Driving a manual car

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    Topic
  • #195770
    Pray4theCPA
    Participant

    Hello all,

    So I recently (today) purchased a stick shift. I have never before drove a stick shift but I though might as well learn now. I thought how hArd could it be.. Right? Anyway an hour of driving in the parking lot with my dad, I felt comfortable and went to the streets myself. A first I was fine but then I got stopped at a stop sign where I needed to make a left hand turn onto a busy street. Cars were behind me and my nerves kicked in. I had to have stalled the car about 10 times with cars honking behind me and oncoming traffic coming my way as well. I could not stop shaking and keep my cool. It got to a point when a kind man came and helped me drive back to a nearby parking lot. I feel once I get it passed first gear I am fine but it terrifies me when I need to get started from a dead start. Anyway, my problem is that I start working a new job on Monday and I will be driving from the city to the burbs. Will I be okay by Monday if I practice driving for one more day (Sunday) seeing how today was my first time ever driving stick. Or should I use my fathers automatic car for a while? I have no idea what to do and I feel really dumb. I am always up for challenges and I thought I would be able to do this but I’m not sure if Sunday will be enough seeing how today went.

    FAR 83
    BEC 81
    REG 75
    AUD 74 93

    FAR - 83
    BEC - 81
    AUD - 74,93
    REG - 75

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 16 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #685298
    Jim Deal
    Member

    Drive the heck out of it tomorrow. I see that 83 on FAR, you are not dumb. Much like when people get behind a keyboard and take to the internet, when people get behind the wheel of a car they morph into total *&^$%#@s, just accept it and do your best to ignore the honking.

    You want to get to a point where it is all muscle memory and the majority of the processing is happening without thinking about it (like riding a bike, karate training with Mr. Miyagi (wax on/wax off—clutch on/clutch off), or making journal entries).

    You aren't going to get there without actually driving it though.

    Good luck!

    #685299
    Mhayes22
    Member

    As a person who drives a standard transmission, I would recommend you drive your dads automatic until you get comfortable with driving a manual. Not being somewhat experienced with driving a manual can be dangerous for yourself and other drivers. If you have to slam on the brakes and you forget to depress the clutch, as your speed rapidly declines, there is a good possibility you will stall the engine and lose power brakes and power steering during the emergency stop. Drive you dads car to and from work for a few weeks and practice driving the manual everday for a few hours by starting in the parking lot, then working your way to subdivisions, then back roads, then finally busy main roads. Driving a manual takes a lot of practice to perfect. Practice stopping and starting frequently as that is the hardest part. When you get comfortable work on starting on hills. If your car has hill/assist, you will have to give it more gas during a start on a hill because your rear brakes are slightly engaged to hold the car from rolling backwards. While hill/assist is good for the beginner, it becomes an annoying feature for a more experienced driver. If dont have hill assist, try pulling the emergency brake slighly to hold the car from rolling backwards, then release as You begin to accelerate and the car pulls forward. Also, work on not riding the clutch. As you accelerate and go through the gears avoid leaving the cluth depressed when you not changing gears. Good luck with your practice and remember it just takes time and experience.

    AUD: 99
    FAR: 90
    REG: 96
    BEC: 90
    Done!

    #685300
    Missy
    Participant

    I wouldn't take your dad's car. That will just prolong the inevitable. Practice today as much as you can and seek alternate routes with less traffic until you're more comfortable. Now that you know making turns is a challenge practice those the most. But if the pressure of being in heavy traffic throws you off it's still going to unnerve you whether it's tomorrow or in a few weeks.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #685301
    Mr.SD
    Participant

    It is very possible I learned how to drive a stick in 1.5 days, with no idea of the concepts in the past.

    Here is the key though and i think many would agree:

    First off stalling is going to happen, the key is the beginning stage trust that you know how to quickly recover. Understand its apart of driving a stick and there are people who been driving for years that still have stall episodes.

    Last to me its like everything else in life if you understand the basic concepts and recovery plans when driving a manual you should not be scared. Practice going through a lot of four way stops and getting out of first gear and remember don't over think it is something you already know how to do, but it also is a new car you got to get used to it you know become one so to speak!

    Not sure if you are into motorcycles but learning how to drive stick transfers over to that as well.

    Anyways one day is enough to get through automatic stall stage, just don't think you will get rid of it completely in the beginning haha!

    "Do better to know better."

    #685302
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    First, I applaud you. Seems no one appreciates the value of being able to drive a manual transmission anymore. IMO, every parent should make sure their child has learned this skill just in case they ever have to drive a drunk friends car home and said drunk friend drives a manual.

    Like Neurons said, you will get to the point where its all muscle memory or “instinct.” And like mla, I agree that borrowing your Dads car is just delaying the inevitable. Spend as much time today “practicing” as you can and try to go in to work early tomorrow, if you can, when there is not as much traffic.

    You will eventually get to the point where the car is just and extension of yourself. Personally, I like feeling like I'm driving my car as opposed to it driving me. But that could be because my mom (who is 78 and still drives a manual) taught me on a manual and (with the exception of a pretty sweet 1985 Nissan 200SX) every vehicle I've owned has been a manual.

    Plus, if your a girl (like me), it impresses the hell out of most dudes! 😉

    (Can you tell I like parentheticals?)

    #685303
    1koolcat
    Participant

    When I was teaching my friend to drive her stick shift, I took her to an empty parking garage. Our shopping mall closes at 7 pm on Sundays, so the upper levels of the parking deck are empty. This parking garage had lots of ramps in between floors. I made her practice starting and stopping on these ramps. With no cars behind us, we had all the time in the world, and she could roll back without hitting anything.

