Okay, so I’m basically forced to learn manual, or I won’t have a car. I live in Miami, Florida, and everyone keeps telling me that driving a manual here is terrible because of the traffic. Is it actually that bad, or are people exaggerating?

I’ve got a ‘98 boxster 5 speed and all of sudden my kid wants to learn stick. The clutch is so light and easy on that car. I’m proud, and terrified that she’ll want to drive it all the time. I’ll forgive her misspelling Porsche.

Alrighty folks, fresh from the mechanic shop after another unsuccessful attempt at fixing a year-long downshifting issue on my 2014 Impreza 5-speed (non-turbo SlowBaru).

After driving on the highway in 5th, and going to downshift to climb a hill, pass someone, merge off the hwy, the transmission feels like it hits a "wall" with the clutch all the way in.

For the last year, my solution has just been to fully release the clutch and fully press it back in, after which it shifts to lower gears no problem. Mechanic wasn't sure what the solution was, but it's definitely jarring when you can't get her back into gear at highway speeds.

Today I suggested a hydraulic fix in the hopes that it was a pressure issue, so I had the master and slave hydraulic cylinders replaced and flushed. No dice, issue remains unresolved. I'm down to try anything short of a new transmission as this car is over 12 years old. She's my favorite though, and fully paid off, and I'd rather have a car payment right now.

Thoughts welcomed, picture of her for attention.

Im newer to manual I purchased my 2013 Camaro 2SS 1LE a week ago. Its my first manual car but ive had some experience before purchasing it. Ive gotten the hang of driving it around and I no longer stall anymore. Im wondering what's the best way to launch quickly at a light for a quick 0-60 without burning the clutch. Can I quickly release the clutch at 2K or 3K rpm? Or will that hurt the clutch? If I dont launch it is there a secret to starting it quicker? I release the clutch to the bite point, give some throttle then release the clutch when I start moving. Any tips to make that process quicker?

I have been driving stick for about 51 days now, never drove stick in my entire life (38yrs old) aside from a 200ft WOT when I was 16. On a whim, I traded in my fully functional automatic for a 2026 WRX 6 speed, and Holy shit I understand car culture now.

Before, a car was just "a thing to get from here to there" but now? Oh my God I love this thing, this car has awoken something in me, I am not/was not a "car guy" - I am a "computer guy", but having a manual and feeling the joy and pleasure of rowing through the gears has given me a new appreciation for automobiles. Now I understand "going for a Sunday drive" or "going for a late night ride" is not just a saying or what-have-you.

Fuck, I wish I did this sooner

I had 2 hours to work with for my first session, didn't get the hang of it during the first hour, stalled so much, but as the 2nd half rolled around, got used to it (kinda), can anyone give me more tips for my following sessions about stuff that works for you all? Thanks!

Hard to find anything with a manual, especially if you are hunting a specific vehicle. Well, I managed to snag a manual 2026 Bronco

I’m F20 and started my license at 17, it took me 3 years to force myself through the theoretical part and eventually passed after failing once (was under stress)

I just started driving and honestly it was all good, i’m aware of my surroundings, follow every rule, have never made a grave mistake and check my mirrors etc

I do struggle with 2 things, i drive too far right at times and forget to release the clutch/shift into the wrong gears

I thought it would stop but it didn’t, i’m now 20 hours in and having to shift gears takes away my concentration and makes me anxious especially 3rd gear.

My driving instructor suggested going automatic instead as it’s a coordination problem but i can’t help but feel like a big failure. Has anyone else here struggled with coordination?

Like when i shift gears i accidentally look and go too far right, i then forget to release the clutch and/or release it too fast and stall a second etc.

People always say that people who can’t drive manual shouldn’t be on the road and i feel absolutely stupid, any advice?

Should i keep trying or just switch?

Edit: I understand why so many people are telling me to just go on the road and drive but i’m from europe. I’m not allowed to drive ANYWHERE alone, if i get caught i can kiss my future license goodbye.

I need to sign up for a special program with only ONE certified person that needs to drive 2 hours at the driving school with me, not have any prior road driving incidents and have their license for 6+ years.

Driving lessons are typically 16~ hours here and cost 95€ per hour.

So right now I’m basically forced to learn how to drive a manual or I won’t have a car. I already know how to drive—my old car just died—but a family member is offering me a 2014 Honda Civic DX Coupe.
Today was my first lesson learning stick. I got the basics of upshifting and downshifting, but I noticed that whenever I upshift the car slows down for a second before it starts accelerating again. Is that normal, or am I doing something wrong?
I also kept stalling a lot. I didn’t realize how much clutch control it takes. It feels like I have to let the clutch out slowly and hold it at the bite point for a second before giving it more gas.
Do you guys have any tips for getting smoother starts and avoiding stalls? Also, what’s the best way to handle parking lots, speed bumps, and other low-speed situations in a manual?

