how long did it take me to learn to drive stick?....

 

Getting the basics down takes something between a few hours and a week. Getting good at it... a bit longer. I've been fortuned enough to be in a family with both auto and manual scion tc. When I got my license (16) I drove the auto for about 6months to get used to the road etc. and after that on the weekends I started driving the manual with my dad. According to him the scion isn't the easiest manual to learn on, but I did. And yes, getting the car to start moving without shaking is the hardest part, but with time you will learn. I remember at first I either stalled the car or just rev'd it up before I actually started moving but I got better... and here I am now about 6-7months later I am pretty damn good at it although I still have a lot to learn. BUT YEAH, I WILL NEVER TAKE THE AUTO OVER THE MANUAL... /caps off hehe

 

It took me a day to learn how to drive stick. My tC was my first stick shift car; got it in the morning and had to make a 3-hour trip in it later on that day.

Here's a tip until you get better at it:
Try gasing it a little (let your RPMs reach maybe 2k?), slowly let go of the clutch. When your car starts moving a little, keep your foot on the clutch in the same position for a little longer. Then push the gas down more (since your RPMs lower as you let go of the clutch) as you completely let go of the clutch.

 

the hardest thing for me was transitioning from reverse to first. It took me 15 minutes to learn how to drive a standard.

 

My first time with a manual was in 1984 Corolla.
It took me about 1 day to drive a manual with a lot cut off .That night I was try not to let the car die on me. I let off the clutch off early and "bark" in front of a cop and got a ticket for "reckless driving." Oh ya, the engine, I didn't get the right idle setup so i have to do a gas and brake on every stop.

Now I got the tC I am trying to take better care of the car than the Corolla with the right foot on the gas all the time.

 

I've had my car for a year and a half, everyday I regret getting an auto. It has its advantages some times, but like everyone is sayin, a stick is more fun to drive. I'm for sure getting a stick in a few years when I'm looking to get my next car

 

It took me 30 minutes to learn stick. I was frustrated doing it, but it wasn't that hard. I did it in my mom's jeep liberty. That thing was harder than the tc because it didn't have enough power for it's own good.

 

I made an oppsy today and went to 5.5rpm in first gear, i wasnt paying attention =(

 

Took me about 10 min learn, and about a month to get really good.

 

I learned how to drive stick in an acura integra gsr, man those where the days. Funny because I didn't know it was a gsr for like a half a year after I got it. Anyways driving stick, I pretty much taught myself how to drive stick. My dad wouldn't teach me, my friends give me tips but everybody was too busy to be in the car with me while learning how to drive stick. Taking off is the hardest part and getting good at it takes a real long time. So about a week just to take off then a months to get good at it. Just keep practing and by all means don't sell it for an automatic.

 

Alright so here's my new problem. Although my taking off from a start is no longer that bad, I do a bad no no. .. I like to hold the clutch in at stop lights. Since I'm still learning I usually keep it in so i can take off faster - so people behind me dont get ____ed lol.

I hear it creates a lot of wear on the springs and throw out bearing... I mean if I keep doing this... how much will it cost to replace these things with labor?

Also I'm curious, how do you guys take off faster. Do you guys immediately switch to 2nd once the car starts rolling?

 

^^^ what i do is i let go of the clutch and i pay attention to the other light, as soon as the other light turns yellow i push the clutch and put it in 1st, but when i can't see the other light i just hold the clutch, i also can't seem to take off fast, the thing is i don't want to let go off the clutch too fast bc i'm afraid of stalling so i let go of it really slowly, therefore making the takeoff slow as well, i gues its all just practice, its been two months and i feel much more confident

 

Same here. haha I feel better that I'm not alone. Second week... I guess it'll take some time before I don't feel semi-tense haha. Thanks for the tip aRucard!

 

i drove mine home from the dealer

 

There really is no reason not to hold the clutch down at lights. I had a F-150 for years and always held the cltuch down and it was fine. My dad had a sentra, the clutch had 120k miles on it when he sold it and he held the clutch down while idling, it wont hurt it.
On the other hand though, starting in second occasionally is ok, I've even accidently started in 3rd before without any issue, I just wouldnt recommend it on a regular basis. It is rough on the clutch.
Also I dont know if this has been mentioned or not, make sure you dont rest your foot on the clutch while driving, have it all the way up or all the way down, anything else will burn your clutch.

 

i'd say it took me an hour to learn to drive stick. then a week to actually get used to it.

 

I learned in about a day to. A good way to get better is to go to an empty area with a little hill. Position the car so that it is going uphill and come to a complete stop. Now by just using the clutch and the gas if you have to, try to remain stationary and not roll back or go forward. If this is too difficult, then try on flat ground by using only the clutch to get the car to move forward. Once you can do this, then practice the transition from the clutch to the gas. Right around the catch point of the clutch, will have to use the gas and while using the gas, you ease off the clutch. Once you get this down and you feel comfortable with the catch point of the clutch, you just need to practice shifting smoothly. Last but not least, drive to a road that had a big hill, hopefully one that has a stop sign in the middle of it. When you come to a complete stop, make sure your foot is all the way in on the clutch and the brake, practice taking off. Initially the car will roll back before you take off. Eventually you will get so good at it, that the car will not roll back at all before you take off. Hint: anytime you are taking off and gravity is working against you, you will have to press the gas a little harder as you ease off the clutch. Don't worry about being able to shift quickly and racing around. Practice the basics first and being good at those makes you a good driver. But don't get rid of it because you are so close. You will regret it and it sucks living life with regret! good luck!

 

mhhh took me about 2 days to get the courage to drive in traffic( 1991 crx si). Im still learning to this day on it. Although i still tend to take off a bit too fast soemtimes i chirp. Too bad i got my tc in auto because i regret it everyday.

 

I was paranoid about rolling back when on an incline too. I uses to engage the parking brake, and when I caught the clutch point I'd release the parking brake as to not roll backwards. I don't need to use that method anymore, but it does help a little bit (so long as you remember to release the parking brake.)

 

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