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tC as a first manual transmission car?

4K views 27 replies 20 participants last post by  PhamKL 
#1 ·
So yea, I can't drive stick. I am presently learning ever-so-slowly on my roommate's Daewoo Lanos of all things, and I'm wondering if getting a tC would be a good idea for someone new to the manual transmission.

See, I currently have a '91 ford escort with no a/c and it's just falling apart internally and externally and I want to get rid of it before winter. I really, really like the tC but don't really want it unless I can get the manual verison. But then it might not be the best choice for someone still learning. However, I've never been in a wreck and am a pretty safe driver (out of my tempermental phase), so I think I might be OK if I take it easy.

My question, is it a good idea for someone new to driving stick to get something like a new tC? And, if so, how long should I spend practicing before I go about doing the test drive and buying it?

TIA!
 
#2 ·
no, research the vehicle with the cheapest clutches and buy one used, then start burnin em up, when you feel you dont burn everything to the ground anymore, get the tC, so you can respect her like your momma.

tip for learn standard: If you can't find em, grind em.
 
#4 ·
my tC is my first manual as well, I actually learned on my friend's tC... yeah she was nice enough to let me use hers as a gunneui pig, didn't even stall until the 3rd time in first...but i mean if you have any common sense and like you said you've been practicing on your friends Daewo so you should be fine... once you've gotten the hang of first gear... it's all easy-bake oven from there man. Just use ur noggin and it'll be ok =)
 
#5 ·
I bought my tC without test driving it (they only had automatics) or having much experience with manuals and I can definetely say that it was not a good idea. When I took delivery I stalled it a bunch of times and peeled out a bunch of times. It took me a couple of weeks before I actually got it down without attracting unwanted attention. IMO, the clutch isn't that forgiving, the throttle is hard to modulate, and with the AC on, you have to learn to shift at a much higher RPM to even hope for a smooth shift. I love it now, for the most part, but in retrospect, I wish I could have practiced on someone else's tC before I bought mine because I know that there is no way that my clutch will last 100k miles after what I did to it. I'm hoping I'm wrong. Good luck.
 
#6 ·
Ive only driven manual about 10 times before I got my mt tC. Youll learn pretty quick. Once you get it, youll be driving everywhere just to get used to it. Ive already put nearly 2000 miles on mine in just 3 weeks. I love it!
 
#7 ·
You'll never learn it until you really have to, so in my opinion its kind of a silly question. Yes, you'll probably struggle for the first week or two, but you'll do that with ANY manual you buy.

A manual is a manual is a manual, and although each has its nuances you just have to get in one and drive it before you'll get the hang of it.

If you think you want a manual... just suck it up and do it, you'll get used to the smell of burnt clutch in the first day, and by the 3rd you'll no longer do it. Its just the way learning goes.
 
#8 ·
My tC is the first stick shift car I ever drove. I bought it specifically just to learn how to drive stick, since it's cheap, but it's new. I didn't want to learn on an old beater car whose clutch was all worn, as it would make things difficult when I suddenly had to drive a new car that's stick shift (as I knew I would own sooner or later, and I only buy new), and I wasn't willing to beat the crap out of a friend's new car, so I got my own new stick shift car to learn on. I'd say my car held up quite well to me learning on it, and I pretty much forced myself to learn it, and learn it well, by making it my daily driver 25 miles in and out of Manhattan five days a week right off the bat--worked like a charm.

-Ed
 
#9 ·
Despite many uninformed comments to the contrary, the manual tC is a piece of cake to drive. It's predictable, and consistent once the engine is up to temperature. On cold cycle it can be irritating, but once warm, it's like butter.

If you want to try something difficult, find a friend with an all metal clutch. They're difficult, if not impossible, to modulate and they engage over such a short travel, it's almost like an on/off switch, not a smooth progressive engagement. But they hold torque like nothing else.

Don't let fear of changing gears manually be your deciding factor. It's not that hard, and you'll get past it so quickly you'll wonder why you ever thought it might be hard.
 
#12 ·
I learned to drive stick on my tC. When I went to the dealership, I asked to test drive an MT since that was the one I was going to buy. I had explained to them that I had never driven stick before, but understood the concept. They let me drive a brand new AP tC around the lot a few times to see what it was like. The sales person also took me on some roads so that I would at least feel how the car was like in higher gears, obviously he drove. The entire test drive was probably shorter than usual, but I was pretty set on buying a 5 spd tC by then. Two weeks later when I went to pick up my own tC, I had my cousin drive it home for me while I sat in the passenger seat. The next two days, he taught me the basics of driving stick, and by the third day I was already driving to work with my new car. Although I'm still a bit rough at times, everyone tells me it takes some time to smooth everything out. But I can at least drive stick when only last month I had no idea how. Granted I was nervous as hell at first, but I feel more confident as I drive it. Conclusion? The tC is a great car to learn on, and if I was able to figure it out I'm sure you'll have no problem. Just remember that it takes time, be patient and never become over confident. Before you know it you'll be on the road too.
 
