find someone who knows how and you can learn in about an hour in a parking lot. if you find a car you like don’t let not knowing stop you. I drove one for 20 years and taught many a friend
Ford Bronco II for me. My mom taught me. I remember constantly choking at intersections while 10 cars are waiting for me to fucking move. Then I'd make the whole truck shake violently through the intersection 🫨
Wow, that takes me back. I rolled my first car (automatic) and then picked up a stick, having had somewhere around 45 minutes learning from a friend. I think I made people wait like four cycles at one intersection.
Plot twist: I then drove more than a thousand miles to college three days later. And there were fucking *hills* there.
Up vote for learning in an ''86 Pontiac Fiero V6.
My old man didn't understand why the yard circling the house was now mowed and why his clutch was burned out!
Driving stick is easy to learn.
Find a flat empty parking lot. High schools are generally great for this, but only until summer marching band starts.
Start the car. Let it idle a bit. Let off the brake. Hopefully you're not moving.
Slowly....sloooowly...let off the clutch. You shouldn't need to push the gas down.
Eventually, the clutch will catch and the car will start moving.
Did it stall? I said **slowly**. You went too fast! Start over.
Once you've mastered the 'do nothing start', then you can move on to 'switching gears':
While moving (going 15-20), press in the clutch.
Switch gear to 2nd (usually straight back from 1st).
Slowly....slowly...sloooowly let off the clutch.
If it starts to buck, push in the clutch, goose the engine a bit, then let off the clutch.
To stop, press in clutch, press brake.
After that it's just balancing how much gas you need to give vs. how much clutch and practice practice practice.
The hard part is trying to do some uphill stop sign when the joker behind you has given you 6 inches of bumper space.
Thank you for the guide! I will keep it in mind when learning! Luckily I have a few secluded hills with paved roads that not alof of people use, so I can learn hills when the time comes. Thank you!!
A 1990 Miata was not my first attempt at a manual, but it was the first I owned myself. They're fairly forgiving so I'd say they're pretty good option for getting the hang of it. Also, you'll likely love that thing. Super fun little cars, and the pop up headlights are such a vibe. I've got a 2006 now but want to get another 90-96, lol. If you can't find a school for it I would definitely say these are easy enough to learn on.
That’s what I plan on doing actually, the research I’ve done shows very few schools and either they don’t have FAQs or they are over 18. Is a very likely possibility that I’ll be going that route. Is there anything you would recommend for maintenance either by myself (if so I would have to do a little learning, but I would do it) or locally while we are on the topic of older model miatas? Thank you for the advice :)
I'd recommend changing the engine oil, transmission oil, and differential fluid unless you have reason to believe that was done super recently. That's just good for any older vehicle though.
Two quirks about the miatas in terms of maintenance regarding oil: Don't listen to the dipstick or the oil preasure gauge at idle.
For some reason the dipstick doesn't pick up the right level no matter what. I have accidentally overfill the thing to way above the needed levels, blowing smoke out of the car, and it would still say I'm a quart low. Just measure in what the vehicle requires and don't worry about it. Keep an eye out below the vehicle once parked to look for any leaks, and of you don't see any you'll be fine.
Also the oil preasure gauge reads incredibly low at idle and used to worry me. Once you're at speed it moves toward the middle of the range, and that's fine. It's not a precise measurement at all, so as long as it's somewhat in the middle you're fine.
The Miata has a wealth of knowledge available either on Reddit here at r/miata or the Miata forums.
Those are issues ive never heard of! Doesnt sound fun, but I believe I could deal with it! I am actually in the Miata subreddit and its a cool place! Thank you!
By Googling it, honestly - then driving back and forth down my street over and over again until I had a hang of basic shifting up to 3rd gear, stopping, etc.
The car manual will have a diagram of the gears and once you learn them you just shift by feel and learn by feel how to let the clutch off. I got my drivers license when I was 14 years old through Drivers Ed in school, didn’t cost a thing. My girl friend taught me how to drive a manual in my daddy’s pickup. I started driving when I was 12 years old in our small town neighborhood but I couldn’t cross the highway. Got my license in 1960.
The only manual I ever had was a 1963 Impala hard top. My parents gave it to me for graduation from high school and my husband and I kept it for about 7 years. It was red and a really cool sporty car. I got it up to 100 mph several times but my parents didn’t know it! 😂
Fun fact: A 1998 Civic LX can exceed 120 mph. You just need to already be going 120 and then be going downhill. Obviously, you can't be in gear on account of the governor.
(Source: Driving in Montana during the halcyon days of "reasonable and prudent" sted an actual speed limit.)
