Learning to drive a manual transmission. The single best tip I received.

sam_KOR · 5時間前

Yep! That is the best way to teach people. Slow off the clutch, slow on the gas will only get people too far.

littlebuggacs · 5時間前

Some diesels dont even need gas to take off on a flat street, thats how they taught us in driving school

Rikers_Mojo · 3時間前

The Smoking Tire has a great guide on driving manual cars on youtube. It's very easy. Anyone who explains it like you first told us is lazy.

https://youtu.be/waeOibnmuJk

After watching this, anyone ought to be able to get in a manual car and get it down the road effectively quite quickly.

Arealentleman · 4時間前

There might be more to it than just the way he taught you. The clutch on your old Omni is a cable operated clutch, the Celica has a hydraulic clutch. I'll bet your omni had an issue with the cable, like it was stretched or needed adjustment. Also hydraulic clutches are inherently more smooth feeling than a cable clutch because there is no mechanical connection between the pedal and the clutch itself.

Gbiknel · 3時間前

My dad taught me by driving 10 miles from home and said, k drive home...I like your way better

equiraptor · 3時間前

One other change:

Don't "let the clutch out" (slowly or not). Instead, ease pressure on the clutch, squeeze it a bit less hard. It's the same process, but using the different words for it makes it easier for someone not familiar to do it well. When people think of "letting the clutch out", they think more of relaxing muscles and not holding that tension. When they think of squeezing a bit less hard, they think of keeping muscles tense and keeping pressure, just not quite as much. The different mental approach helps with smoother, slower movement from the foot which is then easier to feel and adjust for, as a novice.

The technique with waiting until the revs respond to the clutch movement is generally good, but some cars with lightweight flywheels and twitchy clutches will stall before a novice can respond to the change in rpm. Changing the words like this helps the novice driver be that much more delicate on the clutch, which helps give them that chance to respond before the car stalls. I found I had to use this language change when teaching a friend manual on my MX-5 (with a 7 pound aftermarket flywheel).

WishIWasOnTheFarm · 2時間前

You missed a title opportunity here. "Automatic transmission manufacturers hate him! Learn to drive a manual transmission with this one simple trick!"

crash237 · 3時間前

I successfully taught several people to drive manual in my old Mk5 Golf by first having them get the car rolling without using the gas pedal at all. Once they understood what the clutch pedal really did and how to use it, getting them to shift gears came naturally.

DeathByPianos · 2時間前

Very succinct but just a tip: when you say "stop depressing the clutch" that would mean take your foot entirely off the clutch. You should probably change that to "hold the clutch still" or something.

cameronbates1 · 3時間前

I wish this worked for me, my car doesn't have a tach

magus-21 · 3時間前

Yeah, this is how I taught my little cousin, too. Main difference is that I taught her in my Miata, which gets going really easily without gas. So I got her to learn the bite point and get the car moving just by letting out the clutch, then moved on to getting moving with gas.

Alpinestarhero · 2時間前

Once you get experienced, you should be able to achieve a smooth getaway with 1000 rpm. As you engage the clutch (upon reaching the bite point) just feed on throttle. Smooth like butter.

drivecartoabar · 1時間前

This is so strange. In my country, we all learn to drive on cars that have the manual transmission. Transiting to automatic goes smoothly as you can expect, but I have never met a person that finds manual transmission complicated. I'm from Serbia, by the way.

I426Hemi · 47分前

NO! FOOT HARD DOWN ON GAS UNTIL CAR IS SCREAMING, THEN DUMP CLUTCH!!!! ONLY WAY DRIVE!!!

drifter28 · 3時間前

The best vehicles to learn driving manual from are diesels. They don't require too much footwork unless you're on an uphill road. You basically just slowly release the clutch and they move forward.

aeternavindictus · 3時間前

That's mostly the same story for me. Everyone teaching me before said just let off the clutch and give it gas while letting off. After driving on my own I realized the best way to teach it is to have them pause at the bite point and give it gas, then let off. Otherwise the new driver will just be letting off the clutch at random speeds but by telling em about the bite point it gives them a target and a point to focus on. I think it makes handling the clutch a lot less intimidating when you know where you're supposed to bring it.

