I got my tC last Saturday and it's my first stick car! I've been practicing around the block and actually took it out onto the streets late late tonight. I'm very nervous and scared about driving it I'm almost so scared of messing it up. I don't stall as much as I used to, but I still stall quite a bit. Tonight when I took it out, I stalled at least 3-4 times. I panic when cars are behind me : / . For some reason when I stop, it takes me sooo long to get going again. I hate stop signs when a passion now. I go to a complete stop in neutral, shift into first and go again but it takes sooo long. I dread the day wehn I have to drive it on a road full of cars. Right turns scare me especially on an incline. I wish stick was easier!

 

lol. I was the same way when I was learning. And I'm sure that goes for most of the people here w/ stick. You'll get it. It takes practice. And you won't break your car.

....Unless you have both the gas and clutch to the floor at the same time. That'll probably break the tranny..

I'm pretty sure there is a website that helps to teach you how to drive a manual. Hopefully somebody else can hook you up with that. You'd be surprised how much you learn by just knowing how the transmission, gas, and clutch all work together.

 

hey 'gamer...don't worry, it will definitely get easier. just keep practicing like you have been, stay calm and you're gonna be fine. try to focus on a smooth transition between your clutch and throttle while you are practicing. at slower speeds...if you feel some jerking, just calmly press the clutch to smooth things out.

you may not think so now...but i'll bet in about a week or so, it will start feeling more natural and not too long after that, you won't even be thinking about it. just enjoy learning about your tC and i'll bet one day you'll be typing up a post like this for another young manual driver.

you made a great choice by going with the 5spd manual...i made that choice with my first car 16 years ago and i have never looked back after 4 different vehicles.


remember...stay calm and smile...you bought a tC!

 

I used to start in 2nd gear from a stop when I first started driving a stick. It helped quite a bit.

 

As time goes by you will learn a lot of things. Been driving stick like 3 years now, and with this car I learned a few things more, than with my other car. Eclipse 98 w blown 5th gear, and hard to put 1st gear. Now that's hard to learn w, never fixed the problem. I had to start on 2nd, plus driving in the city, I stalled WAAY too many time, Just imagine that and having to start in second because the clutch was due.

 

I remember when I was like that, but now Iam so use to it that Iam already in 5th gear before I even realize it sometimes lol! I shift at like 2k!

 

^^ sounds like you're still learning...

 

after about 2-3 weeks... you'll get used to it.

 

You'll be fine, I did a little bit of learning on my Dad's WRX and the tC is SOOO much easier to drive w/ the stick. Just don't do what I did, and stall out 6 times at a stop sign because I was in 3rd gear and didn't realize it.

 

I'm considering doing what you are doing (buy a 5spd even though I've never driven one)... maybe if you drive with a friend who knows stick it might help out a bit

And I saw this website posted in another thread like this, it might help out a bit, I've already read it but I have yet to actually try applying any of it : http://www.standardshift.com/faq.html

 

heck, even starting in 3rd if you let off slow enough and give the right amount of throttle, the tC can still get up and go without stalling.

I was always too fast with releasing the clutch. Just release slowly :D

 

Hey gamer i got a tC 5 speed manual about a month ago and before that i had never driven a stick either. I was the same way as you are right now, i was afriad to touch the car because i loved it so much i didnt want to break it. I had my dad ride with me the first few times i went out around the block with it and after about 2 weeks of driving on my own i wasnt as scared anymore. It just takes time and patience to learn. What i did to help me learn to get going from a stop is i went into a subdivision and kept on stopping and shifting into first and trying to get going again all the way down the road. After about 15 minutes of that the rest was easy. Hope you like your new tC!

 

Hey Gamer, you've received a lot of good advise from others in this post. The only other thing I can add is, take your time and don't worry about anybody else behind you. If you stall, no worries, try again. EVERYBODY (who has driven a stick) has been there. Just take your time and relax. You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Just a little FYI, I've been driving for 11 yrs. now (5 cars stick, 1 car auto), and every once in a while I still stall. Just take your time and relax.

(funny story)
I remember it was one of my first times driving alone and I was just driving to the grocery store. Got there with no problems. On the way back, I had to go through a busy intersection on a slight hill with a stop sign. As I was waiting for a clear momment to cross, I noticed an old man pull up behind me. My time to cross came, and I stalled. I started my truck up again and waited for another chance to cross. 2nd chance came around, and I stalled again. Feeling pressure to hurry up and go, I start my truck yet again, and then I hear honking. The old man behind me started going to town w/ his horn. So, being the kid I am, I started honking my horn too. I was honking for a good five seconds or so, and noticed another chance for me to cross. I took the next opportunity as if I had been driving for years. Smooth transition of clutch to gas. By the time I got to the other side I was laughing my ___ off at what I did.

 

i dont have a stick yet, but will, my Q is i can do everythign well except start going from a stop. I have never really had any instruction on how to do that, can somone tell me the proper way to get going froma a stop?

 

when you stall arent you suppose to put your hazards on to alert the people behind you?

 

OK.. All great things said by people, and practice is really the only way to get it well. I can remember learning to drive on a Turbo Talon with a stage 3 clutch that had NO play. Man, I was lucky that my buddy was there to teach me through it.

The one BIG thing that you need to remember is that the clutch is not an On/Off mechanism. You can feel your way through it, that is with the stock clutch. You will ride it a little when you first are learning, and the worst thing that can happen is that you will need to buy a new clutch sooner. Just keep practicing in parking lots and such, you will get it.

 

I wouldn't recommend doing that much if you like your transmition.

 

Good motivation.
Everybody starts off the same way bro..
I say confront your fears and practice the stops & goes (and yes @ stop signs )...
Elevated stop & goes are a little more complicated though, so I say for the beginner use the ebrake (so you won't slide back and hit the person behind you) until you feel it catch, than release the ebrake....

 

well the best way to get going at the street light is to rev it up to about 4k and drop the clutch. just hold on to that steeringwheel though the car will pull. oh yea and the tires tend to wear out fast so you may need to rotate

 

I was like that at first too. I have driven stick cars in the past so i new sorta what i was doing But that was for like one trip not full on everyday driving. The tC is my first daily driver stick car. I was scared at first then about after an hour of driving i got the hang of it, i only stalled two time the first night because i was adjusting...i really havent stalled since.

It just takes practice and patience. But you cannot be afraid of driving when other cars are on the road, otherwise your going to get no where Just dont freak out, the worst someone is gonna do is honk at you, who cares take your time don't rush, after awhile you'll be pro.