Best vehicle to teach driving a standard transmission?

I would really teach them how the clutch works before ever getting them behind the wheel honestly.

 

1973 be super beetle is my vote. My brother and I would take it and drive it out fields as kids like a gokart.

 

Honda civic or a Subaru. Probably not the STI though

 

Solid replies folks, thanks. A rental was where i was hoping to go, but good point on them not being available anymore. As for those sexy beasts in the pics: i wish. The 4lo idea is smart. She understands the rudiments of the functions, but gets frustrated and huffy after a few lurches and stalls. I learned on a '87 (i think) ram 50 and a wrangler. I would love to have that ram-fiddy around right now for this situation.

 

Anything is fine, except maybe a really aggressive clutch with a low torque motor (i.e. Clutchmasters FX500 in my MR2). Start at idle and teach the engagement point - you should be able to start almost any vehicle off in first gear at idle. Then once she's comfortable with that, add shifting, then add throttle from a stop for a "normal" start.

It's not hard to teach, and it's not going to destroy your clutch unless you're really, really bad at explaining things.

Bingo. My analogy is imagine you want to spin something, and you have a drill with a sandpaper wheel on the end. If you spin it slowly and push it against what you want to spin, you'll stall the drill. If you spin it too fast and engage too slowly, you'll tear up what you're trying to spin.

 

Anyone else's but mine?

 

The 1990's hondas seem to be everybody's go to for learning

 

I learned in a 97 toyota tacoma; my dad took me to a long gravel road and told me I had to learn or we ain't going home and I was 10 or 11.

 

I learned in my sister's Audi TT =D

 

I learned on a Civic it was really easy to figure out

 

i learned on an old farm dodge.

taught my sister how to drive in my old 76 K5, took it out in the dirt and put it in 4lo granny gear.

 

I'll second the, "Someone else's car", reply !


In all seriousness, a light car with high ratio final drive. One thing I find useful when teaching new drivers "the art of the clutch" is to take them to a flat parking lot/field and show them how the clutch actually works. With the engine warmed up and the vehicle on flat ground, I show them that you can get the vehicle moving with nothing more than a smooth release of the clutch pedal. Once they grasp the concept of going from a completely disengaged clutch (pedal on the floor) to a completely engaged clutch ( foot completely off the pedal) WITHOUT touching the gas pedal and without stalling the engine; we then add the coordinated use of the throttle. Once they get the concept and understand what's actually happening they progress much faster.

 

Yep, 4LO, she'll learn in 5 minutes.

 

I don't know why everyone keeps mentioning Subarus as being good choice. It has 3 differentials that take a beating every time you drop the clutch. On top of this, the WRX is known for having a weak transmission given all of the torque those motors produce. I would never in a million years let a learning driver get behind the wheel of an AWD car with nearly 300 ft/lbs of torque.

Having said that, I think the Tacoma, with its lack of weight over the drive wheels, would make a great car to learn in. You want the learner to be able to spin out a little rather than shock the drivetrain every time they drop the clutch. I think a Tacoma, on a loose surface (ie gravel or slick pavement) would make a perfect learning environment for a new stick shift driver.

 

xr100 dirt bike.

 

i learned with my first car > 1984 Honda Accord
it had 180,000 so was well broken in, very easy to shift

i remember buying it from the dealer for $900 and my mom saying "you can barely drive a car better yet one with a manual shifter" all the money i had though and i drove it home

 

I have a fool proof method that will get anyone going without lurching if they follow direction and no damage to the vehicle. If you are interested, let me know and I will take the time to type it up.

 

Is it at all related to your sig?

I'm curious what your fool proof method entails.

I think step 1 is engaging the clutch slowly and waiting to feel it start moving on its own. Has to be flat ground. From then on it's just practice with a little coaching IMO.

 

That is part of it.

 

our Subaru would suck..it has that cheater hill holding feature.

my answer? any car with a clutch. i learned on a 72 nova. fun hotrod.

a motorcycle? ahha..yea, add toppling over to the danger..plus the "teacher" cant be in the car offering calm advice...and a hand clutch barely correlates with clutch foot training. my buddy that drives a stick car, cant ride a motorcycle. at all. he is dangerous.