Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

How hard is it to learn how to drive a stick

profile picture
KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
i have a automatic car now and getin a new one soon and was wonderin if i got a manuel how fast would it take to learn how to drive it
Jan 3 2008 3:45PM
0 0
profile picture
king.tubby
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 122
you can learn the basics in a couple hours, and pretty much have it down after a few days. its not bad at all, and pretty fun once you have it figured out
Jan 3 2008 3:48PM
0 0
profile picture
KeithB.
Posts: 608 - Karma: 12
It's not hard at all. although if we are talking about a shit box it is a different story. Newish car with newish clutch=all good
Jan 3 2008 3:50PM
0 0
profile picture
comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
not hard at all dude. if you have rode a dirt bike or something before it's almost the same shit, i think that's what helped me. although i can't legally drive haha. only hard thing is kinda "committing" on hills and shit for me so i don't drift back but besides that as soon as you learn the gears of you car good it's really easy.
Jan 3 2008 3:50PM
0 0
profile picture
hawaiiansteeze
Posts: 3255 - Karma: 3,226
im 15 and i dont drive yet but my mom took me driving in my neighberhood with her subaru which is a stick.  in maybe 20 min i could drive on the streets but the timing of clutch to gas is somewhat hard and hills are hard
Jan 3 2008 3:50PM
0 0
profile picture
Nicholas.
Posts: 10905 - Karma: 60
hill starts take like a few days to get used to, you will stall about once a day for like a week then be fine. i like my auto though, way easier to just not think about it.
Jan 3 2008 3:54PM
0 0
profile picture
nychka
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 61
exactly, just be patient while you learning and its not bad at all
Jan 3 2008 3:56PM
0 0
profile picture
KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
yea well i was thkin bout gettin maybe a suburu wrx and it is one of the sicker cars in the price range so i was just thiknin.
Jan 3 2008 3:56PM
0 0
profile picture
sugarloaf
Posts: 7866 - Karma: 299
my car's stick and while i was learning i used to drive out of my way to avoid this stop light on a hill. after like a week (not even depending on how much you drive) you'll be fine. its only hard getting out of first.
Jan 3 2008 4:09PM
0 0
profile picture
OAK_TREE
Posts: 2683 - Karma: 12
I had to learn how to drive stick a short while ago. my buddy dislocated his shoulder and I had to drive him home from the hospital. I only stalled it three times but most of the driving was highway driving so it wasn't terribly difficult. you can get the basics down in a few minutes.
Jan 3 2008 4:12PM
0 0
profile picture
STACKS
Posts: 1938 - Karma: 42
just tear it up
Jan 3 2008 4:16PM
0 0
profile picture
laxstar
Posts: 1051 - Karma: 11
really not that hard if you have the chance or resources (buddies) try to drive an older mustange like a 95 version they are super easy but the gear box seams to be at angle but they are really easy to learn on cause they don't rev very high at all i think redline is like 5500 rpm's
Jan 3 2008 6:10PM
0 0
profile picture
line1260skier
Posts: 1570 - Karma: 16
I drove my friend '92 1500 and it wasent to hard, i got it my first try.
Jan 3 2008 6:14PM
0 0
profile picture
steezaskia112
Posts: 81 - Karma: 10
crank dat
Jan 3 2008 6:16PM
0 0
profile picture
Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
practice.
once you know your clutch well then you should be fine.

As said, hill starts would be the hardest part - just get to know your handbrake
Jan 3 2008 6:18PM
0 0
profile picture
Scolson
Posts: 2904 - Karma: 92
I find it's easier to hold yourself with the clutch while you move from the brake to the gas.
Jan 3 2008 6:29PM
0 0
profile picture
CDavis
Posts: 102 - Karma: 39
i learned when i was 13, its frustrating and scary as hell the first time on the main roads, but its fun when you get useed to it
Jan 3 2008 8:49PM
0 0
profile picture
dinopudge
Posts: 199 - Karma: 10
maybe a little painful for the rex if its new. but you'll learn quick, it doesn't take long. one thing is don't ride the clutch (once you learn).
Jan 3 2008 8:56PM
0 0
profile picture
SteezePatrol
Posts: 10281 - Karma: 36

it goes from hard to moderately hard depending on the length of the clutch. you'll most likely get the hang of it within a few days, dialed in a few weeks

Jan 3 2008 8:57PM
0 0
profile picture
word-sauce
Posts: 1151 - Karma: 11
the title is what she said
Jan 3 2008 8:58PM
0 0
profile picture
ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,613
it gets pretty frustrating when youre new at it...but its not hard to pick up

it is my personal opinion that all men should know how to drive stick


Jan 3 2008 8:58PM
0 0
profile picture
TerminatorX
Posts: 3087 - Karma: 169

i just practiced in a parking lot for an hour or two, then i was ready for the streets.

