It takes a day about. once you get used to it, you're good. Be careful on hill starts, though

 

 

Start with the clutch and, at first, don't let out fast, you'll stall. Release clutch over a couple of seconds while throttling maybe 15-25%. Be smooth and easy, you're not trying to race yet. Just get it rolling. Also, don't worry about downshifting at first... Because $$$ could happen if you can't feel where the gears are. P.S., only drove one manual a few times, four years ago. It was a POS 1996 Suzuki Sidekick.

 

I learned back in 1977; a friend was selling his car and promised he'd teach me how to drive a stick before I drove home. Unfortunately at the last minute he landed a hot date; I gave him the money, he gave me the keys and title, and he split.

I knew enough to put the car in neutral, rolled it down the hill where there was an empty parking lot, and then practiced for an hour or so before I drove home.

Long story short, yes, you can easily learn to drive a stick in a day.

 

Cool story, Horseshoez.

 

Totes can

 

Before I actually bought my first manual, my mom had a miata and she took me out and I was driving it around in less than an hour, this was when I was 16. Got my first manual at 18 right before I went to college and I had hills & everything else figured out in about a day. Plus the RSX is a pretty easy manual to drive, so unless someone put a heavier clutch set up in it, it will be fairly easy to figure out.

 

Been driving manual transmission cars for the past 21 years. Every car I've owned since I was 16 has been manual and will always keep one in the stable.

You can pick it up in a day, but I'll be honest it takes several days to get comfortable with it. Biggest advice is to Not panic! You will stall at a light, you will miss a gear or two, you will forget to depress the clutch and cut off when stopping. People will honk, speed around you, etc. Don't stress out, take a deep breath, sync the clutch and start her back up again.

Last tip, timing is everything, so as a previous poster mentioned, take your time. Dump the clutch, car will stall... Riding the clutch will burn it up. I taught my 3 nieces and nephew to drive manual transmission last summer and lost a clutch in the process lol, but all is well and 2 are experts now.

 

I taught both daughters in 30 minutes, on a large empty parking lot.

Critical 1st step...Be able to control the gas pedal. Be able to change rpm between 1000 & 2000 effortlessly, before touching the clutch pedal. So they sat there pressing the gas, in neutral, for 10 minutes.

Step 2. In 1st gear ease out the clutch slowly and control the rpm at 2000. Repeat for 5 minutes.

 

I learned in a 2 hours when I was 12 years old. Drove on a big farm. But I had dirt bikes so was familiar with a clutch and gears. Can you ride a motorcycle? Practice in the parking lot of large shopping mall after hours.

 

I know this is an old thread, revived, but I learned how on the way to take my first license test. I got a 97 B-T-W up hill left turn from a stop, rolled back a few inches.

 

That's damn good!!