where did all you guys learn to drive a manual..?? did you learn on your new maxima..?? the dealer taught you, relative, or friend taught you?? or did you learn by yourself by reading instructions on the internet...self taught..??

 

My friends truck.

 

Self taught on my Max.

 

learned on my dad's toyota SR5 when I was 12 so he could sleep while I drove out to the hunting area.

"dealer taught you"??? That happens??? On cars from their lot???

 

1989 Hyundai Exel

Truly a high performance machine !

 

Learned on my Dad's '56 Mercury while a teenager. Thanks Dad.

Driven a stick ever since, including Volvo, Toyota and Pathfinder..

Now move around quickly in a 2003 SE MT and believe it is the best yet.

 

HeLL YA! I learned on a Hyudai Ex too!!
4 gears of Fury w/ NO tach!!!!!

 

Taught myself mostly on my Max. Did a few runs on a friend's Mitsu Lancer OZ, but did 99% of the learning on my own (with help of internet and advice from other people).

 

Learned on my dad's truck when i was 16... he used to make me drive around cemeteries because of all the stop and go and hills.. In the beginning i'm pretty sure i was waking the dead and p***ing them off.

 

learned on 81 Lada.

 

First learned from girlfriend back in '83 on a '79 Escort Wagon...first car consistently driven with a stick...'93 VTEC Prelude (now that was a nice shifter)

 

self taught on a 1994 issue Rodeo...
I would never try to learn how to drive a stick on my max..
it hurts to clutch too much...

 

dealer taught my cousin with a integra type R off their lot

I learned off a beat up old 88 sentra with no tachometer

 

vito and y2k2driver...did you guys learn to drive a manual when you first picked up your maxima..??...how long did it take you to learn?

 

Yeh, I learned once I already had it. I DID drive that Mitsu I mentioned a few times before picking up the Max (I'd say about 5 different occassions, 10-15 minutes each), but that was a totally different car.

Learning to drive a manual isn't hard persay, but perfecting it/getting good at it takes some time. Basically, I've had the car for 4 months now, have about 2500 miles on it, and drive it no problem. I do jerk it slightly once in a while during shifts (1st to 2nd, and taking off from a stop), but otherwise, it's pretty smooth. I can also rev-match my downshifts pretty consistently now as well, so it's coming along well.

What I did in the very beginning is take the car to a local parking lot at night, when there were no cars around. I practiced taking off smoothly for a little bit, and after a while, it becomes second nature. Make sure you get a feel for where your friction point is, as this will greatly accelerate the learning process.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

The 1st time I ever drove a manual was on my test drive of the Max and I bought it the same day (not the test car though). Being able to drive it wasn't so difficult, but perfecting it was. I'm now at the point where I can drive without a problem 99% of the time. Smooth upshifts even on 1-2, downshifts with rev-matching, etc. are all fine. Launching perfectly can be difficult sometimes b/c of the DBW, but you get used to it. My only problem is that I'm always worried about over revving it trying to get moving (paranoid about clutch life being 1st manual and all) and thus sometimes don't use the gas enough in those situations, but I'm getting over that. All in all, I got the handle of driving a manual pretty quickly, but due to my perfectionist nature, have continued to refine some of my habits. The 1-2 shift is probably the hardest shift to make smooth on this car and I've finally gotten that down to a science. All I can say, is make sure you don't "learn" and bad habits like riding the clutch. Beyond that, make sure you have an understanding of how a manual works and you'll be better able to tame it.

 

Learned from my friends Acura Integra for about an hour. Got really nervous on the test drive, but made it thru just fine. Not as hard as people may think.

 

I want to say that I learned on my dad's tacoma when I was 17, but that'd probably be only half true. I probably got better as a vallet parker, driving those **** cars and once in a while I'd get into a hot vehicle i.e. porche 911 (I didn't F** around though, I tried my best not to kill the clutches)

 

thanx...if i have anymore questions i'll ask you guys...

 

One thing I STILL have an issue with is my left foot sliding all over the clutch pedal. Here's what I mean. Suppose I'm sitting in traffic, and need to inch up a little, so I let up the clutch a little and give it the tiniest bit of gas, and the car starts rolling. Now suppose at that same instant, I need to slow it down again, so I depress the clutch all the way again and let go off the gas. Now, if I have to do the same procedure a few times in a row, my left foot ends up sliding "up" on the clutch pedal, and the pedal ends up resting up against the middle of my shoe, closer to the toe. As you can probably imagine, this is an uncomfortable position to modulate the clutch properly.

Only remedy I've found thus far is just throwing it into neutral, readjust my foot, and throw it in gear again. Or, try to let up the clutch using the "bad" footing position. I end up having jerky starts because of this.

Anyone run into a similar problem, or has anything to suggest? My seating position is fine, but it's just the damn clutch travel is so long, my foot keeps sliding all over it.

Oh, and one more thing. Driving in dress shoes is still a PITA cause of the way the shoe flares out at the toes. It's really wide there, and I sometimes end up getting the tip of the shoe stuck between the pedal and firewall, or whatever is down there.

 

I test drove a Mini Cooper S with a friend because he was interested in possibly buying one (he doesn't know how to drive stick). One thing that I noticed was how EASY it was driving that car. The shifter was a short throw and precise and the clutch required little movement.

