[joeyjoe9]

i am seriously purchasing a mini cooper s. i have to do it soon though since my lease is almost up.

i don't know how to drive stick. can i learn? how hard is it for a guy who drives in traffic every day and who's been accustomed to automatics for 20 years? though i do use the steptronic manual mode on my bmw 330 a lot.

it's difficult to fork over $25k on a car you're not sure how well you can drive.

thanks for the feedback!

[dansmini]

Sure you can. If my wife can do it, you can do it. It took her about a week and she had it down. It just takes determination to learn to do it. You sound determined to me. Just learn on an old car. Seriously, even if you have to rent one, don't learn on your S!!!!!!! Once you learn, you will love it and wish you had learned earlier. I feel so much more like a driver than just a motor vehicle operator since I learned. I learned when I was twenty one, so for 5 years all I knew was automatics. Good luck! You can do it and you will eventually love it! (Not so much in traffic, though!)

[pcm84]

The best trick I've ever heard on learning to drive a stick is to start by pretending there is no gas pedal... just don't even touch the gas at all. This forces you to learn the clutch... Generally the hardest part of shifting a stick is starting off... so put the car in first, don't touch the gas, and very lightly let off the clutch. Get the car going this way and then apply gas. Keep doing this till you master the sweet spot of the clutch. In one afternoon you can have it mastered.

My 12 year old nephew was wondering why anyone would prefer to drive a stick shift and I told him simply because it feels so good -- it's like eating a candy bar vs. having a candy bar described to you. He got it. I let him do the shifting on my 1977 Chevy LUV pickup -- from the passenger seet -- and he seemed intrigued... that is with me doing the clutch etc.

In the end there will be times you wish you had an automatic -- hopefully you will treat yourself to rewarding motoring routes and you will never look back.

[MINIALEX]

It a piece of !!

It amazes me that people in the US dont really seem to drive manuals - I cant stand autos - changing gear is part of the enjoyment of driving and being in control

[djpk1978]

I got my MINI back in April and I had 2 days of learning a stick from a freind. And I have only regretted it twice after 2 bad experiences early in the game. But even as I crawled in traffic for 30 minutes going just under 5mph, stop and go, up a hill the other day, I didnt really regret it, its too much fun and too much control to give up with a automatic. And two side benifits, no one asks to borrow your car, and when i go on vacation in the UK or Europe I can now drive any car. I think anyone can drive a stick, except my parents who drive with 2 feet and have an automatic. Go Figure LOL.

[stryder]

I know 4 people who bought their first new car and didn't know how to drive a stick. (Including one who bought a MINI) Not one of them regrets it at all, none of them needed new clutches or anything.

You absolutely can learn to drive on your new car, just be careful. And test drive a CVT so you know what you're getting into and you'll be fine.

[lespurgeon]

Find a big empty parking lot and just practice starting out and stopping - don't go above 2nd gear. It is perfect practice for in-traffic driving. It is no problemto learn anybody (except my mother) can learn to drive stick. Taught my wife in about a week 10 years ago - of course 3rd gear on the Honda was never quite the same since. Getting an old car to practice on is a good idea.

[ninethreeeleven]

My only recomendation is to not Downshift into a stop (when coming up on a stop). Brake pads are cheaper than a new clutch!!!

[minibat]

Quote: Originally Posted by ninethreeeleven

My only recomendation is to not Downshift into a stop (when coming up on a stop). Brake pads are cheaper than a new clutch!!!

True that, but the down shift sound is very addicting 'vroom da da da dadaaaaaaa' I love that sound.
Driving a stick inst hard, I was forced the learn to drive in one, I have owned one ever since, except for the last 3 years. However that will be changing next month when my MCS comes in. I just dont like the feel of a auto. Learning isnt too bad, I had never use a clutch on a motorcycle, hell never been on a motorcycle, until I bought one. Got it in the parking lot, gave it a couple of minutes to feel it out, and off I went, never looked back. Now, my wife 'knows' how to drive a stick, but she is nervous about stalling it and such...wanna drive the MINI? Better learn to drive a stick.

[ScottyB]

When I first got me learners permit, I hated the stick. Took me a while to catch on to it too. But once you get the hang of it, its definately worth it. Way more fun and alot more exciting.

[fergusor]

It's fun looking at all the replies to driving a 'stick' In the UK I'd say 99% of drivers learn in a manual... and prefer it.

Me personally, I hate autos, you have no feeling of control over the car. I want to change gear when I'm ready, not when the car dictates. It's so much more fun.

I'd say to anyone, get a manual (stick), you'll love it and you'll never go back!!

Richard.

[KenL]

In the UK if you pass your test in an automatic you are not allowed to drive a manual car.

Anyone wishing to drive a manual should really get lessons to learn the trickier things like pulling away on a steep hill without rolling backwards and how to pull away smoothly without burning the clutch of hopping the car down the road.

It's easy to learn especially if someone shows you properly.

That's what I think anyway

[AmRov]

My first car was a stick, so I learned at age 16, and have preferred the stick ever since. It's not at all hard to learn -- spend a few hours (or less) in a parking lot, and you're there. I will say that my first start uphill when I drove "solo" was intimidating, but I made it without a stall. You just gotta learn to get the feel of the clutch. My dad took me to a hill and taught me to "balance" on a hill just using the clutch, to learn the feel of the clutch. You have to be careful not to burn it up doing that though! He also taught me to help with uphill starts by using the parking brake and letting it out just as you engage the clutch moving forward (helps save the clutch).

Also, do a search on the web -- I have seen some great instructions written on good clutching techniques that could help...

To me, driving a stick completes the sports car experience. I feel so much more in touch with my car that way!

[jwardell]

Good for you! I encourage everyone I know to buy a stick and when they go for an auto in the end, they never hear the end of it from me.

Not that you can't learn on your new mini, it will just be very tough to learn on because the new clutch will be VERY grabby. See if someone will let you try their car out for a few hours. Or try a truck, their clutches are VERY forgiving and perfect to learn on. Every car's clutch is different so always expect some adjustment and take it slow between cars, but once you pick it up, really just spend an afternoon, you have it for life.