Ok... how does one go about learning how to drive a manual? I'm thinking of getting a beater car like an old Escort to learn on. Good idea or not?

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Red 3.2 CL-S.
"Life is too short not to be Italian." -Paul Sorvino
"How do you expect your date to turn over if your engine doesn't?" -Original
Proud member of "I didn't hit the curb like a dope and scratch my rims" club.
http://www.farscape.com
http://www.amren.com

 

Not necessary. It only takes a day to practice and another day and you'll be fine. For the first day, you need an instructor in the car. Follow the instructions and you won't have any problems [with the gears]. Second day you'll be on your own, and still avoiding hills for about a week. That's it.

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* 2001 Acura CL Type S * Blk/Blk * Navigator * Spoiler * Moonroof Visor * V1 *
* Since 3/31/2000 *
* Road Warrior *

 

Its pretty easy to learn.

Your best off doing it alone so you dont get embarrased.

I learned on a Honda Passport and it took me about 1 night to get it good on flat ground.

After a few days in Albany (very hilly city) I had gotten the hills down.

So if I could do it on a big SUV wiht a shitty tranny... you can master it on a small car in no time.

My girl used ot have a manual Mazda MX3 and it was incredibly easy to drive.

But theres alot of tricks to driving manual that take instruction... things i never learned.

For the basic mechanics... try www.Learn2.com... they prolly have instruction for driving manual. They have instructions for picking your nose. lol

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2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type-S
San Marino Red (Navigation)
PIAA 19173 Ion Yellow Fogs • Valentine 1 • Xephyr CAI

"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity." -Albert Einstein

 

Practice, practice, practice! Learning to drive a stick isn't something that can be explained. Ideally, you'll want a good friend who can sit there quietly and give you tips when neccessary. But you just need to practice long enough for your brain to rewire itself. Then it becomes so automatic you don't even think about it, like breathing or chewing. The cool thing is that once you've got it, you'll probably never forget. After a year in my CL, I drove my friend's Prelude SH a couple of months ago and had no problem.

I would stay away from American cars or trucks. The gears can be hard to find. Try to learn in a Honda or Acura since throws tend to be short and easy to work. Then you just have practice not stalling on startup. Getting the car moving is the hardest part.

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2001 Silver 3.2CL Type S with Spoiler and Navi
Charter member of the Scratched Rim Club

 

In 1986, at age 19, I bought my first new car (a 1986 Camaro SC). It had a 5-speed and I had no clue how to drive a stick. My dad tought me all the procedures in a day and after another two days of practicing I was off on a 300-mile road trip.

It ain't rocket science.

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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi/No Spoiler
Competch springs
35% tint
PIAA 19169 bulbs
K&N 33-2178 air filter

The Aviation Zone

 

and once you got it down in about 1 or 2 days, it will be fun revving a gear, shifting and doing it all over again. one thing i hate about driving a manual is stop-and-go traffic up a hill -very annoying.

 

I never felt driving a manual was a chore, even in traffic. Maybe its because I only put about 20 hours in an auto (just long enough to get a license) before going stick. To me, its just part of driving. After 10 years of driving stick, I bought a CL-S in March 00. I love my car, but I can't wait to get back in a manual. I find autos annoying, even with the SS.

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2001 Silver 3.2CL Type S with Spoiler and Navi
Charter member of the Scratched Rim Club

 

http://www.learn2.com/06/0689/06893.asp

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_-Phil-_!
2K1 #10,029 Satin Silver CL-S since 6/13/00 named Laetitia with Navi! Mods : XEPHYR PERFORMANCE CAI~3M Reflective Tint(37%) tint~Hiper Hibrid Plasma "Xenon" road lamps & high-beams~Uniden LRD 6599SWS Radar Detector~Shine by Meguiar's Gold Wax~Member of the Scratched Rims Club~Upgraded cupholder ~

 

My Passat was the first car I bought and it was a manual. I knew the theory behind driving a manual but had no practice. So behind the wheel I got and drove out the dealership.

Obviously I stalled at the first light . It wasnt long before I had it down though. Necessity IS the mother of invention.

It's all about balancing the clutch and the gas (letting go off one while pressing down on the other).

Good luck !