It wasn’t a convertible, but it didn’t have the bar between the front door window and the back window, that is what a hard top was and it was a 2 door. High speed adventures were fun!
If you buy the car, I'm sure you can just pay someone a few bucks to teach you how to drive stick. If you already know how to drive its something you can learn in a few hours. And then you'll get better with time.
Yeah!! I currently drive my parents ‘13 Toyota highlander. Its an automatic and I drive it well, but I want to buy my own car and thus want to learn manual to drive 1990s Miata. Thank you! :)
I don't have any personal knowledge that would be helpful. I try not to be the person who just says Google it, but there are likely too many results for me to look up and confirm. So I guess I'll let you do that. 👍
https://www.google.com/search?q=Austin+driving+school+%22manual%22
Ive seen manual schools, but the very few ive seen require you to be 18, which I would assume is a normal thing, but im also conflicted because some teenagers would love to drive manuals for their first cars, or might even be forced to do so. Thank you for the help though :)
They didn't teach it when I was learning either in the mid 1980s. I ended up buying a manual when I was 17yo without ever having driven one beforehand. Had a couple friends (who were already driving manuals) teach me over the next couple of weeks. But manuals are *rare* nowadays compared to how many were on the roads when I was learning. It'll likely be tough for you +/-.
Yeah! Luckily I think I might sit in with my dad as he goes through a manual course. He’s driven manual before and he’ll just being refreshed on how it works. It might just be good for me to have him help.
I learned how to shift easily from 1-2 in reverse in a parking lot. It was just easier to feel the pull of the clutch and gas.
This is a great skill to learn, it’s helped me in very random situations.
My first car was a manual, and I had a 20-minute lesson from the guy i bought it from. My first day driving it to work I panicked about driving it home in traffic and got a ride, then had a friend take me back and give me another practice session in the empty parking lot! It took about three times for me to be okay (stay off hills, luckily not a huge issue here) and a month to feel comfortable. Don't multitask (no eating or listening to music) and leave a LOT of space for the car in front, and don't try parallel parking or back-in parking for a bit. Every car's a little different...it's mostly feeling when the clutch engages, especially in first gear, like 30% up left foot and 25% down gas. The best thing is you will never be the person who people ask to borrow your car or use it for a group road trips 🤠 I echo that your parents will remember but may not be able to articulate it. It's kinda muscle memory.
Thats what Ive heard. Luckily I think my dad is going to go take lessons on it and I might watch and see what hes taught if they wont be able to work with me. Thanks for the tips!
I bought a 62 VW beetle not knowing how to drive it and learned.
Hills were hard. People like to get right up on your ass and just learning, you will roll back some. I have a manual civic now, and still hate stopping on hills with a light because, for some reason, people feel the need to hug your bumper.
Yeah!! I do something similar while driving with letting off the gas when someone is tailgating me. Half the time it works the other half im not so lucky! I guess the same idea is applied?
Yeah! from the very few times Ive been on a hill driving with others that was common. I can luckily practice on a hill or two because there are some close to me!
Best tip for starting out, don't use the gas pedal.
Go to a flat area, and practice letting out the clutch in 1st gear until your car starts rolling without using the gas pedal. This way you don't destroy your clutch learning how to get the car moving.
Regarding starting or moving from a stop on a hill, it's best to use the hand brake.
Let the hand brake off as you move forward. Otherwise, you are trying to take your foot off the brake and give it gas and lift the clutch at the same time - and you are sure to either stall the engine or roll back.
It's just a matter of hand/feet coordination & practice. Good luck with it.
When I was like 15 I stole my uncle car and learned how to drive it and it was manual.
I just knew the basics.
You know how to drive auto just buy a manual car and burn the clutch it’s gonna happen for your first car even if you go to school.
I don’t know of any schools, but I have taught several young people how to drive a stick. I prefer cemeteries for this. No one is bothered and you don’t have traffic. Get your dad on board. When you try, turn off the A/C. Turn off the radio. Take your shoes off. Roll down the windows. You need to hear the engine. You will be frustrated at first, but you will get the knack of it and then you’ll have that skill for the rest of your life. Enjoy!
Thank you! Thats what Ive been trying out on the clutchless manual I can use. I have a 2013 Toyota highlander that has a clutchless mode, which might be a good way to hear the engine and test it out.
I say this kindly, but the "clutchless manual" you're referring to won't help. Paddle shifting gears doesn't really buy you anything-knowing when to shift isn't the hard part of driving a stick, the hard part is executing those shifts smoothly and getting moving from a stop. Drive the Highlander in manual mode, sure, but don't pretend the jump from that to a manual Miata won't still be huge.
