Learning manual shifting

[Henryporsche]

Does anyone recommend a good course or program to learn manual shifting? When I was 16 I never mastered this and all my cars have been automatics. Does Porsche have a basic course or camp to learn manuals? I know the PDK may render this whole question moot.

[Embraer]

I've taught about 5-6 how to drive a stick. I had a POS E30 BMW that I didn't care about...and I taught them on that. When I learned, I was about 12...and it was a combination of learning on the arcade game "Hard Drivin'" and tractors. My first actual experience was when my dad forced me to drive an F150 manual out in the country.

[slodave]

If ya can't find it, grind it! No, wait....

I learned on a switchback mining road. Had about 15 minutes practice in a quiet residential neighborhood in Mammoth, Ca.

Due to the nature of the road, there was not much room to let the car roll back before engaging the clutch or you'd go over the side. Not a technique I'd recommend as a teaching aid, but it did work for me!

[Tobra]

Where do you live? I will teach you, you want to learn in a Miata, a 914, a 911 or a VW bug?

I could probably get my brother to loan me his SRT Challenger, no way he lets me use the Barracuda, not a chance.

[porwolf]

Any body can learn how to drive a shift stick. I once taught a girl friend with an original Fiat 500 how to do it on the empty Oktoberfest grounds in Munich. That car was not even synchronized in any gear. All downshifting required double clutching! We did it in a couple of hours but we had plenty of room and nobody was there to disturb us.

[look 171]

If you can get hold of a stickshift car, just keep driving it. In a couple of hours, you will get the hang of it. I learned with a car saleman. I walked into one of these use car lot in the middle of the day after school drooling over a VW Socorro that had been sitting on their lot for months. I ask " I just learned how to drive stick and still not very good at it, but I really like to buy this car." It was in the back of the lot. The guys said "Siht kid, let go for a drive" I didnot buy the car, because something was seriously wrong with it. It would go over 35mph, but I did become a slightly better stick shift driver after that. Oh, I was 16.

[afterburn 549]

start with basics
In simple terms understand what you are actually doing with a clutch peddle, engine, drive train.
this takes the mystery out and makes doing it more EZ

[LWJ]

Rent a car with a stick. Have a buddy drive it off the lot and teach you. Easy.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Henryporsche

Does anyone recommend a good course or program to learn manual shifting? When I was 16 I never mastered this and all my cars have been automatics. Does Porsche have a basic course or camp to learn manuals? I know the PDK may render this whole question moot.

I would go to one of my local car clubs with the question, the brand doesn't matter. I'll bet there are many members who would be more than happy to show you the ropes.

[Nickshu]

[stomachmonkey]

Big empty parking lot and a couple of hours of patience is all you need.

Personally I'd try to find a modern car with a tight gate and shorter throw.

Going to be a bit easier than a rowing a 911.

[Laneco]

I prefer to teach people to drive a stick in a parking lot with a slope. Start facing down hill and work on learning to feel the friction zone in the clutch. In/out, in/out. Right foot braking ONLY which forces you to lift your foot OFF the gas to apply the brake. Master 1st gear stop/start on the downhill slope, then move cross slope, then to the slight uphill (avoid steep hills, those are for more advanced drivers).

I teach people to start the car with the clutch all the way in, foot on the brake. Then put the transmission in neutral and keep right foot on the brake while we talk about the next steps. Very important to teach people to keep the right foot on the brake and to fully depress the clutch during starting. Old cars do not have a neutral safety interlock and WILL start in gear. So the foot on the brake, etc., teaches an important safety point. If you are going to be sitting somewhere for a while (e.g. while being instructed) putting the vehicle in neutral with foot on the brake saves wear on the clutch.

After 1st, logically to 2nd and third. Then downshifting 3rd to second. Then taking vehicle to a stop, and into first gear.

Driving a stick is increasingly rare. But like nice footwork when dancing, it is an admired and elegant skill. If you are anywhere near me, I would be delighted to teach you!

angela

[Laneco]

I prefer to teach people to drive a stick in a parking lot with a slope. Start facing down hill and work on learning to feel the friction zone in the clutch. In/out, in/out. Right foot braking ONLY which forces you to lift your foot OFF the gas to apply the brake. Master 1st gear stop/start on the downhill slope, then move cross slope, then to the slight uphill (avoid steep hills, those are for more advanced drivers).

I teach people to start the car with the clutch all the way in, foot on the brake. Then put the transmission in neutral and keep right foot on the brake while we talk about the next steps. Very important to teach people to keep the right foot on the brake and to fully depress the clutch during starting. Old cars do not have a neutral safety interlock and WILL start in gear. So the foot on the brake, etc., teaches an important safety point. If you are going to be sitting somewhere for a while (e.g. while being instructed) putting the vehicle in neutral with foot on the brake saves wear on the clutch.

After 1st, logically to 2nd and third. Then downshifting 3rd to second. Then taking vehicle to a stop, and into first gear. Though some schools of thought suggest shifting 2nd to 1st when coming to a stop, I prefer to stop the vehicle and then put it into first gear. Part of that is most of my cars are very old and then 1/2 synchros are usually a bit worn.

Driving a stick is increasingly rare. But like nice footwork when dancing, it is an admired and elegant skill. If you are anywhere near me, I would be delighted to teach you!

angela

[1990C4S]

A diesel is ideal. Hard to stall and underpowered....nothing happens too quickly.

You can go from 1st to 5th in my car without ever touching the throttle.

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

A diesel is ideal. Hard to stall and underpowered....nothing happens too quickly.

You can go from 1st to 5th in my car without ever touching the throttle.

This^
I got the basic concept working with an old Ford Tractor, I truly learned how to drive a stick in an old Mercedes 240D.

[intakexhaust]

^^^ Why would one teach manual shifting for a car by using a tractor? In most small tractors, you select one gear only and you don't shift 'through' others to attain higher speed.

[intakexhaust]

Go to car dealer, find a car with manual trans and ask to test drive. The rep. should be able to teach you and if you grind a few, so be it. I've taught a few in 80's era 911's and 930's who never had manual trans. Scary but possible.

If you want to learn easy and perfect your skills, a Miata or early 1990's Chev. pickup with manual are super. Light clutch, silky synchro's, and take abuse. With the exception for reverse and engaging first, eventually you can learn to shift though the gears (up or down) without depressing the clutch. Double clutching should be learned as well.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by slodave

If ya can't find it, grind it!

And in the case of some 915's even when you can find it, grind it.

[gacook]

If you have a friend with a 350Z, ask them to teach you. That's the car I used to teach my wife and her son. It is by far the most forgiving clutch/transmission I've ever seen.

[gatotom]

Let see, when I was 12 my dad taught me on his 3 speed on the column, after a few upps, you get the hang of it. Taught my 3 children and wife how to shift, flat road is best, get good at that then go to Seattle or San Fran and drive the hills with stop lights

When I got my 2013 A4, it was a 6 speed that had been sitting on the lot almost the entire yr, cityites do not want them anymore, can't blame them, stop and go traffic is killer on the left foot, got a great deal on the car.