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1992 VW Passat; 2.0L 134 hp 4-cyl; 5-speed; Single exhaust; Single engine; Wanna race ? ;-)

 

The deaf man says "I hear ya!" Anyway, if I deceide to get a beater, it'll be something cheap. Do they make manual Focuses (Foci?)?

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Red 3.2 CL-S.
"Life is too short not to be Italian." -Paul Sorvino
"How do you expect your date to turn over if your engine doesn't?" -Original
Proud member of "I didn't hit the curb like a dope and scratch my rims" club.
http://www.farscape.com
http://www.amren.com

 

Wait a sec. How do you drive a manual?
You really don't need lessons at all, unless your a klutz. This will date me but back in the day you just did it. You simply remembered the shift pattern and off you went. Except for my speedy 90bhp Porsche 914 every shift pattern (only 4 or 5 speed back then) started with clutch to first (up and to the left), then clutch to second, (straight down)....and repeat slightly more to the right for third. As others have said easy and natural. Heh heh Fred Gwynn might have "Utes"

The bear can get you sometimes fishing for reverse. Double clutch gets reverse better sometimes.

Don't fret it.

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"01" CL Type-S
White\Black
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Navigation System
Burlwood Shifter
Guards+Fenderwell Trim
PIAA16969
Smokers Package
My Car

 

Yes, as with most, if not all, 4-cylinder vehicles [fuel efficient].

Patrick

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2001 Black/Parchment Acura 3.2CL Type-S w/ Navi & spoiler
Current Mods: AEM CAI (red), Comptech headers & sway bars, Toyo Proxes T1-S 235/45ZR17 tires, 15% tint, PIAA 19169's, Infinity Perfect 12" subwoofer, Precision Power PC2600 amplifier, Monster Cable

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1673199&a=12830383&f=0&sp=0

 

Hardest part is start and stop. To start, you need to "feel" when the gears have engaged so you can let go of the clutch w/o stalling (and doing this in rush hour can be very annoying even nerve racking). Every car is slightly different, so you'll have to feel you way with it. Also, never downshift into first, but use downshifting to help slow you down. Saves wear and tear on your brakes. Downshifting is your friend (but not into 1st gear! very bad!) One day of practice, and you should have it down.

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2001 SAAB 9-3SE HOT

I couldn't think of anything clever to say.

 

Sure, it saves some wear and tear on your brakes, but what about the wear and tear on your clutch?

It's much cheaper and easier to change your brake pads than to change your clutch......



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99 M3
dead CL-S

Tom2: The Voice Of Reason

 

That’s pretty funny…..I don’t buy it.

I learned stick on an old Ford Escort back in 1985 and I lost count of how many times I stalled it before my friend who was teaching me would even let me out of the parking lot.

I think you need a good 1-2 hours practice in a large parking lot before you should safely hit the road.

I have taught about 4 or 5 people how to drive over the years.
I taught my sister how to drive on my Dodge Omni GLHS the week before she bought a Mitsubishi Eclipse.
She bought the car and I got to drive it off the lot because she was afraid of stalling it in front of the dealer.
After a half hour refresher in a nearby parking lot, she drove the rest of the way home.

Sorry, but anyone who tells you they jumped right in and drove away without stalling the car is FULL OF SHIT !!!!!

Shawn S


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Make me an offer….It’s FOR SALE when the 6-Speed MANUAL comes out !!!

2001 CL Type S - NAV - San Marino RED / Parchment - Spoiler - 35% Tint - Roof Visor - PIAA Lamps
GOLD Emblems & Grill - V1 w/remote - KICKER AMP w/(2) 10" Alumapro Subs - Xephyr CAI - Shine by ZAINO
For Photos see: PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 V1 & SUBS

 

Not really.....

You may think I'm full of shit too, but here's my story:

In 1987, I went down to the local Ford dealer and bought a brand new black Mustang GT. It was loaded, except for t-tops and automatic tranny. Instead, I got a sunroof and 5 speed.

I bought the car without even a test drive. I just had to have a Mustang and having an automatic tranny was not even an option!

I went down to the dealer with my father (who can drive stick shift) to pick up the car and he offered to drive it home for me. I told him, "No way.... I'm gonna drive this thing home. I just need you in the car with me in case I spaz out or something"

Well, I made it home without stalling once (and the dealership was about 10 miles from my house).

