Share Your Methods for Teaching to Drive Manual

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 12/04/2018 at 14:08 • Filed to: Manual, Mercedes, Mercedes-Benz, AMG, Pray for my clutch

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This afternoon I’ll be teaching stick shift to a friend. What teaching techniques do all y’all find most effective? Not gonna teach heel & toe downshifts yet, but just about everthing else.

KnowsAboutCars > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:12

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Take his/her automatic car away for a week and make him/her drive manual for the time being.

Tripper > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:13

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I always quickly explain how it works, have them watch my feet once and then let them go (in a parking lot of course). The only thing I try and really drive home is “keep your foot off the fucking clutch and your hand off the shifter when you’re not shifting!”

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:14

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get a rental for the day :p

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:15

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Somebody else’s car. Always somebody else’s car.

benjrblant > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:17

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Start with a pickup or a 4x4 in low range. The gearing will be in their favor, much less likely to stall which is a good confidence boost.

jasmits > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:17

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A biggie for me was learning to roll it forward on the clutch before even trying to actually start it. Just have them(on flat/level ground) slowly let out the clutch till it starts to bite and the car starts to roll and then immediately disengage when the smallest movement is felt. That really helped me wrap my head/foot around the bite point and when to start applying power as I let the clutch out.

CobraJoe > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:17

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It made a lot more sense to me when I discovered what each control actually does. Especially that the clutch disconnects the engine from the transmission.

Other than that, a simple demonstration with a “What I’m doing” commentary for take off, upshifting, downshifting, and stopping is a good idea. Even someone who grew up riding along with a manual driver might not notice some little details.

Then let them practice in an empty parking lot and be patient. 

benjrblant > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 12/04/2018 at 14:17

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This is America. We don’t manual here.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > benjrblant 12/04/2018 at 14:21

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i always forget that bit

Driver_41 > jasmits 12/04/2018 at 14:22

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Yes, this! Have them start with their right foot on the floor and practice with just the left foot for a little bit. A non-manual driver generally needs to develop some left leg dexterity as well as learn the concept of the bite point.

404 - User No Longer Available > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:23

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1. Make the student watch a video , I usually refer to this one:

2. Take student into car for first actual drive, flat road start, hill start, in a parking lot

3. Urge student to practice, practice, practice

Frankly there’s no real technique in teaching. It’s something people need to get a feel for, some people clicks it faster, some slower. Most skip step 3 so they end up forgetting everything.

My bird IS the word > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:25

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If you explain the way a manual transmission works, I find it is much easier conceptually.

CB > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:25

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Show them a demo and explain what you’re doing. And get them used to getting the vehicle started from a standstill.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 12/04/2018 at 14:25

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import manual from europe as things_we_dont_have

Stapleface > Tripper 12/04/2018 at 14:27

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Can’t say I’ve heard the keep the hand of the shifter before. I grew up driving manuals and to this day this is always the most comfortable place for me to rest my hand, whether I’m in a manual or automatic

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > winterlegacy, here 'till the end 12/04/2018 at 14:27

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*does not compute*

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:27

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for me it was “don’ t be afraid to spin the tires, or slip the clutch”

At first i was WAAAY to careful so I kept stalling. I either did give it enough gas, or I didn’t let the clutch slip. once my mom said that it’s okay to chirp the tires while your learning, and that it’s oaky to let the clutch slip at first I did fine.

E specially the clutch slipping part. most people tend to let off as soon as they feel it grab. Helping the learner to understand that slipping is part of the clutches job helps a lot.

404 - User No Longer Available > Stapleface 12/04/2018 at 14:31

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When you’re leaning your hand on the shifter you’re adding some stress on the shift forks. It’s bad practice, even I’m somewhat guilty of doing  it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:32

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Must adjust seat properly before starting, to make sure clutch pedal can be easily depressed without “stretching”.

If your car is capable of it (enough torque), in a nice, level parking lot, start with the car in first, clutch in and foot off brake, and just tell them to slowly, slowly let out the clutch, and once the car starts moving to pause for a second to feel the position of their foot and then slowly let it out some more (completely off) and then slowly add a little throttle. Two pedals at once can be overwhelming, and is a recipe for lots of stalling. (Explain everything they’re going to do before they do it, and demonstrate it before they get in the driver’s seat).

Actually, the first thing, before messing with the clutch, should probably be working on gentle throttle input and being able to hold revs at 1500 or something , with the car in neutral and the parking brake on. Practicing easy throttle input can then be applied in reverse with easy clutch release.

