Manual Transmission Lessons

[Bohizzle]

Has anyone ever bought or taken any manual transmission lessons?

My girlfriend wants to learn to drive manual but I think it would be better if someone else taught her. I taught her the very basics in my car, but think that a professional would be able to teach her significantly more.

Through google I've found shiftnation and shifters. Both seem pretty good, but I have nothing to compare them to.

Has anyone done or purchased these lessons for someone else before?

Thanks,

Andrew

[S.F.W.]

My sister took a course from shifters prior to grtting her car. Ssaid goood things about the program.

[maz06]

I took a course from shiftnation and he was a great guy, I was actually able to learn the basics within the time provided

[rgray]

My sister took a course from shifters prior to grtting her car. Ssaid goood things about the program.

+1 I took a lesson from Shifters before getting my car. None of my friends were willing to let me learn on their cars :P

It was great and helped me get the basics down, but nothing beats practice...

[Bohizzle]

Did you guys opt for the 1 session or multiple sessions with shifters/shiftnation?

I think I may be getting ahead of myself here, as she won't have the opportunity to drive a standard transmission unless I am tired, so I think I might hold off on getting her the sessions until a little later, when she has more opportunity to drive a manual tranny.

Thanks again,

Andrew

[S.F.W.]

Did you guys opt for the 1 session or multiple sessions with shifters/shiftnation?

I think I may be getting ahead of myself here, as she won't have the opportunity to drive a standard transmission unless I am tired, so I think I might hold off on getting her the sessions until a little later, when she has more opportunity to drive a manual tranny.

Thanks again,

Andrew

if she will not be able to drive manual regularly, hold off on the lessons.

[SomeGuy]

Lessons? Find someone with a car who doesn't care, find an empty parking lot, do start/stops until the clutch is smelly...repeat until successful (to learn how to get going). Follow up with quiet residential neighbourhood roads (to learn how to shift). Finally find some hilly terrain in a residential area (to learn hill starts)....and that's it. Practice is all it takes and lessons aren't more than clutch in, change gear, clutch out, repeat.

[Fuyuzora]

One of the best ways to teach someone manual:

Bring them into a flat, open area, put it into first gear, then have them get the car rolling by ONLY using the clutch (no accelerator). This will teach them where the contact point is on the clutch pedal, which is TBH the thing that probably screws up most MTX-newbies (letting it out too fast/too slow). Once they're able to get the car rolling easily and reliably in first, repeat in second gear. You could even repeat starting in third gear, but by that time they'd probably have it down pretty well and it'd be more wear on the clutch than it's worth.

[drunkmunky]

The first time I learned how to drive a manual was after I took the greyhound bus to Kitchener. I drove the car all the way back home on the highway to Markham. It was scary, but it was one hell of a way to force me to learn.

You'll probably want to enroll in shifters lol

[gotak]

Not sure how practical it is if she's not getting a manual car. My fiancee has expressed interest in learning but when's she going to drive my car? Only on weekends on weekdays she'd never want to trade cars because she'll be too scared to drive a manual to work. So even if she takes lessons it might take her a good while to get good at it. It would be nice if she can so she can drive when I want to drink at dinner etc. The thing is she's not the type who sees it as a skill she'd like to master. And her frustration threshold is low.

Hopefully your gf's a lot more interested in actually learning and is looking to get a manual car. As it is I don't know if my girl will ever actually learn to drive my car.

[Hyperion]

Seems to be a waste of money
As pointed out before, get them to get the car rolling using only the clutch, and tell them a few things.
1) It's a game where you want to keep the needle above the 1
2) The brake pedal will make it slowly do down to =< 1, or 0 if no clutch is used.
3) The clutch will immediately drop it to =<1
4) If the needle goes below 1, and the clutch isn't in, you have, or are about to, lose the game.
5) The gas pedal is your only hope to keep it above
6) Once you get the needle to about the 3, clutch in, next gear, and repeat.

4 people taught on that game method so far.

[Bohizzle]

Thanks for all the info and opinions everybody! I've decided not to do it yet/if at all. If I do get lessons for her it will be when she will be driving a standard car with more frequency.

I think in the meantime I will give her another little crash course lesson using my car, so that on long drives I can get a little bit of rest. :)

Thanks again everybody,

Andrew

[p-o-g-i]

I learned how to drive stick when I first got my license, and that was through Young Drivers. I had no issues and caught on pretty quick. Now mind you, this was 18 years ago.

