I'll be getting an S2000 mid July and have never owned a manual car. I've driven on once for about 5 minutes back in high school because the teacher got an older Kia Rio donated so he let the 6 of us drive it around until it overheated (30-40 mins).

All the S2000's I'm looking at are down south (Greater Toronto Area), which is a good 4 hour drive from Sudbury, ON. Have any of you bought an S2000 as your first manual? I plan on driving to Toronto, buying one of the many cars I'm going to check out and driving it back and letting a friend drive my car back. Is it possible for me to learn how to drive a manual within 20-30(maybe even an hour) minutes? Before I get back onto the freeways and city driving. At least the basics, and not stalling, aha.

 

You should probably go on YouTube and find the videos. Then try to find a manual car to borrow, heck go to a car dealer and test drive one like a Civic, but find a dealer in an area that is flat and empty. That will be your biggest challenge, if you are on a hill and you have to stop. You might consider using the parking brake method, which you should find on Youtube I think, just in case so you don't stall or roll into someone.

This is my first manual car, but I've driven them a little before. You have to find out were the clutch position is when you let up at it starts to engage, don't release fully, just find the spot then go real slow as you put some gas. So you release the clutch somewhat quick for the first 6 inches until you reach that slight engagement point. Then as you move forward, you finish releasing the clutch but not suddenly, you have to feel it. When you reach around 10mph or less without gas approaching a stop, then the engine starts to bog, so you have to either give gas or press in the clutch/put in neutral.

 

I've watched tons of YouTube videos about driving a manual. My main concern is coming to a stop and getting going. Once I'm driving, I should have too many problems.

 

I wouldn't worry about it.
I was in the same boat as you. Practice in the parking lot for ten minutes or so then went home; like you I did watch a number of videos.

 

I mean, I plan on most likely showing my ex's uncle(who just bought an RS4) in Markham, so I plan on driving there, which will involve some city driving to get used to a manual and then going to Wonderland. So I guess by the time I gotta drive home I'll know the basics and where the friction points are. If anyone with an S2000 wants to come with me to check out a few of these cars, I'd be happy to pick you up and bring you home. This way I have someone who knows S2k's and can test drive it for me to see if everything works out mechanically.

 

the s was my first stick car too.

The friction part got me tho, i drove my friends car for a little bit (09 civic si) and i drove it smooth.
Going into the S, the friction point is at about 80% of the clutch. So its like you can shift by pressing clutch 1/3 the way down. But dont do that!

The only really big part that pisses me off was how to get into reverse. but once i learned that you need to push it down and to the right bottom it was easy.

 

You should not have any problems, just practice a little bit in a empty parking lot before you get on streets. S2000 was my first manual car too, and I drove it home just fine. Make sure to engage the clutch all the way when shifting

Gl on finding a nice S!

 

Over the years,I've had them all.4speeds,5speeds and most now have 6speeds.I've NEVER owned an auto.

\rlr
carolina

 

My friend gave me a 2 hour lesson in his TT before I bought my S. So I pretty much learned on my car. Its perfectly doable so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

not to be a downer but it is a little more challenging than most people make it out to be. i learned to drive a standard on my RSX back in 2003 and it took me a a couple weeks to really get it down well...

if most of your driving will be highway then it may be doable. you will stall some though...i guarantee it. remember, people on the internet learn to drive stick in an hour, have 15 inch dicks, and can install a turbo in their car in about 6 hours.