*because I figure you guys all drive manual transmission vehicles I got myself into a bit of a pickle. I just purchased my first ever vehicle, a 2002 BMW 330xi. I have a bunch of experience on automatic transmission vehicles, and seeing that this bimmer was otherwise a dream come true, and after people telling me that stick-shifts were so much fun, I decided to go ahead and buy it. I did not realize how much work it would be! I'm scared to drive it now. I stalled three times on the way home from the dealership (which was in a rural area, so test driving it, it didn't seem so bad at all) and now it's in a city parking garage and I'm absolutely terrified. I can shift the gears fine and I can get to a stop fine, but it is so difficult putting it into first gear! I'm also worried about stopping and starting on hills. I understand the mechanical relationship between the clutch, accelerator, etc., but feeling it out is so difficult and I have mini panic-attacks sometimes because I'm worried about blowing a timing belt or something. It's made some startling noises! Anyway, so when you budding Michael Schumachers over there learned to drive manual transmission vehicles, what made it easier? Any tips? To make this matter worse, I need to be competent in this art in two weeks time because I already asked this girl - sort of jokingly - on a weekend road trip to a national park and she is now really enthusiastic about the plan and I did not think she would actually be game. I was more showing off my sexy new Bavarian freedom and it landed me in a tough situation. I feel like George from Seinfeld. This is a totally stupid situation. I'm incurring a huge parking fee as well because I haven't actually mustered the courage to drive my vehicle out of the parking garage since I parked it yesterday in order to go to another location (don't ask why) to buy a monthly pass for the parking garage. There should be a special lane in the USA for people learning to drive manual transmission vehicles. It's madness.
nice car anyway, for tips: well, now I suppose it's petrol engine, not diesel. first of all, give yourself time to get to know your self with your car. As for starting, you have to see where your clutch limit is and where car starts to go. when you're about to start, keep your engine around 2000-3000rpm (1000-2000 if it's diesel) (you can do even more until you get that feeling in your feet, but not too much so your car doesn't start too fast (unless you want to powerstart, but that when you'll have more experience). As you slowly release your clutch around limit position, you'll see that your rpm's are falling down. as they fall down, add gas and your car will slowly start. Just practice that, and you'll be able to start faster and faster when that move will be in your feets. Eventually you'll be able to control on slopes (for starting uphill, I suggest having toe-heal right foot position: your heal is on gas and your toes are on breaks, and as you want to start you release your break with toes and add gas so your car doesn't roll back). Just remember, keep calm, and don't panic. Driving manuals is fun, at least it's for me (I drive 1997 Fiat Bravo SX), and not so hard, you just have to drive with your feelings as car is part of you.
Driving manual seemed impossible to me too as I started but in no time you'll be wondering how you ever found it so hard/scary. If I were you, this is what I would do. Muster up the courage to drive your car out of the car park and go find a quiet area with no one around. Then just practice. First tip, don't worry, you're not going to hurt the car. Worse case scenario you either give it too much power and the wheels spin a bit or too little and the car stalls. So just keep doing it. You need to get a feel for two things how much power you put in and the speed at which you let the clutch out. Basically, the higher in the rev range you are the faster you can let the clutch out. To get a feel for the clutch try to start moving without using any power at all, as in, literally keep your foot off of the accelerator and slowly let the clutch out. Once you get that down use the same technique but do it a little faster as you apply a bit of power. As for hill starts, for smaller ones just overcompensate a bit with the revs but still let the clutch out like normal. For steeper hills, put the handbrake (e brake) on, rev the engine, and slowly let out the clutch, you should see the front of your car rise a bit, as soon as that happens take the handbrake off completely and continue to slowly let the clutch out, making sure you're still giving it decent power. Honestly though, you're not going to learn it in 2 weeks. Don't get me wrong you could capable of driving it in 2 weeks, enough to be able to drive decently enough but in my opinion, it takes a few years at least to become properly skilled. Just practice as much as you can. Oh, and nice car, very jealous.
first bold text: yes, that will work on diesel engine cars. on petrol engine, your engine will choke and stall if you do that. keep petrol engine at least at 2000rpm (that's why driving schools in europe mostly have diesel cars). second bold: I've learned it in couple hours. if you get that feel for your car quickly, you'll need lot less than 2 weeks (not to say years) . Just take some time and go slowly.
I didn't read what other people posted, so some of this might be redundant, but I'm too lazy to read it all. For starters, the only thing you'll hurt by shifting horribly is the clutch and/or transmission. Specifically, riding the clutch will cause the clutch friction disk to glaze or wear out, and grinding gears will wear the synchronizer teeth for the transmission gears. And this isn't something that is done very easily or quickly. You'll be fine. Anyway, tips: driving a stick is just like learning to ride a bike. It seems really hard at first, but just keep at it. You will suck at it at first, but no one is awesome at anything when they first try it. 1. Practice, practice, practice. Drive everywhere, in all different situations, areas, and traffic. The reasoning behind this should be obvious. 2. Feel the clutch. Get to a parking lot and play around with it. Learn where the clutch releases (when you let the clutch out and the rpms start to drop and the car starts to lurch forward) and learn how and when to give it gas. If the car starts bucking or jumping when you go to start, give it more gas. If you're giving it gas but the car really isn't going anywhere chances are you're riding the clutch. So just let out the clutch faster. If it makes grinding noises, then you're not fully engaging the clutch before trying to shift (pushing the clutch in). 3. Practice hills. Find a hill to practice on with no cars driving on it. Get halfway up the hill and stop. Then try starting from a stop. Use the parking brake to help you. Hold in the button on the parking brake and pull it up. Then begin to give it gas and work the clutch and once you feel the car begginning to lurch forward, slowly release the parking brake. It helps on really steep hills. It basically boils down to practice and just playing around with it and getting a feel for the car. Just remember, work the clutch and gas equally. Equal amounts simultaneously. As for the chick thing, either cancel and practice more or just fess up that it's your first manual car and you're still learning it. You're driving a Beamer dude, she will not care if you're not perfect at driving stick. It's a beamer. Chicks love beamers.
I take off at idle all the time in my car and it's only a 1.8L petrol. I guess it depends on a lot of things though, car size, engine size, gear ratios etc but I digress. When I say years to learn I mean more years for it to become second nature. Not just being able to drive but to be able to drive smoothly consistently, know what gear/revs to be at beforehand and to not stuff up the gears in stressful situations where your mind is focused on other things. Simply being able to drive a manual doesn't take long at all. That's the way I see it anyway.
