Ive just gotten my learners and really want to learn a manual.
Ive practiced steering and getting used to the brakes, speed etc with an auto. My dad reckons i should get used to and comfortable with an automatic for a month or so before i start on a manual.
Is what im doing good? or it best to completely start with a manual, so i dont get confused?
2007-08-27 19:52:42 · 8 answers · asked by heart_sunglasses 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
You should be able to start out in a manual just fine, though don't try going out into traffic until you can work the gears properly.
A month is not enough time to learn to drive anything regardless of transmission so you may as well just start with a manual (although there's nothing wrong with driving both types of car every so often, even practice in an automatic is practice (and changing gears is easy compared to actually driving a car)).
Getting a driving instructor with a manual would help because they'll have their clutch and break pedals.
2007-08-27 20:41:32 · answer #1 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest learning to drive a manual right from the start so you can learn everything at one go. Once you get really confident and accustomed to driving an automatic you will find it confusing to learn driving manual, particularly the clutch. Whereas learning after learning to drive on a manual driving automatic is a breeze. In any case it is really a waste of time learning to drive on an automatic, its too easy. Keep yourself busy and alert with a manual.
That's how I learnt to drive. In fact, most countries including mine (Singapore) require drivers to pass the road test in a manual car. Using an automatic will only get you a restricted license which limits you to automatic transmissions. I believe the UK works this way too. Is it true that in America you can get a license by passing your test in an automatic transmission and that license is valid even for manual cars? Pretty dangerous in my opinion for people who have never driven a manual to be allowed to drive manual on the roads.
2007-08-28 00:50:07 · answer #2 · answered by Ichiro 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think your dad is right. I'd even say - get your license, drive automatic for a year, then learn a stick - will be so much easier.
When I got my permit, I started learning to drive with a stick, and it was quite stresfull - you are still not used to checking mirrors, blind spots, looking at traffic lights and road signs, and even finding right pedals without looking down. It really complicated the learning process.
Thus, I decided to get my license with an automatic and did drive it for a couple of years. Then one day I had to drive a manual car to my friend's place. To my surprise, it was so much easier, since I already had all the common driving skills in place and could concentrate on handling the stick. It was pretty smooth!
2007-08-27 22:14:20 · answer #3 · answered by Kaytee 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A lot of people have asked this question. I think it's best to master a manual off the road. If you're paying attention to the gears, at your skill level, you may be distracted to the point of endangering yourself.
I say find a big empty parking lot, and learn to drive a manual there.
2007-08-27 20:31:58 · answer #4 · answered by Firebird 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Manual transmission is very fun to drive. You have more speed to power control. When it comes to transmission problems, manuals are cheaper to replace then automatics.
Think of manual transmission as connecting a spinning engine to the stationary tire via the transmission. In order to connect a running (spinning) engine, to the stationary drive train (transmission), there is a clutch. when the clutch is depressed, it disconnects the connection from the engine to the transmission. When you want to go into 1st gear, you depresss the clutch (disconnect the engine from the transmission gears) and put it in the 1st gear position. as you bring up the revolutions on the engine by depressing the gas pedal, you slowly release the clutch pedal to engage the engine to the transmission. This will take practice since the engagement is only a inch play of the clutch pedal. going into second gear is easier. press the clutch in to disengage the engine from the transmission, put the gear shifter in the 2nd gear position and then slowly release the clutch as you press the gas pedal. so on and so on until you run out of gears to go through or until you have reached the speed limit.
Most cars make the best power between 2k and 4k rpms. so when you are driving in any gear, you should keep the rpms of the (revolutions per minute) engine in optimum power range of the engine to give yourself enough power to accelerate quickly if needed.
good luck.
2007-08-27 20:04:26 · answer #5 · answered by Hiro M 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What you're doing is smart. Learn to drive auto, get comfortable with yourself driving safely. Manual isn't as hard as many make it out to be but you should still practise safe driving and concentration first.
2007-08-27 19:57:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just remember that if anything goes wrong, hit the brake and clutch pedals and try again!! Practice in an open area.
2007-08-27 19:57:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
i would start with the manual now, it's harder to get used to after you're used to the automatic
2007-08-27 23:12:23 · answer #8 · answered by dickdamick 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