Learn Manual For This Car?

[Wine dude]

I offer 2 suggestions, hadn’t driven a stick in over 30 years, was a little shaky at first.
I would definitely put in the Steeda clutch spring and the most important tip, when u first start solo driving or even with instructor I would have a friend drive behind you who understands that you might have a slow start or stall, this prevents someone from giving your rear a love tap not anticipating that you didn’t just roar off the start. After a lesson and the help of a friend as your tail guy you will be up and running in no time. Did this for all of my family members who weren’t stick savvy and now they do great! Go for it you won’t regret it!

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[jstump2490]

I offer 2 suggestions, hadn’t driven a stick in over 30 years, was a little shaky at first.
I would definitely put in the Steeda clutch spring and the most important tip, when u first start solo driving or even with instructor I would have a friend drive behind you who understands that you might have a slow start or stall, this prevents someone from giving your rear a love tap not anticipating that you didn’t just roar off the start. After a lesson and the help of a friend as your tail guy you will be up and running in no time. Did this for all of my family members who weren’t stick savvy and now they do great! Go for it you won’t regret it!

Good call on the clutch spring, I changed mine out right away so I forgot about it, makes a huge improvement on clutch control though.

 

[Demonic]

With the throttle assist from idle to help prevent stalling, and hill-start assist to prevent roll-back, this is actually one of the easier cars to learn manual on. That being said, for the first day you try you can always either try to rent a manual car or find a friend with a junker manual. The main thing I always have to remind people learning is that when people drive manual for the first time they freak out and take their foot off the clutch, stalling the car. I just keep repeating to them, as long as the clutch is in the car can never stall...

 

[nastang87xx]

Your family isn't car oriented, clearly. They'll never understand. Therefore, make the decision for yourself. I've owned 4 manual cars in the last 4 years and every time I do that, my whole family rolls their eyes. Then I roll out smiling.

 

[Zombo]

The ST by the way is probably harder to learn on because it makes all of its torque right at 2000 RPM, which is where I like to tell people to rev to when learning where the clutch engages. The Mustang makes all its power up high so its very manageable under 2500 RPM.

Just to clarify, this argument is not valid. The ST may make a lot of torque at 2000 RPM, but that would be at full throttle, not at a throttle application normally used to start out.

 

[wrh3]

My wife learned to drive a manual late in life (late twenties?) after she decided she wanted a car that was only available with a manual transmission. I agreed we would buy the car if the salesman taught her to drive it.....4 hours later we were doing the paperwork

Both of the kids learned to drive manual and still have manuals today......we currently only own 3-pedal cars. The GT350 clutch is pretty light so even in traffic you shouldn't have an issue. Steeda clutch spring is an easy R&R and offers much more linear/better feel.

Another vote for learn to drive a manual AND for the GT350 :cheers:

 

[nastang87xx]

I have an ST and a GT350. I can tell you right now that the ST has better clutch feel AND more forgiving catch point modulation. Sorry...just being honest. Actually wtf am I apologizing for? It's just the way it is lol.

 

[milner_7]

I would never buy a auto in a Stang of any level. Both my cars are manual's. I learned as a teenager. I went for about 9 years driving automatics and during that period my love for driving reduced significantly. in 2102 when I bought my first Mustang the passion came back.

 

[H6G]

I don't really have a reference point on whether you should learn to drive a manual or not, because I learned at 13 or 14 years of age and I've always driven manual transmission cars. I'm leaning towards thinking that it's a bad idea for you to buy the GT350 not knowing whether you will like driving a manual transmission car. The main reason is because it can be expensive to buy and sell a car and I would hate for you to waste thousands of dollars doing that.

My recommendation is to buy something inexpensive like the '76 beetle that I learned stick on. Drive it to work for a few months. If you don't like the cheap manual transmission car better than your automatics you probably won't enjoy driving the GT350 either.

If you think it would be stupid to drive a cheap manual transmission car and can't imagine enjoying it - then I think manual transmissions are not for you and you should stay with automatics.

This is the best and most practical advice. I certainly agree with Hack’s reply.

 

[Demonic]

in 2102 when I bought my first Mustang the passion came back.

 

[Krogen]

You can teach yourself to drive a manual. It's not rocket science. Read the 'net and you see all sorts of posts where people overthink it. You don't need to spend $400 for lessons. Just try it sometime. If you stall the car, no biggie. Happens all the time. Just go practice and you'll figure it out.

Now whether you want to buy a pricey car before learning, that's another question. You might want to take a European vacation and rent a manual car. Could be cheaper if you find you don't like it. And you'd get a vacation out of the deal.

FWIW, all I have are manual transmissions. No automatics in this household! I daily drive a Tacoma pickup with a 6-speed manual. Traffic isn't the PITA for me that many people make it out to be. You just hang back and your left foot / right hand go on muscle memory. You do need to be calm. If you're one of those who insists on following too close and alternately hitting the gas and then the brakes in rapid succession you'll have to re-train yourself. Those folks drive me nuts in traffic whether it's an auto or a manual.

 

[Hack]

Traffic isn't the PITA for me that many people make it out to be.

I agree that if you enjoy a manual transmission traffic isn't a PITA. When traffic is cruising along at a constant speed you might as well be in a car with an automatic. Heavier traffic gives you an opportunity to shift.

It's not uncommon for me to feel like I'm playing with the car in stop and go traffic. Rev matching down shifts, holding the clutch in while the computer lets the engine RPMs come down so that I can do engine braking, not needing the brakes at all because the manual transmission provides better control of the car, etc. It's all fun in my opinion. And the GT350's clutch is plenty light enough - it's never annoying to have to depress the clutch pedal.

 

[barstowpo]

Typo, do they rent any manual transmission cars near you? That might be a way to get some experience without buying something you'll hate. I learned to drive a manual in high school and have had mostly manuals since then. I have even had a couple of manual F250's. Where are you in CA. I can't believe there is no one close to you with a manual.

 

[Lightning Blue GT350]

I learned how to drive a manual on a 1988 mustang GT.. That car was so much fun to drive I broke so many T5's I lost count after 6 of them...but would not change it for anything that's how I learned how to drift and drag race a mustang. Fast forward to the present I LOVE my GT350 this is a well balanced machine. I just wish it had about 100 to 150 more HP

 

[aham23]

DO IT.

I went something like 25 years between driving manual. I had the sales guy do the test drive when I bought my 5.0 in 2016. BUT made the deal and drove home that day. Modern Day Manual is way easier to drive then those of yesteryear. I was shocked how easy it was. Enjoy!

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