I got a manual transmission and now I feel like a noob. :(

[FlameOfCallandor]

My dad finally caved and bought a new car and used my car as a trade in. He gave me his old car which is a 2002 chevy blazer with manual transmission. I've never driven one before and now i feel like shit. I couldn't even get home without feeling like the car was going to explode when i shift up. Any tips?

[FlameOfCallandor]

Ok, im reading the wikipedia entry to get a good feel of how and why the transmission wirks the way it does. Why is it important to release the clutch and press the gas at the same time. I think that gets me the most. I kept jerking the car really bad.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Shoul i over press or uner press the gas when i let the clutch go?

[Error Macro]

Did your a/c get fixed so now you have to whine about learning to drive a manual transmission?

I learned to drive manual in a 1970 Chevy truck that had worn out synchros (had to double-clutch between second and third), a botched steering column to floor shifter conversion, and a clutch that made you think you were doing leg presses.  Don't fucking whine about learning to drive a manual. 

My only sympathy is that I wouldn't want to drive a stick everyday.  Automatic FTW.

[brawndolicious]

actually since it's an older car it'll probably be easier because the clutch won't "grip" as easily.  the reason you clutch is that it basically attaches the transmission to the engine so you have to start out slow.  most of the thing you have to learn is how to let the clutch go.  there's no surprise with it.  you'll probably shit yourself when you get to a hill.  if you start to hear the engine turn off and you didn't bring the clutch up that much, just put a lot of gas.  you'll fuck up the transmission a little but it's better than pushing your car to the side or falling back down a hill.

[Scurvy Stan]

Learning a stick isn't going to happen from reading online. Go get one of your stick driving friends, head over to an empty parking lot, and practice starting and stopping for like an hour straight. It's easy once you learn.

It's all about balance. From a dead stop you'll need to feather the clutch more than shifting when you are moving. This means letting the clutch out slower and feeling for where it grabs. As you are letting the clutch out gently apply some gas. What you want is for the amount of power to equal the take up you are doing at the same time with the clutch and you will smoothly pull away.

The only way to learn is just doing it over and over, with someone with you showing you. Within a month you'll do it so naturally you'll wonder why you ever had trouble.

[Scurvy Stan]

So do they not have a difference between automatic and manual licenses in the US then?
Why are you trying to drive a manual car if you don't have a manual license?

There's no auto and manual license in the US. You can drive wtf ever except for a huge ass semi truck with a US license.

[xnikki118x]

So do they not have a difference between automatic and manual licenses in the US then?
Why are you trying to drive a manual car if you don't have a manual license?

Where are you from that they have seperate licenses? That's actually a good idea.

There's no auto and manual license in the US. You can drive wtf ever except for a huge ass semi truck with a US license.

Well, you can't drive a motorcycle, there's a special license for that. Basically, a C-class license is for cars, trucks, vans, SUVs. You need a special license/certification to drive big vans though, like the 12-15 passenger ones. My dad is a firefigher/EMT and they have special licenses to be able to drive fire engines and ambulance, I guess because they're pretty giant. Then there's also a special license for 18-wheelers like you said. I think that's all.

[BlackMage]

If I was living in the UK and only had an automatic license, I would feel like a total pussy.

[BlueTsunami]

*Insert Bz story about his dad dieing of cancer and inheriting his Chevy Nova from which he learned the fine art of driving stick*

[FlameOfCallandor]

Seperate license is stupid. Car makers should just be required to make automatic.

[MrAngryFace]

MANual is King. MAN UP LOSER.

[FlameOfCallandor]

MANual is King. MAN UP LOSER.

I know.  I just feel frustrated that I didnt pick it up right away.

I'm stuck at my parents house in houston until I can drive back to Austin.

[MrAngryFace]

I was lucky, my first car was a stick. Its harder after you drive a lazy-person automatic for a while. People who drive manual also tend to pay more attention to pretty much everything happening on the road. Or at least I do