Thanks for all the input.

I actually had a 2 hour lesson yesterday. Was up and running driving around including on the highway as well as a bit of stop and go in pretty bad traffic.

Didn't have any issue with anything. Other than when we did a bit of incline starts; steep hills caused me issues. I don't think the instructor was explaining that part too well to me.

Definitely I can get it after practicing for a while.

But given that I have an extremely hard driveway to get out of. 35 degree angle, rolling a bit at the top and almost blind to oncoming traffic on the left.

I think it's probably a good idea for me to rent a beater car for a few weekends to practice.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

The engagement point not being very clear is exactly the problem! I'd say I'm really good at driving manuals and I almost stalled this one, which surprised me.

 

+1 I live in San Francisco part time and if you don't know how to start from the dead with the hand brake, you might as well not drive.

 

I live in the City as well and back into my driveway. When I leave, I pull out onto the street. Better view and less combresome to get out. Use the handbrake.

Also, learning to use a manual clutch with a Honda Civic or Miata(lighter pedal feel) will help build confidence in clutching and using the handbrake technique.

 

So, here is what you do. You RENT a manual car from a car rental company and you PRACTICE for a day or two et voila, you now are a professional hand-braker-starter-upper!!
BTW. This hand brake thing is a requirement for passing your driving tests in the UK whereas part of the test in the US is to be able to change a diaper on the freeway. Just kidding!!

 

It's more funny than you think. I learned eons ago on a Pinto loaner car. I survived...the car...not so much.

 

Do you even know of a place that still rents manual cars? I haven't seen one before.

 

Agreed. I don't think manual rentals exist anymore. I do think driving schools offer to teach it though.

 

Every company has them ... you need to ASK for them... Suggest you start of going to the 2 and 3 tier rental companies as they typically have more " mature" cars ( even without GPS gasp!) but you would not care for this exercise!

 

LOL!! When I moved to the US, I had to retake my driving test. It was so freakin' simple compared to Europe. I was like, that's it?!?

 

Here is something comical.

When my friend from Span visited, she was so excited to rent a automatic vehicle. She had never driven an automatic car, only manual. An automatic in Europe is a luxury and a expensive option.

She had no clue how to drive an automatic, she kept panicking ( she thought she had to change gears, as the auto leveler is labeled 1,2,3,D)
Like a fish out of the water. It is comical because that is how automatic drivers are when driving a manual.


Anyways i lived in SF. No issues with a manual, with a lwfw.

If you need some driving lessons, let me know, I'm more then happy to help.

 

And here is another one.. long .. long.. time ago..(1979 or so), a colleague of mine in England NEVER had driven an automatic and needed to borrow a car to go and visit a customer about 150 miles away. So he jumped in the car set the automatic and blew the engine after some miles because he put the darn thing in "1" and kept driving - hard.. He did not understand the "D" setting. That was a Triumph STAG Convertible - almost new - and luckily it was a company car . I never let him forget that...

 

I had to "learn" how to drive an automatic. I really had to think about keeping my left foot to the side. It was weird at first but you get used to it quickly. The first auto I ever drove was a rental Ford Escape in FL. It was so boring I felt like I was going to fall asleep

 

Well so far I've taken a two hour lesson last week and am somewhat comfortable with driving. Did the basic through regular streets, onto and off highway, crawling along in traffic etc.. Did have some issues though with incline starts. No issues really other than I just need more seat time.

Since my driveway is so steep near the street I've been able to practice both mild and incline starts as well as rolling up at an angle etc..

I'm finding the Porsche manual both easier and harder in a way then the car I got my lesson in.

Clutch is much easier to push in and out.
But it's much less forgiving between finding the bite point and going to far and stalling.

I'll probably take one more 2 hour lesson before getting out and around driving the Porsche.

FYI There are no places anymore where you can rent cheap manual cars in the US.

Also, at least in the Bay Area there are probably only 2-3 places that will teach you a manual AND supply the training car. Almost every place that still teaches manual requires you to supply the car as well.

 

These beasts can be a bit tricky, but sooo worth it in the end.

I drive an '04 TT manual also, and live in the SF Bay are up in Marin. (I'm also an instructor with the local Porsche Club of America chapter (PCA GGR)) I'm happy to help you learn the manual shifting, hill starts, handbrake technique, etc if you like.

Tim