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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 Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
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Iaaaiws
03-14-2013 at 01:46 PM.
03-14-2013 at 01:46 PM.
Quote from Legionnaire :
Fix clutch yourself
$400
Shop fix
$1k-$1200

Auto ( I can't fix them don't know how )
Shop
$$$$$$$ slush gear box. Clutch simple, automatics cost a ton if serious complication: cheaper to buy used tranny depending how old vehicle is.
When and if the clutch eventually goes in my '89 F350 Wrecker/plow truck that might be the end of the line for it.

The thought of dropping both driveshafts, the transfer case, exhaust, and transmission doesn't appeal to me at all. Especially without a hoist. It might be easier to pull the engine and replace it that way but that doesn't really sound any better. laugh out loud
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> bubble2 726 Posts
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dukpoki
03-14-2013 at 02:19 PM.
03-14-2013 at 02:19 PM.
manual: instant power whenever you need it

auto: delayed power and limited by the ecu

manual > auto

heck most people complain about how hard manuals are in traffic-heavy cities but i live in atlanta and it doesn't bother me at all. But then again i drive an 09 si with a buttery soft clutch Stick Out Tongue
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rachaelm | Staff
03-14-2013 at 02:33 PM.
03-14-2013 at 02:33 PM.
Quote from dalokgawd :
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.
I've never had a car with manual transmission, but my mom made me learn to drive one well enough to get by "in case of emergency". Don't know that it would be the smoothest ride, but I could get someone to the hospital. Thanks Mom.
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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
03-14-2013 at 03:00 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:00 PM.
Quote from dukpoki :
manual: instant power whenever you need it

auto: delayed power and limited by the ecu

manual > auto

heck most people complain about how hard manuals are in traffic-heavy cities but i live in atlanta and it doesn't bother me at all. But then again i drive an 09 si with a buttery soft clutch Stick Out Tongue
I think ppl who think it's a hassle or hard to drive a stick shift in commuter traffic probably is new to driving manual or hasn't driven a manual yet. For those who have driven stick a long time, it's not a big deal.
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Joined Mar 2009
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> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
03-14-2013 at 03:08 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:08 PM.
Quote from z2g :
I think ppl who think it's a hassle or hard to drive a stick shift in commuter traffic probably is new to driving manual or hasn't driven a manual yet. For those who have driven stick a long time, it's not a big deal.
My daily driver for the last couple years (until it spun a rod bearing) was a stick. It was a huge PITA during construction traffic.
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
03-14-2013 at 03:18 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:18 PM.
Quote from Frogstar :
My daily driver for the last couple years (until it spun a rod bearing) was a stick. It was a huge PITA during construction traffic.
I'm not saying that it's not a bit of a hassle. But, not enough where it'll steer me away from ever buying a manual again.
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Joined Oct 2004
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> bubble2 12,104 Posts
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dalokgawd
03-14-2013 at 03:22 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:22 PM.
Quote from rachaelm :
I've never had a car with manual transmission, but my mom made me learn to drive one well enough to get by "in case of emergency". Don't know that it would be the smoothest ride, but I could get someone to the hospital. Thanks Mom.
Seriously. Mine was exactly the sort of situation she was preparing you for. You should call her and tell her she was right. Stick Out Tongue

Quote from z2g :
I think ppl who think it's a hassle or hard to drive a stick shift in commuter traffic probably is new to driving manual or hasn't driven a manual yet. For those who have driven stick a long time, it's not a big deal.
If I have to sit in stop and go traffic for more than like 30-40 mins my knees start to hurt something fierce. And given the traffic problems in and around Atlanta, I can foresee lots of bumper to bumper traffic in my future...
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Last edited by dalokgawd March 14, 2013 at 03:24 PM.

