Difficulty for a first-time stick driver?
 

Ok.. So I know I'll probably get shit for this, but I have never driven a stick car. Ever. I've been in a few, and observed the drivers rowing through the gears, but I've never done it myself. The reason behind this post is that I have pretty much given up finding a used Crown Vic that I like. I keep being outbid on the ones in good condition, and I'm getting tired of it. Long story short, I've been looking at '09 Mustangs. The one's that I like only come with 5 speeds though, so I would need to learn how to drive stick. I've always wanted to learn , but now I have an actual reason to do it. I was planning on having my sister rent a stick car since she has owned them before, then have her take me to a deserted area to learn. I was just looking for any helpful hints/lessons learned from you guys :) TIA.

The only kind of Mustang worth having is a 5-spd IMHO. <- I'll probably get shit for that statement from mustangrn & blacksunshine, but it's true.

The best way to learn a stick is probably in some kind of a small car, I learned to drive a 5 speed in an '85 Celica. lmao! Most smaller cars require less or even no use of the accelerator pedal to get moving so you'll have less of a chance of stalling the car.

The best advice I can give is just to be smooth, with the car in first gear release the clutch very slowly for the first couple of times with just a little gas, then start figuring out how to use the gas pedal and release the clutch faster. My brother taught me how to drive a stick and the first thing he did was park the car on a steep incline and had me start there, that will teach you even faster how to properly engage the clutch. I'd say the hardest part about learning to drive a 5 speed is getting both feet and your arm moving together at the same time. It takes a little getting used to, but it's worth it.

Good luck! :)

Yeah, learn on a 4 banger, then a V8 will be easy as pie.

i would recommend like said earlier learn on a 4-banger,
i learned driving my grandpa's 29 Model T with three on the floor... (really hard to learn to shift it properly) compared to that truck, everything else i have driven has been a piece of cake...

First time I ever drove something with a manaul trans is when I got my motorcycle license at 17. Then with a car. It isn't bad, and with practice it becomes habit.

You guys think I will be able to get the hang of it with an hour or so of rental car action? I'm usually a quick learner, especially when it comes to things that interest me.

Start by not using the gas at all. The most important thing to learn is the point where the clutch begins to engage. Once you learn that it will get easier and easier.

You will be able to get the basics.
Just rememeber it's better to smoke the tires at a light than to stall out.

pffft start on a 4 banger? Start on a v8 car, way eaiser to drive and way harder to stall that a honda civic.

Once I knew the concept behind it I taught myself in about 15 min. it just takes a bit of getting used to after that to get good at it I reccomend trying in a wide open parking lot so you will want to find somebody that can drive a stick and get them to take you there

automatics are great for keeping your purse right next to you while your driving.

i learned to drive stick on my old z06. my mustang and old c5 were both automatics.

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The only way to truely enjoy a sports car is to have a stick shift. Automatics are so boring.

I'm not going to give you shit, because it's your opinion. It all boils down to personal preference. I love my automatic. I work in a downtown area where there is a light at literally every block. I don't want to get stuck shifting through all that shit. I prefer to let my automatic do the work for me because I am lazy.

I cannot stand when people say that automatics are boring, because again, that is personal preference. I have just as much fun driving my auto as someone else does driving their stick. When I want to stomp it, I don't worry about missing a gear. I just stomp and steer, easy as pie. People also forget that the automatic is a 5 speed and I can hand shift mine as well.

Hey, hey, now! Watch that shit! I keep my purse in the backseat! :p

I learned in a rented v8 U-hual and it was awesome and super hard to stall so it made it easier for me considering I was only 12 or 13 years old. Thanks to our giant parking lot at my parents business in the keys. I got to practice driving at a young age. Also why I got hooked on cars so young.

My old GT was a 5 speed stick, and that thing was fun as hell... My new one is a 5 speed auto.. and it's fun as hell. Living in houston is a PITA, and anyone who has ever driven here in texas in either dallas or DT houston knows how much you have to sit and wait... The stick drove me nuts in stop and go traffic.
Besides, never missing shifts is nice as hell lol.

So exactly how nice and fun is hell?

its hella nice and hella fun

driving stick is easy, the hard part is to stop and start on hills becouse you dont want to roll back in to the other people once you get that its all good.

I learned on my brothers 4 banger. My dad took me to a highschool parking lot, and told me some basics. Then he said go for it. So far both cars i have owned have been manuals. I love them, but you guys are right some times its a PITA to drive in stop and go traffic.