Keep in mind that most drivers that have never driven a stick have no concept of finesse with inputs. Mash throttle, mash brake, repeat.

Demonstrate what your feet will be doing with your hands to help visualize.

Stay in the parking lot for the first lesson. Want to have a good, successful, confidence-inspiring first exposure. 

Tripper > Stapleface 12/04/2018 at 14:32

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I rest mine on the steering wheel

CalzoneGolem > 404 - User No Longer Available 12/04/2018 at 14:33

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Even you!?!?!

Stapleface > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 12/04/2018 at 14:33

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Funny you should say that. Many years ago a friend of mine ordered a new C5 Corvette from a dealer. He told the salesman that he didn’t know how to drive something with a manual so they gave him a stick Cavalier to drive around for the month or so while his car was being built.  He reminded the salesman that he really didn’t know how to drive a stick, his response was, “it’s okay, it’s only a Cavalier”. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > benjrblant 12/04/2018 at 14:34

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[weeps]

Urambo Tauro > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:35

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First step: teach panic mode!

Everybody knows to hit the brakes in an emergency, but adding the clutch pedal to that habit will help keep the engine from stalling. And there’s a good chance that a newbie will stall multiple times during training, so teach that first to help avoid a bunch of restarts.

Of course, not every brake application needs clutch disengagement. So be sure to point that out too.

404 - User No Longer Available > CalzoneGolem 12/04/2018 at 14:35

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Well these days it’s less as I always try to return my hand to 9-3. Because racecar.

Stapleface > Tripper 12/04/2018 at 14:35

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That’s where I rest my 74 oz. Mega Gulp. 

CalzoneGolem > 404 - User No Longer Available 12/04/2018 at 14:37

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Sa y it ain’t so Toni!

Tripper > Stapleface 12/04/2018 at 14:38

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I only drink liter cola.

Old Red Wagon > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:41

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I always tell people to not touch the gas pedal. Leave your right foot on the floor and just feel the clutch engage by slowly releasing their left foot. I’ve seen people teach before incorporating the gas pedal right out of the gate and it tends to make it harder to learn for most. As they get a feel for the clutch and when it engages i will slowly add the accelerator into the mix. 

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > jasmits 12/04/2018 at 14:42

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THIS! This is what I came here to say. My dad didn’t go over this for a week, and was grouchy about how jerky my initial starts were. When I started stalling all the time, he got grouchier. THEN he had me do the slow disengage until I found the friction point. And by focusing on THAT, my issues were fixed in literally five minutes.

As an adult, I’ve taught four people to drive stick, and by using that particular point, I’ve never had a problem with them stalling or jerking the start from a stop. Once they find the friction point and learn to just hesitate on it for a moment as they add a little more throttle and THEN release, it’s super easy from there.

Find a long, empty road, and have them do lots of sequential shifting. Do a U-turn, stop the car, do it again. One to two, two to three, three to four, etc. Do it for like, an hour. Build the muscle memory; don’t let them look down at the stick after the third or fourth pass. Seriously. Do it a hundred times. They’ll have practiced the sequential upshift 100 times, they’ll have practiced the clutch engagement on- deceleration 100 times, and they’ll have practiced the 1st gear engagement 100 times. Then all they have to learn is sequential (and non-sequential) downshifting, but that’s not nearly as vital to daily driving.

(Non-sequential downshift - clutch-in, slowing down...light turns green...gauge how fast we’re coasting, about what gear would we normally be in here? Shift into that and dump the clutch. Ta-daaaa!)

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:43

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The clutch is not a switch.

Left foot finesse is going to be non-existent . Be prepared for lots of mini-dumps!

marshknute > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:49

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I don’t bother with the whole “ease into the clutch and off the gas” stuff.

Doing two opposite actions is impossible for newbies, like patting your head while rubbing your belly.

Instead, I just have them peg the tachometer at like 2000rpm and hold it there. Right foot frozen. Stop thinking about the right foot. Then they need only worry about their left foot on the clutch.

Future Heap Owner > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 12/04/2018 at 14:52

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Le tting off the clutch as soon as it grabs was a big problem for me. My friend teaching me observed after a while that “you seem to treat the clutch like it’s binary, but it’s not” and that really helped.

Ironically this was on a ‘17 WRX, which after four more clutches is still the shallowest I’ve driven.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:54

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For me the revelation came when I figured out I was supposed to feed the gas in before you start releasing the clutch. I kept stalling because I would not start giving it any gas before I got to the engagement point.

