Driving stick?

Question

Ok so I'm 17 and have practiced on my dad's car for 5 hours or so(over 4 sessions), but he says I should more have the hang of it by now and doesn't want me to practice anymore due to damaging his clutch too much. Right now I would say I stall like a third of the time starting it, but even when I don't it is a little bumpy. However, I am still determined to learn and am thinking of getting myself a manual car and just teaching myself from here on out. Any suggestions to minimize damage on my clutch? And how long did it take you to more or less master the art of driving a manual?

Answer 1

I mastered it in a week, that was in a trans am though(easy to drive).The easiest stick to learn on is a mustang, just remember-when in dought hit the clutch. You've got all the time in the world, if you're gonna stall push the clutch, then take your time, and start over. Its not a race...yet, that comes later

Answer 2

took me like a day...just slowly take the clutch out while pressing the gas like at 2000 rpm..keep the 2000 level when it drops when you take out the clutch..

if you dont want to use your dads car... just buy yourself a motorcyle..its like 500 bucks and its the same basic steps..

if your smell that you burned clutch everytime you shift..

its gonna run out in like 3-4 days.. week at most

Answer 3

i tried learning on an old peice of c**p truck, i could get it to go but stalled a lot, mainly just going into first gear though, from first to 2, 3, ect was fine, i had no problem going reverse either, just couldn't get into first too good. we got rid of that and dont have a manual i can practice on so i still pretty much cant drive stick. but i'd say if ur gonna try till u get it you shuold buy a cheap manual for less than $500 just so ur not wasting a who.e lot of money

Answer 4

Here is the real deal.  You cannot damage your clutch unless you drive it like you are racing.  You can however grind the syncronizers in the trans.

The trick is to practice when the clutch grabs.  Goto an empty parking lot, put it in first gear and do not use the gas.  Just learn to engage the clutch VERY slowly without stalling.  do not rely on the tack.  Use your left foot position and the sound of the engine.  When  you can do this without stalling a dozen times, start using the gas.  Clutch and brake, go to neutral.  Do this with gas a dozen times then practice goine to second from first

This practice is callled drilling.  Do the simple to the complex in order.  When you have done this a few times, find a slight uphill incline and practice this drill.  You will learn to use the gas as the brake from going back.

Then practice this on a steep uphill incline.  Use the hand brake from going backwards.  When the clutch engages, add gas and release the brake.  If you start to roll back, engage more clutch(release your foot) and add more gas.

Do not speed shift untill you can master the uphill.  Until then, shifting should take about one second, no quicker.  And oh, unless you have a cable clutch, do not practice shifting without the clutch.  EVER.

Happy Motoring.

Answer 5

I don't have an rpm monitor, so.. I say:

Start the car, put it in gear, let the clutch out until you hear/feel the "click", or until the car start slowly moving, LEAVE YOU FOOT IN THAT POSITION ON THE CLUTCH! Push in the gas until your engine revs a bit and slowly pull foot off clutch. Just do it over and over. Don't even drive anywhere, just practice shutting the car off, and starting all over again. You'll get it. i believe in you buddy! go for it!