Suggestions for helping my son learn to drive a stick...

[hayesbd]

Okay, so driving one of these 5-speed beauties seems so simple to me, but my son who is working on getting his license is having a really hard time "getting it". I don't seem to remember having much trouble at all when I was his age and learned on my dad's 4-speed 124 sedan and a 4-speed Simca 1204. Starting on a hill was a bit difficult and took a bit of practice, but just driving around on flat pavement came pretty easily to me and my siblings. I know that compared to modern cars, these higher-revving/lower torque cars do require a bit more finesse, and I know that he'll eventually get it, but does anyone have any suggestions that might make it easier for him (and easier on the poor car!)? He's already logged a couple of hours and still cannot drive in any traffic.

Thanks,
Brian

[hamlet]

Explain to him the mechanics of the transmission and the clutch. Understanding that turned me from a mediocre driver on manual transmission cars to pretty skilled.

[RRoller123]

Agreed, the key element for my kids was being able to visualize the clutch disconnecting the engine from the transmission.

Pete

[hamlet]

Yeah, I think of the clutch as a brake pad that is clamped on in its steady state.

[azruss]

Many years ago, my sisters kid, who had never seen a stick before had my MR-2 down in 3 tries. Here is how i explained it to him. The clutch has a very small sweet spot where it actually engages, the rest is just for adjustment. He needs to find where that spot is. then it is just coordinating the left and right foot. left foot goes up while the right foot goes down.

[hayesbd]

Thanks, all - good suggestions, and some of it I have already tried. Mechanically speaking, he's got a pretty good idea of how it all works since he has been helping me and I have been explaining. I should probably have him study the shop manual as well. I think I will also have him sit in it and "pretend" a bit. I remember doing that myself when I was 15...

Thanks,
Brian

[hamlet]

It's all about matching what's coming from the engine (flywheel) to what's going on with the wheels and transmission (the clutch). OR, when the wheels are stopped, using the engine to force them to turn, by providing constant power while slowly introducing friction between the clutch and flywheel.

[Exit98]

I think the easiest, safest and most stress free technique is to find a location with a slight incline. My driveway works and I also found one on an abandoned parking lot. I demonstrated starting on the incline from a stop. Then I just put him in the driver's seat, walked away and said just practice till you can do it smoothly every time. After that everything is easy.

[georgeramos]

Find a professional teacher. It will be his or her car that takes the beating and they have tons of experience so they kno ho to explain things so students will get them. After one maybe two lessons he can tackle the spider. When I was 20ish I bought y first spider without knowing how to drive it...

[81SPIDERMATT]

for mine it was nerves.... wanting to do well and not seem silly in front of me ...worried they would break something also.... my fix was a lot like throwing a kid in the pool... loaded up the bike and drove 20 miles from the house... got on the bike and said see you at home.... smelled a little "clutchy" ... but that was it... done

[btoran]

After i got my drivers license, i asked my dad to borrow his car, a 1968 plymouth valiant with 3-on-the-tree. He taught me on the car and knew i could drive it. He asked to see my drivers license and i showed it to him. He told me the license was issued by the state of ny and i could drive one of their cars. If i wanted to drive his car, i needed to pass his road test. The last phase of the test was to find the biggest hill, stop the car completely, turn it off. Then turn it on and without slipping backwards, use the clutch and gas to balance the car perfectly without moving up or down the hill. No such thing as a synchromesh clutch back then, so you needed to know exactly where the clutch engaged. Not fun at all. But once mastered, it's easy to drive any stick.

[toplessexpat]

In the UK we all (well 98%+) learn on manual, and spend hours holding the car at the biting point of the clutch on progrssively steeper inclines.... Make sure that his heel is on the floor and he'll soon get mechanical sympathy!

A

[sptcoupe]

The FIAT is geared very low. Have him practice starting in second gear. Much easier to feel his way through engagement. Also make sure the seating position is correct and his legs aren't jammed up with his knees in his chest.

[spidernut]

I have taught numerous people to drive stick shifts successfully including people who just couldn't get it. In my opinion, drop the discussion about the mechanics of the clutch and try this.

1. Drive to a dirt or gravel road...it must have a loose surface
2. Put him in the driver's seat and have him depress the clutch and put the car in 1st gear
3. Tell him he is going to learn to shift without using the gas pedal
4. Have him let out the clutch 2 inches (just until the clutch is barely grabbing) and recite this phrase when he does: "hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it". Every driver that I have tried this with thinks that they're holding the clutch in one place, but they naturally let it out very slowly. Once the car is rolling forward and it is obvious that the clutch is engaged, have him let it out all the way. Drive for about 20 feet at idle and have him do the same shifting into second gear. Drive about 20 feet.
5. Have him push the clutch in and slowly stop the car and repeat the process.

Most drivers struggle the most with taking off from a stop. This gets them accustomed to the thought of letting the clutch out just enough that it starts grabbing and holding the pedal in place until the clutch grabs completely and then letting it out the rest of the way.

I have found that repeating "hold it, hold it, hold it" seems to work well. Once he masters taking off in first, have him graduate to second gear and bringing the car to a stop after every upshift cycle.

Once he has it mastered, then repeat the process with him gently pressing on the gas pedal to take off.

Give it a try. Being in an area where there are no other drivers helps. The gravel/dirt road is more for affect than anything else. It is also a good laugh every time they spin the tires a bit.

[hamlet]

One thing I occasionally forget is to continue to provide throttle when I let off the gas. A lot of people naturally get the clutch and flywheel together but don't accelerate after. This is when they stall. Make sure they continue to accelerate as they dump the clutch (but don't dump the clutch, really).