Any tips for teaching someone how to drive a standard transmission?

[BlondGirl]

I took a coworker out at lunch today for a teaching-moment involving my 5-speed but learned within 20 minutes that I would regret it.

At one point, my head snapped back so hard that my neck popped and I had to celebrex myself out and I have been very nauseated all day after that.

Any tips for the next time? Not just for me, but for him too?

 

[JazzManJim]

The best thing I learned when I started driving a standard transmission is that when taking off in first gear you have to give the gas pedal a little pressure and then be very easy on the clutch.

Easy is always good. There's the "clutch point" where you can feel the gears engage and once you can feel that, you come off the clutch steadily and give it a bit more gas.

But, basically, easy on the clutch is good. Go slow until you get confident.

 

[Purrde Flower]

For first gear.. just ease off the clutch while putting slightly more pressure on the gas.. the car will then begin to move.. Ok I know you know how to do that.. but that is how it was explained to me

 

[Monazwx]

As you've already know now - Patience, patience, patience.

When I was learning, I thought my instructor would strangle me. My Dad started to teach me, but after one lesson, we both decided that it wasn't working out. Have you explained how a standard works? Maybe that will help them understand the difference and why they need to drive differently.

Sadly, your co-worker has to pratice (sounds like alot in this case) in order to get it. Maybe if you can alternate your lessons and add another instructor, if it gets too stressful. Remember, they will sense if you've stressed out, so calm down and Don't Lose Your Temper.

 

[dragonhearted]

*smiles*

The best thing I learned when I started driving a standard transmission is that when taking off in first gear you have to give the gas pedal a little pressure and then be very easy on the clutch.

Easy is always good. There's the "clutch point" where you can feel the gears engage and once you can feel that, you come off the clutch steadily and give it a bit more gas.

But, basically, easy on the clutch is good. Go slow until you get confident.

ya took the words right out of my mouth, Jazz baby!

 

[KillerMuffin]

Um. Pay someone else to do it?

 

[Freya]

My dad taught me, and the best thing he did was explain the mechanics of a standard to me. Once I understood how it worked, it took much of the fear away - fear based on ignorance.

And avoid any hills for a long damn time.

 

[LukkyKnight]

For first gear.. just ease off the clutch while putting slightly more pressure on the gas.. the car will then begin to move.. Ok I know you know how to do that.. but that is how it was explained to me

Actually, when learning, SKIP first gear.

 

[JazzManJim]

Well, the other thing I learned was that, with most stick shifts, you only need to use first gear when you're getting moving from a standing start. If you're rolling at all, you can use second gear, which is much easier to engage than first, IMO.

 

[perks]

use someone else's car.

 

[lost]

Wear a c collar and a seatbelt and don't leave the parking lot till he can get it in second w/o killing it.
And get an appiontment w/ a chiro.

 

[Monazwx]

At stoplights, it's also easier just to put the car in neutral and pull up the clutch and give the feet a rest, (even if it doesn't last long).

 

[concrete]

IT"s more a matter of a ZEN thing..
right foot,,left foot,, pressure,,realaxation,,up foot,,down foot.
get in the flow....the car will go

 

[kotori]

I'm teaching my 16-year old now. She's not doing too badly, especially on the straightaways, although the whole downshifting-turning-"break is the middle one?"-"turn harder!" thing is a little nervewracking. But explaining the basic mechanics of it, and having her watch my feet as I drove, seemed to get the basic concepts over. I just keep telling her that (as with so much else), she just has to practice. After a while, she won't have to think about it, her feet will know what to do without telling them.

 

[lisalove]

I had never driven a standard prior to buying my first car, and I learned very quickly on my own. Plus it had a built-in 'hill-holder'.

He needs to borrow someone's and go figure it out by himself for a few hours.

 

[freakygirl]

I'm teaching my 15 year old son this weekend how to drive a manual..

I'm not looking forward to it.. my car has a very touchy clutch. I'm just getting used to it and I've had the car for 8 months.

Hopefully he learns fast..

 

[crappie master]

I taught a couple of my nieces but that was on the farm ...out in a field .in a jeep... the easiest way was to put the jeep in 4 wheeldrive low so it wouldn't die if they popped the clutch .Once they got to shifting smoothly I put the jeep back in 2 wheeldrive hi

 

[soileddove]

My father taught me and we managed to keep a good realtionship .
He told me to repeat this as my mantra out loud over and over starting from the time I got in the car.
"ease off the cluch while giving it a little gas"
He said "you shouldn't get in the habit of reving the engine but until you learn how to start you can't learn to go."
I felt stupid while saying it but after a while it became part of my driving habit and I had no problems. 15 years later I sometimes find myself repeating it in my head when I'm at a stoplight lol.

 

[sufisaint]

Get a beater to learn on...you will loose about 30,000 miles on that clutch....

 

[freakygirl]

I taught a couple of my nieces but that was on the farm ...out in a field .in a jeep... the easiest way was to put the jeep in 4 wheeldrive low so it wouldn't die if they popped the clutch .Once they got to shifting smoothly I put the jeep back in 2 wheeldrive hi

I thought about doing this with my son. We have a Suzuki Samauri.. that would be perfect for this. But the drive line is broke.. and it needs a special made one.. I haven't decided if getting the drive line is better or just teaching him on my new car.

My car is still under warranty.. does anyone know if a burned up clutch would be covered?

 

[soileddove]

I thought about doing this with my son. We have a Suzuki Samauri.. that would be perfect for this. But the drive line is broke.. and it needs a special made one.. I haven't decided if getting the drive line is better or just teaching him on my new car.

My car is still under warranty.. does anyone know if a burned up clutch would be covered?

It probably is not because bruning it out too soon is not considered part of normal wear and tear. A clutch is supposed to last for 5-6 years according to the guy who sold me my car.

 

[freakygirl]

It probably is not because bruning it out too soon is not considered part of normal wear and tear. A clutch is supposed to last for 5-6 years according to the guy who sold me my car.

I know.. I was kidding.

Maybe I'll go ahead and order the drive line.. he can wait another week to learn how to drive a manual.

 

[Trail48]

If its a corvette push in the clutch, press the gas till the big gauge on the left says 3000rpm

Release clutch
Hang on
Smile

 

[teddybear4play]

Get a beater to learn on...you will loose about 30,000 miles on that clutch....

Absolutely.

I pretty much wrecked two clutches learning how to drive a stick.

TB4p

 

[Sinstros]

If you have access to a floor jack and strong jackstands, lift the drive wheels off the ground. The biggest fear that newbies have is the lunge and buck. With the wheels off, they can practice smooth engaging without worrying about anything else. Once they get that down, everything else is easy.