how to drive my stick cars.

Basically, the first thing I teach them is right foot on the brake, left depressing the clutch, car in first gear.

Ease, really ease off the clutch until you feel the engine start to sputter (this is the point that the clutch starts to engage). Remember this point (ie the feeling of how far you let the clutch out before the engine started to shake)

Next, on level ground, depress the clutch then add a little bit of gas, then ease the clutch back to that point and continue to ease off while adding gas till the clutch pedal is all the way up.

hardest part is getting the car in motion.

Answer 10

Remember to breathe, relax, and learn to listen to the sound of the car because you should be able to learn the sound and when it is time to change gears. Once you learn you will always know how to drive one. I'd try to find a big parking lot and watch your boyfriend to see when he shifts. Also remember to keep the clutch all the way down to keep the car from quitting. Good luck!