But I agree with Ami's statement above, if she will not be driving manual on a regular basis.... it's a waste of time. I only drove manual for the first year and a half, then drove auto ever since. I'm sure if I tried to drive stick now, i would either bunny hop the hell out of it, or stall it.

[rzapata]

My two cents.. Classes aren't really necessary. You just need a good and patient teacher that's all. :) I learned through my dad when I was a kid (he taught me the basics but because I was still little and couldn't reach the pedals yet, he didn't let me drive).. I kept watching people drive and how they do the clutch release and stuff, asking questions all the time. Then finally, when I was old enough to get a license, I got a chance to try it out myself... Stalled the vehicle a couple of times then after a few more tries, I got the hang of it.. :) (Mind you, I did not yet take the car out on the street, I was just in the garage, driving around)

Then, after I had more confidence in driving the car, I took it out and voila, I'm driving.. :)

IMO, I would take some time during the weekend or something to teach her (that's what I did, taught my girlfriend how to drive a stick)... No need to spend money on unnecessary stuff. If you teach her yourself, at least you guys will have more time together bonding and learning.. :) :thumbsup

[Slade]

I agree with the above,

I learned the quickest way you can, I bought my manual MX-3 on Thursday, then drove from Brighton -> Stoney Creek on Friday in rush hour, you get the hang pretty quick haha, it was my first time driving a manual.

My dad also drives truck, and I ran with him for 5-7years so I seen "how" to drive a standard, just never did it until I got my car (except moving the straight truck at my old job).

I also learned how to shift without the need for a clutch haha, the last year I had my mx-3 the clutch was 99% gone and I planned on getting a new car so I just pop the rpm's in netural and push her into next gear :)

I would love to have a 5spd in my truck...

Edit: My friend just recently bought a 2000 Lincoln with a 5spd in it and I only stalled it once after not driving a standard for almost 6 years, and that was because I didn't want to scrape it pulling into his driveway :)

[chrisd]

I took one class with Shifters, which was a good way to learn the basics of standard. After that, just had friends and family show me tips and tricks along the way. I'm still not perfect at it, but I can at least get from point A to point B in a standard car...hill starts are a bit of an issue though...

[PR3Y11]

I took one class with Shifters, which was a good way to learn the basics of standard. After that, just had friends and family show me tips and tricks along the way. I'm still not perfect at it, but I can at least get from point A to point B in a standard car...hill starts are a bit of an issue though...

e-brake start until you get used to it :thumbsup


thinking about signing up my gf for the lesson. looking for a starter car for her atm

[chrisd]

e-brake start until you get used to it :thumbsup


thinking about signing up my gf for the lesson. looking for a starter car for her atm

Haha ya some friends said that as well. I just need to practice it more and really get the hang of it.

For lessons, I'd for sure give shifters a thought. I don't have much to compare it to, and only took a couple lessons with them, but the instructor was helpful and patient, and definitely helped me improve driving standard. It's been quite awhile though, so unfortunately I can't remember how much they charge.

[slam525i]

On the subject of teaching your significant other how to drive a manual, my good friend had only one thing to say: "That was not a good day for our relationship"

Having lent my car to my GF for the last 2 weeks and trying to teach her how to drive it, I fully agree. Bonus: I now also know what clutch smells like.

If you can afford it, get her lessons. If not, prepare for a bumpy ride, figuratively and literally. It's not necessary, but it doing it yourself will take days off your life.

[Alejandr0]

Seems to be a waste of money
As pointed out before, get them to get the car rolling using only the clutch, and tell them a few things.
1) It's a game where you want to keep the needle above the 1
2) The brake pedal will make it slowly do down to =< 1, or 0 if no clutch is used.
3) The clutch will immediately drop it to =<1
4) If the needle goes below 1, and the clutch isn't in, you have, or are about to, lose the game.
5) The gas pedal is your only hope to keep it above
6) Once you get the needle to about the 3, clutch in, next gear, and repeat.

4 people taught on that game method so far.

