phile

Can't you just buy her a Kia?

Minch00

TypeSAddict

OH yea, the local one that I went to was primarily meant to train kids to drive before their road test, but they did lessons for MT too upon request. My high school even did an adult ed program for driving stick. I'd imagine there has to be something similiar to that in Indiana http://www.indstate.edu/driver/adult_drivered.htm

You could probably hire an instructor from a program like the one above to do private lessons on MT. Good luck

Chaptorial

Do it Scrib.

Auto's are the shit.

And you know this one won't

TypeSAddict

proaudio22

Eh I've come to believe cheap autos (IE under $50-60K) just plain suck. They can't take a joke and they don't have enough sense to know what you are doing. Trust me, the more expensive autos are great, and I wouldn't mind having one - but the cheaper ones are nothing like them. Drive an AMG car for 30 mins and you'll see what I mean. I thought I hated the idea of the stick - and you can find posts by my to that tune here from a while back - but I have done a total 180 since then. Manual or bust.

Scrib, what about having her read some info from a good site online? My dad taught me the basics when I was first learning how to drive and he tried to teach my sis the same thing, but her problem was she didn't get the concept at all. I sat down with her and sorta drew it out scientifially how it all worked and she was able to get the concept.

CLASSYCLS

exactly my point, I tried to teach my girlfriend how to drive stick, what a disaster I want her to know in case of emergency, so we tried it out. Went to an empty lot, started out in 1st, after 15 times stalling out, she got it to go then stalled again! You have to be very calm and it takes time, but damn am I glad she is learning this in my 05 RSX-S instead of a G and the fact that I will be returning this RSX-S soon for something else and has to be auto sadly to say! Having stick is fun but damn it does get annoying at times.

Scrib, if you want to take a little trip to NY, you can teach her in my RSX-S, it's a lease, so have fun!

EZZ

The problem might be that the G35 clutch is really hard to learn on if you are a first time manual driver. Check out G35driver and you'll see that many people thought it was a difficult manual to get used to. The clutch engagement is really high (if you didn't adjust it) and its hard to get it smooth (unlike most Hondas). I personally didn't like how the clutch felt (but thought the shifter was great). In my great laziness, I settled on the auto and most of the time, don't regret it BTW, the auto in this car is probably the single most expensive item in the car and it IS NOT CHEAP. It was stolen from the Q45 parts bin and very very robust (developed for over 330 ft/lbs of torque). Several supercharged auto G35s haven't had any problems yet.

98CLChick

Definitely see if you can get someone else to teach her. It would be well worth it.

My dad gave me about a 20 min lesson on how to drive a stick, and after that, I was on my own. Yes, it freaked me out when I stalled in traffic, but I got the hang of it pretty quick. It's been over a year since I got the car and I've gotten pretty good. Manual over an auto any day.

evilone

^^^ my kinda laidy

Zapata

buy a beater..less than $700 and teach her on that. That's what i did with my woman.

anothercls

I had driven a 4th gen lude for about an hour and then I bought my car a few months later, I learned that night. I have a lot of patience and have taught a few people to drive on my CLS. I would definately not trade my car if the person I am with has all four limbs and can learn.

Maybe send her to BMW beginner racing school.....she might really enjoy that and you'll always need a manual.

Infamous425

sucks for you. my gf was actually the one who taught me to drive stick after she rode my stick.

Hobo

whats the ebrake trick, i just taught myself with a few pointer from dad, and this wasnt included but i worry about rolling back in to someone on the steeper hills.

Scrib

Apply the e-brake, and begin to go through the steps like you were to roll off the line in first. Reach the point where the car would normally roll (without the e-brake), and you release the e-brake... You'll start rolling forward, not backwards...

Hobo

thats what i figured

darrinb

i get my manual lessons this spring, i think i'll catch on quick

Scrib

So I was out driving yesterday on my way to my Dad's for some lunch. And I just opened the car up... Hard into the turns (the Pirelli snows handle very well )... Hard out of the turns.

And I realized...

I can't get rid of this car. It's just too fun to drive.

I'll figure something out. I'm going to call the drivers training schools around here. I know they give private lessons. Question is... Private "manual" lessons?

We'll see.

darrinb

^^^

why waste money

teach her your self

Nicky Pass

You are one of the only guys I know that WANTS thier wife to drive thier car!!!!

thealliance15

get her private lessons cause u dont want her messin with ur clutch when learning. shell catch on quick if she nows the basic concepts of when to change gears and how.

Scrib

I have ZERO patience.

I'd rather spend a couple hundred bucks to have someone teach her and NOT be there versus going through the pain and agony first hand.

Scrib

I don't "want" her to drive it, but she needs to know how to drive. In case of an emergency, etc.

Crazy Bimmer

MAMA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

applesplatter

that's how i learned ... after a quick lesson, i got thrown into traffic ... stalling out and horns blaring at you will help you learn quickly!

SanJoseRoller

Dont dump your stick for an auto "force her to learn your ways" you'll regret it every time you drive it if you swap for an auto.

Shawn S

See....we knew you weren't crazy

PS… No comments on my detailed instructional post back on page 2

Scrib

I apologize... It's not like I didn't read it or anything. :P

The fact is I've tried something very similar. She just needs more practice. And I need a ton more patience. Hence my desire to maybe find a professional to take the teach role.

This isn't the best time of year to get her in the car to learn either... Then again, it was close to 60 here on Friday.

GreenMonster

Maybe you know someone she can practice with that has more patience ??

When I was going for my learners permit (back in the old days ), I couldn't practice with my Dad. My Mom had the patience, but I did scare her a couple of times