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How hard is it to learn to drive a manual car?

6,494 653 March 12, 2013 at 03:54 AM in Autos
How hard is it to learn to drive a car with a manual transmission? I'm looking to pick up a beater for less than $2,000. I've been looking around lately on the internet and it seems that manuals are always cheaper because most people can't drive them and as a result there's less demand. Also I would assume that manual cars are in better condition than automatics because their owners usually take better care of them. Realistically speaking, how quick would I be able to learn the basics in order to drive it home if I bought one?
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Joined Jul 2011
L8: Grand Teacher
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JustARandomGuy2015
03-12-2013 at 08:13 PM.
03-12-2013 at 08:13 PM.
Quote from Beartrkkr :
I use to work at a place that had diesel Isuzu pickups (so not my problem if it broke). If you worked the gas pedal right and learned the gears and the engine sounds, you could shift up through the gears while accelerating without using the clutch at all with no grinding. Didn't work as well decelerating though.

Semis drive this way, it's matching the right rpms and it will just slide right in, I use to do it with my old subaru
I won't do it in my scion as I don't feel it's healthy for it (I'm sure it's fine) but I'd rather not.
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Joined Jan 2004
L8: Grand Teacher
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Samwise Gamgee
03-13-2013 at 03:50 AM.
03-13-2013 at 03:50 AM.
Quote from Truth-Serum :
How hard is it to learn to drive a car with a manual transmission? I'm looking to pick up a beater for less than $2,000. I've been looking around lately on the internet and it seems that manuals are always cheaper because most people can't drive them and as a result there's less demand. Also I would assume that manual cars are in better condition than automatics because their owners usually take better care of them. Realistically speaking, how quick would I be able to learn the basics in order to drive it home if I bought one?
Keep in mind too, not many other people will be able to drive your car--which can be good and bad--since most folks will only know automatic.
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Joined Oct 2004
Professor Fishslapper!
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dalokgawd
03-13-2013 at 04:28 AM.
03-13-2013 at 04:28 AM.
Quote from Samwise Gamgee :
Keep in mind too, not many other people will be able to drive your car--which can be good and bad--since most folks will only know automatic.
This is a big problem with my wife and I. She can't drive my car, so anytime we go somewhere that we both need to drive (like a road trip) we always have to take her car. She grumbles about it but then I just remind her that I tried to teach her to drive stick 3 times and she was the one who gave up. One time though we had gone somewhere and I drove my car and then I got hurt and couldn't drive home. We had to call someone to come give us a ride home.
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Joined Feb 2010
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idkist
03-13-2013 at 05:54 AM.
03-13-2013 at 05:54 AM.
Quote from beanqueen :
I like to drive as well as ride Wink2
Faint

heart
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Joined Sep 2009
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zzyzzx
03-13-2013 at 06:52 AM.
03-13-2013 at 06:52 AM.
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
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Joined Oct 2004
Professor Fishslapper!
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dalokgawd
03-13-2013 at 07:06 AM.
03-13-2013 at 07:06 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
Because they're more fun to drive?
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Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
03-13-2013 at 07:07 AM.
03-13-2013 at 07:07 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
There are still cars that get better mileage with a manual, and automatics can tow heavier loads than manuals. Not to mention many people just prefer manuals, they're also lighter, and generally more reliable.
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Joined Oct 2006
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dukpoki
03-13-2013 at 08:04 AM.
03-13-2013 at 08:04 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
autos are for the lazy. The control of a manual car is 1000x better than an auto too.

Quote from dalokgawd :
Because they're more fun to drive?
way more fun.


zzyzzx: your logic is flawed because it would be like me asking.... Why do they make 8 cylinder cars when there are 4 bangers that get better gas mileage? Gas isn't everything.
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Last edited by dukpoki March 13, 2013 at 08:08 AM.
Joined Apr 2010
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Majide
03-13-2013 at 08:14 AM.
03-13-2013 at 08:14 AM.
Quote from Dr. J :
when I bought my current car, the dealer told me that if someone wants a stick, they'll sell it to them and let them be on their way even if they have no idea how to drive it - imagine that!
nod

A former co-worker of mine went out and bought a manual car, even though he didn't know how to drive it, because it was cheaper than automatic.