Cisiowian · 2時間前

That's complicated. I teach to give it gas until you can nicely hear the engine. Leave gas pedal stationary and slowly lift foot off the gas. Once we have some successful stall free getaways and actual driving we work on smoothing out the gas/clutch footwork.

My goal is to not stall as that really puts off the newbie.

yismeicha · 4時間前

Thank you. I sometimes have to drive manual, and I'm always jumping. I will try this next time.

sleekskyline120 · 3時間前

This is good advice, but at the end of the day you just need practice. The only way you can learn to drive stick is to drive stick.

Nickolai1993 · 3時間前

In 2012 i transported cars for dodge with no knowledge of manual trannys. My lot manager pulled me aside one day and showed me this exact same way. I haven't drive autotragic since.

4K1 · 3時間前

This was also what really helped me out !

MaryJaneFonda · 2時間前

I've sold a few people manual cars that I thought them how to drive in the parking lot.

Blurgas · 2時間前

Used to work in a quarry. Every truck from the yard pickup to the various repurposed semi's to the haul trucks were all manual.
Got the hang of upshifting but since there wasn't much equivalent to street traffic, never really got the hang of downshifting.
Also never really got the hang of starting off facing up an incline

So yea, me + manual + actual traffic would be bad

olov244 · 2時間前

this is the oldest method in the book. too many people have been taught wrong, "rev the motor, then release the clutch"

my tip, it's easier with a bigger engine, smaller engines can stall easy if you aren't slow with the clutch, bigger engines with plenty of torque can absorb quick clutch release

NomadMoose · 2時間前

Yup, that's how my dad taught me. My first lesson I wasn't even allowed to touch the gas. He brought me to an empty parking lot, put me in the driver's seat, and made me release the clutch to that "catch" point about 100 times. Once I was comfortable with it he had me start gently with the gas just creeping forward. Then once I was good with that I was pretty much good to go.

dyonisos911 · 2時間前

The best tip, and I have posted this numerous times here, I have received is the following:

Look for an empty piece of road with a slight incline. Like 3%. Stop in the middle of it and press the brake with your right foot and press the clutch. Now take away your right foot and tuck it away for good.

From now on you control the car solely with the clutch. You will of course roll backwards and you will catch it just with the clutch. Then you will roll forward with the clutch. Then you press it and let the car roll backwards again and catch it with the clutch again.

I did this 10 minutes with my driving instructor giving me the order. "Catch!". "Hold!". "Forward!". And it really helped me get a feeling for the clutch.

kittyspajamas · 2時間前

My dad used the analogy that there is a string attached to either pedal, so if you depressed one, you released the other with it because of the string! There's lots of different ways to explain it, it's just finding one that works for the person learning!

Baron_unknown · 2時間前

My car (2009 110 HP 1.400cc Gasoline Seat Ibiza) in turn, does need to get gas just after you get to "the point", and as far as I know many gas cars here in europe work like this. My father always says: "Opression on one of your feet, depresses the other the same amount."

MythicDO · 2時間前

Thank you for the tip!

kfull · 1時間前

My dad described the clutch as having a "friction zone" in between all the way depressed and all the way let out where the car will start to move. Just this idea helped things click in my head when I was learning

StockAL3Xj · 1時間前

I tried to teach a few people to drive a manual and it wasn't only until recently that I started to tell people to do this. It gives them less to think about and allows them to get a better feel for what the car is doing.

Ftpini · 1時間前

It varies by car. I had a 2002 Miata that was super easy to get going, but nothing beat the 2014 Mustang GT. The gas wasn't needed at all and I even very stupidly once started off in 3rd gear by mistake. Easiest manual I've ever driven.

43werdfa · 1時間前

That is the shit you normally understand, how the system works

iproginger · 1時間前

This is a great tip, the car I learned on didn't have a tach so it was an interesting experience.

FatalBrush · 1時間前

Why do people not look for a teacher and simply get this explained? Here in Switzerland for example, every new car driver goes to a teacher and is taught how to drive a manual car... is this just a thing in Europe?

detectivejewhat · 1時間前

Sounds like you had some shitty teachers, in sorry about that. This is the way I learned when I was 15 years old on my first car. My dad told me that, and within 2-3 hours of practicing in a parking lot I had it down and was ready for the road. I've taught quite a few people who said "I can't do it I've tried before" using this method and it works every time. If you don't teach them how to find out for themselves when to give it gas, they'll never learn. Manual is easy when you're taught correctly.

