Manual experience concerns

[Lord Thunder]

I only have problems with auto's. Damn left foot geeps looking for the clutch.

I have the same in the automatic of my girlfriend. More often than not, my left foot finds the brake. Which is .. interesting.

Also, I keep reaching for the stick with my right hand when approaching corners.

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[Lord Thunder]

Unless he happens to be learning on brand V6 mustang right?

Seriously, there is nothing wrong with learning to drive a manual with your brand new mustang. Especially the v8 - can probably get it moving without even using the gas, which is perfect for learning the clutch engagement.

Even in the 4 cylinder you can let the clutch engage and roll away. In my 1.6L EB Focus, I can actually drive away in 4th or 5th gear. Just a matter of controlling the clutch/gas pedals gently. (While this is not recommended, it has happened to me accidently when I was not paying attention. It did not stall, I just accerated really slowly )

 

[oyitsagreen]

If your purchase is as far out as you said, try to find an old, cheap beater car on craigslist (or similar place). Practice on that.

Also watch a lot of youtube videos and think about how it all works. There are tons of videos to help !

Really the best thing to do is like someone else said- On flat ground, slowly let out the clutch till you start rolling. That's pretty much all you need to know, then you just practice.

Hope it works out for you!

 

[kd4gij]

If your purchase is as far out as you said, try to find an old, cheap beater car on craigslist (or similar place). Practice on that.

Also watch a lot of youtube videos and think about how it all works. There are tons of videos to help !

Really the best thing to do is like someone else said- On flat ground, slowly let out the clutch till you start rolling. That's pretty much all you need to know, then you just practice.

Hope it works out for you!

Damn I've been doing it wrong all these years.


How come we don't have the burnout smiley on here

 

[Trevon]

It's like riding a bike. I've never owned one, only probably driven manual for a total of 2 hours. Will I say I am any good? Absolutely not, but that's not gonna stop me from buying a new car without the fun pedal.

Go for it.

 

[juzef]

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR YOU TO GET THE MANUAL!!!!! PLEASE Don't get the automatic.

Don't worry too much, just take it easy, take your time, and you'll figure it out in a couple of days, if not the essentials in a half an hour. Just don't try driving in dangerous situations such as heavy rain, or snow until you are competent.

You won't mess up the car so long as you do your homework. Read up on it online, ask somebody to show you, or just freaking figure it all out by yourself! All the more rewarding if you do so.

I drove off a BMW dealer lot in a manual brand new $46k 335i with sports package
not knowing how to drive stick at all really. By myself, I drove 100+ miles from South Bay BMW to San Diego. Should I have practiced a little in the parking lot first, uh, YES! Luckily, I made it home safe and sound and could drive at 75% by the next day. Do I recommend you do to this? Not really, but I do recommend you to get the stick and figure out how to learn it safely. Spend an hour or two in a parking lot, You Will figure it out.

Am I freaking out right now at the thought you'd get an automatic and regret it? YES! so get the stick

 

[juzef]

Some tips on how to learn Stick Shift.
** Definitions:
- Clutch is Pedal On Far Left
- Brake is Middle Pedal
- Gas is Right Pedal
- Gears controlled by cool Stick Shift used by right hand. Look at the top of shifter were it should be labeled with where the gears are.
- Emergency Brake: Typically a lever that Needs to be lifted up when car is off (unlike an automatic). Foot should normally be on brake and clutch when you lift or release (apply or deactivate) the emergency brake. In some modern cars, the emergency brake is a button.
** RULES:
1.) Unlike Automatic, Right foot is for BRAKE and Gas; Left Foot is for Clutch
2.) Never! Shift Gears Unless Clutch Pedal is Fully Depressed
3.) Never! put in reverse gear while Car is moving forward!
4.) First Gear is used to get the car rolling from a stop, and NOT for transportation purposes. Once car is moving (like 2/3 miles an hour which occurs in like a second or two, you should be working towards putting in second gear. Do not drive around, even for fun or if you are lazy, in first gear please.
5.) Avoid near Redline rpm while learning. And attempt, by any means, to take RPS above Redline as the engine will cut off at best, or you will damage your transmission/engine at worst case scenario ala whats infamously called, "THE MONEY SHIFT". You don't want that, Dealer will know you did it by reading ECU and your warranty will be void :(