#13 ·
Like most of these people here, I learned on the tC as well. I've stalled several times as well as grinding my gears. The new car is designed to take the abuse and punishment. If it didn't hold up, then Toyota and other mfg. would have some serious issues.

So yeah, get the manual and learn. FYI, i've stalled on the FREEWAY once

But luckily for me, it was in traffic. Everytime i drove the car, someone was with me that knew how to drive manual and gave me tips and pointers. I learned for about 1 1/2 months before finally driving out on my own.
 
#14 ·
Originally posted by Silver Streaker@Aug 14 2006, 05:30 PM
Like most of these people here, I learned on the tC as well. I've stalled several times as well as grinding my gears. The new car is designed to take the abuse and punishment. If it didn't hold up, then Toyota and other mfg. would have some serious issues.

So yeah, get the manual and learn. FYI, i've stalled on the FREEWAY once 

But luckily for me, it was in traffic. Everytime i drove the car, someone was with me that knew how to drive manual and gave me tips and pointers. I learned for about 1 1/2 months before finally driving out on my own.
That's probably a lot smarter than randomly buying a manual shift car without an ounce of experience and suddenly driving it 50 miles a day, five days a week in and out of Manhattan. Props to you for taking the time to learn stick safely; I like that. I read up on the inner workings, assembly, design and all the theory behind how stick shift assemblies work, and from there dove right in, but in reality it's something that takes practice and learning to get a feel for it, more than anything, which I forced myself to learn in short measure on the run, but the way you did it is definitely a safer bet.

On a general note, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that, A believes the tC to be a fairly easy car to learn and drive stick shift on, and B made a brand new tC their stick shift learning car.

-Ed
 
#15 ·
ive been driving stick since i was 12. i have driven all sorts of cars with all sorts of gearboxes, different clutches, etc..
i would happily use the tC as a learing platform if i was teaching anyone how to drive a stick.
hell, i gave LaDolceVita her first lesson in my supercharged tC, and she did great.
 
#16 ·
I also learned in my tC, but my parents made me drive with them for a good time before they let me go by myself. I love driving standard now, and I will never go back to that slushbox automatic. I am not dissing anyone with automatic, but when you drive manual you are so much more involved. Go with the MT, you won't be dissappointed.

Oh and I drove home after learning in a parking lot for a hour. 1st gear is the hardest by far. Just remember, slow off the clutch. Really really slow.

-Eric
 
#17 ·
its actually alot easier to drive than most other cars that ive tried before. its a little tricky in the beginning and you will probably burn out and stall it your fair share of times, but i would definetly recommend starting with a tc.
 
#19 ·
taking off and flying an F-18 isn't too hard. Landing it on that carrier deck is a real mo-fo!
 
#21 ·
I set my cruise control at 75 in the fog and drive in the left lane. That's faith!
 
#22 ·
I bought my first stick shift :::coughhondaciviccough::: w/o ever driving a stick. I knew the basics from watching my friends drive. So, I went to the dealership to pick it up and had a friend drive me to a parking lot and I learned.

As for the tC, it'd be fine for a learner car. Easy to shift, clutch is simple. I would not hesitate.
 
#23 ·
My first car was a manual. As others have mention above, you don't really learn how to drive a manual until you are forced to. My first car was a 91 Honda accord and i had no idea on how to drive it. I spent the first few days just cleaning it and watching it as i couldn't drive it LOL and start going on test drives with friends and family in big parking lots later. Once i got the general hang of things, I started doing little trips with family and friends in the car who knew how to drive a manual. After all that was done i decided to take the car out on my own. Honestly when i first looked into buying a car, i didn’t want a manual just because it was too much (so i thought) but i was so in need of a car i settled for a manual and im glad i did. I didn’t drop the clutch or whatever else ppl say. Once you get the hang of things its all good from there. I personally think its ok if you want to buy the tC with no experience of driving a manual. That way you are force to learn how to drive it because if you just drop all this money on a new car... what are you gonna do? Just let it sit there? I doubt it.
Just have someone who knows how to drive a manual go with you and drive it home from the dealership and then have someone help give you pointers in your learning process of driving a manual.
 
#25 ·
def. go w/ a manual, I went w/ an auto b/c of the dayum traffic in this town and they only had an auto on the lot w/ side airbags, so i took what i got. as for your first car, go for it... if you kno the basics itll just be a thing to get the hang of and b4 u know it u wont even be thinking about what gear to shift into, etc
 
#26 ·
It's not my first car. I've been driving autos for about 10 years or so. Fords mostly. That's why I want to make a change.

I went by the dealership tonight and the guy was nice enough but he basically shuffled me out saying come back when I'm closer to when I'm sure I wanted to get it. I really wanted to see the interior but I didn't get to. Is that normal?
 
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