<p>The Car Talk guys also recommend the no gas method.</p>
<p>Oops missed page two, someone beat me to it!</p>
<p>The driver’s ed program in our area will let you pay 50 extra and use manual cars during training.</p>
<p>Our car drove to and from my Hs work for four years and then went on to the kids. I have two children who learned to drive the stick on it and then drove it for two years apiece.It is about to embark on our third child and the clutch has never needed anything more than a tweaking in nine years! I doubt you can ruin a clutch solely in the learning stage!</p>
<p>My mom was afraid to teach me to drive in an automatic. Sometimes I’m too uncoordinated to drive an automatic. You wouldn’t believe the number of times I almost crashed into the house in the morning because my car was in drive instead of reverse on my way to school. Thankfully my sister usually catches me. It’s unbelievable how many times I opened up the car, got in, stuck the key in the ignition, and then turned my car on, and then put my backpack away and got settled (seatbelts, mirrors, that kind of thing) and then wondered where the **** my key was. I actually went into my room to look. My sister: “Um, it’s in the ignition.” Couple times, I tried to pull out of the driveway in my mom’s SUV without turning the car on and wondering why it won’t roll off the driveway like it’s supposed to. </p>
<p>Anyway I’m lucky I didn’t get involved in a really bad crash yet. I don’t think I’d teach someone with no more than 6 hours driving experience to drive a stick, nor would I myself ever consider driving a manual.</p>
<p>I’ve always thought my dad had it right…He made me watch, I mean really watch him as he drove. You might try to gain your mom’s confidence by really paying attention to when and how she shifts. Helps to know why you shift, as well. Ask her questions and prove to her that you are responsible enough to drive…Manual transmissions aren’t difficult to master–just takes practice. Agree with the suggestion of a flat and empty parking lot for your first few attempts. We used an outpatient medical center that’s deserted on weekends. </p>
<p>Mastering the use of the hand break will really help you when required to stop on a hill----you know, waiting for a light to change or when traffic is heavy. I go back to the dark ages–shift on the steering column and emergency break down below! The hand break was revolutionary for me… Good luck to the OP~</p>
<p>I have to learn with written instructions. My H tried to teach me when we were first married, and I couldn’t do it - brain overload. Finally, I asked him to tell me, step by step, what to do. I wrote the steps on index cards and taped them to the dashboard. Then I taught myself. (I already had a driver’s license, though.)</p>
<p>Oh my, this one strikes a chord with me.
In NJ, almost all of he driving time is he responsibilty of the parents. Having taught two to drive was so stressful to me. Most of the roads in our town have a high speed limit
( 50 MPH )
My second daughter and I almost killed each other during this time. I had to teach her stick , which made it even more challenging than my first.
It was scary, to say the least. We spent a lot of time in a local park with a road around it. The park is fairly new and not used much, which was helpful.
Getting her license right before the 4th of July, in a tourist area didn’t give me any peace of mind.
The street we live on is on a curve with a slightly obstructed view. It is also a route that many take to get to the local beaches, and 50 mph. We used to make her take a right hand turn and then turn into our community center parking lot to change her direction.
So afraid of her stalling and getting nailed.
I am thankful for the 6 yr break I have until the next child will be driving !</p>
<p>Do you have another car that is an automatic? I suggest that you learn how to drive first and then tackle the stick shift. It’s just easier, like binx said, to teach yourself how to operate a stick shift AFTER you learn how to drive.</p>
<p>I learned how to drive in a stick shift because that was all we had, however, I borrowed an automatic to pass my driver’s test.</p>
<p>I started my kids in an empty parking lot until they could navagate it with a stick without effort. Much practice with getting moving and smooth shifting. Very comforting to know my daughter can drive anything.</p>
<p>I learned how to drive a motorcycle first. The transition was (almost) seamless.</p>
<p>I (a female) taught myself to drive a stick. I did it in the reverse of what many are saying here. I went to a neighborhood that had no traffic and practiced ON A HILL. I figured if I could conquer the hill, I could do anything. I was over there a long time, but felt confident by the end of my “self taught” lesson! I purchased a car with a stick because I felt it was one of those things you should know how to do!</p>