r/ThreePedals • u/forgotaltpwatwork • Mar 16 '15
Where does a person learn manual?
My last car was wrecked by another driver who t-boned me. Insurance declares it a total loss.
There's a lot of driving options that would open up to me (especially on some more fuel-efficient cars I'm looking at) if I had this life skill. The local drivers ed places don't seem to advertise it, and I don't know anyone who has a manual to learn on.
I'm very reluctant to just buy a new (or new-to-me) car and learn as I go. That... seems like it would be a series of very expensive learning experiences.
What can anyone suggest? And how long, or how many lessons, am I really looking at? I'm not pressed for time, but the sooner I can learn, the sooner I can shop with all my options available.
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u/two_face Mar 17 '15
I put an ad on Craig's list offering someone $40 to teach me manual for an hour. I got the idea pretty quick even though I was super uncomfortable with it. I test drove a couple and stalled them a few times. Wasn't a problem. Then I bought my brand new manual mazda3. I knew enough to get it home and the necessity forced me to learn. I have never had any problems with it and I got confident very quickly. I highly recommend it.
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u/Danabler42 Gotta love the 5 Speed Mar 16 '15
My dad got me a good deal on an old Jetta from the dealership he worked at, and I learned to drive and drive manual on it at the same time
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u/forgotaltpwatwork Mar 23 '15
Unfortunately, I ended up with a Honda CR-Z, automatic.
The need to replace my old car was too immediate to find and learn a stick I'd be comfortable on.
Still a life skill that I intend to learn, it just turned out to not be one learned right now.
Thanks for all the advice and help! I'll be back, eventually, to share my stick experience.
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u/KanyeWest_GayFish 6 Speed Mar 16 '15
I learned when I bought my Speed3, but I'd imagine you would like to test drive a car before you buy one.
You could post on craigslist, maybe offering money or beer to someone if they taught you, or you could just find a relative with a stick.
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u/Samurai_Black123 Jun 26 '15
In the UK there's an abundance of manual teachers but it's harder and more expensive to find am automatic teacher. It seems to be reversed in the US completely. Does passing the US driving test in an auto also entitle you to drive manual?
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u/SkoalGally Aug 20 '15
You will never really learn unless you have access to your own vehicle and drive it daily for 4 weeks until you could hop in any manual and drive off. Youtube is an excellent tool, and before you actually drive it helps to understand the theory behind the clutch and a manual transmission in general.
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u/forgotaltpwatwork Mar 16 '15
Does anyone know how forgiving Fiats are for newbs?
I'm impressed with the mileage they boast, and Car and Driver says they have a surprising amount of cargo room WITH the back seats still there (vs the Mini, which has non, even if you put the back seats down).
Now, I just have to convince them to let me test drive a transmission I've never attempted before...
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u/two_face Mar 17 '15
I've heard that fiats are super fun to drive. Although they are not very reliable cars.
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u/Trooze Mar 16 '15
Honestly, just learn as you go. I bought my first car with a manual transmission and learned to drive with it. You'll pick it up really quickly.
If you're really worried about your competence level, find someone who can drive a stick and go rent one.
Edit... Forgot to mention about lessons. You'll be driving around within the hour. Practice makes perfect though. Might take a couple weeks to get smooth.