Learning to drive a stick is hell, but it's worth it in the end, in my opinion. I enjoy driving a standard so much more than I enjoy automatic, though it's true you can't really eat and drive a standard at the same time...which is pretty important, now that I think about it.
I so agree with this. I've been driving stick for almost a year and a half now, and while I learned on an old Saab with a finicky shifter and a tendency to stall, now I get to drive a new Mazda. Which is zippy and fun! If you do drive on the highway, it gives you a lot of practice in getting up into fifth. Or you just get into fifth and stay there, and it's totally like driving an automatic. Really, the coolest thing was the other day when I was merging on a highway, up a bit of a hill, and I was already in fifth but thought, "I need more power! I must merge more forcefully and get the fuck out of the way of the car coming up behind me!" so I downshifted, and it was fun!
The best piece of advice I got: if you stall, put on your flashers right away. That will tell all the other cars, "hey, got a problem here, feel free to go around me and don't beep because I'm not jumping at the green light," and will give you time to restart the car and try to go without being anxious about other people being judgy.
I really like the way my mum's car (the standard) drives, in a steering sense. I just wish I didn't have to do all the shifting. Or the clutching. It's really the clutching that bugs me. I don't know. I guess it will get better the more I practice. And I will definitely take your advice about the flashers, I suspect I'll need it. :)
You just have to think about everything all the time when you're driving a standard. You have to do three things all at once in order to do anything! That's not even counting steering! And I'm a really good automatic driver. Really good! But now my confidence is all shot and stuff. But you say you love it? Hmm.
my cousin has been trying to teach me to drive her stick shift for years, and I still have no clue. The whole press the clutch and let it out slowly, every single time you want to do anything... it makes no sense!!!
Ha! No, no car for me. But we're driving my mother's car to Oklahoma at Christmas, so I need to learn. Also, my dad is giving up his car, so if I ever want to borrow a car, I have to learn how to drive mum's. Ack!
Yes. Yes, we are. It takes about two days, depending on weather and such. Last year it took my mum and I three days, but that was just because the weather on the first day was ridiculous. And this year we'll have my dad, too, and three drivers are better than two. Or something. :)
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Ron! The twins! Eeeeee!
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The best piece of advice I got: if you stall, put on your flashers right away. That will tell all the other cars, "hey, got a problem here, feel free to go around me and don't beep because I'm not jumping at the green light," and will give you time to restart the car and try to go without being anxious about other people being judgy.
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