How long did it take you to learn to drive stick?

[young_]

I'm still learning. Hoping to go out and practice again soon. I drove to my house and back to girlfriend's house and only stalled it once because I let off the clutch too fast, but I pretty much go the basics down.

This is the main problem I've been having. Letting out the clutch too fast. Makes for jerky shifts :/ It's like trying to do something left handed. If that makes any sense. lol

 

[itsmycookie]

A week total between 1994 and 2001.

First time was my dad showed me how to with his 1986 Ford Taurus. Second time my husband showed me with my 91Integra.

Feathering in and out the clutch was the difficult part. Now I just listen to the RPM's to time my shifts.

GROSS! your DAD SHOWED U HOW TO WORK A STICK!?

AHHHH! call child services on his ass.

yea flick it in and feather it until u get a good grip on it. then work on that timing to shift into a new gear.

This is the main problem I've been having. Letting out the clutch too fast. Makes for jerky shifts :/ It's like trying to do something left handed. If that makes any sense. lol

You mean like operating the clutch on a motorcycle?

The pedals aren't on off switches. the brakes and gas have different levels just like the clutch. you should trying to find a feel for all 3 pedals.

 

[young_]

GROSS! your DAD SHOWED U HOW TO WORK A STICK!?

AHHHH! call child services on his ass.

yea flick it in and feather it until u get a good grip on it. then work on that timing to shift into a new gear.

You mean like operating the clutch on a motorcycle?

The pedals aren't on off switches. the brakes and gas have different levels just like the clutch. you should trying to find a feel for all 3 pedals.

I'm saying the muscle memory in your legs is hard to develop.

if that makes any sense. lol

 

[young_]

This is a really good guide for anyone that wants to learn anything about driving stick.

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/driving-stick.php

 

[gprado04]

Alright fellas so I've got my 2000 Civic SI that I got about 3 weeks ago. I've been practicing how to drive stick for about a week an hour a day (not a week straight, 2 days one week 3 days the next then one the next). I first off learned getting out of first like everybody does and it took me a good 3 days, or 3 hours. Now I need to learn parallel parking, when I put it in reverse and start backing up, the car starts to shake a lot and feels like it wants to turn off. What can I do? Also I'm nervous about going uphill. Help? I see everybody here says they learned so quick and I feel like I should know already.

 

[lethal6]

There is nothing we can help with over the net. This is a hands on thing and the only way you are going to overcome the is by practicing. The car is shaking and trying to die because you don't have the ratio of clutch release to gas pedal pressure correct. Practice is the only remedy. We can't help you with that.

Same thing with hill starts. We can't do anything for you there either. Practice is going to be your solution there too.