this could be the dumbest question but can you help me learn to drive a manual?
im looking to get my first manual but idk how to drive one and neither does anyone in my family. i no this isnt the best way but its a start for me. could anyone kinda run me throw how to drive one just so i no the basics and could go from there and teach myself?

sure why not, when the stick is free in the center, you are in neutral, the car can roll and coast with the clutch pedal unpressed. in order to put the car in gear you must depress the clutch pedal and while it is depressed you have to move the stick to first position (usually left and then up). then you're going to take your other foot (while the clutch is still depressed) and give the car some gas and raise the RPM's and then slowly let out the clutch. It's going to be a motion that is inverse, as your depressing the gas, you're releasing the clutch. Hope that helps. [thumb]

Get someone to drive you to a large, abandonded parking lot. If you have never driven a standard don't put yourself or any other driver on the road in danger. Remember, all your extremeties are going to be used(and your brain), left hand on wheel, right hand on gearshift(north american models), left foot on clutch, and right foot on brake and gas. First thing, get to know where the gears and neutral are on the shifter(park brake on in neutral), go through gears, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and reverse. Next, put clutch in, gear in 1st, and slowley let clutch out(do not give it gas), and when the car starts to move, put clutch in and note how far you had to let the clutch out before it started to move. This in your engagement point. Do this a few times to get a feel for when the car starts to move. When you are comfortable, clutch in, gear in 1st, and give it some gas, not redline and a little more then idle, try around 1000-1500 rpm. This is where practice and getting to know the vehicle comes in. This is also why you need a large, flat parking lot. Slowly let the clutch out, when is starts to move, the rpm will drop slightly, but you will start to drive away. Once moving, let the clutch out smoothly, don't let it jerk up fast, and release it fully. Once moving, drive around in first gear to get to know how fast you can go and get comfortable with it. To stop, put clutch in(and leave in), and use the brakes and come to a stop. Once stopped, put car in neutral and do it again untill you are comfortable. Once moving in 1st, shift into 2nd, your ground speed and rpm will gradually increase for each gear higher you go into. To get into 3rd, 4th, and 5th you only need to put clutch in and release(with no gas), as the rpm will stay high when letting off the gas and shifting for a few seconds, this helps when shifting, it is designed in. Read the manual, as it states typical speeds at which to shift. Practice, practice, practice. Get comfortable. Also, clutch fully in or out. You can burn a clutch out in a matter of seconds or minutes if you are hard on it, or constanly riding it(clutch partially engaged). I made my clutch on my '93 Escort GT last 314,000km. Even pulling a snowmobile around.

Best tip: when you are first learning, don't touch the gas pedal. Learn to move forward smoothly by engaging the clutch. After you've done that, then learn to feather in the gas.

This is a big Click and Clack piece of advice.

Also, use the Intergoogle: here's a neat video on how to drive a manual (http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-use-basic-car-controls-and-start-driving-a-manual-car-253468/).

Best tip: when you are first learning, don't touch the gas pedal. Learn to move forward smoothly by engaging the clutch. After you've done that, then learn to feather in the gas.

I HIGHLY AGREE with that statement, once you learn where the clutch engages it will be a snap to learn the rest.

Yeah that's also what made it easier for me as well.

It kinda helps to understand the concept of how the clutch works too. You can think of it a lot like your brakes since it's basically the same type thing, just the pedals work in opposite directions. You slam on your brakes you're going to lock up your wheels. Same if you let off the clutch too fast, it will lock up the engine. You're more than likely going to stall it a few times so be expecting it and don't get discouraged. Once you get rolling changing gears is easy, and remember when in doubt to push the clutch in, if you feel it not acting right or starting to stall, left foot to the floor.

remember when in doubt to push the clutch in, if you feel it not acting right or starting to stall, left foot to the floor.[/QUOTE]

Similar to above, when coming to a stop, remember to push the clutch in or put it into neutral. Downshifting will come in time and does not need to be focused on right away.

