Learning to drive manual transmission?
My dad has been a huge fan of manual transmissions (I believe he initially learned to drive on one), and he taught both of my older sisters (who were made into huge fans as well).
My sisters bought their first new cars (a bright red Mustang and a Honda Civic Hatchback) as manuals, and my dad had to take them both out for a couple of hours that same day to teach them how to drive them.
I… Also just got my first new car (I've been driving for three or four years on a sluggish, ancient automatic already). It's a Mini Cooper (base model; no engine modifications), and I got it for a steal. Anyway, my dad drove it to an empty parking lot for me this afternoon, and I spent maybe an hour or so of driving before he drove it the rest of the way home.
I know I shouldn't expect to just automatically (no pun intended) grasp it, but it's still sort of… Discouraging? I pretty much have the hang of breaking, backing up, and starting from a stop into 1st gear and then shifting into 2nd or whatever I need. It's just really weird for everything need to work together.
Other people who are good at driving manual make it seem so easy and seamless. I'm like, "Go--stall. G… Ooo? Okay! Good! Great! Now… Shift! Oh, slow down. Stop. Accidentally shift into 3rd instead of 1st, stall."
I'm sure once I get used to it, I'll be fine, but right now I'm scared I just made a big purchase that I'm failing at. What can I do (aside from the obvious "practice") to help me grasp onto it better?
Added (1). I think my biggest problem is not being able to understand the mechanics of what I'm doing.
But I'm not vehicularly-inclined whatsoever, so is there a layman's video out there somewhere that explains the concept of manual transmissions?
My wife never got the hang of it, she enjoys her auto. Practice is the only answer.
I learned on an old International L120 3/4 ton with a dbl clutch. Mind you it was out in the field but whar=t a riot. In think everyone should learn, save your life, O by the way a couple of years a go the new cooprr S cchallenged the old the 30m yrs old cooperr S9Wth a manual shift THE NEW ONE DIDN'T STAND A CHANCE. THE OLD cOOPER WAS THE ONLY CAR CAPABLE OF KEEPING UP WITH THE jag IN IY'S HAVE DAY. 3 RUN AND A A FULL COURSE RUN. SOMETIME NEW ISN'T BETTER.
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