Also, if they’ve driven an automatic then chances are they’re used to using more pressure on the gas. Have them learn how to keep the gas at a steady rpm consistently. 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Future Heap Owner 12/04/2018 at 14:55

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yeah I when was teaching my cousin and i told him “the clutch isn’t a light switch, you don’ t just turn it on, or off.” Pretty much the same Idea.

your6 > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 14:58

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Finding the gears can be difficult , depending on the car. Have them shift with just holding the shifter knob with index finger and thumb. Get the fingertip feeling where the gears are.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 15:01

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Learn on a disposable car in case of massive clutch slippage.

Learn how to drive an auto first so the driver can actually focus on the clutching and already knows how to stop and turn.

Rev to 3,000 and dump the clutch only when there are no other cars or object in front of you.

jasmits > Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious 12/04/2018 at 15:14

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Yeah my dad taught me to find the friction point first and it made the rest of the process remarkably smooth, both literally and figuratively .

MGS315 > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 15:20

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Best thing I ever learnt (during training only) was to ignore the throttle and try pull away on the clutch alone. Even better on a very slight incline. You can roll forwards and backwards just using the clutch.

Lets  you know the biting point of that particular vehicle and how much you can get away with under little throttle. You should not need a lot of right foot to get away unless in a hurry.

Practice makes perfect. I don’t even think about clutch control any more. Then again European.

Jason Spears > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 15:41

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Drive both of you someplace where there’s nothing of interest to do or look at.

Swap seats.

“Now you get us back.”

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Stapleface 12/04/2018 at 15:48

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If that right there isn’t the J-body in a nutshell, I don’t fucking know what is.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 16:04

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Travel back in time to like 1994 and play Race Drivin in an arcade for hours at a time. 

way2blu does a rev update > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/04/2018 at 16:18

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All epic points. I think the part about holding revs is especially relevant.

When I first learned I always assumed the bite point for the clutch was right at the bottom of its travel, so I would let off the gas as I was releasing it and stall easily. That knowledge would have saved me weeks of practice had I known it sooner.

way2blu does a rev update > CobraJoe 12/04/2018 at 16:20

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I’m planning on showing my friend a diagram of how a clutch works in order to really drive that point home. Knowing the mechanical side of it gives a lot more confidence as to understanding what the inputs do.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 12/04/2018 at 16:48

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This is a very good point. I had this problem as well. I would think the clutch was done when I started moving and the car would have that slight jerk forward. Everyone screams about letting the clutch slip and wear prematurely but you’re right that it’s part of its function. People need to explain that part more for beginners. After I got comfortable with letting the clutch slightly slip to have a smooth start it was all about refinement. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 16:54

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I like jasmits idea of releasing to the friction point, and then putting the clutch back in, and repeating that a few times. Good way to get the feel for where that is.

Chinny Raccoon > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 16:59

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“No, the clutch isn’t just a switch like that modern tractor you usually drive where the computer does all the work ”

I appreciate this may not apply to all situations.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC 12/04/2018 at 17:32

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I really learned the technique when my mom has back surgery. She couldn’t drive and was very sensitive so I drove here places. I had to be very smooth with my shifts or I’d hurt her. It was enlightening as I usually shifted as quickly as possible and very aggressively 

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 12/04/2018 at 19:58

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I hear you on that. I always wondered what it would be like if I were able to be less focused on trying to shift quickly. I think I need to try a car with longer gearing. In my BRZ I was always afraid of holding up traffic since I would have to shift to second gear at 12 mph. If I took my time the person behind me would always visibly get irritated.

Spanfeller is a twat > way2blu does a rev update 12/04/2018 at 22:42

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I always tell people that pressing the clutch is like taking a break from the treadmil l at the gym, but the opposite way around; the faster you go the less careful you have to be about stalling.

But the way I was taught is... inspiring.

I was taken to a very hilly road on a rover mini (you know, the ones with the tini clutch)  and told to reach the top.

Thomas Donohue > benjrblant 12/04/2018 at 23:22

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There’s always Turo!

ateamfan42 > 404 - User No Longer Available 12/05/2018 at 10:38

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When you’re leaning your hand on the shifter you’re adding some stress on the shift forks.

Also, o nly having only one hand on the wheel cuts in half the tactile feedback of what the front tires are doing. That’s only important for spirited driving near the limit of grip, but another reason to keep hands on the wheel unless shifting.