It's very easy to learn and like everyone else is saying, it's a good thing to know and it's much more fun to drive a "stick". The mini shifts quite precisely making it a good car to learn on. I taught my 16 year old son last year on a 40 year old Porsche and he did no damage and caught on after about 2 lessons.

 

Here's a thought. Because it will be almost impossible to rent a vehicle with a MT, think about buying an old Honda Accord or Toyota Corolla. You should be able to get a 10 - 12 year old vehicle for about $1000. Take an experienced driver with you to check out the clutch and shifter mechanism (that is the only thing you are interested in). Take your time learning how to master the driving conditions where you normally drive. Once you feel comfortable, sell the vehicle. A Honda/Toyota product holds its value very well and is easy to buy/sell. You should be able to get most of your money back, you may even be able to make a little. The important thing is that you are ready for your MINI when it comes in. Motor on!

 

>>My question is, in the United States, who rents cars eqipped with manual
>>transmisions? I've looked. In the U.S. cities I've rented cars (Kansas City,
>>Denver, Houston, San Jose, Seattle, Boston) none of the listed rental outfits
>>had anything available with a manual transmission.

I've rented a manual in Boston. Before I bought the MINI I hadn't owned a car for almost three years, which was great except that every time I went out of town I had to rent a piece of crap to do it in. I can't stand automatics, and there's nothing worse than an abused economy-class rental automatic (Cavalier, Neon, Metro, Kia Sephia). I did get a manual Cavalier once, though. I don't remember what the name of the place was, but it was on Comm Ave, just outbound from Chestnut Hill Ave on the left (in case anyone in Boston cares as much as I do).

Couldn't find a manual rental in Phoenix to save my life, though (even trucks!).

Anyway, I think everyone should take the time to learn how to drive a stick, unless you really stay in the city all the time. Automatics don't feel like DRIVING to me. They're like a warm can of diet, caffeine-free Coke compared to a cold, frosty glass bottle of the real stuff. Boring! Apparently the MINI CVT is much better than most, but I can't imagine that it compares to the stick.

 

>>The way I learned is I simply drove my first stick shift car home from the dealership. I had been riding a motorcycle for a year, though, so I already knew the theory in driving a stick, >>>

This is the best thing you can do right now. At the very least, go driving with someone who has a stick and even if you just watch - you'll at least learn the theory. The worst thing is trying to learn the "how" and the "why" at the same time. Then you'll be indecisive and basically, a mess. But if you know the why's and when's before you get behind the wheel, you'll find it a lot easier just concentrating on the how's.

 

>>
>>I learnd to drive in the uk, the "Hill Start" is part of the driving test there. You are taught to use the hand brake, It's not called the emergency brake. You are also taught to use the hand brake when stationary. Neutral gear and off the brakes. It's very easy to do a Hill start like this: (with a front wheel drive car like the MINI).
>>
>>Stop on a hill.
>>Hand break on.
>>out of gear.
>>clutch out.
>>Brakes off. You will feel the nose of the car rise as the brakes come off and all the weight goes on the back breaks.
>>
>>Clutch in,
>>1st gear.
>>Hand onto the hand brake lever.
>>few revs.
>>Clutch up just a little and >SLOWLY< (while you are learning how the car feels! worst case you'll stall)
>>The nose of the car will begin to dip as power gets to the front wheels and the car begins to pull it's weight off the back wheels. This is your cue that the clutch is biting and you can..
>>Release the hand break+more revs+ease off the clutch.>>>>>>>


This is a good trick to use when you first start driving stick. But even then you'll probably only need it on really steep hills.

Also, Heel-toe is not necessary on a hill once you learn how to shift. When you're experienced, the lag time between taking your foot off of the brake to the gas and releasing the clutch should be very minimal that you shouldn't roll more than a few inches, if that.

Just don't worry about it! Enjoy the learning experience. You'll be glad you did and you'll get A LOT more enjoyment out of motoring!

 

Okay, posted this before but didn't get an answer...

As a neophyte manual shifter myself, are there optimal speed/rpm points to shift gears? Or does it depend on road conditions, ect.

 

THANks everyone! Wish me luck.

 

The only time I've heard of renting a car with a standard tranny is in Vegas, where you can rent Vipers, Harleys, Prowlers and some other exotics



I saw a MINI Cooper S there for rent too when i went to Vegas last weekend!!

 

Pebble, the only problem with the handbrake thing is cars that don't have the brake by the hand... my Jeep has it on the floor, VERY annoying. I'm glad they fixed that on the newer models. :evil:

 

Yes I couldn't belive that when I saw that on my father-in-laws truck. On an automatic, ok you don't need it, but on a manual I consider it one of the controls I need for driving! I would not buy a manual that didn't have a Hand Brake, Have we talked about hand brake turns yet? O.K. maybe for the advanced class...

