Ok...I have a dilemma.

I love Claire (my man's Mini: http://www.claire.shankrabbit.com), but I can't/won't drive her.

I have driven a manual car before (it was a Jeep Wrangler), but it was only a couple times...so I can't say I'm too comfortable with it.

I have driven Claire once. It was only for a minute...soon after I got behind the wheel I realized I was going up a hill and approaching a stop sign. Eep!

I really want to drive her (as my man wants me too as well), but I'm skerd. With as much love and attention as Claire gets from him, I'm nervous I'll hurt her in some way by learning to drive her.

So, this is where I ask for advice.

We're going to MOTD this year and I don't want him to have to drive the whole 12 hours by himself.

Thanks for any help you can send my way.

 

Have him take you to a deserted parking lot. Then tell him to walk over to the far corner, put in his earplugs and avert his eyes. Then have at it.

 

Practice a little before the dragon. Then let him drive in the beginning and end of the trip. You should be fine in the middle, which is usually highway driving with very little shifting.

Good luck!!

 

I taught my cousin how to drive in my 03 Cooper right before I turned it in. And she had no idea what she was doing. But after a few nights of practising in an empty parking lot she got it.

 

First off do you live in an area that has a relatively flat city area? Because you have driven a stick before use this area of town to practice. Highway driving is easy because once you are up to speed you never truly shift; it is the city you have to learn how to drive.

Start in a flat area of town and then work up to hills. Confidence seems all you lack. That can be built up with nothing else but practice and seat time.

Good luck and we’ll see you at MOTD.

 

LOL...yeah...that's what I should do. I'm afraid if I grind the gears he'll pass out or something.

I know I'd be a jittery mess if that was my car and someone was learning to drive on it.

 

Dont worry... I picked mine up without really knowing what I was doing... Just go out in her one day and drive around a bit... Since you have some experience you will be fine...

and remember... As long as you stay away from BIG things, you CANNOT hurt her

 

I live in Milwaukee...I'd say that's pretty flat.

Well, practice makes perfect I guess...so we'll see what happens.

Thanks for the advice!

 

See if you can get a rental or find a friend that has a manual, find a big empty parking lot and just practice going through rows and doing lots of parking (practice in and out of 1st) then find a hill late at night and return the car the next morning. Having someone (like your SO) talk you through it usually helps more than jsut trying to remeber/figure it out. Jeeps/trucks/SUV manuals are usually much harder to drive than the MINI, both in using the clutch and finding the gears. Remember its all about being smooth.

 

Inclines can be tricky, but you'll be fine. I learned to drive a manual (Uhm-m-m-m) years ago and have never personally owned an automatic. I drive an automatic when I have to rent and then I find myself "checking the brakes" often... . It helps to talk yourself through it. Really, if you find yourself getting nervous, talk to yourself and tell yourself what you need to do...("Okay, I'm stopped at a light. When the light turns green, I'm going to gently let up off the clutch at the same rate as I depress the gas pedal. No sudden moves...) your boyfriend will think you need drugs or are on drugs, but once you get the hang of it, you'll have a blast. So, relax, and enjoy yourself.

Okay, when I learned to drive I was in high school, my boyfriend put a "Keep your distance, my girlfriend is just learning how to drive!" sign in the back window. If you think it would keep other drivers from closing in on you while you're stopped for a light at the top of a hill, maybe you'd want to put a sign in your window too... Good luck, Mick

 

Here's a little trick on those uphill stops....After you stop, hold the handbrake with your finger on the release button. Keep your foot on the brake. Make sure you hold the handbrake with enough pressure so that when you take your foot off the brake you will not coast backwards. If no one is behind you test it out.

Now...when it's your turn to go and you take your foot off the brake, the car will not roll back. Engage the clutch and ease off the handbrake and you will be on your way. Remember to keep your finger on the release button of the handbrake so it doesn't stay locked after you drive away.