As a matter of fact, I was so worried about stalling, that I actually gave her too much gas a few times and spun the tires by accident! Hey, at least I didn't stall her

My Dad always laughs at this story. He figures that not many people have balls big enough to drive a brand new car home when they can't even drive it....

The rest is history-- I've never owned an automatic tranny car since, except for my CL-S. And now that it's gone, I don't think I ever will own another automatic again.......



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99 M3
dead CL-S

Tom2: The Voice Of Reason

 

Well, I’ve driven V8 Mustangs before and they are MUCH easier to NOT stall because they have so much torque available down low.

Maybe I’m mistaken on my original statement because my early experience with stick was with all 4-Cylinder cars with and without Turbo’s.
They are much more finicky when the REV’s aren’t there.

With about 300,000 miles of driving stick under my belt, I think I am PRETTY good at it.

Tom, you got enough people here telling you that you are FOS, so I guess you DON’T need to add me to the list.

Shawn S


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Make me an offer….It’s FOR SALE when the 6-Speed MANUAL comes out !!!

2001 CL Type S - NAV - San Marino RED / Parchment - Spoiler - 35% Tint - Roof Visor - PIAA Lamps
GOLD Emblems & Grill - V1 w/remote - KICKER AMP w/(2) 10" Alumapro Subs - Xephyr CAI - Shine by ZAINO
For Photos see: PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 V1 & SUBS

 

I think is makes a difference if you learn on FWD or RWD. FWD cars are much harder to get a smooth shift. If you let out the clutch too quickly and kill the revs it will nosedive like when you hit the front brake on a bicycle. Then the sudden lurch throws you off balance and makes it harder to modulate the throttle and clutch properly. I discovered this the first time I drove my friend's old POS Celica that was RWD. It was so easy! All of my experience had previously been in FWD cars.

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2001 Silver 3.2CL Type S with Spoiler and Navi
Charter member of the Scratched Rim Club

 

Hey, you can tell me that I'm FOS too

But that's my story, and I'm sticking to it

Like you said, those Mustangs had so much low end torque that they were easy to drive without stalling. Hell, you'd be more likely to spin the tires than to stall if you let the clutch out too quickly.....



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99 M3
dead CL-S

Tom2: The Voice Of Reason

 

This is how i've found it easiest to learn to drive a stick:

stop at any stoplight or stop sign so you know there is some pressure there. make sure your foot is all the way down on the clutch. slowly but surely floor the gas pedal while keeping your foot on the clutch. count to 3 really fast and let the clutch out really slow. you may smell something like burning rubber and hear a loud screeching noise. this is normal.


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'97 Black on Black leather, limo tint, chrome rims, built in radar detecter, clear corners, all hyperwhite bulbs one alpine Type R 12 w/MTX amp. Much, much more to come

 

you want to launch your car at an ideal amount of rpm's. for this you have to practice your launch. start at 2 grand (2000 rpms) then let the clutch outwhile keeping constant pressure on the gas. i don't know what kind of car you're learning to drive but if it starts to chug so to speak, more gas. if you can hear the engine more then you can hear it gripping, then you have too much gas.

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'97 Black on Black leather, limo tint, chrome rims, built in radar detecter, clear corners, all hyperwhite bulbs one alpine Type R 12 w/MTX amp. Much, much more to come

 

i made some WEIRD ass noises with my friends car when i was learning...it took me 30 minutes and then we hit the roads with cars...where i forgot how to get into first again..haha, it was funny, so many people laughing at us...ahh a memory...


Majeed (registered here) taught me actually.

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2001 CL-S
Black/Black
Moonroof Visor
35% Tint All Around
Black Wood Dash Kit
Sportswing spoiler
My Bitch
aka Deadly-CLs

 

the first (and last) 5-sp i drove was my sisters 89 gt, i actually pulled out in first ok, but we stopped 2 house down to talk to my father, and i laid down about 30 feet of rubber and got side ways trying to start again, this was the last manual i drove (i was 12 0r 13 years old), and now that i want to learn al my freinds have modified imports and no one will let me learn on there clutch



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2001 acura cl type-s
comming soon
2000 accord v6 sedan
1997 4runner
1992 camaro
1993 volvo 850
"THE GREATEST TRICK THE DEVIL EVER PULLED, WAS CONVINCING THE WORLD HE DIDN'T EXIST"

 

It is possible to drive off the lot w/o having any real practice.

