Hey all, When I get my Lancer I will be getting it with a manual transmission. Now I have never driven one before so does anyone have any tips or suggestions they could give me that could make my learning proccess maybe a little but easier?

 

It's not that hard at all...practice more in an empty parking lot and you should be fine

 

Yea, I had kind of planed on doing that. One more question that will make me sound even more like a n00b, do you find that the Lancer is easy to stall or is it pretty easy to get the hang of? Most of you probably don't really notice because you all have driven manuals before, but if anyone could give me a decent answer for this that would be great.

 

The Lancer has a very forgiving transmission. First gear and reverse are the only things that should give you problems because they involve learning to balance gas and clutch. Even if you're great in one car you may not be so great in another at first. Once you figure out the basics the rest is just gravy.

Moving to driving techniques btw.

 

It just takes a little practice, tough at first, but you'll get used to it pretty fast... except if you have two left foot try to find an empty parking lot and practice stopping and starting, working the clutch and putting the car in 1st gear, then try to slowly shift to 2nd. If you can get the stop and go working, the next thing would be practicing starting the car on an uphill slope (the most difficult part), you really need to know how to do this right, it can get ugly if you have to do it in traffic...

 

I hadn't driven a MT for like 5 years when i got my OZ, I did stall occassionally that first few weeks. I don't like the clutch in this car (too light) but you will get used to it before you burn it up. Just remember the balance point, you don't want to flood the engine then dump the clutch, and you don't want to limp ankle the gas and stall...practice practice malpractice.