Everyone should learn to drive a manual car, but not all have the opportunity and with so few manual transmission cars in the United States, it can be a challenge. So what is the best way to learn to drive a manual car, especially without owning a manual car?
I was fortunate to learn to drive a manual car when I was a new driver, but no matter your age it is an essential skill to learn! Learning to drive a manual car will come in handy like it did for me when I rented a car out of the country and all they had were manual transmission cars! So good for you for wanting to learn. And here is how to learn how to drive stick-shift without owning a stick-shift car.
Borrowing a friend’s car and having that friend teach you is the best way to learn to drive manual. Asking friends will lead you to someone who owns a stick-shift car and is willing to teach you. Purchasing a cheap manual car is another great option and you will quickly become good. Before then, youtube and posts like this will help you understand how driving manual is done.
To not be embarrassed or to cause damage to your friends car, you need to know as much as you can. And there is a lot that goes into learning stick-shift, so read as many helpful tips you can find before your first attempt!
Learn to Drive Manual Without a Manual Car
The best way to learn to drive a manual transmission is by borrowing a friend’s car and having your friend teach you but that is not the only option. Here are a few more:
- Learn to Drive a Manual With Your Friends Car
- Buy a Stick Shift Car
- Learn to Ride a Motorcycle to Learn the Manual Transmission Concept
- Read and Watch Videos to Prep Yourself to Drive Manual
1. Learn to Drive a Manual With Your Friends Car
More than likely any friend that you have that drives a manual car learned to drive from one of their friends teaching them, so certainly if you buy them lunch, they will be glad to let you drive it around the parking lot a few times and teach you just how to keep from stalling.
This can even be a friend of a friend. Ask people you know and you will find someone willing. Talking about it with your friends will lead you to someone with a car that is happy to teach you.
Pay them if you need. This is a nice gesture especially when gas is expensive! Buying them lunch or giving them 20 bucks will be a win for you and them showing the appreciation of their time and the use of their car and it is a cheap driving lesson for you!
Although many will find a friend with a stick shift car, it can be tough to find someone with a manual transmission car since they are becoming less common in the United States, but there is still hope.
The next idea is brilliant!
2. Buy A Cheap Stick Shift Car
If you don’t own one – just go purchase one!
There are plenty of inexpensive manual cars available for sale and even if you own it for a short period of time, purchasing a cheap stick shift cars is one of the best ways to learn to drive stick shift.
If it is from a private seller, then ask the seller to give you a lesson. If you are a serious buyer then they will have no problem giving you a lesson enough for you to be able to drive home.
Or if you don’t feel comfortable learning so quickly, bring a friend with you to buy the car that knows what they are doing. They can drive you home and teach you how to drive manual on the way.
No need to buy an expensive car, it can be good to learn on a lower priced car to not be so concerned about transmission wear or other wear from the learning process.
Definitely I wouldn’t recommend someone learning to drive manual on a brand new car from the dealership. The lurching and grinding would make me cringe.
Even just asking someone selling their car. Let them know you are a potential buyer but don’t know how to drive one and need to learn. Some will not want to allow you to drive their car that you may not buy, but there are plenty of people that would not mind teaching you and benefit themselves with the chance to sell their car to you.
Shop online for a manual car and reach out to a few people selling theirs on Craigslist or whatever seller platform you prefer, and tell them you are looking to buy a manual transmission and would like to try driving. When you meet with them to check out the car for sale, if they are friendly they will probably not mind teaching you to drive!
Sometimes learning puts an extra amount of wear on a manual transmission so someone who is looking to sell their car will be more inclined to let you learn on it, since they are about to get rid of it! And if you are a serious buyer then they are that much more likely to spend time to teach you.
3. Learn to Ride a Motorcycle to Learn Manual Transmission Concept
The most similar skill you can learn to driving a car with a manual transmission is learn to drive a motorcycle or a dirt bike. Start with a small, not-so-powerful bike that is easy to handle and you can get the hang of riding a motorcycle in minutes.
Learning to drive a manual car tends to be slightly more difficult to learn than a motorcycle and is a perfect stepping stone to learning.
The clutch is operated with your hand on a motorcycle rather than your foot like it is in the car but the same motions and mechanisms apply to both so getting the feel of the clutch on a bike will help you learn to drive your car!
4. Read and Watch Videos to Prep Yourself to Drive Manual
If you are not quite ready to shop for a car on Craigslist, or don’t like the idea of having a stranger teach you to drive, then your best preparation material at this point is to read about it. Read all that you can so you have a good idea of what you have to do before you put the pedal to the metal. This is just what you are doing so keep it up! You will learn critical things like what to watch out for to not damage your new car when you get it!
Youtube can be a great resource to watch someone drive and they can talk you through the steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Learning to Drive Manual
Can I learn to drive manual playing a video game?
Playing video games is not a sufficient method for learning to drive stick shift. Popular car games have the ability to use a controller with a steering wheel and 3 pedals, but playing on a simulator will not teach you the feel of a real clutch. To learn, you need to just get in a stick shift car.
Many have the idea to purchase a decent simulator controller kit and learn in their living room but unfortunately all the popular car games that accept this type of set up are not realistic enough to require you to learn the skills needed to drive a real car.
There are certainly driving simulators out there that will simulate driving manual well enough but none affordable enough to be worth your effort.
Simply get out there and learn to drive manual and if you do not own a car the follow the 4 main ideas in this post!
Can I damage my car learning to drive stick shift?
Stalling is the most common thing that happens to everyone learning to drive stick shift. Stalling does not cause damage to your car.
The one thing to watch out for that can cause damage to your car is shifting into the wrong gear. The best way to prevent this is to take your time while you are learning and pay close attention while you shift. Also let the clutch out slowly while shifting and even if you shift into the wrong gear you will be able to catch yourself.