    Using my hands as a visual aid, I moved them forward and backward, imitating the clutch and the gas pedal. When you start to drive the car, you let up on the clutch as you are depressing the gas pedal. For the most part, you want that to be even, like you are letting up as much as you are pressing down. When you lift up on the clutch too fast, the car will jerk forward and then stall out. If you press down too much on the gas, your engine starts revving and you peel out.

    You will start to realize that once you are on a hill, you have to move your foot faster (from the brake to the gas) than on flat ground, otherwise you are going to roll backwards.

    So find a parking garage with ramps and work on moving your feet up and down evenly. Don't use the emergency brake as a crutch. You can do this. If you are in traffic and get stuck, stay calm and ignore those people honking at you. This is a million times easier than the CPA exam and you will always have this skill and it could save your life or someone else's life one day.

    You CAN do this.

    AUD - 77
    REG - 73, 80
    FAR - 69, 73, 79 and DONE!
    BEC - 82

    #685304
    1koolcat
    Participant

    Forgot to add this:

    Congratulations on your new car! What did you get? What color?

    AUD - 77
    REG - 73, 80
    FAR - 69, 73, 79 and DONE!
    BEC - 82

    #685305
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Never thought about parking garage ramps. That's a great idea!!

    I failed my first driving test because I rolled back on a hill. Not far but just enough. 🙁 After that I made sure I had hills mastered to the point where I could keep my car perfectly still on a hill without touching the brake.

    #685306
    Pray4theCPA
    Participant

    Thanks al or the advice. Much appreciated. I feel like I am a lot better today. Practiced a lot this morning but went out driving with my dad and he is not the best teacher as he gets frustrated pretty easily. He was mostly frustrated Bc I had the car jerking a little going from stop to start and one to two gear. It is also hard for me to keep up with traffic and he basically wants me to feel like everything is natural. He finally got under my skin a little when he said I should consider taking the car back.. It is definitely not natural at all for me yet but i am somewhat more comfortable. He tried to teach me how to work the hand brake too but that was a little too much too soon i think. I am still getting a few honks since I still stall the car once in a while and I am still slow off my starting point. I am pretty comfortable driving around now but still haven't gone back to my apt in the city which freaks me out. I'll most likely drive back with the gf since she has driven a manual car before but she hates it haha. At least il feel more comfortable that way.

    FAR 83
    BEC 81
    REG 75
    AUD 74 93

    FAR - 83
    BEC - 81
    AUD - 74,93
    REG - 75

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    #685307
    Pray4theCPA
    Participant

    @1coolkat VW Golf :)gray

    FAR 83
    BEC 81
    REG 75
    AUD 74 93

    FAR - 83
    BEC - 81
    AUD - 74,93
    REG - 75

    Becker Self Study & Becker Final Review

    #685308
    1koolcat
    Participant

    Well then it makes sense that you got a manual transmission. Automatic does not do justice to certain cars. Don't give up, you will be zipping around in no time. This is an old commercial for the VW Rabbit, but it may give you a little inspiration.

    You should consider pasting a W over the G and calling your car the “Gray Wolf.” Before you know it, you will be leading the pack. You are a hunter, do not be afraid.

    Have fun!

    AUD - 77
    REG - 73, 80
    FAR - 69, 73, 79 and DONE!
    BEC - 82

    #685309
    Tscape16
    Participant

    You just have to get a motion for it. Manual transmission equates that you need to be one with the car. Every manual is different too. It's easiest, in my opinion, to learn in a truck because they're quite a bit more forgiving. I tried to teach my lady in my car, but I've got a twin disc clutch that is a bear to handle if you don't know what you're doing. As others stated, don't take it on the road until you're ready. Once you got the driving down, make sure you're rev matching (if you don't know what that is, YouTube it) and downshifting when you're slowing down. It'll promote even clutch wear and longevity.

    AUD - 92
    BEC - 86
    FAR - 90
    REG - 82
    Licensed CPA since 2015.

    FAR - 90 ✔
    BEC - 86 ✔
    REG - 82 ✔
    AUD - 92 ✔
    ETHICS - Passed

    *Licensed CPA

    #685310
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Practicing in a parking garage with ramps is a great idea. You really want to get hills together.

    If you can master starting after being stopped on a hill you are good. If you can master making a left turn, after being stopped on a hill, with traffic coming the other way… you are golden.

    #685311
    Pray4theCPA
    Participant

    @tscape16 I will keep rev matching in mind after watching a few YouTube videos. It is still pretty pretty hard for me to get everything perfectly down. But it is pretty cool what driving stick can offer you.

    I practiced for almost two hours just staring from a complete stop with my car on a hill in an empty parking lot. After a while j was getting a hang of everything and getting a feel for the clutch. I actually drove over an hour from my dads to my apt in the city by myself with ZERO stalling 🙂 no I need to get parallel parking down. I'm not a big fan of parallel pRking to begin with just Bc of a lack of experience but it seems more difficult with a manual car.

    I'm wxcited about driving this car tho 🙂

    FAR 83
    BEC 81
    REG 75
    AUD 74 93

    FAR - 83
    BEC - 81
    AUD - 74,93
    REG - 75

    Becker Self Study & Becker Final Review

    #685312
    Lost1
    Participant

    LOL when I got my first manual I stalled my car in the middle of intersection and the light turned red. I was in panic mode and ended up burning my clutch like crazy it smelled so bad. Like all things, after practicing for a while, you will be able to do shifting/clutching without even thinking about it.

    Golf is a fun car. is it new? what year? The new ones look very nice. I wouldn't mind getting one but a little pricey.

    Congrats on a new ride. get into a good shifting habits – don't ride the clutch, don't rest your hand/arm on the shifter, etc.. – it will keep your clutch and tranny happy.

    "If you can do it, I can do it better."

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