calvins

I'm gonna be teaching my wife how to drive a standard in my '03 coupe M6. I really think it should go pretty well once I get her used to starting out in first without bucking or burning out. From there, the car doesn't really care too much what gear it goes in.

Anyone taught anyone in a C5 M6? How'd it go? Any tips?

pickleseimer

Taught my son-in-law. Had no problem with starting out in 1st gear as the engine has plenty of torque down low. The number of gears and the spring-loaded bias to the 3-4 gate seemed to be more of an issue. I have access to a 3-on-the-floor '35 Ford which I think might have gone better for a first-timer.

Maybizel

I taught my 15 yr old nephew to drive mine a few weeks ago. It went very well. The clutches on these cars are very forgiving. He didn't bark the tires once. Spent about an hour in an open parking lot practicing 1st gear and then I actually let him tack it out on the street.

Sonny71

Taught my daughter on the '01 6 speed, went pretty well. Wife still remembers driving the '59 over 45 years ago--won't go near anything with a standard transmission.

JaxEagle

I'd be happy to teach someone, however most kids today don't have any interest in learning. I recall at 15 yrs old I wanted to learn to drive everything badly, auto, stick, etc. Just wanted to drive. Now kids don't care. Times change I guess.

calvins

Well, honestly? The last thing I'd want to put in the hands of a 15 yy would be my Vette. About as much chance of that as me sprouting wings and flying around.

Navybluevette

Taught my wife in my 01 coupe, she did very well. She says she'll only drive it in an emergency, she not real fond of standard shift cars.

NHolds

I learned in an 81 Vette. Should be easy. My C5 is easier to drive than my Jetta TDI.

Oldvetter

One of the best ways to teach someone to get the feel of the clutch is to find an empty parking lot, let the car idle and practice leaving out the clutch and smoothly starting the car moving (without any gas pedal).

Plus this is easy on the clutch, car, tires, etc.

Remember too, tell them when shifting gears always feather the clutch (leave out the clutch while pressing the gas).

Race Prepared

Early in our marriage, I taught my wife to drive a standard. At the time, we could not afford a Corvette. Now, when we buy a new Corvette, she always insists we buy a 6 speed, she prefers the 6 speed to an automatic when she is racing at the track or autocross event!

feeder82

This is great advice

Corvette_Ed

I taught my daughter how to drive a standard in my 2000 coupe. She loved being able to drive the car and she picked up the basics very quickly. I think the clutch is more forgiving in the C5 than many of the other cars I've owned and makes it easier to learn how to use one.

la vett girl

My dad tried to teach me for my driving test when I was sixteen.There was alot of yelling and screaming. Apparently you're supposed to take off the emergency break first.

InaTorch03

I bought my 2003 on June 21st , manual 6.
My husband is teaching me , so far I've done great haven't drove a manual since 1995
I'm more nervous on hills, but haven't stalled it or no neck braces are needed ..lol
His C6 Grand Sport is an automatic so we can switch out .

Oh 2 Fun

This is what I was going to say as well. I used this to teach bus drivers how to drive manuals (before we went "automatic").

It really teaches one how to slow down and feel the clutch engage etc.

Another piece is when coming to a stop to wait until the last seconds to depress the clutch. The whole bit about the engine being down close to idle while braking before disengaging the clutch.

Have fun!! And good luck.

Then more advanced stuff would be how to use the e-brake to help start out on steep hills.

Oh....and "yelling"......never helps!

Evil-Twin

Ive taught a few people to drive a stick including my wife. What I have found to be beneficial is to explain how the clutch actually works, and why it acts very similar to a brake if you engage it too quickly. Also if you allow them to slowly engage the clutch to the point where it just touches the flywheel, but does not move the car.they learn where the actual clutch plate to flywheel is, and exactly what is going on and why the flywheel is moving at 600 rpm at idle and the clutch plate is not turning at all. if you can get them to allow the car to idle and without adding any gas. get the clutch plate to the flywheel without stalling the car, then they will understand how it all works. BTW driving a stick comes easily to people with a technical mind. its harder for those that are not technical, and my approach to them is trying to get them to understand what is going on.

Vetteman Jack

[QUOTE=JaxEagle;1584419303]I recall at 15 yrs old I wanted to learn to drive everything badly, auto, stick, etc. Just wanted to drive.[QUOTE]

I can relate to that. Still haven't gotten tired of driving either.

MG RED 99

The only issue which might make it confusing is if you haven't eliminated the 1-4 skip shift this might throw her off and become confused. Be sure to explain how this function works. Especially with a beginner at low speeds it will want to kick in. Otherwise the clutch is pretty forgiving and shouldn't be a problem for a beginner. My wife learned to shift the C5 really quickly when she first started out learning to drive stick. Since then she has owned 2 manual transmission cars and swears she will never drive an automatic again. That was 12 years ago.

Oh 2 Fun

You're right ET. I do remember drawing a crude diagram of how the pedal moves the throwout and how it moves the pressure plate and engages the clutch. Once they understood that (bus drivers again), it seemed to help.

On my second day of ever driving a stick, I was taking my license test!

CQRT

when we first got into Corvettes, I had a daily driver C3, but wanted to go in with some other guys to build a weekend racer.... and thought my wife wowuld have fun with it as well.

I bought a VW Beetle to teach her how to shift - -we owned the car three weeks and darn near got divorced.

Fast forward umpteen years- taught my teenage son to drive a manual shift for the 240SX he just had to have. I think the aroma of burned clutch still wafts on our street- but he did manage to master it.