Hello everyone,

Last May, I became the owner of a black 2014 Ford Mustang v6! It is literally my baby, but there is one major problem. I made the biggest mistake that everyone says don't do. I bought an AUTOMATIC I know I know...but I really hadn't ever driven one and didn't wanna destroy a clutch on my brand new sports car at 18. I have realized the mistake and want a stick.
So, I looked around and no one I knew had a manual, or at least one they would let me drive...I tried the rental places, but they don't carry any manuals due to probably the exact reason I want it for...I was just wondering if anyone could help me out. Do I bite the bullet and buy a new car and fear to replace the clutch early? If so, how would I test drive cars I can't really drive yet...Just embarrassing. Anyone else go through what I am going through!? Buyers Remorse at its worst...All thoughts will be greatly appreciated!

BTW I live in Saint Louis, MO...If anyone knows the area

 

You're 18. You are about to make a big mistake by trading that car back in, monetarily speaking. Please consider that.

Now that I've said that, you need to learn the friction zone. That is the trick. Once you master that, and now to minimize your slipping the clutch, you'll be a master in no time.

Here is a video, on a motorcycle, that explains the friction zone.

And another one on a car:

Now the important difference betwee the two is that you should NOT stay in the friction zone on a car. You want to transition from disengaged and engaged with a minimum of slippage. Unlike a motorcycle where the friction zone is an actual usable thing. The reason a motorcycle can get away with this is the design, as they're *meant* to do that.

Nonetheless, the friction zone is the thing that gets all new stick users verklempt. The transition from disengaged to engaged is a semi-synchronous ballet with your feet, adding a little gas while taking your clutch up to get the car moving, without overreving or clonking the clutch into engagement. It does take practice.

This is why I highly recommend you go to a Motorcycle School and learn to ride a motorcycle in a Basic Rider Course (BRC). Well worth the money. Whether you use that past the school or not, whether you ever ride a motorcycle outside of that school, it will teach you a lot of good things about the clutch operation, as well as many things you can do on the road in *any* vehicle to keep alert and not do something untowards.

Hope that helps!

/If it matters, I've got 106K+ on my stock factory clutch, and it's still not slipping, still grips, no percieved loss of friction. I'm rather amazed, honestly, as I'm not very docile all the time

 

Don't trade the car in, find someone who has a stick and ask them to teach you or let you learn how to drive it.

You're not going to destroy a clutch by learning how to drive a stick; they're more durable than that. It's slipping the clutch repeatedly that burns it up and doing lots of power shifting that will ruin it. Once you find the friction point, as Houtex said, the most learning you have to do is transitioning to a disengaged transmission to an engaged one, smoothly and quickly. The less slip you allow on the clutch, the longer it will last. It takes practice, and it's best if you can drive a stick every so often to remind yourself how it works and to remind your muscles how to shift smoothly and appropriately.

 

Keep it!

My first car was a manual, and I bought it before I could drive it. The guy who sold it to me spent a few hours teaching me - that was enough that I could at least get around safely, and over the next week or so I became fairly proficient. It really doesn't take long to learn and it sticks with you like riding a bike.

Driving stick is a ton of fun and came in really handy when we traveled to Germany.

 

You won't hurt a new car clutch unless you really can't grasp the idea of shifting and keep making the same mistakes over and over again without learning.
I bought a new 4 speed GT way back in '82 and taught my wife how to shift in that car. She learned easily and we never had to replace the clutch in that car. I'm sure clutches are way better now than back in the early 80's. Don't worry about it.
Hell, I learned to drive a stick in a freakin' '69 Fiat and I never hurt the clutch.

 

My 04 had 150k hard miles before I replaced the clutch and the only reason it got replaced was the throwout bearing went out so I went ahead and did it while I was in there. It still had plenty of fiction material left and never slipped. Wish I knew how long that one actually would've kept going would've been cool to know.

Why would it be a bad thing for him to trade it for a stick just because he's 18? I wouldn't drive one that's not a manual because I would find it boring. I say if you want a stick go get one and enjoy!