I can't say that the Maxima 6 speed is easy to drive when compared to other cars - especially for new drivers. It's big, has a good amount of body roll and a terrible turning radius. It takes a little getting used to.

 

Yep, I agree. The 6sp Max ain't the easiest to learn on, but very manageable.

I've driven my friend's Mitsu Lancer OZ since learning on my car, and it's a piece of cake on that car. The car isn't as torque as the Max, the shifter is more precise and shorter, and the clutch doesn't travel nearly as long, so you don't end up feeling like you're dragging the living heck out of it. It was VERY easy to get moving smoothly.

Also, his car doesn't have DBW, and when shifting gears, once you step on the clutch, the rpms fall that instant, whereas on the Max there's a slight delay.

 

Learned with an '85 Accord that my dad bought 4 years ago for $1000. It ran pretty good. I learned on that and went on to my '93 Nissan Hardbody pickup. No tach, no powersteering, so it was kinda rough. Still have it for my winter vehicle though and when I can't afford to buy gas for the max.

My best friend at school, Andrea, who is REALLY hot by the way, wants to learn how to drive stick. I said I'd teach her in my Max since driving the truck would be kinda rough on her. We'll see what happens.

 

I would be really happy if I could shorten the clutch somehow. Would the dealer do it under warranty? Do any of you guys know how?

That would help a lot!

 

I know SOME cars have an adjustable clutch, but I haven't heard of anyone doing this on the 6sp Max.

The other thing is getting an aftermarket clutch, which is more "on/off" type of deal, rather than a gradual engagement of the stock one.

 

DBW has nothing directly related to that. I have a 2K1 and it "holds" the throttle for a second before dropping. I dont have DBW. My dad had a 85 accord hatch and it almost "blipped" the revs on a shift. The revs held that long.

 

So is the weight of the flywheel the reason for the difference?

Actually, the Max also "blips" when stepping on the clutch, but this only happens if you were pushing the gas hard, and then step on the clutch (also get off the gas at the same time). There's a slight blip, which I'm assuming is due to momentum/inertia.

 

Learned on a 95 Integra from my friend...I'm not very good at it though since I don't get regular practice My Max is an auto.

 

Learned from one of those driving schools (the first time I ever drove a car). I think it was a mid 80s Honda civic. I started with standard cars, did all my driving tests on standard cars (had to redo it 3 years ago when I got my license suspended from too many speeding tickets) and I've only ever owned standard cars. The only automatics I've ever driven were rentals and loaner cars from the dealership.

 

Learned to drive on mainly on my own in my 95' Dodge Avenger, but the dealer took me for one spin in a 93 Altima before I got my Avenger. D@mn I miss driving manual.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SoloMaxima
where did all you guys learn to drive a manual..?? did you learn on your new maxima..?? the dealer taught you, relative, or friend taught you?? or did you learn by yourself by reading instructions on the internet...self taught..?? [/QUOute]

I taught myself on my new max.. Boy was i nervous when i drove it out of the lot. I didnt feel comfortable until like 3 weeks of driving it.

My first bad experience was when i was at a stoplight on a hill and it just started to rain. I was nervous as heck. I put my parking brakes up and gunned it and then the brake go..... i was like i need to learn how to drive a manual......

 

So I take it I'm alone on this problem?

 

denpending on what shoes i'm hearing thta day , yeah i have to shift to neutral and readjust i got one pair of shoes which i can't drive in all together, there too wide and i rub the break pedal and tend to get my foot stuck when releasing the clutch, sucks but i just avoid wearing them shoes when i drive.

 

No, you're not! My new 2K3 is the first manual I have ever owned also. Just got it in January. It's not a real smooth ride until I get out of those first three gears lemme tell ya. Glad I'm not the only one beating the h*** out of a $30K car learning to drive it. Good thing I still have my auto 3rd gen to take a break from it.
Right there with ya buddy!

 

Alright, one down!

What about the other issue--foot sliding over the clutch pedal when modulating the clutch in traffic? I really hope someone had this issue before and was able to resolve it, cause I'm getting tired of it.

 

actually, i have the TE package with the aniversary pedals, and when it's wet my foot slids up on the clutch all the time.

hope that helps

 

Yeh, I have the HLSD package, which comes with those aluminum pedals. Actually, it slides like that even when it's dry (the sneaker or shoe that is). It's really weird, I can't tell what the problem is.

Anyone?

Thanks guys

 

Hey vito! I know you said your driving position is fine but is it really? I don't have that problem...But then again, even in the scenario you mention, I take my foot off the clutch and rest it on the rest pedal. Even during stop and go traffic I take my foot off the clutch most of the time. Yes, my foot goes from the rest pedal to the clutch very often but it's a good reflex to avoid riding the clutch. Try moving your foot to the rest pedal more often. You can go 1 mph with the clutch totally up in first gear. Even if it's only for 2 seconds, until you have to stop again, take it off the clutch and put it on the rest pedal and then bring it back to the clutch when it's time to stop again.
Other than that...

 

I have never driven the 6 speed before...to those that have driven the 2k2-2k3 6 spd and the 2k-2k1 5 spd is their a big difference between the feel of the 2 manuals? I'm sure the engine has something to do with it just curious to know if the 6 spd is a lot harder to drive.

 

I've only driven the 6-speed once and I didn't notice any difference.
Maybe I was paying too much attention to the engine to feel any difference in the clutch, etc.