where can i go to learn to drive a manual 5 speed transmission?

Question

I've asked all my friends and I suck at it. They don't know why I can't figure it out. None of the driving schools will teach you unless it's an automatic. Someone told me try a truck driving school, but that seems crazy. Any pointers for learning. I just can't remember to downshift while slowing down around curves or what not. It seems like I have to shift 100 times in traffic what is wrong how do you not shift when you are in traffic?

Answer 1

you just have to practice, if you have a car with a manual transmission currently, try going out to a big parking lot late at night when nobody is there and just practice getting through the gears. i have been obsesed with racing ever since i was old enough to walk, so when i started driving i learned on a manual. i remember i used to get in my dads car and just play with the clutch and act like i was racing somebody, working through the gears, lol. i really dont know what i can tell you in the way of pointers, umm, be sure not to ride the clutch, come completely off the clutch before hitting the gas (after 1st gear), when you take off in 1st push the gas until the engine is at about 2,000 rpm, let out on the clutch till the car starts to pull then just wait till the car is really rolling before you come off the clutch completely. if its a little 4 banger, dont be afraid to let the engine hit 3 or 4,000 rpm as long as its not just hanging there.

for the curves and corners, just push the clutch in and put it in second, when you're ready to start accelerating, let off the clutch. in traffic theres really no way of not shifting a lot.

the more you practice the better you'll do. if you just happen to live in north-central indiana i could help you learn!


Good Luck!!

Answer 2

LOL yea how bout you go out into the OPEN, really late at nite typically between the hours of 11 pm and 4 am, and make lots of noise ..

So let me get this straight, you are ok driving on the regular streets but have a problem in traffic? I learned to drive my stick shift through experience and just generally learning and modifying the techniques to best suit me. You need to learn your car for one. You need to keep in mind that you are controlling your gears. So when you are flying around that corner, keep in mind that you are still in gear and once you know the gear you are in, you can downshift. Your car will tell you when there is too much or too little going on. For instance, when I had first learned on my Honda, the first 1-12 mph was the 1st gear and then I started hearing that revving noise, so I would switch, so on and so forth. So get into the pattern and habit of learning how the cars respond to the gears. In traffic, you actually are able to pay attention to your car more often because you are slowing and speeding up and the car makes that revving noise or bucks and you know you have to give more or less gas. Dont ride the clutch, or you will leave a smell coming from your car like your clutch is burning. Its very nasty. Overall, you just need more experience. You should sit with an experienced person and just let them talk you through this whole thing while in various conditions. Ask questions as well. How did you learn to drive a stick into traffic in the first place if never officially been taught? Interesting!!

Also another interesting thing with manual transmission is that you dont have to physically start your engine for it to come on. I learned this while on a downhill. If you are balanced on the gas and clutch, you car will just automatically start. I found this to be the main reason I love stick shift. Also, when on a free flowing traffic highway you dont need to go down on the clutch to take your gear from 4 to 3. You can just move it if you do it very slowly without putting your foot on the clutch.

Dont crash!!

Happy learning!!

Answer 3

You do shift a lot in traffic - you either put up with it or buy an auto. Personally, I put up with lots of shifting and a sore left leg - it's worth it once I get out of the traffic and on the open road. Also, you really shouldn't downshift while turning. Plan ahead, slow down and downshift before the corner, then get off the brakes as you start to turn and accelerate gently through the corner - like racing drivers do. Downshifting while turning is just asking to slide off the road. As for remembering to downshift - you simply have to force yourself to do it until you don't have to think about it anymore.

Answer 4

Diving a stick is not that hard, you will get better. VERY important tip get a calm teacher.
For right now, dont down shift when you get to a corner, just pop the car out of gear and ride it through the corner, than put it in 2nd than cont.
In traffic is alway harder for stick car, what you do is to pick one gear maybe 2nd or 1st, and press clutch dont when you want to slow down and SLOWLY let go when you want to move, very hard on your left leg. Good Luck.

Answer 5

understanding a thank you to tension a handbook is like driving a motorbike. I found out on my dad's Ford concentration SVT very immediately. as quickly as I have been given my new vehicle I have been given a 5 velocity Forrester - actually lots different feeling than the sophisticated shifter of the SVT yet became waiting to get the hang of it good away (minutes!). once you're going from a vehicle that shifts like a accepted Forrester to a WRX, or once you're getting to understand on the WRX, you would be high-quality! I on no account stalled the concentration on my first lesson. After a month i became suited at it, purely stalling as quickly as I wasn't concentrating adequate and now i don't even could think of roughly shifting, in basic terms comes immediately. i won't be able to shelter going returned in an automated, I shop finding for the grab!

Answer 6

i learned on a dirtbike and always rode one untill i got my lisence so going from a manual on a motorcycle to a straitshift in a car was very easy. i'd recomend asking your buddies if they have a dirtbike u can learn to ride because that seems alot easyer, then u'll get the feel for the clutch and when to shift.