It is hard enough teaching my teenage son to drive a 5sp, as all his learning has been on an automatic. But can you imagine trying to teach him with the throttle control problem making it harder. Am I ruining my clutch?

 

Martinf - Actually I felt as though the Max was easier to shift than many other 5 spds I have driven - that's not saying much though. I learned on a 96 contour and that thing does not shift well at all.

Back to your question though - My Contour had 3 people learn how to drive a stick on it (Brother-in-law, roomate and myself). So needless to say the clutch got beat up pretty bad. After I taught my roomate all you could smell was burning rubber because he was too afraid to stall and "rode the clutch". I haven't had to replace the clutch after all this and I don't see a big difference from when I first got the car.

So I wouldn't say that you are ruining the clutch, but I'm sure it isn't the best thing for it. Good luck teaching!!!

 

and not blow your clutch.




--teach them on someone else's car. :

 

rent a cavalier or something ..

 

i never learned how to drive stick. i wanted to learn it on my friends car but none of them wanted me to screw up their cars.
i thought id be happy getting an auto. but i was wrong, now im gonna have to learn it for my next max.

 

find an old Toyota to practice on before you let a newbie drive your Max. Corollas are very easy to shift and they are bulletproof. Don't screw up your Max.

 

Learning stick will take a few mistakes.I learned stick on my brother's beat up $400 nova. Trust me I made my mistakes on that pos,so that I would mess up somebody car. Please use an old car. It will save you headaches.

 

According to Click & Clack, 1 child = 1 clutch. When I taught my sister I think it cost me more gear teeth than clutch life though. Good luck.

 

Actually, the fuel cut ought to help!! Will teach him to push in the clutch when he's having a problem.

 

Damn, I hope my cousin doesn't see this post. He keeps telling me to buy a stick, but hasn't taught me to drive one yet. He owns a 2kSE...hehe...don't worry, I'm one of those guys who pick up things fast.

 

Instead of being worried about the clutch, I'd be more worried about him having an accident in your beautiful MAX because he is concentrating on his shifting rather than his driving.!! Get him a beater!

 

i want to teach my gf how to drive my car...but i'm too scared that she might mess up my car..
i was teaching my friend how to drive a stick shift in her brother's car just to save my clutch and my car as a whole!!

-peace

 

Sky, when you make it down here to Lancaster so that I can install your intake, I'll teach you how to drive 5 spd on my car.