 

>>Okay, posted this before but didn't get an answer...
>>
>>As a neophyte manual shifter myself, are there optimal speed/rpm points
>>to shift gears? Or does it depend on road conditions, ect.

In hopes of getting someone more knowledgeable to comment on this by forcing them to correct me, here's my take on this. I think that once you drive a manual for a while, it will become apparent to you what the optimal rpm range for an upshift is. If you upshift at too low an rpm, you'll feel the engine struggle to catch up, and you'll get very little pickup for the first few seconds in the higher gear.

As far as what rpm is too high for an upshift, it depends on why you're asking. If fuel economy is a concern, you probably don't want to go much over 3000. Again, you'll be able to develop a sense for what's necessary and what's not. If performance and fun is the focus, then it's just whatever feels the best to you. Personally, I found it very easy to stay under 4500 for the break-in period, just because that's my driving style anyway. I've probably only gone up as high as 5000 maybe twice since then. An argument can probably be made that the engine should be revved to the higher rpms periodically, just so that the engine remains accustomed to that range.

As far as downshifts go, it doesn't seem to matter as much, unless you get into the whole brake pad braking vs. engine braking debate. The whole point of the stick, though, is that it allows you to develop your own driving style, and to obey whatever your own personal preferences are.

 

Another fun exercise to get the feel of your manual gearbox...

On a flat. straight road with little traffic. Using the clutch, shift into first. Slowly let the clutch out. Don't use the gas...as the clutch grabs let only the idle revs accelerate the car. Once the car is travelling at a constant speed, shift in to 2nd...let out the clutch... and so on through the entire gear range. It gives you a great feel for feathering the clutch, which is a skill you need for hill starts.

Once you are reasonably competant you can do your downshifts from 6th (or 5th) without using the clutch. Again, on a lonely piece of highway. Get up to cruising speed in 5th. Take your foot off the gas. As engine speed drops, tension is realeased from the gearbox. Slip the shifter into neutral...hit the gas to raise revs, and when the engine speed is right you can slip into 4th...take your foot of the gas, slow the car with engine braking, and repeat through the range down until you are crawling in first.

You can even go up through the range like this, a little trickier though. Gives good feel for shift timing with enginge revs.

I only double declutch when skipping gears e.g. 4th to 2nd. (or 5th to 3rd) Its a little easier on the synchro and to get into the right gear for the right corner.


-uu

 

I *like* hearing the car talking to me... of course it's always asking for more speeeeeeed!!

For the love of everything you hold dear, you probably shouldn't learn to drive a standard that's an all-wheel-drive. It could be.. painful (there's not much 'give' when you're learning the catch-point on the clutch, etc.). A friend went out and ordered a 6-speed Audi S4 (a manual) without knowing how to drive it... he panicked and almost cancelled the order. My poor Probe to the rescue! <grin> Of course, he could have learned to drive on that carjust fine. .. it's just a matter of comfort for the people in the car with you.. or your neck's comfort.

The key to learning to drive a manual transmission is to relax relax relax! To heck with the opinions of the people around you! My first few weeks were an adventure in coasting through intersections, stalling out in the most inappropriate places. Nothing a big smile and a wave can't get you through.

Good luck!

 

>>Okay, posted this before but didn't get an answer...
>>
>>As a neophyte manual shifter myself, are there optimal speed/rpm points to shift gears? Or does it depend on road conditions, ect.


I am also a neophyte but the MINI will tell you when you need to shift. Listen to the engine. If it's whining or racing, and the revs are really high, I shift into a higher gear.

I tend to shift one gear lower when going too slow for the gear I'm in (in 5th but have slowed down to 30mph). Belive me, you'll hear it when the engine is working too hard or is shifted in too high a gear for the speed you're doing.

I'm sure someone who is more experienced can explain it better but I learned by feel.

I hope this helps. Good luck.


_________________
YAY! It's here! Dark Silver/Black MCS w/Lapis Blue Leather, DSC, Fog Lights, Cold Weather pkg, 16" 5-Star rims.

 

>>Once you are reasonably competant you can do your downshifts from 6th (or 5th) without using the clutch. Again, on a lonely piece of highway. Get up to cruising speed in 5th. Take your foot off the gas. As engine speed drops, tension is realeased from the gearbox. Slip the shifter into neutral...hit the gas to raise revs, and when the engine speed is right you can slip into 4th...take your foot of the gas, slow the car with engine braking, and repeat through the range down until you are crawling in first.
>>

:smile: