[CookMaster]

Manual is comforting hands down. It is a skill set most young drivers should understand, but not feel obligated to master. The autos today are simply amazing. . . Nothing like I endured . As a newb in high school. I remember laughing at discussions about three on the stock. Well, 6-8 years later in Japan, I got to revisit that education with success. The autos are superb today in BMW, you won't be disappointed. Skills are still important despite the great transmissions, but we still need to understand and appreciate what true heel toe means.

[Sterling Roadster]

Personally I really learned to drive manual after I just went for one. When my dad was staring over me in judgement while I struggled, I was terrible. Then I bought a manual car, drove alone and now i'm less terrible!

[Nkc]

When I was 15, my uncle threw me the keys to his Geo Something and told me to drive around the block while he sipped beer on the porch. I kind of had an idea of what to do from seeing older relatives driving stick but that's kinda like a virgin watching porn.

Last week I finally decided to teach my wife since all the cars that we have or are acquiring are manual. Took her roughly an hour. She good now. Just man up and do it. Don't let the manual die.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by bender rodriguez

A friend of mine is looking at buying a new sports car but does not know how to drive stick. I am trying to encourage him that he should learn because one of the cars he likes only comes in stick only. Besides even if he decides he does not like that car maybe he will like stick in general.

They are very reluctant to just buy a car and learn after purchase because they are scared they will get it and then hate to drive it.

I have let him drive around in a parking lot on my car but I wont let him drive in traffic. Is there anything that can be done in this situation to help?

Wish he could rent a car with stick or something. Just seems a shame to buy a sports car in automatic.

I learned to drive a stick the day I bought a 2001 Audi TT 225 Coupe. I literally had never driven one before. stayed in the parking lot for a few hours and went on my way....never looked back.

tell him to man up...

[StealYourFace]

Originally Posted by Railgun

There's only so much you can explain to someone. It's feel. You can get them to a certain point; explain clutch engagement and throttle application, but they have to get the right feel for it themselves.

That said, I had ditched school for no reason in particular one day and took my dad's car out through downtown Chicago. I had only been taught once or twice, was pretty bad both times. Tried once again while working as a porter...failed there too. This time I took myself out, I only stalled once...maybe twice, but when you're in a situation to learn out of necessity, you pick it up pretty quickly.

To each their own, but as they say, practice makes perfect.

Wasn't an old Ferrari convertible was it, Mr Froman?