Igotolake · 1時間前

Yea, this is very clear. The guy teaching to ride a motorcycle explained it like this. Super simple

WizKid_ · 1時間前

This is how I taught my gf. Also set launch control to 2k for hills lol

blackjesus75 · 1時間前

I simply say letting the clutch out will cause the RPMs to drop, pressing the gas will make them go up, try to keep it between 1-2k rpms. It turns it into a game and people seems to do better at it.

braveheart18 · 1時間前

I agree your way is a better way to teach.

Another great tip I received when I was learning was "You can always push the clutch back in"

It really alleviated my fears of stalling because even if you mess up the timing or feel the car start to stutter, you can always push the clutch back in and try again. I think most peoples instinct when something goes wrong is to take their foot off everything, so I think this helped me realize I don't need to accept a bad start and risk stalling.

RecidivistMS3 · 1時間前

My father attempted to teach me to drive stick. He'd been doing so since he was a kid, but had no earthly idea of how to impart 40+ years of knowledge. My first car was a manual and after an hour screaming at me through bucks and stalls, he told me he was selling the car. I then proceeded to teach myself by stopping the truck on the incline of the driveway and finding the bit point of the clutch to stop rolling backwards. After that it was smooth sailing. I've taught about a dozen people to drive a manual this way and they all took to it immediately I'm happy to say.

Bubbaluke · 1時間前

this is exactly how I got my buddy to figure it out. you don't just let the clutch out in one smooth motion, you let it out until the car moved, then leave it there until the gear catches. at that point you can let off the clutch as fast as you want, it doesn't matter anymore.

Hotwir3 · 1時間前

Gosh my mom taught me and she kept giving me the classic instructions but never used the word "slow" so I'd start pressing the gas and drop the clutch, as I'd heard you do in movies, so we were stuttering down our entire neighborhood and she was laughing so hard she couldn't teach me

AlvinGT3RS · 1時間前

Your post is pretty much what many in /r/cars tells you all the time. Op

badogski29 · 45分前

Best way to learn, thats how i taught myself.

tokeonthis · 40分前

I've always taught people this way. I've seen this work out so much better than when they try to start with releasing the clutch and pressing the gas at the same time. Same goes with hill starts. Forget the handbrake or trying to jump on the gas soon enough. Release the clutch until you see the rpms drop a bit and that will hold you on the hill enough to where you can press the gas and start going with minimal roll back.

crshbndct · 39分前

Why are there so many posts about driving manuals on this sub?

Lord_Flacco · 37分前

I wrote this up for 2015+ wrxs but it should still help you out.

Here's my most basic advice, others feel free to voice your opinion or throw in anything i missed.

Find an empty flat parking lot. With the car on depress the clutch all the way and put the car in 1st gear. Slowly let up on the clutch without adding any gas until the car gets rolling and the rpms begin to drop, hold it at that spot for a second or two and then slowly let it out all the way. At this point you should be rolling without ever having to touch the gas. Push the clutch back in and come to a stop. When the rpms drop and the car begins to roll that is your clutch's grab point. Repeat ad infinitum.
With the car on and in neutral practice revving the car to a steady 2000 rpm and holding it. Then practice dropping from 2000 to 1500, and back to 2000.
Combine parts 1 and 2. As your clutch begins to grab your rpms will drop and you will need to apply a bit of gas. Think of moving your feet in an opposing manner. Sometimes I start off with little to no gas until the clutch has grabbed, sometimes I add a little gas. Imo that part is personal opinion and driving style (also situational). Find what works for you, you will eventually learn how to smooth things out.
Pushing in the clutch all the way in is your friend. If you're about to stall, push it to the floor. If your start is incredibly jerky, push it to the floor. If you need to stop rapidly, push it to the floor and get on the brakes
Upshifting: The 1st to 2nd shift. Subaru has implemented a rev hang for what is believed to be emissions reasons. What this means for you is that as you shift from 1st to 2nd the revs stay higher than you would like for about 1.5seconds. As a result the 1-2 shift can be jerky. Doing this shift slowly and applying a bit of gas as you let the clutch out will help smooth things out. Additionally the 1-2 can feel different because it has the largest difference in gearing ratios.
Upshifting part 2: Other shifts are much smoother in a wrx. Once you reach ~3000rpm or greater: Let off the gas, clutch in, switch gear, let out the clutch (again start slowly until you learn your clutch). To avoid shock let out the clutch when you no longer feel the acceleration pushing you into your seat. I've found a smooth 3000 rpm upshift will put you to ~2000rpm in most gears.
Downshifting: Same process essentially as upshifting (off the gas, clutch in, shift, clutch out) however I recommend Rev matching. Some will say it's unnecessary but it really smooths out the slowing down process. In layman's terms the idea is you want the rpms to match that of the gear you're shifting down to. For example if you are at ~2000 rpm in 3rd going ~30 mph, push in the clutch, put the car in 2nd, blip the throttle to ~3500 rpm, let out the clutch as the revs drop. When done properly you should be at ~3000 rpm in 2nd going 30mph with no jerky.
Don't lug the engine (driving below a suitable rpm the car will feel jerky and like it's stuttering, this is bad).
Don't WOT in 5th or 6th at a low rpm (typically <2k)