I've driven nothing but stick all my life and I still haven't mastered the art of steep uphill starts when someone is 6" from my ***. I think the problem comes from THINKING about it too much. If there's no one too close behind me, I pull out like I'm driving an automatic. It has also made me aware to give the guy in front of me PLENTY of room in the same situation.

Hope that helps.

 

You could always just let the car roll back a little, you'd be amazed at how many people stop dead in their tracks and give you tons of room at the lights

This is one of those things where practice makes perfect, just remember to make sure your right foot has COMPLETELY depressed the pedal before and while your right hand moves (shifting not steering) and you shouldn't have to worry about grinding gears.

 

You didn't here this from me but...take your boyfriend to a Mini dealership, ask for a test drive and have your boyfriend drive away with you, stop somewhere out of sight and change places, proceed to grind away

 

I had driven a manual once for about 10 miutes in a parking lot before the Mini. I just went in, asked for a test drive, and drove off the lot. Easiest way to learn is to force yourself in a situation where you have to do it or else.

I have had Cube for a week and already feel like a pro with the manual. No problems at all. Just get in and drive. It is not that hard.

 

I taught both of my step daughters (and their 15 year old brother) to drive manual. The trick as described is to find a parking lot. I was lucky to have one with a hill in it.

To teach them clutch control on a hill I made them put the car in second gear and proceed from a stop. That taught them that if they could get enough power to the wheels they were fine. Once we moved back down into 1st, they really had no problem (the oldest used to spin the tires a bit -- Coincidently, she received her second "driving award" today)

Once they were ok in the parking lot, we went out onto the back roads. The thing to remember here is that you need to remain clam. They used to get real nervous when someone was behind them. I just kept assuring them that those people were learners at one point too.

Good luck and learn to drive so you get your dragon run in as well...

 

 

I'm way past thinking that already!

 

well you are lucky in that these cars are not jerky...in fact they have no power down low at all... you can practically let out the clutch petal without giving it gas and it will go - although the only way to keep you out of trouble is to give it some gas ... But all in all the Mini is a very easy clutch to drive. Good luck

 

When I "learned" how to drive manual (more like trial by fire) my dad took me out in his '83 CJ 7 to one of the steepest hills in the Bay Area. He drove up half way, turned off the engine, set the E brake, turned to me and said, "Your turn." Thanks Dad!

You'll get the hang of it. More than anything it's about being comfortable and confident and that just comes with a little time. Good luck

 

I’m at a loss why so many people think driving in a parking lot is going to help her situation. She has already said she’s driven a stick to a limited bit. Her problem is driving a stick on real streets in real traffic and having to deal with real hills.

The only thing she lacks is the confidence to get out on real roads and deal with daily traffic and terrain.



*Isabella*, just do it you'll do fine.

 

Not that I can put a whole lot of input in since I am the said boyfriend (I'll save it for when we're on the roads), but I learned very similiar to that style as well.

I had just passed my temps test at a DMV which was located in a very... erm... shady area of town... it was right after a really bad snow storm and my mom tosses me the keys and says, "Son, you can either walk home, or you can drive home. The choice is yours."

Needless to say, I learned REAL quick!

Though, I still probably grind my gears more then anyone who is just learning.

 

Yeah...I remember when I was learning in the Jeep it was very hard to shift. And the very few times I grinded the gears, the passenger (and the owner of the car) would gasp very audibly.

That's where my fear came in...

 

My dad made me drive to the steepest hill he could find and made me stop on it. I never reached the bottom, so i guess it worked out ok! Now I wont drive anything but a manual.

 

I can't be lieve we haven't provided a disclaimer yet, Isabella, you may find after learning manual and driving a MINI that you are in the market for a new car. Just thought I'd give you the heads up, this is an obsenely fun car to drive.

 

Ha...that may happen. I'm driving an '88 Honda Civic right now...and while he's reliable and really inexpensive, a Mini might be my next car. But until then...I have to drive this current car into the ground.