Spiker

How long does it take to learn to drive standard shift? I might have to drive my car back from Dallas Texas to OKC Oklahoma after I buy it. Btw i am 18 with 6 month of automatic experience with virtually no highway experience lol...and no I cant get my parents to go pick it up or even teach me (i live with my aunt and uncle right now and they are ....****) ...I have to get a friend to take me there and another friend to teach me for 1 day. I am just not sure if i will be able to do it so quickly.

expo1

Get someone else to drive it back or pay a transport company. Your lack of experience on many things makes this a risky thing to do.

valpac

iTrader: (2)

^ +1. Get your friend to drive it back for you.

mikeferz42

that's just dangerous and plus you don't want to hold up traffic when you stall. driving with a manual transmission takes hours of practice. i would learn in a diff. car because you don't really want to use up the clutch on your brand new car. just my .02 and good luck.

mysql101

I wouldn't drive it. Have a friend drive it back for you, then buy a $500 junker manual car to learn on. It shouldn't take more than a week or two to be good enough to drive normally (though moving from a dead stop will be tricky for a little while longer).

Mobile

There is no answer to your question. You need to make that assessment yourself. How fast did you pickup learning to drive? The answer should be an indication.

If you are taught to do it properly, and you have decent driving skills - you shouldn't "use up" your clutch while learning. Don't any of your friends have standards so you can practice a bit? A good teacher is going to be key if you want to learn how to properly operate your clutch and transmission without doing damage to it.

I applaud you for wanting to learn to drive standard instead of buying an automatic 8, however make sure you take the proper steps so you don't cause undue damage to your new (and very nice) car.

Absinthe

I would also advised against driving it yourself, personally. I bought my car about a month ago, and it was my first manual. (I'd only attempted at driving a stick twice prior, and both were more of a parking lot situation) Even with probably about 150,000 miles of driving under my belt, it still gave me nervous rush driving around for the first week.

With the limited driving experience you already have, I think adding in a whole other set of thought processes could be a bit risky.

map

My 8 was my first manual. I had learned on some friend's cars but I still wasn't great. I will tell you that that first drive home was one of the most stressful of my life, and it was only 20 miles for me. Once you have it you'll learn fast. I was decent after a couple days and proficient after 2 weeks. Go for the manual but try to arrange something to get it home.

mysql101

driving an automatic regardless of the length of time, doesn't help you with anything other than the basics (how to drive on the road, and avoid hitting others). Driving a manual transmission can be tricky, but it's ultimately just a dance that draws a line between slipping the clutch and driving in gear.

like I said, a week or two and you should be fine, but not a cross state trip as your first time....

once you get moving, things are a lot easier, it's usually just getting moving part that is an issue.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

+1

I learned to drive a manual transmission on the test drive of my first new car purchase (1987 Honduh Accord LXi).

mysql101

^ So did my brother.... but doesn't mean it's the right thing for most

The last thing you want to do is stall out after moving a bit, and the car behind you runs into you, not expecting you to suddenly stop moving at a green light.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

I was just agreeing with the self-assessment suggestion.
I think the types that can do it will know they can. Not believe they can (or psych themselves into thinking they can), but know they can.
If there is any doubt, its best not to attempt it.

mysql101

hehe. My brother has also fallen asleep at the wheel twice and flipped his car around in the ditch. Best not to follow his example.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, crashing is highly over-rated.

Mobile

This is so true.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

see if you can get your friend that knows how to drive it, to drive it back for you. that's a long drive and if you don't know how to drive stick yet, then it's best not to take it right away. i had the dealer teach me, but i still needed a lil more practice afterwards before attempting any drive.

HCTR154

I haven't heard them call "standards" in a long time!

ken-x8

If you have some automotive aptitude, will really spend a day being taught, and have a responsible attitude, you should be fine.

My first car was a 7 or 8 year old Alfa Romeo, manual transmission. I had maybe 2 or 3 miles previous experience driving a stick, in my brother's old Ford whose clutch was worn and slipping. I was living in Ithaca, NY, very hilly. My brother drove the Alfa up from NYC, and spent a half hour or so refreshing me on driving a stick. I was on my own the next day, and generally doing fine after a few days. Dealing with the hills probably accelerated my learning curve - one of those "play for more than you can afford to lose" situations.

Really, once you spend a couple of hours getting the hang of starting from a stop, there are just two tricky items left. One is starting on a hill. The 8 has a nice handbrake lever that will help with that. (The Alfa did not.) The other is remembering to de-clutch and take it out of gear when you come to a stop. If you can spend a few days driving around town (hopefully in the 'burbs, not downtown rush hour traffic) you'll get the hang of that.

Most of your drive will be on Interstates. That's generally very easy driving. Just maintain safe following distances (the 4 second rule is good) and adjust what you're doing if anyone starts to crowd you. Always be aware of what's around you (8's visibility is not A+) and signal all lane chages. Never trust anyone else's signals.

After you've driven and shifted the 8 like a granny for a month or two, come back here and read the posts on double clutching, heel and toe, and rev matching.

Enjoy the drive.

Ken

Spiker

That is what my uncle did when he brought his new car. He learned it from dealer and drove it back. So i was thinking well if he can do it i can do it better...except his drive was 5 miles long and my drive is 250 miles long. All my close friends that have manual car their cars are all like brand new so they dont want me to learn it on theirs, i have some ok friends that are willing to teach me but i dont want to grind his car all day long.

Redpit10

Very Yoda-esqe. "Do or do not, there is no try". I would say get yourself a beater 5 speed, learn on that for a month, then step up to the 8. One good thing is the 8 has a very forgiving transmission, but still it is very possible to do something stupid that will cost you some money or frustration in the future.

map

Just get one of them to road trip with you when you get it so they can drive it home for you. If they're reluctant offer them a $100 or something. Once you have it home you'll be fine.

jeffe19007

I agree, if you have a decent feel for mechanical things, then you will not torture a manual, despite driving it bad.

And from there you just get better. Just stay away from stop signs at the the tops of hills.

deadphoenix52

what helped me the most was learning what exactly was happening as i pushed the clutch in, and as i drove. why the car stalls, why it jerks if u let off too fast, and stuff.

do some research

Spiker

Good idea i spent last hour reading and it actually works alot differently than i thought lol

limepro

so many people saying not to drive it...granted i had more time driving a car and alot of highway experience but my first time driving a manual was in LA traffic on a friday at 5pm on the 5 north. once u HAVE to you will its that simple takes maybe a few stalls after that u can get it especially on the highway if theres no traffic just get up to speed put it in 6th and drive it like a normal car u just have to be more aware of when to downshift but thats all simple too