Reviving this oldie.... I'm currently teaching my gf how to drive "our" MTX car... I work downtown so I refuse to drive when my job is a street car ride away, her on the other hand needs to get to the airport so she will be driving it more often. Today was her first lesson....EVER. I'm by no means the most patient person but man those stalls feel like a punch!, regardless she stalled a couple of times but by the 5th-6th try from a dead stop she was getting a grip on it so we did a couple of circles in a parking lot and called it a day. Next time I will use this little game which seems like a very good idea - I made her read it and she agreed. It's not fair to say i love my car more than her or vice-versa so is it ok to love em both equally? lol

[ace_master]

My very first car was a manual transmission. My dad took me a few km away from home and got out of the car, told me the only way i was getting home was learning to drive my new (used) car, lol... it worked. He sat in the passenger seat and told me when I was doing something wrong... I even had to stop half way up a hill... stalled twice trying to get going again, but figured it out pretty quick.

[Rob23]

One of the best ways to teach someone manual:

Bring them into a flat, open area, put it into first gear, then have them get the car rolling by ONLY using the clutch (no accelerator). This will teach them where the contact point is on the clutch pedal, which is TBH the thing that probably screws up most MTX-newbies (letting it out too fast/too slow). Once they're able to get the car rolling easily and reliably in first, repeat in second gear. You could even repeat starting in third gear, but by that time they'd probably have it down pretty well and it'd be more wear on the clutch than it's worth.

This! ^

[bhrm]

I believe Sweetie Girl Racing does basics, and when she's ready they do lapping lessons at Mosport.

[Jsquared]

I have only read the first post so I hope this is not repeating something.

I purchased lessons for my wife through Shifters.ca. We really liked these guys because they explain the basics before they even let you get in the car. This way you have a good understanding of what you're about to undertake. They even have cool little toys the can really show you all the moving parts and the process in which they take. My wife took a total of 5 lessons and is very confident now going forward.

We liked them so much my wife bought me their performance shifting courses. I did 5 courses as well and I could not be happier with what I learned as someone who has already spent 15 years driving standard.

http://www.shifters.ca/

[Tozer]

I have only read the first post so I hope this is not repeating something.

I purchased lessons for my wife through Shifters.ca. We really liked these guys because they explain the basics before they even let you get in the car. This way you have a good understanding of what you're about to undertake. They even have cool little toys the can really show you all the moving parts and the process in which they take. My wife took a total of 5 lessons and is very confident now going forward.

We liked them so much my wife bought me their performance shifting courses. I did 5 courses as well and I could not be happier with what I learned as someone who has already spent 15 years driving standard.

http://www.shifters.ca/

519+tax for their total control package is a bit steep.

You could buy a beater and learn yourself for almost the same price

[krimsalt]

Do what I did. Buy a crapbox jalopy for like 200$ that can't even be safetied. Get a 10 day temp permit. Learn how to drive manual with it (get the second 10 day temp permit if necessary). Scrap the car afterward for 50$-70$.

[Jsquared]

519+tax for their total control package is a bit steep.

You could buy a beater and learn yourself for almost the same price

Yeah I should point out its not cheap but its worth it. My wife can now say she learned how to drive on an RX8. That is the instructors car.

[standsideways]

literally^^^

anyone wants to pay hundreds to learn stick just let me know lol, speed3 is a great car to learn manual LOL

[peterm15]

literally^^^

anyone wants to pay hundreds to learn stick just let me know lol, speed3 is a great car to learn manual LOL

+ 1.

At 500 a pop. 5 people sign up and I'll let you all blow my clutch.

[Maz3Dan]

I've always wanted to learn properly. When i go to portugal my cousin will let me take her car out for a spin, but i stay within the limits of our tiny village. I thought about lessons, but i read what one of the posters said below about it being cheaper to just buy a beater. I found a 1991 Acura Integra with 320k on it. They want 500 i offered 250. i figure i'll run it into the ground. Even if i have it for only two months, i'll have learned what i need to know.

[Jsquared]

Hahah you guys make a good point. However, as many may agree, its hard to teach your spouse of almost 14 years how to drive standard. Frustration built up too fast so we got her lessons. We go out now together and its much more relaxed and fun. She even took the car to 6th gear on the weekend!!