Some learn in 20 minutes, some 2 hours, some 2 days. Have fun, learn from your mistakes, and don't let it stress you out (the wrong teacher can definitely do this). We all stall from time to time

SirRolex · 36分前

All about the catch point! Learned manual on my uncles 1969 Chevelle. Was doing so bad until my dad took me for a ride and finally explained the catch point. And it all made sense.

OGNick · 29分前

This is similar to how I teach people. I have them slowly release the clutch when in gear until it starts to engage...But instead of then moving to the accelerator pedal, I just have them repeat slowly pressing and releasing the clutch pedal until they learn where the engagement point is by feel. Then we move on to adding the accelerator pedal. We try starts and stops many times until they can repeatedly smoothly get the vehicle moving. Then we move on to shifting gears. This has seemed to work well for me with everyone I have taught.

agiordanony · 29分前

What year was this that you traded your '78 in for an '80?

Sway212 · 25分前

I happened upon this thread from r/all and had a question for anyone who reads this. When I learned driving, our family had a 1992 Toyota Cressida. I don't think it's in circulation anymore. So I learned how to release the clutch and push the accelerator but eventually developed my own way. I would first push the accelerator and let the car rev up a bit and then I would remove my foot from the clutch. Is this a bad method of doing it? Basically speaking, I would push on the gas pedal before even releasing the clutch. I dis this a long time back, maybe around 10 years back. I haven't driven a manual after that car so I don't exactly remember my process but this is all I remember. Any advice would be appreciated.

MaGNeTiX · 24分前

As someone who lives in the UK where the vast majority learn to drive manual and own manual, it still baffles me that this method of driving is so uncommon in the US.

jostling_jubblies · 24分前

This is the way the Motorcycle Safety Foundation teaches you how to operate a motorcycle! In fact, the first on-bike moving activity you do is doing back and forth laps using only the clutch and your feet. Works great. I teach people the same trick in the car (without flintstones feet though lol).

rxFMS · 22分前

same here...once i knew where the "friction point" was in releasing the clutch it was "all over but the wiping" ...(that means i got it) lol

ChrisBrownsKnuckles · 18分前

The way I always teach people is close to that. I always make people put the clutch all the way in and give a bit of gas till you can hear the car Rev a bit. Next you slowly start releasing the clutch and when the car starts to move give more gas and come off the clutch. So much has easier than the first time I was taught.

eastkent · 12分前

The 'biting point'. I can drive my diesel Skoda Fabia up to about 35mph without even touching the accelerator. Almost impossible to stall, it is.

jperth73 · 7分前

That's how everyone is taught to drive standard.

suburbdad · 3時間前

Modern cars don't stall without gas (if you don't drop the clutch). I simply release the clutch smoothly without even touching the gas and car will get rolling. Then I shift to 2nd and add gas.

ten_feet_higher · 2時間前

You must be a retarded. Most people learn how to drive a standard when they are 12 or 13. Stay the fuck off the road!

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