My dad kinda taught me once when I first got my license, but didn't really get the hang of it. When I got my 98 eclipse, I pretty much learned then. Drove it off the lot and never stalled the thing. It's really not that hard.

Worst time ever to have a stick is at the woodward car cruise. But it makes it worth it when your being followed by a for GT and following a brand new GT500.

i learned the basics in my father-in-law's old dodge ram, and when i got my stang i had to learn the rest by just taking it out and driving it. i had problems with hills and stop and go traffic. but after a little while i stopped stalling it and got the hang of it all. now i just don't even think about it, it's become habit. i'll drive my wife's auto malibu, and out of habit i'll put my foot down for the clutch and it won't be there. lol..

LOL! I do that just about every other day.. :p I'll drive the Mustang one day then get in the Stratus or My Fiance's sixxer and the first thing I do is try to push the clutch. It tricks me..

ppppffffffffff.
i learned manual in our pepsi transport diesles with a 28 ft trailer hooked up.

I learned on a dirtbike, then a small 4 banger nissan 79 model lol. Now i can drive almost ANY stick

That is how my dad touch me how to drive a 5 speed. Disengage the clutch with zero throttle at all. It was hard considering I was 13 and it was the first car i ever drove, It was a 97 mustang cobra with a king cobra clutch OMG!! Ever since i have driven 5 speeds autos is to boring.

really?lol

Awkward.

haha..i have the same problem when in get into a car, but not a truck.

i learned on a 1996 honda civic that my friend used to have. when i bought the stang, it was actually easier than the civic because i could feel the clutch engage and it had more torque which made it easier.

Lol, this is easier for me then just starting at a dead stop on level ground for some reason..I always jerk the fuck out of the car from letting the clutch out too quick. :rolleyes:

But the hills I have no problems with, it's weird.

I learned how to drive a standard by stealing my moms Mercury Lynx in the middle of the night. When my dad took me out to drive, he was rather amazed at how quick I caught on. LOL

Every single mile I travel is in a standard, as both my DD and the Mustang are 5 speeds...and I wouldn't have it any other way. The only way I'd want an automatic was an all-out drag car.

The best advice I could give is go somewhere that is NOT busy, preferrably with a hill. You gotta learn the friction point of whatever you're driving. Like 3.8 FTW said, you will eventually find yourself on a hill with someone right on your ass.

It's all about seat time.

i learned to drive manual on a tractor at lackland afb but ive come to learn that if you can drive a standard mustang you can drive a freaking standard anything

UPDATE
 

Turns out that not a single company around here rents manual cars :(. I even tried calling local driving schools for help, but none of them were able to help me. As a last ditch effort, I mentioned my issue to the dealership where the car I want to buy is located. Who knows.. Maybe they will help me out if they know that I am intent on buying it.

mustangrn knows this story. So, a lady in our local club wanted a mustang...... She went out and bought a new Roush track pack, but there was one little problem. She didn't know how to drive a stick. She literally had to have someone drive the car home for her and she's been learning with that thing ever since. Not exactly the preferred method to learn a stick, but whatever works. lol

if you know some one who can drive it buy the car and have them drive you and the car back and then learn on it.

Audi- Hell, I don't live too far away. Go get a GT 500, and I will be glad to offer some free driving lessons. I'll even buy the gas. :pepper:

LOL. And that is a good point 3.8. My sister can drive stick, so I could just have her drive it to a parking lot to do some testing.

To make things even better is IF you screw up too bad and fuck your new ride up. You can take it back to the dealer and let em fix it under warranty! LOL.

In all seriousnes though. One little piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT let yourself get into the habbit of leaving your left foot "riding" on top of the clutch pedal in between shifts. Yeah I know your only in first gear for a few seconds and all, Its just best not to do it. Your foot setting on the clutch pedal OVER TIME can cause the clutch to fail is why I say this.

And I recomend learning in a V8 too. My '02 GT feels really torquey and I hardly apply any throttle at all starting from a dead stop. These little tricks wont take too long to learn, its not much too it really. Before long you will have the "hill start" mastered and instinctively know what gear you need when taking turns, corners, and down shifts too.

I wish you luck too man. Dont let this scare your from ever doing it. Manual cars are a pain and a blast all at the same time. Have fun with it.

Thanks. Do stick Mustangs have a dead pedal? I can't find any clear pics of the drivers footwell to look at..

Yes they have a dead pedal.