[Jsquared]

I've always wanted to learn properly. When i go to portugal my cousin will let me take her car out for a spin, but i stay within the limits of our tiny village. I thought about lessons, but i read what one of the posters said below about it being cheaper to just buy a beater. I found a 1991 Acura Integra with 320k on it. They want 500 i offered 250. i figure i'll run it into the ground. Even if i have it for only two months, i'll have learned what i need to know.

Is it cheaper though in the long run? Are you guys not insuring these cars? I have never done it so I am guessing here. I would like to see someone who can show me where they have bought a beater, made it road safe, insured it and all for under $500 dollars. That alone sounds like a shit ton of work to save what.... maybe 100 dollars difference?

[standsideways]

10 day permit :)

[Jsquared]

Oh, I forgot about that. I have never bought a car where I needed the permit. good call! I'll eat my words :) haha

[slam525i]

Frustration built up too fast so we got her lessons.

When I taught my GF how to drive a manual, she damn near left me. When asking my very good friend how it was for her when her BF taught her how to drive stick, she replied "It was not a good day for our relationship..."

Really, probably better to just get lessons...

[Scottobot]

However, as many may agree, its hard to teach your spouse of almost 14 years how to drive standard. Frustration built up too fast so we got her lessons.
+1


When I taught my GF how to drive a manual, she damn near left me. When asking my very good friend how it was for her when her BF taught her how to drive stick, she replied "It was not a good day for our relationship..."

Really, probably better to just get lessons...

+2


My wife took a total of 5 lessons and is very confident now going forward.
What about reverse? Do they not teach reverse?

[Pokaroo Kris]

Do what I did. Buy a crapbox jalopy for like 200$ that can't even be safetied. Get a 10 day temp permit. Learn how to drive manual with it (get the second 10 day temp permit if necessary). Scrap the car afterward for 50$-70$.

That's actually a good idea. The $50-$70 you get back for scrap covers your gas for the ten days :)

I was lucky enough to have a friend who had a first gen rx-7 who didn't care...went down to sunnybrook park and I learned the basics there.

[Pokaroo Kris]

Hahah you guys make a good point. However, as many may agree, its hard to teach your spouse of almost 14 years how to drive standard. Frustration built up too fast so we got her lessons. We go out now together and its much more relaxed and fun. She even took the car to 6th gear on the weekend!!


When I taught my GF how to drive a manual, she damn near left me. When asking my very good friend how it was for her when her BF taught her how to drive stick, she replied "It was not a good day for our relationship..."

Really, probably better to just get lessons...

I don't want to make you guys sound bad, but it's really about who's teaching her. A buddy of mine tried to teach his wife stick, and she could barely get out of first. I volunteered to let her learn on my old civic. To my surprise she was getting into 3rd within an hour, and reverse.

On another note, I tried to teach a couple ex's how to drive stick and they were the same way you guys described.

Guess women don't have confidence in their other half to teach them :P

[Scottobot]

Guess women don't have confidence in their other half to teach them :P

I think it's more like they're more comfortable yelling at their other half when they get frustrated as opposed to a stranger/friend/instructor.

[leungalv]

I learned from shifters.ca 2 years ago ... price was around $350 ... :)

[Jsquared]

I think it's more like they're more comfortable yelling at their other half when they get frustrated as opposed to a stranger/friend/instructor.

This. I taught my brothers girlfriend in one weekend and another buddy in one day with no problems at all. My brothers gf now drives a 2013 manual shift mustang to work everyday. It really all depends on how comfortable you are with the person beside you. The more comfortable, the more problems haha.

[Alejandr0]

This. I taught my brothers girlfriend in one weekend and another buddy in one day with no problems at all. My brothers gf now drives a 2013 manual shift mustang to work everyday. It really all depends on how comfortable you are with the person beside you. The more comfortable, the more problems haha.

Couldn't agree more.

[STeeLy]

I tried to teach a friend how to drive manual on a WRX. That was a terrible idea.

She couldn't grasp the concept of how to drive one. I thought my instructions were pretty clear, but apparently, not clear enough, and she jolted that car like crazy. Lesson learned, if someone has terrible coordination and wants to learn to drive manual, don't learn it on an AWD.

I told her to let the clutch out slowly and smoothly, but apparently, slowly and smoothly to her meant letting it out in stages instead if one smooth motion... yeeeeaaaaaaah... >_>

[rajin929]

Jsqaured hit the nail on the head, when it comes to wife
$$$ spent > sleeping on couch.