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…

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…

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 a…

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…

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…

I recall when my cousin taught his little sister how to drive a stick about 8 years ago. They were in his Ranger, driving (or trying to drive) along the country roads, and she kept stalling out whenever she tried taking off from a stop. After nearly an hour of this, my cousin grabbed her by the sh…

I think that the best car to use for learning to drive a stick shift is a 1946-52 Dodge Fluid Drive. These cars had a fluid coupling between the engine and the clutch so that the car was almost impossible to stall. After the clutch was a conventional three speed transmission. There was another ver…

Learning to Drive Stick

The Show

Whitey December 14, 2009, 5:05pm 19

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

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Learning to Drive Stick

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