driving a stick shift??

Question

yeah im 19 y/o and i just got my license a year ago. and im planing to buy a stick shift car coz i love to get fast. but the thing is i never driven a stick before but i know something about it and how the pattern of gears work. i just need to know the friction point of the clutch. is it really good for me or to get a stick or just keep practice driving on automatic till i get better.
how long will it take me to learn?
and how much to replace a clutch if i break them?

big thanks for the help! know i got my confidence back so i will start soon as possible and learn that stick that i have been wanting since i was 14

Answer 1

I hate to say it, but if your sole reason for wanting manual transmission is because you believe you will go faster, you don't know enough about cars yet. I suggest, before you do anything else, you find a perfomance driving school, and take some lessons on a track and a skid pad. They can teach you how to handle a stick, how to handle a car, and the dangers of speed in the wrong places. They will also let you satisfy your need for speed safely once they judge you are ready. It will make you a much better driver in the long run.

Answer 2

First of all a stick shift is a manual transmission opposed to an automatic transmission and has no bearing on the speed of the vehicle however it does give you the ability and control to rev the engine to a higher level in every gear which can give you a speed advantage. At the same time automatic transmissions are so advanced now in newer cars that they change to higher gears based on how much fuel is being delivered to engine i.e foot to the floor and it wont change to higher gear untill it reaches red line. Stick shift has a safety advantage as well because you can slow down and control your car better eg. more torque while going around corners.
In Australia where I am from the majority of people who learn to drive at 17yrs begin in a stick shift (manual). I think its fair to say that if you cant drive a stick shift it is considered you cant drive or you are an average driver as you dont understand the basic mechanics and abilities of a car. It is considered and I can tell you easy to drive stick shift.
Dont worry about gear pattern or clutch untill you have car as they are all different. If you can already drive on the road I think it should only take a day to learn stick shift. You wont break clutch. It takes a long time to wear clutch plate out and you will feel when you a riding it or in worse case smell it.
Stick shift is fun but as you can see there is not many around these days because it is just easier to drive an auto.
Good luck.

Answer 3

It's better to learn now while your still young....as they say u can't teach an old dog new tricks. So learn now and learn as much as u can in general. Knowledge is power! If u live n an area where roads and streets are mostly flat, then it'll be easier on u and easier on the clutch itself. Get the feel of the clutch engagement in relationship to acceleration and when to shift by engine speed and rpm. With practice and a good coach, soon it will be second nature. Once you get the hang of things, try taking on a couple of hills,but do it when is very light. Cause if u don't no how to work the clutch and gas in that situation and there are cars behind u.....you loose focus, panic,slip the hell out the clutch,back into the car that is too close to u,stall the engine. When u stall the engine on a hill, your gonna wonder, how in hell do u start the engine, work the clutch and gas pedal all at the same time without the car rolling back even further. That's when good coaching and practice comes to play. On your first incline or hill you may notice an awful burning smell. That's what u want to avoid....excessive clutch slippage! Your goal when mastering a hill is to eliminate any smell from your over slipping clutch. And as far as how much a clutch replacement is....once u get a quote, your gonna tell yourself, "i better master driving a clutch cause i can't come up with that kind of money" Est. cost on clutch repair $400-1500 bucks.

Answer 4

Older People Learned On Stick Shift., More Than Likely....!!

Answer 5

Keep practicing on an automatic, please. You really don't need all the distraction of a stick while you're a newbie to the road.

I learned upteen hundred years ago on a stick and I can drive a stick with the best of them UNLESS I'm at a stop on an incline. At that moment I freeze. Everything I know about getting the clutch and gas to synch becomes illusionary and I become paranoid about rolling back into the car behind me. AND to top everything off--that is the only time that the car behind me will only leave 1/4 of an inch between me and them. AND it never fails--all of that apprehension results in me killing the engine.

Answer 6

driving a clucth isnt hard. Youll have to take it slow at first, preferably in an empty parking lot. Also plan to burn up some of the clutch. Also, this sounds stupid but when you first start learning take your shoes and socks off, youll get a better fell for when the clutch engages. Cluctchs are expensive if you by them locally, usally for a clutch, resurfacing the pressure plate and new bearing uwsally cost around 100-200.00. Replacing it isnt hard, best thing to do is go to an autozone and get a repair manual for your vehicle. Or jsut look it up online. Check out the link for some help

Answer 7

Stick shift is very easy. With a little practice, you'll get the feel for it. After that, it's all second nature from then on out. You will really love it! It's exciting! Best wishes!!!

Answer 8

Have somone show you how it is done. It takes hour or two to learn the basic, but will take some practice. You are not going to damage the clutch. You would wear it out faster, but don't usually damage it.

Answer 9

I learned on my own by buying a stick shift. If I wanted to go anywhere I had to figure out how to drive it. It didn't take long to learn.

Answer 10

It's not that tough.
Millions of other people learned.
i'm sure you can too.

Cost? Depends what kind of car........
Anywhere from $200 to $2000.