Whats a cheap and easy way to learn how to drive standard?

"Zohaibman72" (zohaibman72) 04/05/2014 at 14:09 • Filed to: Manual, Camry, Learning

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This is probably a stupid question, but I've been driving !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and for obvious reasons, I want to learn to drive manual (whatever I get when i'm done with the camry will be manual) . I want to do it for as little money as possible, preferably free, and the only person I know that knows how to drive manual is my dad, who I only see about 4-5 times a year.

So anybody know an easy, cheap/free way to learn this?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:11

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Buy an ST! That's how I've been learning for the past 2-3 weeks and it's been a very fun, exciting, and life-threatening experience. :P

d1ck > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:11

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Buy the car, learn to drive it. If you understand how it works you're half way there.

Zohaibman72 > d1ck 04/05/2014 at 14:12

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this is what I was thinking. Most of my knowledge of driving came from video games, and I learned to drive auto by myself. How hard could standard be?

jkm7680 > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:14

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Or just find somebody who has a manual car.

Rent-A-Wreck might have something though.

Zohaibman72 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 04/05/2014 at 14:14

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I want one so bad D:

JGrabowMSt > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:14

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The easiest way is downhill.

The cheapest is a rental car.

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:15

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Find a friend with a beat up old POS civic or something. That, or buy something similar on craigslist, drive it and learn it, then sell it (maybe even fix some stuff and flip it.)

Zohaibman72 > jkm7680 04/05/2014 at 14:15

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Thats a thing? That actually sounds like a good idea.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:16

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Go get one! :)

But how cheap do you wanna learn? The free way is to find a friend willing enough to let you learn on their car.

Zohaibman72 > vdub_nut: scooter snob 04/05/2014 at 14:17

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I have no car friends, so none of them drive anything but their parent's automatic chevy silverados or honda crvs. I know people with manual cars, but I'm not good enough friends for them to trust me. I only have one car friend with his manual grand am, which I might get lessons from if i can contact him

YSI-what can brown do for you > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:17

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Driving manual is actually pretty easy. I learned after about a week. Downshifts take practice but you can get that easily! Best way to become a boss at it? Get it for your DD!

RazoE > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:18

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Buy a manual car as your only car. You will become the Stig immediately. Not joking.

Zohaibman72 > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 04/05/2014 at 14:18

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I just remember my friend's grand am is manual, might learn from him. I'd get an ST but I don't have money D: I need a money to pay insurance for the Camry, and I probably will have to buy a used ST after college. Not even done highschool yet, only 2 more months.

shop-teacher > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:20

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Buy a cheap beater. Learn on that. Sell it when you've got it figured out. Its nearly free, and tons of fun. I did it by picking up a rusty '93 Legacy wagon for $600. Traded that a few months later for an S-10. Sold that a few months later for $1300. So I actually made money on the deal.

Zohaibman72 > RazoE 04/05/2014 at 14:22

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This the most popular suggestion for me, might just buy a manual after college if the Camry lasts that long. My next car list has the Fiesta/Focus STs, Honda S2000, BMW 5 wagon, BMW 3 coupe, Lexus IS manual or Civic Manual.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:22

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Buy a cheap jalop vehicle - something like a Volvo, Subaru or even a Volkswagen Super Beetle.

Zohaibman72 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/05/2014 at 14:23

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I have a few BMWs, Subies, and Volvos on my next car list. Pretty much everything I want after the Camry comes in manual.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:25

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You're almost there! And then the real fun starts!

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:27

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I would avoid BMW until you got a few years of driving stick under your belt. And again, it has to be a beater. Get something like a first-gen Camry Solara. V6 may be an option for a manual.

Zohaibman72 > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura 04/05/2014 at 14:29

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I was thinking a cheap beater to learn manual and once im done with it go and get the manual cars I really want.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:31

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Again, I recommend holding off of that for at least 5-6 years since you will total your clutch within a short period of time. Don't assume your strategy, ever. I ruined the clutch in my 1995 Legacy and that was the car I drove with for a year.

it burns! > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:33

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If you or someone you know has a decent computer/racing sim setup, there are some games that have surprisingly realistic clutch effects. It won't get you all the way there, of course, but it can be good for the basics to give you a little confidence to get in a real car.

I learned when I worked at a carwash and my boss decided to teach me on customer cars :/

If you're near DC, I'll let you try out my gaming rig: http://it-burns.kinja.com/finished-my-3-…

tehGnomeArmy > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:36

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Like some others have said, just buy the car and learn to drive it. That's what I did when I got my previous car (05 G35c) which is notoriously hard to learn on due to the stiff clutch when new. I remember on my way from dealership stalling at green light 3 or 4 times in a row until they turned red again, had a bunch of people behind me who miraculously didn't even honk at me once. Before I picked up that car I only had about 30 mins in an old Civic 5 speed, but I understood the mechanics of how it works which helps massively. Have been driving stick ever since, and don't see myself going back to auto and don't care about the flappies. Good luck and enjoy.

jkm7680 > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:37

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Yeah, Check it out!

Zohaibman72 > it burns! 04/05/2014 at 14:37

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One of my family members learned this way, actually, but he lives too far and sold the set. Your rig is actually really awesome, but I live all the way in toronto haha

Zohaibman72 > jkm7680 04/05/2014 at 14:40

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I know local car rental place nearby actually lets people rent cars for learning. There is a v6 manual mustang from like 1998 there.

jkm7680 > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:41

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Yeah, you should give that a shot. I've never tried Rent A Wreck, and hell. I'm not even sure if they have Canada locations, but it's definitely worth a shot

Zohaibman72 > jkm7680 04/05/2014 at 14:44

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they have a .ca site but its very vague and most of their locations are far from toronto.

it burns! > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 14:47

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Ahhh, well then. If you can't find someone you know with a beater to teach you, consider a driver's ed course specific to manuals, something akin to http://www.slate.com/articles/life/…

RyanFrew > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 15:09

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Cheapest way is to become a valet. Get paid to learn.

isco277 > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 15:22

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im down in thornhill I have a beater civic that I bought for 500 took me 5 minutes to Learn to get it of my drive way

promoted by the color red > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 17:00

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Buy a shitty Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic for around $1000 or find a friend.

RazoE > Zohaibman72 04/05/2014 at 21:32

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only advice is no matter how high the revs are if you let the clutch out slowly, you will move slowly. One you find the engagement point, you can give it less gas and go from there.

dmtactical > Zohaibman72 04/10/2014 at 23:49

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If you're in the States, 4 banger Ford Ranger. I bought a clean 96 for $950, and I just saw an even nicer 95 go for the same price. Right now I'm eyeballing a nice 90 listed for $1300. They have so little power that all you do is basically floor it and row gears, and the clutch is pretty easy compared to a lot of the cars I've driven. It's tough and not likely to be abused like a sports car would be. Find a good deal and you should get all your money back if you choose to sell it, although you might find it handy to keep around anyway.

allen brian > Zohaibman72 04/11/2014 at 15:28

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