How long did it take you to learn to drive a stick shift?

-Also, did you get upset while learning?



I got my first car and I love it but its a stick shift! :/ Yesterday was my first day driving it and I stalled the car 95% of the time:( I was SO pissed! To the point where I gave up. Im gonna take it out again today, and Im afraid its gonna be a re-run of yesterday. :/

Any pointers??

-Thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!Took me about 2 minutes, but I had already been driving autromatics for quite a few years and had ridden motorcycles. No, I did not get upset.



Driving a manual can be fun once you get used to the car. Remember, when you apply the gas, SLOWLY let out the clutch, do NOT let the clutch out quickly when you are first starting, as you have learned you will stall the engine when doing that. As you SLOWLY let the clutch out you can feel the gear start to 'catch' and the car will start to move.



Just relax, don't worry about blowing up the engine or stalling the engine. Put it into 1st gear, press the gas pedal gently and SLOWLY begin to let the clutch out. The more you let the clutch out, you should add more gas, it is not a big thing, very easy. Once you get used to it you'll be slamming gears quickly.
Stalling is caused by one thing (assuming you are in 1st gear): letting up the clutch too fast. My sons both did that when I first taught them to drive a standard, they would start letting it up slowly until the car started to move a little, then dump the clutch and the car would stall. You need to let it up slowly and apply a little gas as it starts to engage. Be patient and you'll get better with time.



have fun!
im in the same position as you! i just got my first car, which is standard and i kept stalling. it took me a while but i realized that i shouldnt let go of the clutch too fast, but CONTROL it. as you release the clutch slowly push on the gas. Im still learning but that definitely helped me. good luck!