going to make fun of myself before everyone else gets a chance

[Burtonboarder950]

by now, all of you should know my story. I bought a Z off ebay, got it inspected and paid it off last week after the loan check cleared. The seller should be sending me the title around wed or thur, and ill be picking up Eleanor (yes, i named my car after the stang from Gone in 60 seconds) this saturday. Only one minor, negligible problem: I can't drive stick. I know how, all the steps, been over the routine at least 20 times this week alone. However, never actually, physically drove manual. Now, youre thinking; big deal, youll learn in less than a week. WRONG! I have to learn from the seller, who probably won't spend more than 15 minutes on me, AND then have to drive home from long island, NY to central Jersey. Thats 2 hours of city traffic and new york drivers. I'm excited

[audtatious]

Just remember, slight throttle pressure (2k RPM-ish) and a steady-slow release of the clutch to get the car going. Once you get used to it you won't have to ride the clutch that way.

[lushuZpnai]

Best way to handle the situation... think of the clutch and accelerator pedal as a see-saw... if you depress one, elevate the other. you'll feel it grab. It's completely fine if you over-rev. better than stalling in the middle of the intersection. just make sure you're quick with your feet, gotta reach that brake pedal with an instant, just in case. remember... see-saw... make sure it's even with depressing and elevating.

[Burtonboarder950]

after i make it into first, how does it work? I dont have to see saw anymore, right?

[dasoupdude]

Try getting used to your friction point, every car has a different level..if you can, when you get the car try to learn about where it is and get used to it in a parking lot or some sort of empty street. Keep your right foot firmly planted on the ground the whole time and only use your left foot that is on the clutch pedal, now slowly let go the clutch until you feel the car move slowly forward , when you feel it start creeping forward keep your foot locked right where it is and give a second or two when you feel the clutch engaged, then you can remove your foot completely off the clutch.

Repeat as Necessary so you can get used to this and apply it to the see saw method and make things run alot smoother. (basically doing the same thing except your now applying gas)

The only thing i worry about is hills, on my first week even the slightest of inclines had me worried I had to roll away with the ebrake up just to be sure I wouldn't roll into the car behind me.

[BlackSmoke]

http://www.exoticcartransport.com/

[ag240]

240 teachin teh manuelenjoi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-19-kB1us

[rmezz13]

Try getting used to your friction point, every car has a different level..if you can, when you get the car try to learn about where it is and get used to it in a parking lot or some sort of empty street. Keep your right foot firmly planted on the ground the whole time and only use your left foot that is on the clutch pedal, now slowly let go the clutch until you feel the car move slowly forward , when you feel it start creeping forward keep your foot locked right where it is and give a second or two when you feel the clutch engaged, then you can remove your foot completely off the clutch.

Repeat as Necessary so you can get used to this and apply it to the see saw method and make things run alot smoother. (basically doing the same thing except your now applying gas)

The only thing i worry about is hills, on my first week even the slightest of inclines had me worried I had to roll away with the ebrake up just to be sure I wouldn't roll into the car behind me.

Exactly how i would explain it.... slowly let off the clutch until you feel the car start to roll, then push it back in and repeat that a few times in a parking lot (empty) then once you find the spot, add some far right pedal and your golden..... when shifting gears let off the gas, push the clutch to the floor, change gears, release the clutch, then gas..... and after you shift or take off put your foot directly on the dummy pedal to prevent riding on the clutch.... not gonna lie, when i was learning stick i did that, kept my foot on the clutch pedal and sometimes wasn't letting all the way out.... its all excitement. The clutch on this car is extremely stiff so by all means avoid as much traffic as possible - my ankle still gets hot driving it in traffic....

Good luck my man, and be safe - don't eff off in it until you get home, in a familiar environment.....

[dasoupdude]

240 teachin teh manuelenjoi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-19-kB1us

indeed. in all honesty i really don't think you should be doing this especially by the fact that this will be the true first time you have ever driven manual. I've driven a corvette to a civic si 6spd..and i can easily say that the zed is one of the most challenging cars to drive with a standard trans..but maybe thats just me. On a much better note if you can drive a 350 you can almost drive anything...

But really you might want to consider getting a transport, an expensive transport is a lot cheaper than having you accidentally rolling into someone which causes them to roll back..etc etc and causing you to end up paying for all the damages.

[rmezz13]

he has a point. this is something you should learn on familiar grounds, but if it has to be this way, be careful

the zed

my pet peeve..... dag on euro's

*edit*: found this, pretty good instructions and great camera shots of the foot work and the shifter at the same time..... the guy is a D bag tho....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqtctkznYjk

[TeflonG35]

Just bring a friend or family member who can drive stick and learn when you get home.

[R350Zz33]

i learned on my dads truck but heres an idea go to a car dealership with ur dad or someone who drives stick and test drive a car with stick. mess there **** up. not urs. im going next week to tst drive the hemi challenger cause i can lol maby ill try honda and do up a civic see what every one is pissing there pants about maby ill get rice feaver

[Slider4105]

The second you stall at a dealer, test drive over. I went to test out an E46 M3 and I stalled the first time because I got cocky and had to show the salesman that I knew how to drive stick (Showed him the car I drove in had a 3rd pedal.)

Do you have any friends with a manual that you could learn on? If not take your time learning to drive it before you make the trek home. You should be able to get it down good enough within 30 minutes or so would be my bet.

[coleycole]

Driving stick in not to difficult and everyone has done a great job describing the process to you. But my personal opinion is bring someone with you that already knows how to drive stick. And I'm not talking about a buddy from school, I'm talking about one of your parents, a responsible uncle or aunt, or even a close family friend. Trust me the last thing you want to do is roll back into someones bumper or worse. I know you are excited to drive the car but in the case this cool head prevails.
Modified by coleycole at 7:26 PM 8/5/2008

[dasoupdude]

...in the case the cool head prevails.