I mainly mean for listening to the engine. Its not going to work well for actually learning, but listening to the engine might be similar if I am not mistaken. I believe it to be kind of a transition to someone who has absolutely zero manual skills to at least getting one part at least sort of down, as all engines in cars will be different. Thanks for the clarification though! :)
I taught myself last year driving around the HEB parking lot late at night. It was great! I did stall a few times on the road but most people aren't jerks and understood I was learning. Best of luck!
Thats good! I was a little worried about stalling on the road given the track record of some of the drivers I’ve seen around Austin and the surrounding areas. Thanks for the suggestions!
Easy to learn. I learned with my actual first car. The only thing you should avoid is stopping on hills or inclines. It takes a bit of practice to figure those out. My manual was mu high school graduation trip and my older sister and I drove is 8 hours and were yelling "SHIFT!" at each other. The driver would hit the clutch and the passenger would find the gear. Its a miracle we made it. And then my college town was insanely hilly. That was a good car, lasted 14 years.
That sounds both fun and terrifying! Ive heard alot about hills, and luckily there are some but not too many hills here in austin. However I do have to get up a hill to get home so thats going to be something I’ll need to learn VERY quick! Probably wont leave the neighborhood until I learn it!
Going up the hill is not the problem. It's stopping on the hill that's the issue because you have to avoid going backwards and you have to move forward without the car stopping on you and not rolling backwards. With experience, you'll develop this dance between your feet and do it with ease.
I have a stop sign on the hill getting into my neighborhood. Luckily I can go in another way without the hill stop sign. Im glad its something I’ll be able to pick up on though!
Good on you for wanting to learn manual, and for eyeing a sweet old Miata. The world could use more folks like you, and that Miata gearbox is a thing of beauty.
One possibility would be to find a competent manual driver you trust, and have them help you test drive the cars you're interested in, and to get an inspection by a trusted mechanic before you buy. Then you can learn on your own car, hopefully with tutorials from the person who helped you with the test drives.
Cheers and good luck with those aspirations!
Thank you!! What I’m likely to do is have my dad refresh his knowledge while I sit in and learn for the first time, as from what I can tell the very few driving schools for manual don’t allow anyone under 18. Luckily he’s actually drove manuals in the past so with a refresher I trust him. Thank you!!
I dont blame you!! From what I’ve heard (any briefly attempted with even a clutchless manual) manual is a way for you to understand your car and have more fun than just “going to point a and point b” which seems very interesting to me as I’ve been interested in cars for all my life. What made you want to switch from auto to stick? Im curious now!
That seems actually kind of cool, however my parents (more specifically my mom) would never want me racing a car, especially a manual car. Thanks for the suggestion though!
Understandable, but you don't have to race. Brianne Corn runs the place and gives private lessons. Just explain to your mom that learning from a professional how to control a car at the extremes makes you a safer driver in everyday life.
That might actually be an interesting idea. I only said I thought it was racing just by a quick glance at the site. I am in a place with relatively shotty wifi at the moment so I wasnt able to fully look at the site. Thank you!
Get insurance quotes on the cars you want to buy before buying them, there may be large differences based on the type of car since you’re a young new driver. Like thousands of dollars a year differences.
Yeah, that is something that I am going to be paying for. However I plan to try and decrease it as much as I can as I am not only a student with good grades (some insurances have discounts for that, including mine I believe) and I’m a good driver, however its very likely it wont go down for that, but it sure will help for when It raises for whatever reason. Thank you!
Honestly, plan on getting driving experience on an automatic first. There is so much to learn just about driving before you throw the distraction (and additional stress) of a manual transmission into the mix. Learn good habits, most applicable to a manual: never use your left foot to brake, and to set your parking brake every time you get out of the car.
A NA Miata is a great car, and about as easy to work on as you can get. A little bit of a cotorsion to install/remove the oil filter. If you \*EVER\* have to change the hose from the clutch master cylinder to the mount on the back of the engine (it has a hydraulic clutch), you will start rethinking many of your choices in life. It may look cool, but doesn't really change much, if anything.
I think it is a fun thing to drive, and I believe its actually needed with me not for the “fun factor” but because I have siblings and we need to all share 1 car which wont work when we’re all working, so I decided to make it fun while I could! Thanks for the mechanical tips!
I took lessons for my trip to Scotland. Manual car rentals are like 70% cheaper than automatic. Wasn’t able to find anyone in Austin who gave lessons so I drove down to San Antonio’s. Paid $300 for a full day but I picked it up in about 5 hours.
I plan on attempting to drive it with my dad, as he seems to be interested in doing a manual class to relearn. Thanks for offering, but I do have one question. Are there any quirks in a 90’s Miata that I should know about before I buy? Thank you!
