Something happened this weekend.

"Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT" (dropagearanddisappear)
06/16/2014 at 22:07 • Filed to: None

The lady and I were heading out to go to dinner and she grabbed the keys to my car and ran off with them to go start it, she climbed in then remembered the car wasn't a "Turn key and go" deal. So I had to remind her how to do it which I won't get into here cause it reveals secrets. But she looked at me and said she wants to learn how to drive stick. So I offered to teach her.

This is basically my clutch.....6 puck solid disc with a super heavy duty pressure plate, not forgiving AT ALL. Stiff pedal, the engagement is harsh and I have let others drive it who have driven stick for years and they were defeated by this thing.
Lizzie however got in, was slightly overwhelmed at first, but I calmed her down, explained how it works, told her just to give it a little gas and slowly let the clutch out til you felt it grab. And she was off, nervously she drove the car in a straight line just over idle...She then got the car to a halt to attempt another take off, only to be defeated and stall it out.

But nonetheless she drove the "racecar" for a short distance, hopefully soon I'll teach her a bit more and get her used to it and eventually driving the car on public roads.

There is me and her.

And now the "racecar"

I'm sure her dad appreciates that the abuse will be on my car and not his Mustang with less than a thousand miles on it.

DISCUSSION (5)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
06/16/2014 at 22:16

My wife loves ice coffee. Every time she messed up or started getting frustrated I had her pull over and take a sip. It's a kind of reset. Ur a brave man.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > OPPOsaurus WRX
06/16/2014 at 22:20

I was a little hesitant about it, but the car can take it.....if it can take a drag launch at 5 thousand RPM I feel like it can take a few mild low RPM shudders.

Andl > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
06/16/2014 at 22:42

My girlfriend broke the diff and trans mounts off on my Z3. To be fair they were pretty worn, but she sealed the deal.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
06/17/2014 at 08:12

My wife wants to try again to learn manual. She gets discouraged easily, so I have to find a way to keep her pumped up without pushing her over the edge.

Women are tricky.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
06/18/2014 at 00:46

Lizzie can be the same way.

Like she gets so nervous she will break something or that she will stall and I have to explain to her that its okay to stall and nothing will break.

Best way to do it is be in a good calm mood the whole time, real relaxed and whatnot.