Jan 3 2008 9:05PM
0 0
profile picture
josh.
Posts: 3469 - Karma: 42
its easy but its getting used to a right hand drive car
Jan 3 2008 9:08PM
0 0
profile picture
t-rent
Posts: 3038 - Karma: 63
i can kind of do it im 14 i drove my brothers dodge 3500 dually disel and it was not extremelly hard i stalled it 2 times but its not that hard (not on his truck atleats)
Jan 3 2008 9:11PM
0 0
profile picture
Runnie_D
Posts: 743 - Karma: 31
Ask your mom she picked up on it pretty fast.
Jan 3 2008 9:12PM
0 0
profile picture
kabozo101
Posts: 4429 - Karma: 20
its easy just practice man
Jan 3 2008 9:17PM
0 0
profile picture
doublexl
Posts: 8407 - Karma: 27
manualz are so much fun. you can straight mobb...
Jan 3 2008 9:20PM
0 0
profile picture
DANETRON
Posts: 6671 - Karma: 137
i learned when i was 14 and it only tool like 15 min, but I already knew how clutche functioned and shit like that from dirtbikes/quads and i am into the whole grease monkey thing
Jan 3 2008 9:31PM
0 0
profile picture
.makuma.
Posts: 2258 - Karma: 43
it doesnt take too long to learn, but its easier if you understnad how the clutch works but then it takes a lot driving to fine tune your shifts, but you just get used to it and its all good
Jan 3 2008 9:35PM
0 0
profile picture
Lineskiah11
Posts: 2029 - Karma: 21

when you start driving it have someone thats driven a stick for a while help you and give you some pointers and tips. it makes it way easier. then just go to an open parking lot and you will be fine after a couple hours but then it will just take a little getting used to and def a total focusing difference from an automatic

Jan 3 2008 9:38PM
0 0
profile picture
12ParkRat60
Posts: 3480 - Karma: 61
basically
Jan 3 2008 9:40PM
0 0
profile picture
Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
Seriously - when you figure out the friction point on your particular clutch, its smooth sailing from there
Jan 3 2008 9:40PM
0 0
profile picture
Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
Once you figure it out you'll never want to drive an automatic again.

At least I don't.
Jan 3 2008 9:45PM
0 0
profile picture
AntifreezeSteeze
Posts: 1643 - Karma: 53
not hard...I'm 14 and know how to drive stick, might move out to idaho because of my dads work and I'd get my permit right away!
Jan 3 2008 9:48PM
0 0
profile picture
skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
once you get it down you will love it. they are so much more fun to drive...... it took me a few hours and i had it down great
Jan 3 2008 9:52PM
0 0
profile picture
AntifreezeSteeze
Posts: 1643 - Karma: 53
haha i was driving my uncles stick and the ball of the handle fell off
Jan 3 2008 9:53PM
0 0
profile picture
thelazyboy
Posts: 498 - Karma: 35
i know you like to drive your uncle's stick .


sorry it was too easy
Jan 3 2008 10:02PM
0 0
profile picture
Mr_Bojangles
Posts: 2585 - Karma: 16
Exactly, that is the key to driving manual. Some cars have high clutches, some cars have low clutches. Automatic cars give you a license to steer, however Manual cars give you a license to drive.
Jan 3 2008 10:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
^ you could have at least incorporates balls into that.
Jan 3 2008 10:07PM
0 0
profile picture
Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
my dad took me out around our neighborhood in his old subaru a while ago to learn. It was hard at first but I got used to it and I could drive around my neighborhood well enough. I need to give it some more time before taking it out on the roads though, I don't want to stall in the middle of an intersection. but once I learn it'll be worth it because there are so many people who don't know and I'll be like yeeeah I do. hahaha
Jan 3 2008 10:48PM
0 0
profile picture
Steezysmurf
Posts: 1663 - Karma: 3
the hardest part for me was to learn how to start rolling...

each car is different, but I drive 2 cars manual and drove 2 different ones once each, make sure you press in the clutch firmly, apply a little gas, remove the clutch about 70%, and from that point you want to almost syrchonize adding gas and fully removing the clutch... then romp it!
Jan 3 2008 11:25PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)