Do you have the skill and patience to teach someone else to drive standard transmission?

Question

Can you handle the pressure from other drivers, if indeed you will eventually allow the student to drive on public roads before they are good at it? Can you deal with the possible wear on your clutch? Ever tried to do this? Could you do it?

Answer 1

Of course I could! I've done it before. First of all, the wear on your clutch is going to be so minute compared to normal driving, that you will never notice it. It only seems like it's being abused by the inexperienced driver, but it won't hurt the car, nor the clutch. That's just standard folklore, it's not that bad, unless the clutch is already worn, anyway. Once someone starts driving a clutch, it will only take them ( normally ) a few days once they've learned the basics, to get the "feel" of it. Then it'll be ok. Unfortunately, the only way to learn it is to "do it". Even if someone isn't real good at it, they learn by doing, on the road. I assume they've driven a car before with automatic? So they should know enough to not have to worry about other operations in the car. Most other drivers have some patience with drivers learning, just don't take them out in rush-hour traffic to do it! I've taught my share (privately) to drive, both automatic and stick. I've never felt panicked or fearful of the student learner, if you teach them correctly quickly, they won't make as many mistakes. The BIGGEST error by people trying to teach is, they say DON'T let the clutch slip too much! That's not right, you need to learn the range of clutch slippage so you can shift properly. Once you know the feel of the clutch pedal travel compared to the amount of gas you need to give it, the student will learn quickly. Yelling at them for revving it too much, and letting the clutch slip, just makes them "dump the clutch", jerk the car, stall it, and get all tense and afraid to try it correctly. SMOOTH shifting requires the clutch to slip. So, wrong, wrong, wrong! If the teacher feels letting the clutch slip is always bad, then they're a poor teacher, in my book, and don't know what they're doing, or the way to teach properly. I'd try to teach anyone.

Answer 2

I have no problem teaching somebody how to drive manual but I would prefer to teach in a large, open parking lot if that person is a beginner.

I would rather not let somebody learn manual on my new Mazda Miata or RX7, but on an old Nissan Sentra which would be a great car to learn on.

When I first learned how to drive standard I went to a big parking lot early in the morning. At first I kept stalling it and we'd be lunging forward in those violent spasms motions.

My two younger brothers learned how to drive standard pretty easily, I guess because they had older experienced brothers who could explain it better.

Answer 3

Sure. My ex-fiancee learned to drive on my three-speed standard shift 1962 Corvair and eventually bought her own standard shift car - a brand new 1976 Triumph Spitfire (which, by the way, had a non-synchro first gear. She became very adept at shifting and she was an excellent driver (and still is, to the best of my knowledge).

Answer 4

Every vehicle I have owned has been a manual. I prefer to have as much control over whatever vehicle I am driving as possible, and I just get so much more of a feel from a manual than an auto. When I am forced to drive an auto I tend to get bored, just not a whole lot to do lol.

Answer 5

i was with a friend that was learning to drive in one of our other friends manual. it was pretty funny to say the least. he owns a 5spd now. it's not too hard, as long as they start somewhere uncrowded and start small they'll be ok. when i learned, i was working and they gave me a 5 spd and put me out into traffic and on the freeway. basically. so it's definitely possible and they can drive on the road. just takes time tweaking their skill

Answer 6

tried and achieved. taught my cousin. started in the parking lot. he learned fast when he burnt the fist clutch on my uncles camaro and had to pay half and was threatened with full price on the next one. now, he shifts like a pro and ive raced him on track days and he can slam gears like no other, with only about 3 months of hard work.

Answer 7

Skill yes, patience no.

Answer 8

i can but where are you located and who are we talking about. i live in fallbrook ca. e-mail me at [e-mail].

Answer 9

Yeah, I can do it.