I agree with everything except the last part... Staying still on a hill without using the brakes is a good way of burning up the clutch. I NEVER ride the clutch.

Although, the rest, OK! Definitely learning to drive on hills is the BEST way to learn. I learned by landing in stop-n-go traffic on the 101 during rush hour. I stalled twice in 40 minutes and after that I was near pro! LOL I think in the first week of driving stick, I stalled about 10-15 times. The first day was the worst, but after about 20 minutes of stop and go, I had it down.

I agree with not riding the clutch. I should say try working the clutch releasing/pressing and gasing combination without having the car rolling back. It's a good practice working left foot and right foot for clutching and gasing. You have to be quick not having the car rolling back more than a foot. Practice, practice is the key.

Perfectly OK... The first week I was driving stick, I'd forgot that you have to clutch in at a stop (or put the car in neutral) and I just drove like it was an auto. The second I got up to the line, **Plop** it stalled. Usually in most gears you get a little warning about stalling - the car will start to shutter a little and bog, followed by some mild vibrations. That should be enough to remind you to clutch in or give it gas.

I learned to drive stick on a car with no torque or power, so getting into a car with torque made driving stick MUCH easier.

YEP! I totally agree.

There's a lot of hill here in Los Angeles and in the Valley, and the drivers here LOVE to get right on your A$s and give you no roll-back room at all. I don't know why they do this, but they do. So you have to learn to do hills with no roll back. But better practice in my opinion is stopping with the brakes on the hill, and then going without rolling back. It's one thing to be on the clutch and gas already, but another to go from clutch/brake to clutch/gas without rolling back.

They used to have a Hill-brake system that would hold the brakes down on a hill until the clutch was pressed in... Kinda cool, but not for me.

Really?? I drove a RSX Type S the first time I ever used manual, then messed up in a 350Z, but when I really start taking the test to drive stick in the street I will be using a 5.0 Mustang GT. The Clutch will be worse I heard.

Yeah. The clutch on the fox-body mustangs are cable only. So the clutches are REALLY stiff compared to today's hydo-assist clutches.

If you're really worried about ruining your car, practice on a different car. It won't be bad for the car, but if you're really paranoid. Try it on a used older manual car.

This is very interesting - I don't know about America, but here in England, if you take your driving test in an Automatic you're not allowed to drive a Manual until you've passed the test in a Manual.

Personally, I cannot imagine letting anyone loose in a 370z if they've never driven a manual before, without tuition. This is a seriously powerful rear wheel drive sports car and it's potentially very dangerous, if you're not in complete control. (not suggesting the OP is out of control, by the way).

I learned as someone already suggested by renting a vehicle and driving that. In Germany almost every car is manual and I didn't know how to drive one until I had to with my ex-girlfriends car.

I say rent a little golf and have at it. Practicing stopping and going I think is the best way set up cones or something to represent lights and cars. When you think you have it down and you get in traffic stop and go can have you uneasy again. But once you learn you will never forget seriously. Also one thing I would add is every car is different from where the clutch engages so that you feel the stutter to going in reverse.

I honestly don't think the Z is that powerful. I've driven a LOT of fast cars. The Z is about on par (power-wise) with an LS1 F-body. But you're still right that it shouldn't be the learning car for someone to learn manual. I can imagine that someone may let the clutch out a little to fast in a turn and spin the car.

I've taught a few people how to drive stick, and I use my 90 300zx to do it! It's the perfect car to learn on... Not too much or too little torque and an easy clutch to boot!

My 350Z Track Model was my first manual car ever. It was the one i learned to drive stick on. I had it pretty much down in a day and a half. Then I practiced on steep hills. I think the Z is an easy car to learn on actually.

Believe me, once you learn stick you'll never want to go back to auto, at least that how I feel.:rofl2:

^^^ I agree. I learned to drive on an auto. (C4 Corvette... Who had a manual C4?)

I won't buy a car now if it's not a manual. I just HATE driving autos... It's so boring and the auto NEVER shifts like I want it to. It's either too early or too late and that just annoys me.

Thanks everyone, I have to get to learning manual ASAP. Wish me luck and again thanks for the help, much appreciated :)

I taught myself how to drive stick, I have been riding dirt bikes for a couple years and figured it was the same concept just with pedals.

I taught 4 people how to drive stick on my 04 G35c so don't be worried about ruining the car.

Just take your time and you will be fine.

Good luck:tup:

Just another note, stalling a car isn't actually the worst thing you can do to it. Although I wouldn't encourage you to go around stalling all the time, I'd have to say that stalling is probably a better option than riding the clutch too long/too much. That will definitely lead to premature clutch wear. Good luck.