How many people have you taught to drive stick?

[freebeard]

Similar progression from cable to hydraulic actuation.

Similar problems with pedal height and pressure varying between vehicles.

[Fat Charlie]

But nobody thinks braking is too hard to learn, they just stop the car.

[freebeard]

Not that I'm disagreeing, but... right up until their first stop on ice or wet leaves.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by Daschicken

Osmosis, lol.

I have a detailed explanation of what I do in the first post of this thread, it works. What doesn't work is telling the learner to let out the clutch slowly and or let out the clutch and apply gas at the same time. You need to start out teaching them in a way that they will actually learn the clutch engagement point, and that is best done at idle speed.

I'm taking your tips and the others in, so thanks. The idea of teaching is way more daunting to me than any mechanical abuse on the car.

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Disc brakes: A foot pedal controls a hydraulic actuator that presses a spinning thing and a non-spinning thing together until their speeds match.

Clutch: Ditto.

I know it's a different foot, but Jeez!

I literally don't know if this will help or not, but I absolutely love that comparison.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by JockoT

A quiet, flat part of town, with all RH turns. Start just getting them to feel and understand the pattern and where all the gears are (my father taught me this at age 11, and I would sit beside him and change the gears as he drove the car). Once they understand the shift, start by just teaching them to pull away then stop, then changing up and stopping before finally getting them downshifting. Do not go out onto busy roads until they are perfectly comfortable on the "nursery slopes".

You know what's funny is that I was a passenger seat shifter too at about that age. I felt super cool! I didn't actually know at the time that I was being delegated the easiest part of driving stick

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jcp123

You know what's funny is that I was a passenger seat shifter too at about that age. I felt super cool! I didn't actually know at the time that I was being delegated the easiest part of driving stick

I remember when I was 3 or 4, my dad placing my hand on the shifter of a Ford Corcel while he was shifting, but I never did that passenger seat shifter thing. Anyway, it might have felt quite odd to shift from the "wrong" side, but eventually it may turn easier to getting used to shift in a right-hand drive vehicle whenever I get a chance to drive one.

[JockoT]

My dad was an ex truck driver, and before I was old enough to officially drive on the road he taught me to double de-clutch up and down. Just as well, because the car I learned to drive on was a three on the tree Vauxhall Wyvern which had no synchromesh on first.

As part of the driving test I had to slow down to a walking pace and select first. It went as smooth as silk, thanks to my dad's tuition.

[jcp123]

Ah, now crashbox driving is something I wish I'd been taught. Really helped my rev-matching for all manuals. Now if only Freightliner had put in pedals I could heel-toe in...that would not only be fantastic practice for a skill I'd like, but in a practical sense also be very handy in slowing the truck.

[skyking]

we had a 68 Datsun 1300 pickup. We three brothers all went 6' +, and when we drove it together I was in the middle with the throttle and shifter. Both windows were open with a shoulder out in the breeze. Good times, we laughed a lot.

[Daschicken]

Originally Posted by skyking

we had a 68 Datsun 1300 pickup. We three brothers all went 6' +, and when we drove it together I was in the middle with the throttle and shifter. Both windows were open with a shoulder out in the breeze. Good times, we laughed a lot.

Now that sounds fun!