learn how to drive stick-shift

I remember growing up, and my brother’s first car was a stick shift. He was two years older than I, so I was no where near driving age when he purchased this car. One day, I was moving his car, for whatever reason, and he told me to hit the brake. I looked down, saw three pedals and freaked out. I didn’t know which one was the brake! He pushed me over and stomped on the brakes before we’d hit the garage.
Ever since then, I was told that women can’t drive stick shifts which made me want to learn even more. Maybe I’ll get this down before 2009. =]
Fingers crossed!

After college I wanted to buy a car so starting searching in various newspapers and online for ads. I called this gentleman to enquire about his car and after conversing with him he insisted I buy a stick because it is better, cheaper and has fewer problems. Suddenly it dawned on me that I always wanted to try a stick shift so went and bought one without having any expertise on how to drive a manual car. I called a friend and asked if he could help, he helped me for three days and after the third day he said, you should learn to do this on your own because I cannot help you anymore, I was stunned and tried pleading for help to no avail. I parked the car for about three day whilst taking the bus but then I got tired of taking the bus so decided to test drive, the first day was terrible because my nerves got the best of me and so was the second and the third. Fear gripped me so much that driving my car was seen as someone on death row having her last meal. I avoided all hills, highways and busy intersections and would later have someone in the front seat at all time before moving the car. One day I decided to confront my fears because I needed to be somewhere and no one was available to accompany me so I drove to the location. It was scary but I managed to do it and after that driving became much better… X years later I am still driving a stick and loving it.

we used to have one of these but they look like fun to drive. hottie =]

I’ll never own an automatic again!

giving up for now since i’m amazingly happy with my current automatic. i accidently pushed that i did it but oh well. we all know the truth. maybe once my car breaks down i’ll learn for real.

I feel like I am so much more scared of writing stick-shift than most people, maybe because I don’t really like to drive & just the thought of the strain & stress of learning to drive stick-shift while in traffic, and the thought of getting stuck up hill in traffic just terrifies me. I do want to get over my fear though…I might need a little more time though.

Well seeing as my father in law bought us a stick shift, I have started this one. Piece by piece I am slowly getting up the nerve to drive it every once in a while. I am still too afraid to drive it by myself but I do ok when James is with me.

I bought a standard Nissan Sentra base E model in the 90’s because it was the cheapest thing on the lot. After I took delivery of the car the dealer drove us to a really hilly part of town and put me through my paces. I was terrified driving home as my sister will attest but eventually I got it! So glad I can handle a stick!!

Argh. I tried once and was sort of getting it then I got morning sickness so quit. Now we don’t have a stick shift car.

I understand the whole idea, and am sure i could get it down in a day or two. Just gotta get a MT ride first, or do i learn by messing up some1 elses ride then get my own?...lol