Chugs and RedCelica are right--the key is feeling when the clutch engages and you need to learn that in a parking lot---won't take more than 15-20 minutes of practice.

One tip is to take your shoes off when you are learning how the clutch engages--your feet are much more sensitive without shoes and the clutch is all about "feel". Once you learn how it engages (it may feel like it's off/on but it's really not) then put your shoes back on and drive away! Folks may laugh at this but it's a really quick way to learn.....

 

There is a lot of good advice on here!!

I learned the basics of how manuals work on other cars before I got my S, but I was nowhere near street ready when I bought mine.
My one bit of advice is this: If you have to panic stop or slow down drastically, push the clutch to the floor. While the car is off, practice pressing down both the brake and clutch in at the same time. Do it over and over again for like 10 minutes. This will make it easier when you have to react quickly. Sit there, get distracted, play with your phone then practice panic stopping.

When you do get an S, find a quiet parking lot first, like people on here were suggesting. Once starting and getting up to 2nd/3rd are okay, move to a quiet neighborhood with some hills.

If it makes you feel better, I'm an over-analyzer, too (and an engineer to boot). I would get very VERY frustrated after lessons in 5 different manual cars (yes 5: '95 Protege, '99 Passat, '07 Fit, '07 3-Series, '01 Cavalier). After all that, I still didn't have the full hang of it. You won't get it fully until it's second nature to you. That takes a lot of time and patience.

 

I learned on my dads 78 Ford pick up. Been driving manual cars ever since I was 20 (12 years). Every clutch will be a little different and engage at different points. Once you master not rolling back on hills, you will be fine and love it! Good luck to you!

 

Not true. I learned in a 2012 Civic Si

Just go out and learn. Practice makes perfect. It took me about 3 days of constant failure and occasional success until I felt comfortable driving. I would go out the this industrial area and learn to launch and get to 2nd gear, then stop and repeat for about an hour or two.