Learning to drive stick

wasiu0607 · 12-10-2006, 02:56 PM

Hey, I was wondering what the most effecient way of learning to drive stick is, other than borrowing a friend's car? Do Enterprise and all those car rent-a-car companies have manual cars? Anyone tried renting one for a day and using it to learn to drive stick?

**Silver8th** · 12-10-2006, 03:11 PM

Moved to the Garage Forum

BATANG CITY JAIL · 12-10-2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasiu0607

Hey, I was wondering what the most effecient way of learning to drive stick is, other than borrowing a friend's car? Do Enterprise and all those car rent-a-car companies have manual cars? Anyone tried renting one for a day and using it to learn to drive stick?

thay dont have manual for rent...

***Special Ringpop*** · 12-10-2006, 03:58 PM

Seriously? I didn't know Enterprise doesn't rent manuals.

Best bet would to be to find a friend with a beater car with a stick.

BATANG CITY JAIL · 12-10-2006, 04:32 PM

^^ id try that b4..thay have rx-8's for rent so i stop by and look at it..then ask the sales person if thay have a manual, they said any rental car company don't have a manual that for rent...

***fuller083*** · 12-10-2006, 04:39 PM

Enterprise DOES rent out manuals.... I was in San Antonio for all of last week and they rented me out a Chevy Cobalt SS/SC MT.. I wouldn't recommend going there though to rent a car and practice on it. Go with a friend that has an older, but not junkier MT and learn on it. Watch them, then see if you can try. You'll be doing it in no time... Guarantee it..

***Special Ringpop*** · 12-10-2006, 04:50 PM

Driving in a car with a friend who drives stick, and having them explain it to you before hand really does help.

Granted, learning stick is all about practice, but it does help having a prior knowledge on what to do before trying.

***ohiocivicracer*** · 12-10-2006, 05:29 PM

my buddy just got a FIT and he got it stick, Honda taught him how to drive stick, they took him out 4 times before he got his car or anything.

J Nez · 12-10-2006, 05:38 PM

OT: you can rent a lotus elise in an enterprise in orange county

BATANG CITY JAIL · 12-10-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuller083

Enterprise DOES rent out manuals.... I was in San Antonio for all of last week and they rented me out a Chevy Cobalt SS/SC MT.. I wouldn't recommend going there though to rent a car and practice on it. Go with a friend that has an older, but not junkier MT and learn on it. Watch them, then see if you can try. You'll be doing it in no time... Guarantee it..

why not recommend it?

and a sales person who told me that. and i didn't find any manual car to rent... and i guess they have cobalts becoz its cheaper to fixed than the rx-8's..

wasiu0607 · 12-10-2006, 07:39 PM

Well im not completely unfamiliar with driving stick, I just want to get the feeling first before I get a stick car. None of my friends have a beater car. I dont want to mess up their car either

.

Dixon Toudeap · 12-10-2006, 07:52 PM

if your thinking of getting a MT Civic id recommend learning on one...or at least a car with Drive-By-Wire and REALLY soft clutch. Ive driven MT for years, but when i got my 06 civic it was like "learning all over again" with this damn DBW.

***letsgoflyers81*** · 12-10-2006, 07:56 PM

I called Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, etc. about finding a rental with manual transmission. I can't say no one in the country will allow you to rent one, but I couldn't find one. In the end, I had to find people willing to let me practice on their cars. Once I was somewhat competent I took a Civic and Fit for test drives, both manuals. If I couldn't find people to let me drive their cars, I would have gone the beater route. You can find a running car that will suit your needs for a few hundred bucks on Craigslist. Once your done, just sell it and it probably won't end up costing you much in the end.

TJ213 · 12-10-2006, 11:33 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about messing up a car, just be careful (try not to mis-shift.)

I learned on my dad's 6 month old s2k, no problems (yet)

I'm still the only one to take it past 6k rpm

On the DBW issue I personally had no problem driving the new Si when the only other manual I've driven is the s2k, just a littly touchy from a stop.