 

No disrespect, but I'm older and learned to drive a manual before I was 15. I understand it's different today. It's very hard to type an explanation on how to drive one. As stated, don't worry about hurting a manual tranny while learning. IMHO the best way to learn is ride with a friend that has a manual, listen as he explains the process, watch closely also. When you feel it's time, find an open area "parking lot, etc.) get behind the wheel, and have a ball. You can do it if you have any coordination at all, it's not as hard as you may think. Experience is the best teacher. And, don't trade your car. You will lose to much money. Good luck.

 

Me too. I grew up in Miami and was able to get a restricted driver's license at 14 (had to have an adult driver with me and could only drive during daylight hours) and my first car at 16 was a '49 Ford sedan with a flat-head V8 and a manual trans.

By the way, my 2014 V6 is an automatic also (I sold my Honda S2000 when I bought the Mustang) and I have NO regrets. I agree with the folks who said don't trade in your automatic. I would add that you should ignore the ones who tell you buying an automatic was really dumb. You're going to get a whole lot of pleasure from your new Mustang and you'll find that the SelectShift can make driving aggressively on twisty roads or in autocross a blast. You get to shift when you want to but don't HAVE to shift when it adds nothing to the driving experience. You'll REALLY love your automatic when you get stuck in stop-and-go freeway traffic.

 

I definitely agree with not trading in right away, or even trading in at all. I have already taken the depreciation hit with 12,000 miles since last may...

I wish I had someone I knew who had a manual and would allow me to drive it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my new stang! I just wish I would have just gone for the manual in the beginning because I've always wanted to learn to drive stick.

Manuals have really gone out of style these days so finding any old person with a stick is harder than you think, at least for me...

I've read a ton of material and spent countless hours on youtube watching tutorials and videos of people teaching, but I really am a hands on person.

Maybe my dream of driving stick will have to wait a little while. Renting isn't an option and since I don't know anyone, I'll just have to wait...

 

Some people just can't catch on for some reason. I have tried to teach my daughter a few times on different cars. She just can't catch on and she is a smart girl too. Stick to being a doctor I guess !

 

When your only form of transportation is your manual trans car, you will pick it up quickly

 

Or pay and pay for your learning disorder...

 

Hey I'm not "old" and I have a few sticks in the garage. I drive very well also. I make people jealous of my slick stick style.

 

I didn't mean to say anyone was "old"! Haha I just wish more people like you lived near me so I could learn without all the hassle.

 

I am 23, owned my 5.0 since I was 21 and it's stick.

I will say, WHY do you want a stick?

My first car was a automatic 07 Charger I bought back in 06 and loved it. I bought the mustang and knew I wanted nothing but a stick shift car, granted I have rode dirtbikes, 4 wheelers, street bikes and driven other manual cars long before but that is my story.

My Daily is also a stick and I HATE IT nothing worse then driving stick after working all day, or sitting in traffic all morning driving stick...

 

I didn't mean to say anyone was "old"! Haha I just wish more people like you lived near me so I could learn without all the hassle.


It's always been a dream to own a stick. I love driving. I will just cruise to relax and clear my head. I think driving a manual would add to the experience. I understand traffic and such will be a pain, but I'm willing to deal with it.

 

I love driving a M/T, but I would personally keep it rather than take a $ hit as the A/Ts are faster anyway.

 

The problem finding a older person with a stick is that they have had their fill of changing gears. My last one, and I do mean last one was an '06 Corvette. Took it out for a day trip, got caught in traffic, changed gears like a million times. Sold it soon after, an now have an automatic. There's something good to be said about just pushing the skinny pedal, and moving on.


Don't get me wrong, I understand you wanting to learn. Keep looking you'll find someone, a friend with a ricer maybe.

 

This right here is why I love having a stick. The exact same reasons I love driving around. I don't care about traffic as long as I'm in a mustang I'll take a stick all day!

 

^ This

I can't wait for this!