learning to drive manual/stick shift

[Anonymous]

Has anyone learned to drive a manual transmission car as an adult? I've only driven automatic but DH's car is stick and it's annoying to not be able to swap cars. Is it hard to learn how to drive stick after years of driving an automatic? Tips -- e.g. professional lessons? TIA.

[Anonymous]

I learned at 22 when I bought a car and had to drive it 800 miles to DC. I had a few lessons on friends’ cars previously but it was stop and go traffic in Ohio that did it for me.

My husband refuses to learn so my car is now an automatic. I hate it.

[Anonymous]

I think you'll need practice, more than lessons. You need to get the hang of it.

I learned on a manual, and am SO HAPPY our cars are now automatic. One less thing I need to worry about in stop and go urban traffic - that horrible clutch.

[Anonymous]

I learned at age 30. So much fun.

Key for me was really feeling the gradient of the clutch, it’s not on or off (though don’t linger or you will wear the clutch)

I would buy a beater to learn on.

[Anonymous]

Does your husbands car have rollback protection? I have a relatively new Jeep that has a 10 second rollback delay. It is so easy to drive. Regardless it’s all practice. There aren’t special skills.

[Anonymous]

You don't need professional lessons. Just get DH to take you to a parking lot and start learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need professional lessons. Just get DH to take you to a parking lot and start learning.

But then they’ll need a professional marriage counselor. BTDT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I learned at age 30. So much fun.

Key for me was really feeling the gradient of the clutch, it’s not on or off (though don’t linger or you will wear the clutch)

I would buy a beater to learn on.

Some feel like on and off. Depends on the car. The Subaru and Honda I drove felt like on and off. I worked at a VW dealer one summer and drove many. Those are FUN.

[Anonymous]

If your husband owns a stick, just learn on his. You just need an hour in a parking lot. Some people get it more naturally. I had a friend who bought a stick shift car and learned by driving home from the dealership.

[Anonymous]

Get someone else to teach you in your husband’s car? I had 3 hours of lessons in my late 20s split into two sessions and have been able to do it ever since when traveling, mostly in hilly places like Greece. I’d still not be willing to drive one in San Francisco unless there was a million dollar prize at the end.

[Anonymous]

Any time is good to learn how to drive stick. As I get older, it’s never to late to learn a new valuable skill.

Good thing is you don’t have to learn how to drive and operate a manual. I would drive in a parking lot or parking garage to practice on hills. Have someone who isn’t your spouse teach you if you value your sanity.

PP- I have a crush on you from that SF comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You don't need professional lessons. Just get DH to take you to a parking lot and start learning.

But then they’ll need a professional marriage counselor. BTDT.

I bought my wife a cute but older manual and taught her. We started in a parking lot and gradually moved up. Maybe we didn’t need marriage counseling (from that) because I didn’t really care if she wore out the transmission.

She drives around the city no problem now. Late 30s FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Where do you even find manual cars to practice on these days?

[Anonymous]

I'd practice on his car. The main issue with stick shift for me was hills and fear of rolling back on someone. But you get a feel for it with practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you even find manual cars to practice on these days?

MINI Coopers are still easy to find as manual transmission. Check out used ones for $5-$10k.