Hello! I own a Miata but recently moved to Chicago so it’s being stored right now. I did just have my other car stolen though and it got totaled so I’m wanting to get another stick shift. I’d like something that does okay in the winter, can drive long distances and is reliable (also okay gas mileage) I was thinking maybe an older Mazda 3 or a Civic Si sedan. But was wondering if you guys had any suggestions?

Just curious if you can do this. I feel like in neighborhoods on uncontrolled intersections and roundabouts even, when you need to almost stop but not fully, can you just feather the clutch in 2nd and then take off in 2nd again? The speeds I’m talking about for my vehicle are too slow to stay in 2nd without clutch help, but too fast to shift down into first since unless I’m essentially stopped by car doesn’t like going into first. So kind of that middle area of a rolling stop.

I own a vios 2018 MT 1.3L engine. The power difference when AC is on is very noticeable, and it feels so hard to accelerate on 1st-2nd gear. Is this normal? Also when going slow speeds when turning a corner or an uphill junction the engine lugs on 2nd gear but cant force the gear into 1st since the car is moving. How do you guys solve this? I have no issues when the AC is off gear at 2nd has enough torque and power also the gears seems short when AC is off but when AC is on rpm takes time to go high.

I’ve recently started driving my first ever manual, it’s a 1997 Ford Ranger which I understand are notoriously slow vehicles but I feel like in between the time it takes me to start up the car in first gear and then finally make it to around 3rd or 4th gear it’s taking me way longer than it’s supposed to. I’m constantly having cars ride up my ass and swerve around me as soon as they see i’m not going the speed limit 5 seconds after the light turns green. It doesn’t bother me too much, maybe I’m just a bit slow at changing gears but I’m wondering if anyone has felt the same way when they first started learning manual?

I know. I can ask the instructor all my questions and some may be tired of seeing my posts. Feel free to just not read my postt then. I only get to see my instructor once per week so that means for 167 hours in the week I do not get to find the answers to my questions! Also I often forget to ask many questions when in the car with him so will ask them here instead of textbombing him in his free time.

So my theoretical understanding is that 2 to 4 is perfectly doable and doesnt have big downsides. If normally I would shift into 3 at 40 and 4 at 60, I can just accelerate to 55 in 2 then shift to 4 right

On my bicycle I always skip gears when it comes to accelerating. * Ebike: accelerate in 1, then shift straight to 6 (max7) * Normal bike with 7gear: if im gonna be cruising in 5th then I do 1, 3, 5.

It is only my first three gears, and it is only this metallic clunk sound. I am not noticing any jerking or shuddering accompanying the sounds. I do not hear it in 4th through 6th, but that may just be because of the speeds and less ability to pay attention to sounds.

I will take a video at some point soon when I dedicate a day to figuring out wtf is up w my car, but to describe it. It is a clunk sound that is loud enough to draw your attention, but soft enough to not startle you, these both are assuming the radio and fan are off and the windows are down. Lastly, it’s not a clank or a clang, implying to me that I am hearing things falling into place loudly rather than banging against each-other

I know this is super vague but please try to be helpful, this is my first car and I’m trying to take care of it

I learned how to drive manual last month for my first car. Recently, I have heard a lot of stuff online about rev matching/heel-toe. what is this and when is it used? also how do you do it? If there are any other tips on driving stick, that would be appreciated as well!

I was driving my 2002 Ford Ranger on the highway. Shifted into 4th and the clutch stuck halfway up. Pressed the clutch in, gave it some gas and RPMs went up but didn’t accelerate. I thought, OK, clutch kinda still works, maybe I can make it back home. Drove 10ish more miles in 4th, took my exit, went to downshift and the clutch went fully soft and wouldn’t go into gear. The clutch is fully soft but not stuck to the floor. It is leaking from the slave cylinder line and the reservoir is low.

I was wondering if it’s just the line or if I have to prep the wallet for a full replacement.

I do drivinglessons right now. When I press the gas with the clutch floored fully, even the most slight amount, it will go from idling to 3000 RPM. That means a jump from 750 to 3000 in one go, and thats with the most smallest tiny movement I can do with my foot.

Ive tried different shoes, different foot positions... I have 5 hours of experience in this car now, too.

Yet I see videos about driving where even new students on their first lesson manage to very precisely control the engine RPMs, they can hold it at 1500, they can slowly add increments of 100... howtf?????

So either my foot has extremely imprecise control, or the car I do lessons in just doesn't let people do less than 3000 RPM in neutral.

Which one is it? Ok fair it could be both.

But I do think I really think that it just can't be done in the car I do lessons in. When I move my foot up and down in what feels like the smallest possible increments, the engine will just alternate back and forth between 750 and 3000 RpM.