learning how to drive stick?
 

I'm planning a big trip across the country with my 8. I'm taking a friend so we can trade off driving. Just one problem...he can't drive stick! Is it REALLY that bad to stall the car a few times, or ride the clutch a bit to get it started, or all the things you do when your learning to drive stick? I'd love to have him help, and hes a fast learner / good listener, so I don't think he'll mess up that often. Just wondering if you think it's worth it (don't offer to learn on another stick, as none is available). Thanks!

-Rupes

well... when i first got this car i would stall the car a few times. I always stalled it while the engine was warmed up. Try renting a stick car for a day ! it shouldnt be that expensive! its like paying for a lesson! stall the rental car as much as you want! Good luck! and make sure to keep the engine warm when he drives, cuz if he stalls when its cold, it could flood! BEWARE!

You should have no problems as long as you give him the keys when the engine is warm. And tell him not to be scared to rev the engine, the rotary needs more rpm for take offs, plus it is very quiet.

I would try and let him get comfortable with some city driving first. On a long car trip, if he had to take some sort of sudden evasive maneuver, he might not be skilled enough to make it. I've seen people that were new to driving sticks get rattled and forget to push the clutch in and stall the car.

Anyhow, it's really not that hard to drive a stick, but it does take practice to get the finesse up.

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't teach him to drive a stick on your car. Heck, I taught an old girlfriend how to drive a stick on my '88 turbo RX-7 that makes around 350 horsepower with an aluminum flywheel and a VERY heavy pressure plate on the clutch. She had no problems.

Dale

for that kinda trip i think its best he has some practice before the actual drive.

If my girlfriend stalled my brand new rx8 a few times, she'd be my OLD girlfriend too ;)

I've had some stick driving experiencing, but when I got my 8, i did stall it a few times (for shame), but not ever since. Call me selfish, but i don't like other people driving my car :p

I drove cross-country with a girlfriend of mine during college, and she didn't know how to drive a MT. But in the spirit of "sharing the driving" she offered to pitch in, and I thought - how difficult can this be b/c it's all interstate driving anyway.....

BAD IDEA

After grinding the gears and scaring the s%#$ out of me, mentally I couldn't handle the damage to my 96 Prelude any longer. So this "sharing the driving" stint lasted about 10 minutes.

It probably would be best to rent a standard, let him drive it for a while, see if he gets the hang of it. Otherwise, I wouldn't risk it.

Absolutely, Get A Rental!
Tear That thing up first!

Not sure if the idea of teaching on a different car is a really good idea. The clutches will be different.

I drove my RX-8 daily 5 months long and stalled it only twice in the first week of owning it.

Then I got a second car (Festiva, 63 hp, 5 speed tranny, over 200,000 miles on it).

As you can imagine, these two cars are quite different!

After driving the Festiva for 3 days I got back to the RX-8 and promptly stalled it.

Now I can switch between these two cars and never a problem.

The brakes are very different as well, even though the Festiva got 4 new brakes.

---> to get back to your question:

Train your friend on your RX-8 in city driving with lots of shifting, but I'd do it at night. Then he won't have a problem on the interstate.

-Peter

I just got done with lesson #1. Went pretty well, 1 stall, a few jerky starts, a few roasts of the clutch...better than I thought though.

We went to a parking lot that had 0 cars in it, so he had plenty of room to get the hang of it. Tomorrow, we'll hit up the streets.

-Rupes

That's good. I taught my teenager how to drive a stick on my 8. No problems. Stalled when cold and always started up right away. I recently had the M flash and am getting re used the clutch. It's funny, I heard (read) that part of the reflash dealt with reducing stalling but I find I need to pre-rev more to take off. I guess I'll know more after more time.

Just let him drive around a bit in a parking lot before the trip. If he's as quick a learner as you say he is, it shouldn't be a problem. It only took me about an hour to learn how to drive a manual.

Long time lurker; first time post. Thanks everyone for all the good info & discussions on this board. I'm currently driving a 2003 Protege5 auto...planning on purchasing a base model RX-8 6MT towards the end of summer but I need to get some more practice driving a a manual. I have tried searching the major rental companies but they only offer automatics. Does anyone know of a company that rents manuals? I suppose I'll just have to bug my friend to learn on his Miata if not.

I couldn't even find a driving school that teaches manuals here in Dallas...

I'm not sure that rental companies even have manuals. Since everyone can drive automatics, that is usually the only type of car they carry. I can't remember a single rental car company that offered a manual.

yeah... i once tried to rent a stick mustang, couldn't find any available from the big rental companies.

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I looked into this before I bought my 8, hadn't drove a stick in ten years or so, NO rental company rented out sticks. Just learn on the 8. It will be OK.

My wife wants me to teach her how to drive my 8. I keep telling her I will but I don't mean it! Off to the bar now honey, zoom zoom!!

just drove my new 8 from NJ to Dallas (1700 miles) and didnt know how the drive a MT. Stalled it several times, ground up the gears a couple of times, but you know what, sh** happens so what are you going to do about it. Today, 3rd day of driving, I had to drive it to work, it takes an hour with a lot of traffic, and I only stalled it once, I was very proud of myself. I t really is pretty easy to drive and get used to, as long as you explain how everything works to your friend, and if your friend isnt some sort of idiot, then he will be fine.

My story: About 2 years ago I bought a 2002 WRX with basically no experience with manuals, but I knew I needed to learn for this car. I drove off the lot and stalled about 20 times on my way home, but within a day or so I could drive it around comfortably. The car never gave me any trouble after all the abuse in the beginning (even though it was during the break-in period when the engine is supposed to be more vulnerable).

Re: learning how to drive stick?
 

Millions of people learn to drive manual transmission and we don't junk the cars after the lessson. I'd go ahead and teach him on the car you'll be driving. Just make sure he gets enough practice so that he's not going to freak out in a challenging situation in traffic.