LESSON ZERO: Car Off Play with Shifter and Clutch. Make Sure Emergency Brake is active which is usually a long lever that you need to lift up if not already up.
- Car Off, sit in car, press clutch with left foot and move shifter to 1st, then 2nd, or any gear and back. Put in reverse which may require you to push shifter down or lift it up first, or there may even be a button near by required to be pressed (rare). Just know you can't or shouldn't move the shifter unless the clutch is pressed all the way down while the car is moving.

LESSON ONE: CLUTCH IS LIKE A GAS PEDAL (with an attitude problem)!
- On Flat ground with no car or object in front or near car; Turn On Car, with Left foot fully depressing Clutch to floor, Right foot on Brake, and in Neutral.
- Release emergency Brake, by first lifting, pressing button on tip of lever, then letting lever fold and tuck all the way down.
- Keep Left Foot fully depressing Clutch and Right Foot on Brake, Put in First Gear
- Keep Left Foot fully depressing Clutch and take right foot off brake. Car should not move since your left foot is still Fully depressing Clutch.
- Now Sloooooowly start to lift (partially) the clutch (NOT ALL THE WAY).. Your Right foot should not be on GAS nor Brake at this point.
- As you lift your left foot, you'll notice the car start to slowly roll forward with gradually increasing speed ... COOL., Do NOT totally release Clutch because if you do..car will stall hence the attitude problem. No biggie. Infact, You should experience this as NO DOUBT YOU WILL.. so might as well..just let out the clutch slowlly and you'll first notice the car start to move foward, and as you continue to release the clutch, the car will start to shake (don't worry..no big deal)..and then, suddenly, the car will buckle and engine will stop (not very pleasant).
- Since this happened, please start over and repeat a few times ..then instead of releasing clutch all the way, once the car starts to move ..go to the next step...which is to stop the car in a controlled proper way.
***- Now LEFT foot fully press down clutch and Right Foot Back on Brake. Car comes to stop.
- END OF LESSON ONE!

LESSON TWO: Repeat Lesson ONE a few times till you get it!

LESSON THREE: First Gear (Start Lesson One and jump here where you see ***)
- You Left foot should be partially released and car should begin moving when at this point, you should use your Right foot to press VERY gently on the gass.
- You should notice first the car start to accelerate and at this moment, (while your right foot is still on gas), release the clutch slowly and completely (1 second). Now your car is moving in
first gear slowly with your right foot applying some gas.. Car doesn't really like to be driven in first gear long or strongly. Notice, that if you press harder on gas, car should accelerate abruptly and rps should go up high. You Don't want to go near Redline while learning.
***- Ok let go of gas (release right foot off Gas), and move Left Foot to Clutch and Right Foot to Brake. Note this important event, you will press the clutch with Left Foot and apply break with Right Foot at the same time. Generally, but not always, Pressing in Clutch with left foot should be accompanied with Right foot either pressing the brake in a controlled way, or the readiness of the right foot to press on the break if needed or desired. Bring Car to Stop. Take a deep breath.
- This Ends Lesson Three. Repeat several times till you get it.

LESSON FOUR: Shift Gears to Second (start with Lesson Three and come here when you see ***)
- Now this step is kinda key.. You're in First gear driving but it sucks cause engine is grumpy and you can't really go fast at all without rpms flying to redline. Generally, that means its time shift to a Higher gear. It's usually best to shift to the Next higher gear which you will do now.
- Car is moving in first, Let go of Gas.
- Press Clutch all the way down with Left Foot, with right foot ready to apply brakes if needed.
- After Clutch is all the way down, move shifter to second gear.
- Now start to apply a little gas and at the same time start to release the clutch. This is a gradual process. You'll feel the car start to accelerate when you should release the clutch completely. If you get this right, you'll be driving in second gear..if not, the car will stall. Practice until you get it right. Good luck.
- Repeat over and over till you can put it in second gear cleanly without stall.

