If you hold the car still on an incline, by just using the clutch, you are burning the absolute crap out of it. But on the upside, when you get good with the clutch control you can start rocking back and forth on the hill, scaring the living crap out of your friends behind you, whilst you have quite the chuckle. It's fun!

Oh yeah, and learning how to drive a stick in the Raleigh area, not a very good idea...

 

Great advice and an even better avatar!!!

 

Here is an original...I learned how to drive a stick working at a car wash when I was 19. I started off as a window washed but was promoted to car driver in a week...lol. I started them up, clutch, 1st and out I went. Most cars were autos, but I did get to drive out some Vettes, Stangs and other manual cars. My car wash career ended in 3 months...but it paid for a summer of concerts.

 

I learned to drive a stick on my friend's 2000 Celica GT. At the time I was looking to trade in my 2003 base auto Cavalier for fully loaded 2005 Cavalier LS Sport with a 5 speed. It only took me a week to get down the basics of everything, practicing in empty parking lots...especially with my friend having me do a lot of turning exercises and slowing...all to get me used to shifting and stuff. I continued practicing for about a month and went to test drive the Cavalier...didn't like the way the shifter felt (stuck to much) and decided to keep my auto until I got the Mustang. I still drove her Celica periodically (so I wouldn't get rusty) until it got totalled by a TrailBlazer...then she ended up getting a 2002 Jetta 2.0T GLS with a 5 speed manual. She never let me drive it because "the shifter is designed differently" than other 5 speed cars. The only difference is that the reverse is in the opposite of where it was on her Celica.

I like driving a 5 speed and wish I had one to drive now. I got my Mustang on sale last year and the dealer lot only had autos. If I order another performance car in the future like a Mustang, it'll definitely be a 5 speed...but it'll be for weekend use only. I don't think I could handle a 5 speed as a daily driver...not with as many wacky drivers that are here in S.C.