Hey guys, i just got my first Mustang and it's a standard. I learned how to drive a stick about 6 months ago on my dads car, i only got to drive it about thirty minutes every saturday but I got farily good. Anyway i've been driving the stang for two days and at my house we have this little hill where we park, well the car stalled. My mom got so pissed off and started yelling at me, telling me I was going to end up wrecking the engine, driving a stick was stupid and that automatics are so much better. She just basically went on and on insulting my decision to own a standard and managed to make me feel pretty bad for buying the car too. I'd like to think that after a week or two my shifts will be smooth and it won't stall anymore... but she's starting to make me think I will never get the hang of this (my dad on the other hand is being extremely supportive... maybe b/c he loves standard cars though) ... so how long did it take you guys to drive ur first standard car well? Is it literally possible to NOT get used to it??
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I learned to drive a stick by watching a neighbor drive his 65 Fastback Stang to school each day.Actually was pretty good when one morning he allowed me to drive her.I'd say in a hour you should have no problems.As for the hill...the weight of the car is naturally gonna pull ya backwards Bro,but you can have the emerg. brake on let out the clutch a bit then release the brake and things will be fine until you learn the quick foot method.....(not disclosed without a small fee)..........lmao</P>
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Naw man.....you should be fine in a few days.Patience is key and don't let others make you feel inept.</P>
third day, doing much better. Highways, streets are no prob. and the big hills were actually never a problem surprisingly. Driving really slow in parking lots is where I still have a bit of trouble but i'm liking it either way.
parking lots....low gear and clutch play.....hills.....ebrake, let the clutch out and gas it a bit, when you feel the car squat then start letting go of the ebrake.</P>
you'll get it.....it will start feeling natural....and then you will NEVER go auto...hahahaha</P>
I learned while i worked at the local canadian tire. i worked in the parts department but the guys in the service department let me bring in cars a lot of the time that were to stay in the garage over night. so i learned how to drive on lots of different customers cars. its good cause i didn't ruin my clutch at all and i got used to driving a lot of different kinds. there is a big different from say a BMW and a ford pickup with a blown 351C.
also, i learned a bit on my shelby cobra but i never had any trouble. that thing has so much power to weight, you can let the clutch out without even touching the gas and she wont stall.
i learned on my mom's friend's satty station wagon and that bitch was just that..a bitch! it would stall like a mofo and u had to feather the hell out of it and floor the gasto make sure it didnt. then i drove my brother's gt and it was like nothing. actually it can go from a dead stop in second so u dont get the jerk and stall factor. but basically give that thing some gas and don't be timid...leave some rubber if u have to! and if thats a problem feather (let off slowly) it. also on hills you'll learn to just ease it backforward after rolling backwardsby some major feathering. GOOD LUCK! (and dont forget not to just dump the clutch, you're going to have to do some footwork!) EDIT: i never stalled on the gt, but took a couple of 30 minute drives to work that satty...just don't got the torque. but with mustangs just give that sucker some gas and it'll go.<edited><editID>Jugador</editID><editDate>37816.6700231481</editDate></edited>
I still have problems every now and then when I go to an unfamiliar vehicle. Especially when going from cable to hydraulic clutches and vice/versa. Tune your mom out.... she is just going to discourage you. Listen to the old man... they have wisdom.
Hey, you'll get the hang of it. Before you know it, you won't even realize you aren't having any problems. It just takes time to get the feel of the car. I test drove a '91 5.0 5 speed this evening for the first time. I haven't drove a stang before, but I have driven 4, 5 , 9 and 10 speeds. Well the 9 and 10 are in a big rig, but I adjusted to the stang fairly quickly. Once you get good on one vehicle, it carrys over to anything else you drive. It's gonna take practice, and when your mom has trouble with the auto and gets the bill for that, you can laugh all you want, cause even if you do have trouble, which I doubt, you won't be payin' what she had to pay.
How long to drive a stick