Goto to your local mega used car lot with someone that can drive stick and take out some cars and practice on them. That worry you have no worries about messing up someone's car that you know. My biggest tip is no to get too frustrated and have some fun

When in doubt, push in the clutch

if the engine starts clunking (bogging down in other words) give it a little bit of gas....

I've taught a few fellow students in drivers ed (LOL) how to drive manual. the one thing they always do is forget to put the gear in the open/free/neutral position before letting out the pedal when coming to a stop at a traffic light for example. of course you lurch forward and kill the engine this way. this happened with me at a stop light once (I forgot how parasitic the AC is on this car.....) and stalled it just when we were ready to go.....off course the ass behind me honks then floors it around me to give me the classic glare/finger/and F-you [rolleyes]

what I did to help me know the exact point where the clutch engages/disengages was to just keep moving the pedal front to back right at the spot where it does so.... a foot memory kind of thing [:)] then you can use that with the gas and it gets pretty easy from then on. Another reason you want to know exactly where the engage point is, is so when you're on a hill you minimize the amount of roll-back you get. if you're uncomfortable with the idea of rolling back though, the use of the hand brake until you're in gear and on the gas helps.

Another small tip that helped me.

When 1st learning how to drive and you have to stop on a hill, use your parking brake. That way you do not have to worry about rolling back in to some one. slowly let off the clutch while you give it some gas, you will feel the car try and move foward, release the brake and you are good to go.

Don't worry about stalling it, it will happen, just restart it and go. Forgetting to down shift after stopping will happen too, again don't let it bother you, everybody whose learned a standard does this. NEVER use the clutch to hold the car at a stop sign or light, yes I see people doing this. You can tell by the car rocking back and forth, this will burn out a clutch.

Call a few driving schools, I know it isn't common but there should be one or two that offer lessons. I was in the same boat as you. I bought my focus with manual trans and no one to teach me. I just kept calling schools in my area until I found one close by that offered it. Of course it is more expensive but those three lessons I had to take, along with videos on youtube really helped. I've only been driving for four months, just got my license in April and my first car is a manual. Comparing myself then and now is a big difference. You will stall, shift in wrong gear, and roll back on hills. Just keep your composure and forget about the drivers around you. Don't let them honking intimidate you. Be patient and it will come. It took me two weeks afte I got my license before I let my family ride with me. I didn't have the confidence at the time. But it is true the more you drive and the more you practice the better you will be. I still have a lot to learn, I haven't mastered the heel and toe yet, but I will soon. The difference is like night and day, my wife says I act like I've been driving for years. Now I'm the one who gets impatient with other drivers. But I'm not rude about it, I don't honk and carry one like they do. I just remember that was me once.

check these links out.
http://www.standardshift.com/videos.html {explains how to launch}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpeVOl0H7Eo&feature=PlayList&p=9ECB9EDC9CC9C908&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7 { I used this for all basic lessons}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B59-pWSPoZU&feature=PlayList&p=531ADE510312CCA2&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1 {this kid is good, he covers a lot, you should subscribe to his because he offers advanced lessons, and driving in traffic}

One more thing, read read read read as much as you can so you understand what you are doing and why. Good Luck.

Driving schools and youtube videos. I learned at a racing school out in my home town, however I'm sure if you call around you can find a regular driving school that will offer classes and whatnot. Youtube videos also rock, there are some that are really good for learning. Just be patient, and when you get it down you'll love driving :) I miss my manual, I much prefer them over auto, but I don't have the money to buy a new car that's a stick, so I gotta deal with it for now.

Good luck!

The hardest part to learn is getting it into that first gear, after that, its easy.

i don't think i saw this anywhere, but i could have missed it.... you have to have the clutch in when starting the car...

My focus was my 2nd car and 1st manual, i was fine a before my car had 400 miles on it..... i drove my moms car to school until i got the hang of it, then it was 40 miles round trip on school days...

but simplicity is key, don't try to overcomplicate it, find the way thats easiest for you to understand and go with it, as long as its correct.