Is it hard to learn how to drive a stick shift?

Question

I'm 15 and I may be getting a stick shift car but I don't know how to drive one. How hard is it and how long does it take to learn how to drive it? I usually pick up new things pretty easily.

Answer 1

Its not that hard! You will have the basics down in a day or so. The hardest part is first gear! If you think you are going to stall push the clutch in and try again! You will be fine.  

Answer 2

its not that hard its a  little different but with this you gotta have that feeling that tells you wen you have to shift its a stick shift feeling

Answer 3

im 13 and i tried it , boy its hard to concentrate , but after a while it just comes .. good luck bro  

Answer 4

I'm 20 and not an expert at stick yet. have no need to drive stick shift. anyway the hardest part is learning first gear or reverse.  

Answer 5

Good for you after that. You don't have to worry about whatever transmission you need to drive next, just us here in Malaysia. We don't have any other choice other than driving manual for our driving test. Therefore with that, we can actually get international driving licence and drive anywhere around the world. Anyway, why do you post this question under the Category of Honda? You've got a manual Honda, didn't you? I'm so jealous. I'm also looking for a Civic or Civic Type-R (Japan/Malaysian Spec.). Well, enjoy your drive then...

Answer 6

its really not difficult at all.its more or less down to feel.selecting 1st gear and releasing the clutch is the hardest(but easy enough).we dont really have automatics where i'm from so we all learn on stick.BUT when i drove first drove an automatic it felt a little difficult and strange.at your age you will pick it up in less than an hour...I PROMISE.best of luck anyway.

Answer 7

It's not that hard once you learn it. Like they said above, leaving from a dead stop is the hardest part. You have to get the right combo of gas and clutch at the same time. Im 15 and I drive my dad's manual truck. My 4wheeler is also manual for that matter. lol

Answer 8

I did the same thing when I was 15, have someone who knows how to drive a stick go with you and you should pick it up in about an hour so that you could do it by yourself, Good Luck and IMHO good choice!!!

Answer 9

You'll do fine. Just don't worry about it. Everyone's different. The hardest part is starting off in 1st gear. If you have a real nice car that you don't want to stall, hold the clutch in and rev it to around 2000RPM then let the clutch out SLOWLY to start out. You'll get used to it. It'll prolly take 2 hours lol.

Answer 10

I think the hardest part is learning the shift pattern

Answer 11

You should sit in a manual car and practice shifting while it's parked first. After you think that you have the shift pattern down, have someone take you out. The hardest part when you first learn is releasing th clutch from a stand still. Most newbies release it too fast and either stall out the car or the car jumps around too much because thr's not enouh gas being given. Take your time and SLOWLY release the clutch. When you feel the car moving a little, give a little gas. As the gas is pushed release the clutch completely. I you think you're goin to stall, press the clutch and try again. I taught an ex-girlfriend (when she was my girlfriend) how to comfortably drive a maunal tranny car in about 30 minutes- but she already knew how to drive. If you don't know how to drive yet, learn in an automatic first.

Answer 12

hardest is putting clutch in and into first gear

after that then the rest of the gears are easy

second hardest is going up hill

Answer 13

No, I picked it up right away.

After an entire day of practice on hills and with parking, you will be an expert.

Just practice in a place with no cars like an empty parking lot.

Answer 14

Since you are a quick learner, I would guess that you will get the hang of it in about an hour. My mom took me to a parking lot behind a grocery store where nobody ever parks to learn. It was a wide open space and I just practiced starting and stopping and going through the gears. It is not very difficult but it definitely takes a bit of practice.

I got this from wikipedia:

Ok when you get in the car, push in the clutch and the brake at the same time. Start the car. Then put the car in 1st gear. Let off the brake, and slowly let off the clutch while giving a little gas. The car will start to roll. When you are up to speed and hear the car is ready to switch gears to 2nd gear(which wont be long after 1st) push in the clutch at the same time as you let off the gas and then pull the shifter down to second. slowly let out the clutch again while giving it gas. Once it "catches" you're good. After practice, stick shift will be second nature to you. Some advantages to having a manual car is that it gets slightly better gas mileage than an automatic and its more fun to drive. Also repairs are generally less expensive and none of your friends can jack your car because they all don't know how to drive a manual and you do.

Answer

Push in the clutch, make sure the car is in neutral. Start the car.

Holding the clutch, put the car in first and let off the parking brake.

Slowly, very slowly release your foot from the clutch as you simultaneously apply the gas. If your car has a tachometer, you should hold the gas at around 2000 RPM.

You should start to move. Don't let the clutch completely out until you are going a good speed.

When you get going a little faster and your engine starts revving up, push in the clutch. Shift into 2nd.

Again, slowly release the clutch as you give it some gas.

TIP: When you're starting up on a hill, and someone is behind you and you dont want to roll back into them, apply the parking brake. Hold the brake lever in your right hand, keep the button depressed. Slowly let it down as you start to move.

Answer 15

the easist way is to find someone with a old truck 1990 f350 sort of thing a learn in that you can't stall until you get uop into 3rd easist way