Ok this may seem like a dumb idiotic question...but would it be difficult to learn to drive stick on the s2000. is it any harder/easier than other manuals. if i get an s2000, i gotta teach my gf how to drive it so would it be detrimental to the car to learn to drive manual on it?

 

Dumb question There is no such thing! And yours is actually an excellent question for anyone new-to-stick to consider if also considering an S2K. In truth, the S2K has a very buttery engagement. But it is also a tight-six. In other words...someone not familiar with the nuiances of a stick could accidentally...and all to easily...shift from 6th to 2nd (trying to drop to 4th) or 5th to 1st (trying to drop to 3rd), etc. An expensive lesson in learning how to drive a stick to say the least.

Learning on a stick does not take a lot of time...but it does take time to develop finesse. How much time you want to devote [in some other car] before an S2000 is your decision. And certainly there are those that have purchased an S2K as their first stick. But again...why push luck? Consider instead something cheap to learn on. Then resell it. If you don't want to own "an Escort" in your driveway while you learn how to drive a stick, perhaps you could rent/lease a stick locally for a week or month, etc. and chew up *their* tranny rather than a wonderful S2000 .

Others will also offer you advice. Not saying mine is correct or only way to go.

Best of luck

- Dave

 

Well, today was the first day really driving my baby and I have to admit that I wasn't used to the shifter. My two previous cars were manual tranny as well (automagic = bad!) but I was pleasantly surprised with how easy shifting is in the S. That being said, I don't think it's a good car for a newbie to learn on. It's a very short throw and the gears are very close together (side by side). As Dave mentioned, this can lead to mis-shifting and a sickening feeling everytime it happens. Especially if your S is brand new and a mis-shift sends you past 5500 rpm before your 600 mile break-in time is over

 

Let's not forget...a mis-shift down could lead to an over-revved engine with the momentum pushing the engine more than it is designed. Search mis-shift (and such terms) and you'll find too many a ruined F20C motor because someone jammed their gearshift into the wrong slot. Again, better to learn on something less costly IMO .

- Dave

 

This topic, like most other topics, has been discussed many times previously. Take a look at this previous thread:

Learning stick on '02 S2000

Contrary to the other posters, I find it much easier to teach someone how to drive a stick with the S2000 compared to teaching with an Accord, for example. The reasons are: short shifter, close gear ratio. I find beginners tend not to think about down-shifting, they'd happily come to a stop in 4th gear. Then down shift to first to get started again. So down-shifting errors should be relatively rare, also they tend not to rev the engine up to the high RPMs.

Comparing the S2000 to an Accord (for example), the S2000 will let you rev the engine to much higher RPM, so even if the student forgets to up-shift, it is not hitting the red-line like on the Accord. Also if the student forgets to down shift to first after a stop, the S2000 will happily start in 2nd while the Accord would stall if you try to start in 2nd. The only thing you have to watch out for is the clutch. But that would be true no matter what car you use to teach.

 

White has a point, but at the same time, hes talking about if you had a S2k to waste on someone learning, as if you had one that you didnt care about that it didnt matter if the tranny got chewed up.. in that case the S would be a great car, but not all of us are blessed with 2 or 3 S2ks to mess up.. but if we were.. Id learn on one too!

 

I learned stick on my S and it wasnt really a problem. I was driving in about 1 hour time. After driving the S and other MT cars since, I can say other cars are easier to learn. Not quite so from the shifter but the clutch. The clutch on our car catches very quickly and at a point. Missing that poiint with not enough gas can lead to stalling very quickly. Other cars that I drive Audi A4 and BMW Z4, the clutch catch is not quite as snappy. There is more play which leads to a smoother launch. Hope this helps. Rob.

 

Actually I would not be worried as much about missed downshifts, as that's not really something most newbies do. However, IMO the clutch in the S is kinda soft and requires more finesse "out of the box" than most cars. I test drove a Z06 the other day and had trouble getting going because I was trying to slip the clutch like I do with my S, and the damn thing just bit. I could not slip that clutch AT ALL.

Something american would be easier to learn on as you don't need as much control with the clutch and RPM. In that 'vette for example you just had to dump the clutch and you would go. No finesse needed.

I think it's better to learn the mechanics first, then try for finesse.

 

i learned on my S. After 20K, no clutch/tranny problems. And I was an AWFUL driver at first. As long as you know you suck at first and take it easy, I say you are good to go. Don't try to rev to redline and downshift until you feel comfortable.

As Ruexp67 said, go to "howstuffworks.com" or something and just read on how a manual transmission works. I think that helps a lot.

 

My wife is going to learn stick on my S after the break-in period; she's never driven stick in her life.

I showed her last night how easy it is to get the car rolling. I let the car idle in first gear with the clutch in and the car not moving on level ground. Without touching the accelerator I slowly let out the clutch, no slip just a smooth slow engagement, and the car began rolling. The next step is to begin learning to coordinate gas and clutch to get teh car rolling, then finally shifting.

She'll have no tribble at'all... Just takes patience.

Tom