Learning Manual Made Easy - Here’s How To Drive Stick Without Screaming and Tears!

In this video we learn how to drive a manual transmission without all the drama!

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[chriscon]

She did a good job! I tried to teach my wife how to drive my standard trans Honda Element; fortunately my marriage survived.

[samt]

I remember the first time I was alone in my car and killed it three times at a busy intersection. The best thing to do is not look in your review mirror it only makes you more nervous. If people are going to get impatient and honk oh well you will never see them again. Just keep driving until its memory. Hell even when you get "good" at stick you still have some days where you aren't paying full attention and nearly kill or kill it!

[findadventure]

I taught my wife to drive a standard trans when she was in her twenties near Red Rocks Community College. LOL, she kept stalling out at the stop sign and got so embarrased she pulled the E-brake, got out and left me in the intersection to get things sorted. LOL A few hours later after calming down she figured it out and drove a standard shift for the next fifteen years. Good times.

[danielanoriega]

I wish everybody could learn with an instructor like this guy.

[theroamingcolt]

This video was SOO MUCH FUN to watch! Probably the best teacher I've witnessed for teaching someone how to drive manual; excellent job both of you!!

[bobroberts]

Historically the vast majority of drivers In the UK learned to drive a manual transmission. You could opt to take your driving test in an automatic but this would not permit you to drive a manual car. Now that autos are more popular and EVs have no gears, this skill will gradually become less necessary to future motorists. One benefit of manuals is that they teach ‘mechanical sympathy’ and an understanding of the relationship between engine and road speed that makes driving a more rewarding experience for keen drivers.

[qz-player]

As a German who only drives Stick. This was fun watching. 👍

[joemattes]

For those of us my age and older, we take driving a stick as a given. Almost all economy cars and small trucks of the time were manuals and learning to drive them was just part of learning to drive. But today so few cars are manual that few people have the opportunity to learn to drive one. Nice direction Brendon, and Alex is a patient student.

[OTalley]

I am 40, learning stick with hubby, and watching this woman learn…helps me see I’m not alone with the emotions. 😅❤thank you for sharing!

[JolliAllGenGamer]

Learning stickshift was fun and nerve-wracking at the same time. The hurdle for me was always stalling out and when you roll back on a hill.

[LETHAL_LLAMA]

Out of the 1000+ “how to drive manual” videos I gotta say this one helped me the most. I don’t stall anymore and I have more confidence in street driving! Excellent teacher and she’s a quick learner.

[erniesdeck]

I just went through this same exact thing with my 16-year-old son teaching him how to drive a stick. Except I was doing it in my '95 Pontiac trans am. He stalled it way more than her... Although he's not just learning stick but he's also learning how to drive in general as well

[OldThomMerton]

Some people take to it quick, some people have trouble with working the extra leg. Come on, Alex, you go, girl!
- A good sign she isn't killing it when getting moving the first few times . . .
- She's doing well. My setp-father started me the same way; practiced for a bit in a parking lot and then he took me out on a quiet country road.
- Come on, the road is easy!

Forgetting what to do is fixed by getting on the road; on the road you get rhythm and gain confidence and experience.
Good first time, Alex. Make Brendan take you out every day or so for a couple of weeks and you will be surprised how driving a stick starts to turn instinctual.

[incasejstn]

You did so good Alex! As someone who exclusively owns and drives manuals, as well as taught numerous people how to drive manual, you honestly and truly did excellent! I’m so proud of you!

[aaronbritt]

Best way to learn how to drive a stick is by yourself. My father tried to teach me (back in '89) and I kept stalling. Him yelling at me, "More throttle! Less throttle! Let the clutch out! Not that fast!", etc... just frustrated me. I ended up teaching myself in my driveway.

[michelesymcak]

Brendan, you did a great job teaching Alex! Bravo!
Alex, I am impressed I was sure that I was going get to tease you by saying "grind 'em till you find 'em" but you killed it! I learned to drive a stick in a 1967 Chevy Chevelle SS. It had 3 on the column, it was a beast. I then graduated to a 1973 Corvette. Driving stick is fun, now try it going up a mountain and see how you do. I love your enthusiasm.
Way to go guys, great video.

[michaelcliffe]

As a european who had to go through driving school on a manual car (like most of the world outside of the US and Canada) I just take for granted how complex it actually is. This takes me way back to my first driving lesson when I wasn't able to just get in and pull away without even thinking about what I was doing. Satisfying to watch, great job!

[rondogwil]

Quick learner and great teacher. Nice job both of you! Be safe!

[goostrey]

You learned the basics really quickly, Alex! Impressive. 
Hope you do an update video in a few weeks' time to show us how you have come along as a driver of stick shifts. All it takes is practice, practice, practice. It seems complicated now but you soon learn to listen to the engine and feel the clutch's engagement points with your left leg, so it becomes a more fluid and instinctive process. It's a bit like a dance where you get used to the coordinated movements of feet and hands.

[Randoable]

I remember about 20 years ago teaching myself to drive a manual. It is nice for new folks to learn with a video like this from tfl.