So he had his mom driving him to work in his car every day. Always had people taking him everywhere... He couldn't drive his own freaking car Facepalm
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Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
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Frogstar
03-13-2013 at 08:30 AM.
03-13-2013 at 08:30 AM.
Quote from Majide :
nod

A former co-worker of mine went out and bought a manual car, even though he didn't know how to drive it, because it was cheaper than automatic.

So he had his mom driving him to work in his car every day. Always had people taking him everywhere... He couldn't drive his own freaking car Facepalm
Lol2
Before I learned to drive stick, one of the cars I was checking out had a manual, and the salesman told me that if I bought it, he'd teach me to drive it.
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Joined Jun 2008
My name is Walter
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marg_fan
03-13-2013 at 08:37 AM.
03-13-2013 at 08:37 AM.
Quote from larrymoencurly :
Try going from top gear to 2nd at 50-60 MPH, which is something you might have to do when passing. The synchronizers synchronize the gears a lot better in that case if you double clutch.
Quote from Jabbit :
Umm, downshifting into 2nd gear when doing 60mph? Not in 99% of cars built in the last 25 years.
Quote from dalokgawd :
Iagree If I tried to downshift into 2nd gear at 60 mph I would probably blow my transmission.
Reminds me of a passage in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

Quote :
When you're cruising down the road in the fast lane and you lazily sail past a few hard-driving cars and are feeling pretty pleased with yourself and then accidently change down from fourth to first instead of third thus making your engine leap out of your hood in a rather ugly mess, it tends to throw you off stride in much the same way that this remark threw Ford Prefect off his.
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Joined Mar 2007
L10: Grand Master
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handyguy
03-13-2013 at 09:32 AM.
03-13-2013 at 09:32 AM.
Quote from Legionnaire :
Semis drive this way, it's matching the right rpms and it will just slide right in, I use to do it with my old subaru
I won't do it in my scion as I don't feel it's healthy for it (I'm sure it's fine) but I'd rather not.

It should work for any new car as they are sync'd. Put one in gear & turn the key & you can begin in first.
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Joined May 2006
Boating
> bubble2 21,228 Posts
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Piccaboo
03-13-2013 at 11:08 AM.
03-13-2013 at 11:08 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.

Quote from dalokgawd :
Because they're more fun to drive?
This ^^^ I drove a stick for 17-1/2 years and loved it and it was fun bounce bounce
Cried when I had to give up the car Weeping
As far as clutch replacement went; only replaced the clutch once Woot
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
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Iaaaiws
03-13-2013 at 11:24 AM.
03-13-2013 at 11:24 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
The only thing I really dislike manual for is plowing snow. Figures the only vehicle I own that is a manual is my plow truck. Doh

Reverse is usually geared too low and in a bigger area like a parking lot backing up is just painfully slow to make the next pass. And when plowing around my house I have to stop and go a lot because of trees and mailboxes and before backing into the road. It is tough on the clutch, not to mention my leg. laugh out loud
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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
03-13-2013 at 11:42 AM.
03-13-2013 at 11:42 AM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
I can't imagine why they still make cars with a manual transmission since automatic get better gas mileage. Trucks or anything that tows, plows. etc, I can understand a manual transmission, but a regular passenger car, no.
Sorry, but this is a pretty silly statement. Have you ever driven a manual before? The feel is different. For performance cars, it's best to have a manual transmission. It's for fun to drive and you get better performance.

But, to make it easier for non-manual drivers, car manufacturers have started to offer paddle shifters in some performance cars. There's no clutch to mess around with (actually, there is but it's automatic).
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