MutantCheese · 12-10-2006, 11:42 PM

Stick is the only way to go. I'd go to the dealership and ask if I purchased a new stick if they could give me a few lessons.

otherwise, Dive in and just get in there and try until you get the hang of it. These new civics have the most forgiving clutchs i have ever driven.

BATANG CITY JAIL · 12-11-2006, 12:28 AM

its really easy to drive a stick..just dive your car for a day.

radiocontrolhead · 12-11-2006, 01:17 AM

The best way to learn stick is to know what the car is doing when the clutch is depressed, the rpms raise/drop, and when the shift gates are open/closed.

In general terms, understand how it works and you'll drive it in no time.

www.howstuffworks.com should give you a quick jump start.

blackdragoon · 12-11-2006, 09:10 AM

Learning on the new Civic is pretty good.

My friend's dad taught me for about an hour (2 years ago) and I didn't get a chance to drive stick again until I got my Si last month. The Civic is very forgiving.

If you're just a bit rusty and stuff, just go to the dealer and take a test drive of any Civic. You'll get the hang of it again in no time.

edciv · 12-11-2006, 10:11 AM

i learned when i was 15. i watched my father drive once around the block. and got in the seat.. didn't stall once.. the easiest way to do it if you have half a brain is to watch someone do it. dont' even watch the tach just watch their feet as their lifting their foot off the throttle down on the clutch then back on the throttle and off the clutch.. once you feel the car while the driver is doing that.. you know how it should go.. don't be too eager to lift your left foot off the clutch though as many people are, thats when the stalling and bucking starts.. good luck

RealDeal · 12-11-2006, 02:24 PM

I have taught 3 different girls how to drive a stick. The way that I do it is to have them in a parking lot and learn where the car starts to move when lifting up the clutch and when it gets enough speed, to completely let off the clutch and then they're at idle. From there is just a matter of how to shift, which is the easy part. The rest comes from experience.

12-10-2006, 02:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
wasiu0607 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 103 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Learning to drive stick Hey, I was wondering what the most effecient way of learning to drive stick is, other than borrowing a friend's car? Do Enterprise and all those car rent-a-car companies have manual cars? Anyone tried renting one for a day and using it to learn to drive stick?

12-10-2006, 03:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Silver8th Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 6,639 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Moved to the Garage Forum __________________

12-10-2006, 05:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
*ohiocivicracer* VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mentor, Ohio Age: 21 Posts: 1,245 Kevin iTrader: 2 / 100%	my buddy just got a FIT and he got it stick, Honda taught him how to drive stick, they took him out 4 times before he got his car or anything. __________________ FIJI Crew # 3 Sexy6Speed: jump in ur shocker machine with mad vtakk

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12-10-2006, 03:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
*Special Ringpop* VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 21 Posts: 6,599 Name: Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	Seriously? I didn't know Enterprise doesn't rent manuals. Best bet would to be to find a friend with a beater car with a stick.

12-10-2006, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
BATANG CITY JAIL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Durham, NC..£╖╒◙o├æ Posts: 8,306 iTrader: 10 / 100%	^^ id try that b4..thay have rx-8's for rent so i stop by and look at it..then ask the sales person if thay have a manual, they said any rental car company don't have a manual that for rent...

12-10-2006, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
*fuller083* VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Valdosta, Ga Age: 24 Posts: 456 Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	Enterprise DOES rent out manuals.... I was in San Antonio for all of last week and they rented me out a Chevy Cobalt SS/SC MT.. I wouldn't recommend going there though to rent a car and practice on it. Go with a friend that has an older, but not junkier MT and learn on it. Watch them, then see if you can try. You'll be doing it in no time... Guarantee it..

12-10-2006, 04:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
*Special Ringpop* VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 21 Posts: 6,599 Name: Mike iTrader: 0 / 0%	Driving in a car with a friend who drives stick, and having them explain it to you before hand really does help. Granted, learning stick is all about practice, but it does help having a prior knowledge on what to do before trying.