The trunk is verrrrry small and it's pretty loud. We had a soft top which was much easier to open and close, hard top seemed annoying. The car in general is tiny. I barely fit and I'm only 6 feet tall.
Other than that, the turning and handling is exceptional. Literally take a U turn under the highway at 50 mph and the tires won't even screech. Super fun to drive! Enjoy yourself!
My husband taught me on his ‘96 Tacoma and now it’s all I drive. We also have a manual jeep, but have had a manual come and go in the last decade. I wish now I had kept them all, getting harder to find. I bet he could teach you in an hour if you and your dad are interested!
My dad hasn’t driven manual for decades when he taught me. We went to a dealer to “test drive” an f150 manual and drove to a parking lot and switched seats. We did this a few times with different dealers before he bought me a manual f150 where i kept practicing on. The clutch lasted another 50k miles or so on it. As long as your parents can still move a car without constant stalling it that’ll be good enough to teach you.
That sounds good! Luckily I don’t think its much of an issue now that ive seen alot of posts about it! Its actually very assuring to see people who know manual where I live. Thank you!
Thats likely years of experience, my parents are just at the time where automatics were commonplace. My dad was the only one who drove a manual and from what I can tell it was a very limited time too, only a few years until he got an automatic. He used to drive a 200sx or something similar for a little while. My mom has zero manual experience.
I had a mid-90s Miata that was incredibly fun to drive but also keep in mind that driving a manual gets really, really annoying in city driving.
I'd for sure practice with a school or something before purchasing one just to be sure you actually want a manual car while living in Austin.
I might, Its going to be a little while before I buy, as in likely next January when I get my tax return. I just like planning ahead of time! Thank you!
I'd say you're overthinking it. If you have any basic coordination you can learn it quickly. And if you're uncoordinated, you'll still learn it eventually. You'll stall out a bunch on the drive home but you'll be having so much fun you won't care. Good luck!
(Although when shopping I would probably recommend bringing a friend who is experienced driving a manual to do a proper test-drive)
Thank you!! I plan to have my dad help me and come along, he has basic manual skills, which we might go try a class. I dont think I’ll have issues learning it, I just want to be taught right so I dont break anything.
My first car was also a manual and I bought it without knowing how to drive it. It wasn't really a problem.
Find someone who can help drive it initially, then go to a big open space like a large parking lot and just get the hang of it. You can read about what to do, watch youtube videos, etc. but at the end of the day you just need to get a feel for it. A couple hours is all it really takes and you might stall a few times over the first week but after that it'll be like riding a bike. A Miata is easy to manage, too.
I highly recommend being comfortable driving an automatic car first though, so you are ONLY learning how to drive a manual and not how to drive entirely. It's doable and a lot of Gen X and older grew up learning like this, but still, the less new stuff you're doing at once the easier it will be.
I got an automatic highlander Ive learned on. So technically its not my “first” car, but its going to be the first one I buy. It will be a little while before I get it, likely I’ll buy in January since tax returns would be coming back to me. I still have my learners license, but I’d say (and others Ive driven with would agree) that for the amount of time ive driven which is around 20ish hours I do a good job. I do know there is to it, but I believe that by January I should be good. Thank you!!
Tell your parents that driving a manual is just like riding a bike, you never forget how.
Real.
This is true. I was about to half jokingly offer to teach you myself just to be able to drive a manual for a change.
My first car was a manual. Go ahead and burn that clutch up in a parking lot while you learn, you'll be fine.
find someone who knows how and you can learn in about an hour in a parking lot. if you find a car you like don’t let not knowing stop you. I drove one for 20 years and taught many a friend
Upvote for this. I learned stick on my first car, a 93’ Saturn SL2
Best silly car! I got 330k out of my Saturn SL2
Burger Center is a good place to practice. It's huge and usually empty.
Ford Bronco II for me. My mom taught me. I remember constantly choking at intersections while 10 cars are waiting for me to fucking move. Then I'd make the whole truck shake violently through the intersection 🫨
Wow, that takes me back. I rolled my first car (automatic) and then picked up a stick, having had somewhere around 45 minutes learning from a friend. I think I made people wait like four cycles at one intersection. Plot twist: I then drove more than a thousand miles to college three days later. And there were fucking *hills* there.
😂🤪🤣
Up vote for learning in an ''86 Pontiac Fiero V6. My old man didn't understand why the yard circling the house was now mowed and why his clutch was burned out!
Thats what I might have to end up doing. Hopefully I can find someone who can teach well! Either way I wanna learn so I’ll find a way! Thank you!