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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
03-14-2013 at 03:33 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:33 PM.
Quote from dalokgawd :
Seriously. Mine was exactly the sort of situation she was preparing you for. You should call her and tell her she was right. Stick Out Tongue


If I have to sit in stop and go traffic for more than like 30-40 mins my knees start to hurt something fierce. And given the traffic problems in and around Atlanta, I can foresee lots of bumper to bumper traffic in my future...
Well, I guess it depends on how each person drives a stick shift. For me, it was never a problem. And, I live (or have lived) in areas famous for bad traffic (i.e. S.F. bay area, L.A., NYC). Because, my foot wouldn't be on the clutch the entire time.

When it's a dead stop, I'm not pressing on the clutch at all. When traffic starts to move, I'll press the clutch real quick and let the car start going, then I'll coast with my foot off the clutch and even the gas at times. It'll just be on the brake. If the traffic is moving but very, very slow, I'll just leave it in first and would just be pressing the gas gently.

Are ppl driving in traffic depressing on the clutch the majority of the time? If so, they're going to go through clutches very quickly.
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> bubble2 12,150 Posts
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Jabbit
03-14-2013 at 03:37 PM.
03-14-2013 at 03:37 PM.
If I were in a situation where I KNEW I was in traffic EVERYDAY, car transmission wouldn't matter....I would find a new place to live/work.
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dalokgawd
03-14-2013 at 04:24 PM.
03-14-2013 at 04:24 PM.
Quote from z2g :
Well, I guess it depends on how each person drives a stick shift. For me, it was never a problem. And, I live (or have lived) in areas famous for bad traffic (i.e. S.F. bay area, L.A., NYC). Because, my foot wouldn't be on the clutch the entire time.

When it's a dead stop, I'm not pressing on the clutch at all. When traffic starts to move, I'll press the clutch real quick and let the car start going, then I'll coast with my foot off the clutch and even the gas at times. It'll just be on the brake. If the traffic is moving but very, very slow, I'll just leave it in first and would just be pressing the gas gently.

Are ppl driving in traffic depressing on the clutch the majority of the time? If so, they're going to go through clutches very quickly.
I also do exactly what you're saying. But I'm fat and I have crappy knees so having to hit the clutch that often for that long, even with those tricks, is enough to make my knees start to ache.
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acesmuzic | Staff
03-14-2013 at 06:02 PM.
03-14-2013 at 06:02 PM.
Quote from rachaelm :
I've never had a car with manual transmission, but my mom made me learn to drive one well enough to get by "in case of emergency". Don't know that it would be the smoothest ride, but I could get someone to the hospital. Thanks Mom.
my mom had the same logic when i was learning. that's why she had me do driver's ed on a manual even though we didn't have one i could practice with outside of that. like you i would have a tough time at this point but i wouldn't be stranded in an emergency.
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> bubble2 3,569 Posts
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JustARandomGuy2015
03-14-2013 at 06:15 PM.
03-14-2013 at 06:15 PM.
Quote from Iaaaiws :
When and if the clutch eventually goes in my '89 F350 Wrecker/plow truck that might be the end of the line for it.

The thought of dropping both driveshafts, the transfer case, exhaust, and transmission doesn't appeal to me at all. Especially without a hoist. It might be easier to pull the engine and replace it that way but that doesn't really sound any better. laugh out loud
always pull engine.
easier imho. i did a clutch job as u described, next time we pulled engine, i swear a 1/4 time increase if not half, just less bs and more room to work.
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> bubble2 9 Posts
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luiswhite
03-14-2013 at 06:27 PM.
03-14-2013 at 06:27 PM.
Sorry, I do think it's really not a difficult thing, you know, I rode my bicycle when I was 7. As long as you own it, you get it. BTW I am a girl.
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> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
03-14-2013 at 06:52 PM.
03-14-2013 at 06:52 PM.
And there's obviously a direct correlation between riding a bicycle and driving a stick shift.
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koekiejj
03-14-2013 at 07:20 PM.
03-14-2013 at 07:20 PM.
have driven manual cars for 5 years now Big Grin! can't live without it.. you just have to practice it.
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