LESSON FIVE: Using higher gears is same as Lesson Four. Here you want to learn how to go to a lower gear.
- Say you're in third and want to go to second which is typical when you need to make a right turn in residential areas. You'll be going to second for that typically.
- Put Left foot on Clutch and apply brake to Right Foot to slow to proper speed.
- After Clutch is fully pressed, move shifter to second gear. Then release clutch while applying gas with right foot as in Lesson Four.
- Wala..you've just downshifted..an act that you will come to love eventually trust me

 

[ChuckC]

As somebody on here pointed out, there are schools that teach how to drive a manual (which there weren't ten or fifteen years ago when I was searching up and down the East Coast looking for them).

Here's one in Denver that has classes:

https://www.drivesafecolorado.com/program.php

I'm signed up for classes in New York; we'll see how that goes. I don't think I could ever drive a manual on a daily basis -- for one thing, I always use my left leg to brace myself as I'm driving in turns, but I recently read that you're supposed to use your left leg instead of your right leg on the clutch pedal. Not sure how that would work.

There's a driving school in Queens that has one manual transmission car. I went there and learned to drive manual in about 2 hours. Then I bought my Mustang.

 

[91ROGUE]

Alot of good info in this thread!! Thats why I love this forum, you guys are awesome thanks! I do have a buddy with an old saturn manual who said I can practice on that for a bit. Ill look into the classes as well. Good pointers by you vets too.

No way I'll buy anything other than manual!

 

[ChuckC]

Put in first gear, then on flat ground very slowly start to let the clutch up without touching the accelerator, as it starts to grab, the car will begin to roll. This will help you master the clutch.

That works well on a small Toyota. Doesn't work very well with my 5.0. Lots of bucking.

 

[JoeDogInKC]

3.) Never! put in reverse gear while Car is moving forward!

While certainly a good piece of advice, I don't believe this car will allow you to do that. I believe they've had reverse lockout for some time now.

 

[OzS550]

This is true, and is why I'm going to be taking classes to learn to drive a manual. Not that I'm sure I'll ever need it, since I haven't seen another manual transmission in the U.S. since then, but it's something I figure I really should know how to do.

Mate, I'm seriously impressed with your resolve to learn a manual after your disastrous first attempts. Good on you. I hope it goes well.

 

[juzef]

That works well on a small Toyota. Doesn't work very well with my 5.0. Lots of bucking.

Just before bucking, if clutch is released slowly, the car should begin to roll forward on a flat surface. It worked on my 10 4.6L, as well as my friends C6 Corvette and on every manual I've driven before. Of course, I've Never tried it on a 5.0, but it should work..enough to get the car rolling really slowly forward to illustrate that transmission/engine engagement. For learning purposes, it is important to see what happens next too..as you continue to release the clutch, the car will buck and abruptly, the engine will shut off. The key being to avoid this by applying gas which is lesson three that I doubt I have the energy to write.

 

[fionic]

1.) Unlike Automatic, Right foot is for BREAK and Gas; Left Foot is for Clutch

Wha?

Right foot is always for brake and accelerator. (unless your in some kind of racing)

 

[ChuckC]

Just before bucking, if clutch is released slowly, the car should begin to roll forward on a flat surface. It worked on my 10 4.6L, as well as my friends C6 Corvette and on every manual I've driven before. Of course, I've Never tried it on a 5.0, but it should work..enough to get the car rolling really slowly forward to illustrate that transmission/engine engagement. For learning purposes, it is important to see what happens next too..as you continue to release the clutch, the car will buck and abruptly, the engine will shut off. The key being to avoid this by applying gas which is lesson three that I doubt I have the energy to write.

Yes the car does begin to roll but the rpms are too low so the car bucks. That's on my 5.0.

When I learned on a Toyota I was able to fully release the clutch after 5 seconds without any bucking.

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