I traded in my automatic in March for the 5spd I always wanted. I test drove the car with the salesman in the car with me on rt 22 in NJ. Prior to that, the only other time I had driven a manual was back in 1991-92 and only very little. I had the basic concept down so I knew what I needed to do. I bought the car two days later and drove it from Springfield, NJ up to my job in Clifton, NJ a distance of about 20 miles. On the highway it was no problem. It was starting up again that was the trick. I stalled out a couple of times but by the weekend, I had it down. The trick is driving and not letting the stall outs and screaching tires from discouraging you.

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2001 SAAB 9-3SE HOT

The UNBIASED voice of reason

 

...and don't forget you young'uns, that if your looking for a real old beater maybe you can find a car with a stick OFF THE COLUMN.

Yes sir. I drove two of those long ago. Great fun. I think one was a 63 Chevy or similar and its almost as much fun as off the floor.

And please there are many who DO just startup and drive using a stick. Coordination is necessary but damnit weren't all cars made long long ago mostly all stick?

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"01" CL Type-S
White\Black
Comptech Springs
Comptech Sways
Navigation System
Burlwood Shifter
Guards+Fenderwell Trim
PIAA16969
Smokers Package
My Car

 

Never said I didn't stall. I agree - it's not possible to not stall the first time you drive a stick shift.

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1992 VW Passat; 2.0L 134 hp 4-cyl; 5-speed; Single exhaust; Single engine; Wanna race ? ;-)

 

I know not to downshift into first but am not sure why. Anyone ?


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1992 VW Passat; 2.0L 134 hp 4-cyl; 5-speed; Single exhaust; Single engine; Wanna race ? ;-)

 

In most cars, 1st gear is such a short gear that if you are moving at any speed above 10-15 mph in another gear and then downshift into first, you'll over rev the engine, and the car will suddenly lurch trying to slow down.


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2001 SAAB 9-3SE HOT

The UNBIASED voice of reason

 

I always downshift on my CL to 2 to slow down .

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Black 2001 Acura CL-S W/Nav 20%,35% Tint, Polarg M6 lamps

Live To Drive!

 

I remember when I got my prelude SH, it was my first stick. I stalled it twice going to my parents house( 1/2 mile ). So I waited until midnight, struggled to get it to the mall parking lot to practice ( the only hard part is starting from a stop, finding that sweet spot on the clutch when it engages(disengages? - which is it, when you take your foot off the clutch, are you engaging or disengaging?) ), anyway, an hour or so later I was an ace!


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2001 Silver 3.2CLS
Mud guards, Spoiler, Comptech Springs, HW V1

 

Don’t try it if you’re not wearing a seatbelt or you will get a terrible headache as a result of your head hitting the windshield from the deceleration.

Shawn S


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Make me an offer….It’s FOR SALE when the 6-Speed MANUAL comes out !!!

2001 CL Type S - NAV - San Marino RED / Parchment - Spoiler - 35% Tint - Roof Visor - PIAA Lamps
GOLD Emblems & Grill - V1 w/remote - KICKER AMP w/(2) 10" Alumapro Subs - Xephyr CAI - Shine by ZAINO
For Photos see: PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 V1 & SUBS

 

I've experienced that first hand but does it harm the car in any way ?

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1992 VW Passat; 2.0L 134 hp 4-cyl; 5-speed; Single exhaust; Single engine; Wanna race ? ;-)

 

It's easy. Get in. Start the car. Depress the clutch. Put the transmission 1 notch forward. Rev to about 5 grand and move your foot aside off the clutch. All your problems will disappear.

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01 CL-S NightHawk Black/Ebony Bowling Ball Interior

 

in a cloud of smoke!


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2001 Silver 3.2CL Type S with Spoiler and Navi
Charter member of the Scratched Rim Club

 

Most likely! I actually did that in a '60 Chevy Impala 2 door coupe. I only revved to about 3 grand. It took at the transimission, (all three gears) rear end, and threw a tooth throught the rear end housing. Oops!

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01 CL-S NightHawk Black/Ebony Bowling Ball Interior