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Forum Thread

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 Oct 2004
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> bubble2 12,150 Posts
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Jabbit
03-13-2013 at 12:45 PM.
03-13-2013 at 12:45 PM.
Most exotics now are single or dual-clutch automatics. It is MUCH faster and consistent when it comes to actual racing.
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Joined Sep 2006
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> bubble2 10,138 Posts
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larrymoencurly
03-13-2013 at 02:10 PM.
03-13-2013 at 02:10 PM.
Quote from Jabbit :
Umm, downshifting into 2nd gear when doing 60mph? Not in 99% of cars built in the last 25 years.
OK, it was a 1981 VW. No luck doing it without double clutching.
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Joined Mar 2007
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> bubble2 9,429 Posts
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handyguy
03-13-2013 at 02:18 PM.
03-13-2013 at 02:18 PM.
Since when did automatics get better gas mileage?

It is easier to stop in a shift cause an automatic wants to keep going forward.
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Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
03-13-2013 at 02:41 PM.
03-13-2013 at 02:41 PM.
Quote from handyguy :
Since when did automatics get better gas mileage?
I read his post wrong Doh
Generally automatics are rated as equivalent to a manual by the EPA these days. I think in real-world conditions, you can probably still do better with a stick.
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Joined Sep 2009
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> bubble2 7,139 Posts
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zzyzzx
03-13-2013 at 03:38 PM.
03-13-2013 at 03:38 PM.
Quote from z2g :
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.
Yes. Try driving in DC metro traffic in a car with a manual transmission.
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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
03-13-2013 at 04:07 PM.
03-13-2013 at 04:07 PM.
Quote from zzyzzx :
Yes. Try driving in DC metro traffic in a car with a manual transmission.
Sure! I've driven in L.A. traffic, D.C. traffic, S.F. traffic, and NYC traffic in my manual transmission car. I didn't have any issues. Parallel parking was a tad harder in S.F. due to all the hilly streets, but I was still able to do it using the hand brake trick.
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Joined Mar 2006
academic of funny trades
> bubble2 2,238 Posts
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kratzy
03-13-2013 at 04:14 PM.
03-13-2013 at 04:14 PM.
Quote from Frogstar :
Starting from a dead stop on a steep hill is the biggest challenge for a beginner, I'd say.

I agree! I have never owned an automatic, but our company cars are automatic and this is one situation I really enjoy driving them. Taking the driving test in Germany, you knew they would make you start from a dead stop on a steep hill; it was a given and we had plenty of hills to choose from in my hometown. I am not sure about today, but in the 90s you could not take the driving test on an automatic in Germany.
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Joined Mar 2013
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Lagunasun
03-13-2013 at 04:42 PM.
03-13-2013 at 04:42 PM.
An afternoon, especially if it's a junky car and you're not too worried about it. Then you'll get better the more you drive it.
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Joined Oct 2004
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> bubble2 4,477 Posts
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NCSU2008
03-13-2013 at 05:05 PM.
03-13-2013 at 05:05 PM.
the first week really sucks. the month after that sucks but not as bad. i think i've stalled out maybe 5 times since then
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JustARandomGuy2015
03-13-2013 at 05:51 PM.
03-13-2013 at 05:51 PM.
Quote from z2g :
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).

Automatics are by far more efficient and perfect shifts than a human could ever do. However, it's boring and unless I lived in horrible city traffic il keep stick

If I lived piled in traffic all the time, no questions asked I'd go auto.
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Jabbit
03-13-2013 at 06:50 PM.
03-13-2013 at 06:50 PM.
Quote from Legionnaire :
Automatics are by far more efficient and perfect shifts than a human could ever do. However, it's boring and unless I lived in horrible city traffic il keep stick

If I lived piled in traffic all the time, no questions asked I'd go auto.
Technically, manual transmissions are more efficient. A lot less drivetrain loss. Automatics seem to have "perfect shifts" because of torque converters. You get more of the actual usable power when channeled through a manual rather than a traditional automatic.
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Joined Jul 2011
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JustARandomGuy2015
03-13-2013 at 06:53 PM.
03-13-2013 at 06:53 PM.
Quote from Jabbit :
Technically, manual transmissions are more efficient. A lot less drivetrain loss. Automatics seem to have "perfect shifts" because of torque converters. You get more of the actual usable power when channeled through a manual rather than a traditional automatic.
well you have a point, though when it comes to efficiency ive noticed all the automatics have a way lower highway gear than manualcars, which sucks. I would love to have 2k @ 65mph.
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MISHNAH
03-13-2013 at 08:56 PM.
03-13-2013 at 08:56 PM.
Quote from Legionnaire :
My friend told me how to drive, he drove me somewhere then his wife followed, we stopped on back roads he got out, said have fun and got in his car and left.
Bwahaha! My uncle did that to his wife! She was in her 30s, they live in Europe and she didnt need to drive before starting her own business. He drove her into Downtown Bucharest, hopped out of the car and said I'll see you home! :rofl: Shitty car with tough steering and a shitty clutch, plus ridiculously crazy drivers.....she made it home in a few hours though lol!
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MISHNAH
03-13-2013 at 09:06 PM.
03-13-2013 at 09:06 PM.
Quote from Jabbit :
I am going to take a wild guess and call BS on those in the thread who say "Yah dood no problem, only took me 30 mins brah". No way that you can be proficient enough to drive safely in that little amount of time.
It didnt take me very long, but then I read up on how to drive a manual, and for a loooong time, pushed in an imaginary clutch pedal while using a bottle in the cup holder as the shifter. Yeah, its weird, but once you learn your automatic tranny's shift points, you can synchronize your foot and hand movements just as the automatic actually shifts. Then once you get into a manual car, you will at least have the foot and hand movements somewhat memorized.

I taught my brother in about 20 minutes, and that was just after I spend $1,700 converting his truck to a manual trans. Maybe not the best idea to teach somebody on a 3-mile old clutch, but oh well. Made him practice stops and starts in a parking lot, he stalled a bunch of times and was getting flustered so we gave up for the day. He decided to give it another try a week later, and drove it perfectly from then on! Big Grin 2 years later he bought a car with a 6spd and loves driving stick now.
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Bright_Eyes
03-13-2013 at 09:16 PM.
03-13-2013 at 09:16 PM.
Quote from z2g :
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).
Sorry watch this video, it is a automatic http://youtu.be/YLWGxea_gCI
I will never go back to manual transmission, if your car is set up right you go just fine without it !!!!
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