Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Test drive a car with a manual transmission and take it to a parking lot and learn. Or rent a car from Hertz or something. You don't need lessons, it's very easy unless you're driving a truck or bus.

Not for everybody. I am not coordinated--I can drive a manual because I learned on one--but it took me forever!

Me too- I blew out the clutch in my mom's car trying to learn! I eventually did but am jealous of those that could pick it up in a day.....

Anyway, practice practice practice before driving a manual overseas. You want it to be second nature, not an additional thing to worry about.

So true. My best friend and I spent 2 weeks in Ireland after graduation. We agreed that we would split the driving--until we found out that it would cost $100/day extra to rent an automatic. She asked if I would teach her while we were over there. I agreed--again, until we got there. Then all of a sudden I was trying to remember what the correct side of the road was for me to be on. And I found that many roads aren't really 2 lane roads, more like 1.5 lanes. When I had to back down the mountain to let a car pass, we both agreed that driving in Europe was complicated enough for us and teaching her to drive a manual was not a good idea.

Learned how to drive manual as a teen but took awhile to get over the anxiety of being stopped going up a hill at a stop light. To deal with this, practice on a hill, put the parking brake on, and let it out as you engage the clutch. If you learn how to do that, you will be able to handle that situation with less anxiety than I.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posting this in the travel forum as the reason for wanting to learn to drive a manual is being driven by a potential trip to Italy next year. We may do most of the trip by train but I'd like the freedom to wander around the rural areas for a couple days on our own. Hoping we can get an automatic but have heard its not always guarunteed, even with a reservation! Any recommendations on somewhere to take lessons in the DC area? I know about I Drive Smart but it seems pretty short for the price (90 min for $200), plus I don't have access to a manual car on a regular basis to practice.

Test drive a car with a manual transmission and take it to a parking lot and learn. Or rent a car from Hertz or something. You don't need lessons, it's very easy unless you're driving a truck or bus.

Gawd no- do people actually do that without knowing how to drive it? Remind ne to never buy a new manual car with more than a few miles on it!

Unfortunately renting a manual transmission here is like trying to find an automatic in Europe- maybe even harder. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Test drive a car with a manual transmission and take it to a parking lot and learn. Or rent a car from Hertz or something. You don't need lessons, it's very easy unless you're driving a truck or bus.

Not for everybody. I am not coordinated--I can drive a manual because I learned on one--but it took me forever!

Me too- I blew out the clutch in my mom's car trying to learn! I eventually did but am jealous of those that could pick it up in a day.....

Anyway, practice practice practice before driving a manual overseas. You want it to be second nature, not an additional thing to worry about.

Anonymous



It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

U can still talk/text and drive a stick.

Anonymous wrote:It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

Great idea!!! I'm so doing that when it's time!

Anonymous wrote:It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

Great idea!! The first 4 cars I ever drove were sticks (I got my license in 1977-I'm old!) But I love this idea that they need two hands to drive so they can't text!

Also, we go to Europe frequently as we have family there and it's always easier and cheaper to rent cars with manual transmissions. It's pretty easy to learn - my guess would be to rent a car with one (with someone who knows how to drive it!) and then just practice. It takes a few times to coordinate the clutch and gas, but then you get it.

Oh - and driving and getting lost on the back roads is a HIGHLIGHT of visiting Italy!
Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

That is brilliant!

+1. And it's a good skill to have.

Anonymous wrote:It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

That is brilliant!

It's not that difficult. We got our kids cars with manual transmissions so that it would be more difficult for them to talk/text while driving. I have four driving. It literally took me one day to teach them how to drive a stick. Can you get a friend to teach you?

There is one in Virginia, Annandale I think. I took 3 classes (1 hour each)and payed $500.00 a couple of months ago.

However, I only needed to be reminded since I first learned with manual transmission in a country that does not have automatics (well, they do but it is rare).

You can google and you will find it, I forgot the name.

Also, you won't find any car to rent that is manual because lots of people were doing what pp suggested and breaking the clutch. It is pretty expensive to repair it.

It took me a few months to learn and I blew the clutch in the car.

Test drive a car with a manual transmission and take it to a parking lot and learn. Or rent a car from Hertz or something. You don't need lessons, it's very easy unless you're driving a truck or bus.

Not for everybody. I am not coordinated--I can drive a manual because I learned on one--but it took me forever!

Anonymous wrote:Posting this in the travel forum as the reason for wanting to learn to drive a manual is being driven by a potential trip to Italy next year. We may do most of the trip by train but I'd like the freedom to wander around the rural areas for a couple days on our own. Hoping we can get an automatic but have heard its not always guarunteed, even with a reservation! Any recommendations on somewhere to take lessons in the DC area? I know about I Drive Smart but it seems pretty short for the price (90 min for $200), plus I don't have access to a manual car on a regular basis to practice.

Test drive a car with a manual transmission and take it to a parking lot and learn. Or rent a car from Hertz or something. You don't need lessons, it's very easy unless you're driving a truck or bus.

Posting this in the travel forum as the reason for wanting to learn to drive a manual is being driven by a potential trip to Italy next year. We may do most of the trip by train but I'd like the freedom to wander around the rural areas for a couple days on our own. Hoping we can get an automatic but have heard its not always guarunteed, even with a reservation! Any recommendations on somewhere to take lessons in the DC area? I know about I Drive Smart but it seems pretty short for the price (90 min for $200), plus I don't have access to a manual car on a regular basis to practice.