A friend of mine picked up a teal Wrangler with a manual transmission. I know enthusiasts prefer manual over auto, but I've never given it much though. Then I was schlepping home in my 4-spd slushbox in my SC when the age-old question popped into my head: how long and how easy is it for one to learn stick?

Just curious about the CL community's input, I might actually run out and learn manual myself!

 

always good to know how even if you have an auto.

 

Exactly, that's why I want to learn!

 

It's just a balance. Right foot goes down, left one comes up. Teeter totter...... at different speeds. About a 2:1 ratio of movement between gas and clutch. Learn the technique.

/done.

 

Moved here....
The man law in me says its just ghey not to know how to drive a manual.

Its not really an enthusiast thing, but a purist thing. There is just no feeling like one with a manual.

My favorites are Honda and Porsche manuals.

 

It's not hard, just takes time and the right car. Personally, I've stopped teaching people on my car. The clutch is just too difficult to learn on. Still, I have very few friends that can drive a MT. What if there was ever a situation in which I couldn't drive and someone needed to drive my car?

 

Even if you swear to buy an automatic car all your life and to never drive manual, its good to know how....

I actually prefer manual over automatic but an LS with manual is kinda weird..

learned to drive manual at the age of 14 and im now 18

 

I'd be uncomfortable not knowing. If you ever travel to Europe, any rental car will almost always be a manual.

It takes about an afternoon to lean how, but daily driving to really perfect it.

 

Wait until you try to ride a motorcycle.

Right hand = front brake.
Right foot = rear brake.
Left hand = clutch lever.
Left foot = clutch shifter.

 

I kno right, but motorcycles are the best!

And i actually prefer manuals over automatic anyday. I learned by just observing...watching my brother drive his 89 Honda Integra, 2000 Honda Accord...THEN '08 Toyota Camry (All MT.) and once i got a chance to drive a stick shift, it was easy.

 

are you ok?

 

Learn the clutch release point of your car. Every make is different. Once you learn to start in first and shift to second it's all cake from there.

If you can find a place that's safe and with a relatively slight incline, car will slowly roll back if you don't step on the brake, I found out that's the best place to practice your release point. When your car isn't rolling back, nor going forward. That's the sweet spot.

 

Hondas make damn fine MTs. I fell in love with the GSR clutch and transmission the moment I drove one.

 

learn how to drive a manual while you can. It seems like a dying breed.

 

Honda's are the best manuals. Have you driven MT's from each brand?