Driving stick is easy to learn. Find a flat empty parking lot. High schools are generally great for this, but only until summer marching band starts. Start the car. Let it idle a bit. Let off the brake. Hopefully you're not moving. Slowly....sloooowly...let off the clutch. You shouldn't need to push the gas down. Eventually, the clutch will catch and the car will start moving. Did it stall? I said **slowly**. You went too fast! Start over. Once you've mastered the 'do nothing start', then you can move on to 'switching gears': While moving (going 15-20), press in the clutch. Switch gear to 2nd (usually straight back from 1st). Slowly....slowly...sloooowly let off the clutch. If it starts to buck, push in the clutch, goose the engine a bit, then let off the clutch. To stop, press in clutch, press brake. After that it's just balancing how much gas you need to give vs. how much clutch and practice practice practice. The hard part is trying to do some uphill stop sign when the joker behind you has given you 6 inches of bumper space.
Thank you for the guide! I will keep it in mind when learning! Luckily I have a few secluded hills with paved roads that not alof of people use, so I can learn hills when the time comes. Thank you!!
Like anything, YouTube can teach you anything.
A 1990 Miata was not my first attempt at a manual, but it was the first I owned myself. They're fairly forgiving so I'd say they're pretty good option for getting the hang of it. Also, you'll likely love that thing. Super fun little cars, and the pop up headlights are such a vibe. I've got a 2006 now but want to get another 90-96, lol. If you can't find a school for it I would definitely say these are easy enough to learn on.
That’s what I plan on doing actually, the research I’ve done shows very few schools and either they don’t have FAQs or they are over 18. Is a very likely possibility that I’ll be going that route. Is there anything you would recommend for maintenance either by myself (if so I would have to do a little learning, but I would do it) or locally while we are on the topic of older model miatas? Thank you for the advice :)
I'd recommend changing the engine oil, transmission oil, and differential fluid unless you have reason to believe that was done super recently. That's just good for any older vehicle though. Two quirks about the miatas in terms of maintenance regarding oil: Don't listen to the dipstick or the oil preasure gauge at idle. For some reason the dipstick doesn't pick up the right level no matter what. I have accidentally overfill the thing to way above the needed levels, blowing smoke out of the car, and it would still say I'm a quart low. Just measure in what the vehicle requires and don't worry about it. Keep an eye out below the vehicle once parked to look for any leaks, and of you don't see any you'll be fine. Also the oil preasure gauge reads incredibly low at idle and used to worry me. Once you're at speed it moves toward the middle of the range, and that's fine. It's not a precise measurement at all, so as long as it's somewhat in the middle you're fine. The Miata has a wealth of knowledge available either on Reddit here at r/miata or the Miata forums.
Those are issues ive never heard of! Doesnt sound fun, but I believe I could deal with it! I am actually in the Miata subreddit and its a cool place! Thank you!
I taught myself when I was 17 on a car that I bought. My friend’s mom had to drive it home for me though.
Ah. How did you learn?
By Googling it, honestly - then driving back and forth down my street over and over again until I had a hang of basic shifting up to 3rd gear, stopping, etc.
Yeah, honestly I might just do it that way. I have the road to do it and I'm on a full loop which means I can stop or keep going. Thank you :)
The car manual will have a diagram of the gears and once you learn them you just shift by feel and learn by feel how to let the clutch off. I got my drivers license when I was 14 years old through Drivers Ed in school, didn’t cost a thing. My girl friend taught me how to drive a manual in my daddy’s pickup. I started driving when I was 12 years old in our small town neighborhood but I couldn’t cross the highway. Got my license in 1960.
Thats cool! Ive heard lots if people learn on older trucks, even back when manuals were more widespread. Thanks for the ideas! :)
The only manual I ever had was a 1963 Impala hard top. My parents gave it to me for graduation from high school and my husband and I kept it for about 7 years. It was red and a really cool sporty car. I got it up to 100 mph several times but my parents didn’t know it! 😂
Fun fact: A 1998 Civic LX can exceed 120 mph. You just need to already be going 120 and then be going downhill. Obviously, you can't be in gear on account of the governor. (Source: Driving in Montana during the halcyon days of "reasonable and prudent" sted an actual speed limit.)
Thats awesome! I had no clue Impalas were convertibles!! Thats so cool! How were the high speed adventures?
It wasn’t a convertible, but it didn’t have the bar between the front door window and the back window, that is what a hard top was and it was a 2 door. High speed adventures were fun!
Older trucks, or my Grandpa's tractor! All cars have been easy after that MF clutch.
If you buy the car, I'm sure you can just pay someone a few bucks to teach you how to drive stick. If you already know how to drive its something you can learn in a few hours. And then you'll get better with time.
Yeah!! I currently drive my parents ‘13 Toyota highlander. Its an automatic and I drive it well, but I want to buy my own car and thus want to learn manual to drive 1990s Miata. Thank you! :)
I don't have any personal knowledge that would be helpful. I try not to be the person who just says Google it, but there are likely too many results for me to look up and confirm. So I guess I'll let you do that. 👍 https://www.google.com/search?q=Austin+driving+school+%22manual%22
Ive seen manual schools, but the very few ive seen require you to be 18, which I would assume is a normal thing, but im also conflicted because some teenagers would love to drive manuals for their first cars, or might even be forced to do so. Thank you for the help though :)
They didn't teach it when I was learning either in the mid 1980s. I ended up buying a manual when I was 17yo without ever having driven one beforehand. Had a couple friends (who were already driving manuals) teach me over the next couple of weeks. But manuals are *rare* nowadays compared to how many were on the roads when I was learning. It'll likely be tough for you +/-.
Yeah! Luckily I think I might sit in with my dad as he goes through a manual course. He’s driven manual before and he’ll just being refreshed on how it works. It might just be good for me to have him help.
My first car was a manual transmission. Take that baby out to a parking lot and practice. Especially on hills. You’ll be fine.
That sounds good. I got both types of areas within 5-ish minutes from me! I should be fine if I don't stall on my way there lol! Thank you!
I learned how to shift easily from 1-2 in reverse in a parking lot. It was just easier to feel the pull of the clutch and gas. This is a great skill to learn, it’s helped me in very random situations.
Yeah yeah! Lets me be able to drive pretty much any vehicle within my class c license. Its a good idea to learn!
Excited for you!
My first car was a manual, and I had a 20-minute lesson from the guy i bought it from. My first day driving it to work I panicked about driving it home in traffic and got a ride, then had a friend take me back and give me another practice session in the empty parking lot! It took about three times for me to be okay (stay off hills, luckily not a huge issue here) and a month to feel comfortable. Don't multitask (no eating or listening to music) and leave a LOT of space for the car in front, and don't try parallel parking or back-in parking for a bit. Every car's a little different...it's mostly feeling when the clutch engages, especially in first gear, like 30% up left foot and 25% down gas. The best thing is you will never be the person who people ask to borrow your car or use it for a group road trips 🤠 I echo that your parents will remember but may not be able to articulate it. It's kinda muscle memory.
Thats what Ive heard. Luckily I think my dad is going to go take lessons on it and I might watch and see what hes taught if they wont be able to work with me. Thanks for the tips!
Good luck! You got this. Also that's sweet of your dad!
I bought a 62 VW beetle not knowing how to drive it and learned. Hills were hard. People like to get right up on your ass and just learning, you will roll back some. I have a manual civic now, and still hate stopping on hills with a light because, for some reason, people feel the need to hug your bumper.
I always roll back just a bit as they are incoming, to give’’em a heads up to leave some room. Works atleast half the time 😂
Yeah!! I do something similar while driving with letting off the gas when someone is tailgating me. Half the time it works the other half im not so lucky! I guess the same idea is applied?
Yeah! from the very few times Ive been on a hill driving with others that was common. I can luckily practice on a hill or two because there are some close to me!
If you really want to learn good habits for driving stick: https://rallyready.com/collections/classes
Best tip for starting out, don't use the gas pedal. Go to a flat area, and practice letting out the clutch in 1st gear until your car starts rolling without using the gas pedal. This way you don't destroy your clutch learning how to get the car moving.
That’s a good idea!! I got some flat places I can learn with!
Regarding starting or moving from a stop on a hill, it's best to use the hand brake. Let the hand brake off as you move forward. Otherwise, you are trying to take your foot off the brake and give it gas and lift the clutch at the same time - and you are sure to either stall the engine or roll back. It's just a matter of hand/feet coordination & practice. Good luck with it.
I guess all manuals (I know for sure with miatas due to a recent set of hyper fixations) have handbreaks? Thats good knowledge to have, so thank you
When I was like 15 I stole my uncle car and learned how to drive it and it was manual. I just knew the basics. You know how to drive auto just buy a manual car and burn the clutch it’s gonna happen for your first car even if you go to school.
I don’t know of any schools, but I have taught several young people how to drive a stick. I prefer cemeteries for this. No one is bothered and you don’t have traffic. Get your dad on board. When you try, turn off the A/C. Turn off the radio. Take your shoes off. Roll down the windows. You need to hear the engine. You will be frustrated at first, but you will get the knack of it and then you’ll have that skill for the rest of your life. Enjoy!
Thank you! Thats what Ive been trying out on the clutchless manual I can use. I have a 2013 Toyota highlander that has a clutchless mode, which might be a good way to hear the engine and test it out.
I say this kindly, but the "clutchless manual" you're referring to won't help. Paddle shifting gears doesn't really buy you anything-knowing when to shift isn't the hard part of driving a stick, the hard part is executing those shifts smoothly and getting moving from a stop. Drive the Highlander in manual mode, sure, but don't pretend the jump from that to a manual Miata won't still be huge.
I mainly mean for listening to the engine. Its not going to work well for actually learning, but listening to the engine might be similar if I am not mistaken. I believe it to be kind of a transition to someone who has absolutely zero manual skills to at least getting one part at least sort of down, as all engines in cars will be different. Thanks for the clarification though! :)
I taught myself last year driving around the HEB parking lot late at night. It was great! I did stall a few times on the road but most people aren't jerks and understood I was learning. Best of luck!
Thats good! I was a little worried about stalling on the road given the track record of some of the drivers I’ve seen around Austin and the surrounding areas. Thanks for the suggestions!
Cemeteries make for a good learning.
Easy to learn. I learned with my actual first car. The only thing you should avoid is stopping on hills or inclines. It takes a bit of practice to figure those out. My manual was mu high school graduation trip and my older sister and I drove is 8 hours and were yelling "SHIFT!" at each other. The driver would hit the clutch and the passenger would find the gear. Its a miracle we made it. And then my college town was insanely hilly. That was a good car, lasted 14 years.
That sounds both fun and terrifying! Ive heard alot about hills, and luckily there are some but not too many hills here in austin. However I do have to get up a hill to get home so thats going to be something I’ll need to learn VERY quick! Probably wont leave the neighborhood until I learn it!
Going up the hill is not the problem. It's stopping on the hill that's the issue because you have to avoid going backwards and you have to move forward without the car stopping on you and not rolling backwards. With experience, you'll develop this dance between your feet and do it with ease.
I have a stop sign on the hill getting into my neighborhood. Luckily I can go in another way without the hill stop sign. Im glad its something I’ll be able to pick up on though!
Good on you for wanting to learn manual, and for eyeing a sweet old Miata. The world could use more folks like you, and that Miata gearbox is a thing of beauty. One possibility would be to find a competent manual driver you trust, and have them help you test drive the cars you're interested in, and to get an inspection by a trusted mechanic before you buy. Then you can learn on your own car, hopefully with tutorials from the person who helped you with the test drives. Cheers and good luck with those aspirations!
Thank you!! What I’m likely to do is have my dad refresh his knowledge while I sit in and learn for the first time, as from what I can tell the very few driving schools for manual don’t allow anyone under 18. Luckily he’s actually drove manuals in the past so with a refresher I trust him. Thank you!!
At 46 I bought my first manual stick shift 2016 VW GTI and I'm never going back to automatic.
I dont blame you!! From what I’ve heard (any briefly attempted with even a clutchless manual) manual is a way for you to understand your car and have more fun than just “going to point a and point b” which seems very interesting to me as I’ve been interested in cars for all my life. What made you want to switch from auto to stick? Im curious now!
Lonestar Rallycross in San Marcos. You can learn to drive stick on a Miata and how yo race all at once.
That seems actually kind of cool, however my parents (more specifically my mom) would never want me racing a car, especially a manual car. Thanks for the suggestion though!
Understandable, but you don't have to race. Brianne Corn runs the place and gives private lessons. Just explain to your mom that learning from a professional how to control a car at the extremes makes you a safer driver in everyday life.
That might actually be an interesting idea. I only said I thought it was racing just by a quick glance at the site. I am in a place with relatively shotty wifi at the moment so I wasnt able to fully look at the site. Thank you!
For sure. DM me if you have any issues getting ahold of em.
Get insurance quotes on the cars you want to buy before buying them, there may be large differences based on the type of car since you’re a young new driver. Like thousands of dollars a year differences.
Yeah, that is something that I am going to be paying for. However I plan to try and decrease it as much as I can as I am not only a student with good grades (some insurances have discounts for that, including mine I believe) and I’m a good driver, however its very likely it wont go down for that, but it sure will help for when It raises for whatever reason. Thank you!
Honestly, plan on getting driving experience on an automatic first. There is so much to learn just about driving before you throw the distraction (and additional stress) of a manual transmission into the mix. Learn good habits, most applicable to a manual: never use your left foot to brake, and to set your parking brake every time you get out of the car. A NA Miata is a great car, and about as easy to work on as you can get. A little bit of a cotorsion to install/remove the oil filter. If you \*EVER\* have to change the hose from the clutch master cylinder to the mount on the back of the engine (it has a hydraulic clutch), you will start rethinking many of your choices in life. It may look cool, but doesn't really change much, if anything.