QFFingT.

[slipstream_pnoy]

Lol. i know the feeling, when i bought my z, i didnt know how to drive stick. i knew the functions but never really physically did it before. i told my friend to say behind me just i case i stall or back up and cant re-act quick enough.its was one heck of an experience, but i manage, i think you'll be ok..just remember the clutch.. and pray you won't get suck in city traffic like i did.

[bmike818]

seems like everybody covered the basics.

Just remember when you are going up a hill and you are stopped at the light. To prevent rolling back, use your ebrake with your right hand after you put it in gear. Slowly let go of the ebrake as you give her more gas. This way your conecentration is on your foot...not trying to roll back. hope this helps...good luck...dont forget to stretch your legs before driving back.

Lastly don't forget to take pictures of your road trip for us.

[rmezz13]

you'll be ok man....

The second you stall at a dealer, test drive over. I went to test out an E46 M3 and I stalled the first time because I got cocky and had to show the salesman that I knew how to drive stick (Showed him the car I drove in had a 3rd pedal.)

Do you have any friends with a manual that you could learn on? If not take your time learning to drive it before you make the trek home. You should be able to get it down good enough within 30 minutes or so would be my bet.

I stalled the sky turbo when i test drove it when i first took off.... that clutch was so much looser than the Z and the car was so effing quiet i couldn't really tell where i was at on the RPMs (i was watching the road).... only stalled once though then scared the guy on the test drive (its so easy to scare salesmen)

[sonsters]

just bout everybody has been down this road before.... mine was in a VW jetta and had to drive thro city... well i just reved and dumped the clutch... not the smartest thing but i knew i needed to get home fast.... thank God lousisana is all flat land... GL tho man

[R350Zz33]

he has a point. this is something you should learn on familiar grounds, but if it has to be this way, be careful

my pet peeve..... dag on euro's

*edit*: found this, pretty good instructions and great camera shots of the foot work and the shifter at the same time..... the guy is a D bag tho....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqtctkznYjk

i love that video

[Slider4105]

Yeah when I took out a previous gen STI, I bogged down and almost stalled, saved it by pushing in the clutch. Then I gave a little more gas hit boost and chirped the tires.....I got dirty looks from the salesman. I just didn't give myself the extra two seconds to learn where the clutch take up was.

[bmike818]

its so easy to scare salesmen

yup ...just get up from the chair when negotiating and head straight to door. That always gets them to lower the price

I am so excited for you, I still remember the first day I learned how to drive stick. I learned from a 95 Ford Ranger, no power steering....base model truck with a 5 speed. And when I got good I bought a Sentra. (not the SE-R) ..I remember asking for the 300zx...asking for the 240sx...asking for the 200sx..no mike, no two-door cars for you.....then came the Sentra GXE

[dasoupdude]

Yeah when I took out a previous gen STI, I bogged down and almost stalled, saved it by pushing in the clutch. Then I gave a little more gas hit boost and chirped the tires.....I got dirty looks from the salesman. I just didn't give myself the extra two seconds to learn where the clutch take up was.

Similar story here, instead it was a blue 04 STI and the salesguy was doing nervous laughing first time eye bogged away out of first. I just had to do the whole friction point thing at a red light, sometimes its fun to do when your on a slight incline rolling up and down lol. First time I ever drove a car with a rice off valve too, it was an exhilarating experience..plus that Boxer rumble with the whole tanabe turbo back exhaust was no joke either.

I just wasn't too fond of factory boosted cars, including awd cars.

[evildky]

lol, well if it makes you feel any better, when I was 16 and bought my first car, still only on my learners permit and never having driven a manual trans car I bought a 4 speed EXP, I got in and drove it home solo, for some it just comes naturally, others it takes work, my older brother I tought in a day when his car was broke down adn he needed to borrow mine, my youngest brother I spent what seemed like an eternity, he did get it but it took several lessons to get him going

[Burtonboarder950]

problem solved! My friend who drive a trans am stick said he will drive my baby home. Now i get to learn on the quiet streets that border my house. FTW

[Slider4105]

That's good, glad to hear it worked out for you man! You'll be up and running in no time terrorizing the streets of your neighborhood.

[dasoupdude]

problem solved! My friend who drive a trans am stick said he will drive my baby home. Now i get to learn on the quiet streets that border my house. FTW

Dollar says by the end of the trip he's going to want to trade rides.

[albert_ey]

I agree. I was just talking about that with my brother yesterday.

I think you should get someone to drive it back home. I think you're going to get tired of it while driving in traffic. I don't think it's unfair to you if you have a bad or tiring experience on your first trip.

I know the first time I drove stick, my brother had bought a 240sx- with a 5sp manual. he didn't know how to drive stick, and he didn't have his license yet. So the previous owner gave me a quick 3 times around the block, and we were of. We bought the car about 1 hour from home, and in L.A. there's always traffic. It was a tiring 1 hour ride home. long story short, when I got home, I was glad I hadn't bought the car, and he had.

At least I thought, the next few days after that, I missed the control and response of driving stick.

just my $0.02

[BigDan727]

Ware on long island are u picking the car up from? maybe if im free ill come give u a quick lesson

[Burtonboarder950]

Ware on long island are u picking the car up from? maybe if im free ill come give u a quick lesson

I am picking it up in stoney brook, if you know where that is. My friend that is driving it home said hell teach me when we get back, but thanks a lot for the offer. I really appreciate it.