I need a good place to learn to drive a stick today in either Queens or Long Island.
This is my one window of opprotruntiy, any recommendations?
I.E. abandond parking lots, rural roads?
Please help!
-Katie

 

I learned in one of the parking lots in Atlantic Beach (South Shore...near Long Beach). There are a lot of big parking lots for the beach, and during the non-summer months, there's usually not a car to be seen. :smile: You can probably try some arond Jones Beach, but there will probably be some cars there for bikers, joggers, etc.

 

Thanks, that's a really good idea!

 

You might want to check out some big parking lots on some of the college campuses (Hofstra, for one). Many of the students have already finished the semester and are gone for the holidays. I taught a friend to drive a stick here in NJ at a big open lot at Rutgers. It was perfect. The only other car around was another woman doing the same thing. Stalling out over and over again in her new stick shift. Have fun and don't worry about not getting the hang of it immediately. It DOES take practice.

 

Good luck, Katiedidmini! Don't get discouraged. Once you find that sweet spot on the clutch, it'll be a breeze! Can't wait to hear your follow up report :smile:

 

Try the L.I.E. The worlds largest parking lot.

 

Thanks guys, great advice! I actually ended up driving around the MoMA Queens. I did really well with the clutch, transitioned pretty smoothly and only stalled out once. Unfortunatly, I couldn't really get passed 2nd gear. And the one time I tried to put it in 3rd, I didn't really have the positions down and accidently put it back in 1st, OOOPS!
I've got a lot of time to practice though before my car gets here, and the guys at my dealer said they'd be happy to take me to the parking lot next door and help me out with it when my car does come.
But I aim to have it down by then

 

I live in Astoria and took my wife to Randal's Island across the Triboro bridge. The park over there is disserted this time of year and you can drive on the park paths.

Brad

 

Don't worry. You will soon get the hang of it. When I got my MC in 7/02, it was a stick shift. I hadn't driven a manual transmission inover 10 years. I just went out eraly in the morning to practice. I would especially practice on hills as it can becaime stressful if you are not used to it. Good luck!

 

Much has been said about manual vs. automatic, i bought mini as a manual not knowing anything about stick. I did so to save some money but what I discovered was that driving manual is SOOOOOO much fun. I cant beleive ive been driving an automatic and thinking i was enjoying the car expereience when in actuality i wasnt. Now I love driving and its soooo much fun.

The first day was so stressful however, learning is a challenge but anyone can do it. Good Luck!

 

Here's a strange reply,,,but :smile:
I taugh many a friend how to drive in a cemetery..
Yes you heard me....
Can't really hurt anyone or anything there...and they are ususally ....quiet , peaceful places.

Peace,
D

 

>>Here's a strange reply,,,but :smile:
>>I taugh many a friend how to drive in a cemetery..
>>Yes you heard me....
>>Can't really hurt anyone or anything there...and they are ususally ....quiet , peaceful places.
>>

That's actually a GREAT place (as long as it's not a very busy cemetery!). My Dad taught me how to drive when I was about 8 yrs old in a cemetery. At first I would just "do the wheel" but when I was tall enough to reach the pedals and see over the wheel (prob around 11-12), I would actually drive and park, etc...Needless to say, by the time I took my first driver's Ed class at 16, I could already drive well, parallel park, etc...In fact, the instructor let me go on the highway the first day.

ANYWAY, it IS a great place to learn...