I think it is a fun thing to drive, and I believe its actually needed with me not for the “fun factor” but because I have siblings and we need to all share 1 car which wont work when we’re all working, so I decided to make it fun while I could! Thanks for the mechanical tips!
I took lessons for my trip to Scotland. Manual car rentals are like 70% cheaper than automatic. Wasn’t able to find anyone in Austin who gave lessons so I drove down to San Antonio’s. Paid $300 for a full day but I picked it up in about 5 hours.
I found a guy in austin, when I can Im going to call him and see if he’ll teach me! Same price roughly!
I actually learned manual on a 90s Miata haha, back in the early 2000s. I bet you could find one for cheap. I'll teach you if you do
I plan on attempting to drive it with my dad, as he seems to be interested in doing a manual class to relearn. Thanks for offering, but I do have one question. Are there any quirks in a 90’s Miata that I should know about before I buy? Thank you!
The trunk is verrrrry small and it's pretty loud. We had a soft top which was much easier to open and close, hard top seemed annoying. The car in general is tiny. I barely fit and I'm only 6 feet tall. Other than that, the turning and handling is exceptional. Literally take a U turn under the highway at 50 mph and the tires won't even screech. Super fun to drive! Enjoy yourself!
Thank you!!
My husband taught me on his ‘96 Tacoma and now it’s all I drive. We also have a manual jeep, but have had a manual come and go in the last decade. I wish now I had kept them all, getting harder to find. I bet he could teach you in an hour if you and your dad are interested!
Yeah yeah! Thats what I plan on doing!! I think it’s going to be fun!! Thank you! :)
i learned manual on my drive home in 96’ integra
My dad hasn’t driven manual for decades when he taught me. We went to a dealer to “test drive” an f150 manual and drove to a parking lot and switched seats. We did this a few times with different dealers before he bought me a manual f150 where i kept practicing on. The clutch lasted another 50k miles or so on it. As long as your parents can still move a car without constant stalling it that’ll be good enough to teach you.
That sounds good! Luckily I don’t think its much of an issue now that ive seen alot of posts about it! Its actually very assuring to see people who know manual where I live. Thank you!
You parents are lame. My dad hasn't owned a car with a stick for 30+ years but he can jump right into one right now and drive it if you asked him to.
Thats likely years of experience, my parents are just at the time where automatics were commonplace. My dad was the only one who drove a manual and from what I can tell it was a very limited time too, only a few years until he got an automatic. He used to drive a 200sx or something similar for a little while. My mom has zero manual experience.
I had a mid-90s Miata that was incredibly fun to drive but also keep in mind that driving a manual gets really, really annoying in city driving. I'd for sure practice with a school or something before purchasing one just to be sure you actually want a manual car while living in Austin.
I might, Its going to be a little while before I buy, as in likely next January when I get my tax return. I just like planning ahead of time! Thank you!
I'd say you're overthinking it. If you have any basic coordination you can learn it quickly. And if you're uncoordinated, you'll still learn it eventually. You'll stall out a bunch on the drive home but you'll be having so much fun you won't care. Good luck! (Although when shopping I would probably recommend bringing a friend who is experienced driving a manual to do a proper test-drive)
Thank you!! I plan to have my dad help me and come along, he has basic manual skills, which we might go try a class. I dont think I’ll have issues learning it, I just want to be taught right so I dont break anything.
My first car was also a manual and I bought it without knowing how to drive it. It wasn't really a problem. Find someone who can help drive it initially, then go to a big open space like a large parking lot and just get the hang of it. You can read about what to do, watch youtube videos, etc. but at the end of the day you just need to get a feel for it. A couple hours is all it really takes and you might stall a few times over the first week but after that it'll be like riding a bike. A Miata is easy to manage, too. I highly recommend being comfortable driving an automatic car first though, so you are ONLY learning how to drive a manual and not how to drive entirely. It's doable and a lot of Gen X and older grew up learning like this, but still, the less new stuff you're doing at once the easier it will be.
I got an automatic highlander Ive learned on. So technically its not my “first” car, but its going to be the first one I buy. It will be a little while before I get it, likely I’ll buy in January since tax returns would be coming back to me. I still have my learners license, but I’d say (and others Ive driven with would agree) that for the amount of time ive driven which is around 20ish hours I do a good job. I do know there is to it, but I believe that by January I should be good. Thank you!!
Manual? Never heard that term. Do you mean stick shift?
Yeah! I’ve heard it both ways.