We’ve shared our suggestions , but we know there are many other great hints and tips out there. Not unlike making the perfect cappuccino. Or turning a simple brake repair into a $2,000 transmission rebuild. You get the point. What are your tips for teaching a manual transmission novice how to d…

Ninety percent of learning how to drive an 18-wheeler is learning how to back up. Ninety percent of learning how to fly an airplane is learning how to land. And, ninety percent of learning how to drive a manual is learning how to use the clutch.

I like the idea of learning (on an empty, level area) to get the car rolling without pressing the throttle. I tried this with my niece after my sister tried for months to teach her and she was driving a stick within a couple days. Even after 20+ years of driving, I am still a manual transmission f…

I taught myself to drive stick when I was in my late 30’s. I knew I was too stubborn to learn from my husband. So I pulled out the instruction manual and first practiced in our large church parking lot. Then I drove up and down the flat road by our house. Finally, I drove over to a nearby colleg…

I learned to drive stick when working part-time at a pharmacy while I was in college. One day the guy that drove the delivery car didn’t show up, and the boss told me it was my job that day. When I told him that I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift, he told me, “It’s not that hard.” I had quit…

I taught both of my children how to drive a manual. My only suggestions are to spend a bit of time explaining how the clutch works and it’s purpose. Emphasize that its purpose is NOT to use to match the speed of the flywheel to the input shaft of the tranny (speed of the engine to speed of the trann…

TIP: Don’t begin on a flat surface–begin on a slight DECLINE. I have found that novices learn easiest when they start on a surface with a slight downward slope. Once they let their foot off the brake, the car begins to roll forward slowly. This makes letting out the clutch (whether they do it fast o…

I have taught my grandson recently and the only difference was with a 92 dakota 5 speed I had him start off practising the clutch routine in 3rd gear. It made for a lot easier transition from full stop to moving and the “touch” needed to not stall makes them more concious of how sensitive the clutc…

The motorcycle safety foundation calls this point the “friction zone” of the clutch.

I read an old Ann Lander’s column back in the 80s that said a cemetary is the best place to learn to drive because you have more realistic driving simulations with intersections, roads, turns, and just a little bit of traffic to deal with. You also have a reminder all around you what happens if you…

Learning to Drive Stick

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t1847cm December 5, 2009, 1:23pm 16

You’re the winner in my book!. I call it the “Friction Point” but the process is the same. I taught the motorcycle training course for 12 years and this was a major training point. Once the students can consistently find the friction point, the rest is easy. I would recommend spending at least an hour or two just on the friction point. Yes, using someone else’s car is always preferred!

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Learning to Drive Stick

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