12-10-2006, 05:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
J Nez Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the IE, socal Age: 26 Posts: 49 iTrader: 0 / 0%	OT: you can rent a lotus elise in an enterprise in orange county

12-10-2006, 07:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
wasiu0607 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 103 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Well im not completely unfamiliar with driving stick, I just want to get the feeling first before I get a stick car. None of my friends have a beater car. I dont want to mess up their car either .

12-10-2006, 07:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dixon Toudeap Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 126 iTrader: 0 / 0%	if your thinking of getting a MT Civic id recommend learning on one...or at least a car with Drive-By-Wire and REALLY soft clutch. Ive driven MT for years, but when i got my 06 civic it was like "learning all over again" with this damn DBW.

12-10-2006, 07:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
*letsgoflyers81* Nacho Cheese! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lansdale, PA Age: 26 Posts: 1,347 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I called Enterprise, Budget, Hertz, etc. about finding a rental with manual transmission. I can't say no one in the country will allow you to rent one, but I couldn't find one. In the end, I had to find people willing to let me practice on their cars. Once I was somewhat competent I took a Civic and Fit for test drives, both manuals. If I couldn't find people to let me drive their cars, I would have gone the beater route. You can find a running car that will suit your needs for a few hundred bucks on Craigslist. Once your done, just sell it and it probably won't end up costing you much in the end.

12-10-2006, 11:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
TJ213 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Age: 18 Posts: 3,044 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I wouldn't worry too much about messing up a car, just be careful (try not to mis-shift.) I learned on my dad's 6 month old s2k, no problems (yet) I'm still the only one to take it past 6k rpm On the DBW issue I personally had no problem driving the new Si when the only other manual I've driven is the s2k, just a littly touchy from a stop.

12-10-2006, 11:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
MutantCheese Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Edge of Insanity Age: 39 Posts: 3,087 '06 Si Coupe NBP Full HFP iTrader: 0 / 0%	Stick is the only way to go. I'd go to the dealership and ask if I purchased a new stick if they could give me a few lessons. otherwise, Dive in and just get in there and try until you get the hang of it. These new civics have the most forgiving clutchs i have ever driven.

12-11-2006, 12:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
BATANG CITY JAIL Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Durham, NC..£╖╒◙o├æ Posts: 8,306 iTrader: 10 / 100%	its really easy to drive a stick..just dive your car for a day.

12-11-2006, 01:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
radiocontrolhead Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, ca Age: 21 Posts: 2,324 Danny iTrader: 0 / 0%	The best way to learn stick is to know what the car is doing when the clutch is depressed, the rpms raise/drop, and when the shift gates are open/closed. In general terms, understand how it works and you'll drive it in no time. www.howstuffworks.com should give you a quick jump start.

12-11-2006, 09:10 AM	#18 (permalink)
blackdragoon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 167 Jon iTrader: 0 / 0%	Learning on the new Civic is pretty good. My friend's dad taught me for about an hour (2 years ago) and I didn't get a chance to drive stick again until I got my Si last month. The Civic is very forgiving. If you're just a bit rusty and stuff, just go to the dealer and take a test drive of any Civic. You'll get the hang of it again in no time.

12-11-2006, 10:11 AM	#19 (permalink)
edciv Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Jersey Age: 21 Posts: 612 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i learned when i was 15. i watched my father drive once around the block. and got in the seat.. didn't stall once.. the easiest way to do it if you have half a brain is to watch someone do it. dont' even watch the tach just watch their feet as their lifting their foot off the throttle down on the clutch then back on the throttle and off the clutch.. once you feel the car while the driver is doing that.. you know how it should go.. don't be too eager to lift your left foot off the clutch though as many people are, thats when the stalling and bucking starts.. good luck

12-11-2006, 02:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
RealDeal Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 157 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I have taught 3 different girls how to drive a stick. The way that I do it is to have them in a parking lot and learn where the car starts to move when lifting up the clutch and when it gets enough speed, to completely let off the clutch and then they're at idle. From there is just a matter of how to shift, which is the easy part. The rest comes from experience.