Learning how to drive in general is already hard for some people, so adding anything extra would probably end up being a death trap, but it is an experience you grow and you learn from. If you’re learning how to drive manual, or want to learn, then maybe this is an article for you. I was able to interview a few people that got to learn this unique skill, not a lot of people know, for some tips and tricks.

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Mr. Miller, Teacher

1. What are some tips on learning manuals?
“Be patient, be accepting of your failures. That’s part of the process. You shouldn’t panic, just pretend like you’re sweet-talking to your high school sweetheart.”

2. What is the best experience you’ve had?
“Shifting gears up and down hills especially on curves and just feeling the car and having the control of the car.”

3. What’s your worst experience?
“The worst experience I had would be rush hour traffic.”

4. What’s your favorite car you’ve driven that’s manual?
“BMW M3 – I was terrified to shift anything after two because of how quick it could go.”

5. Anything else you want to share?
“Driving on a hill is one of the most terrifying things while driving on a manual.”

Michael Montano-Diaz, Junior

1. What are some tips on learning manuals?
“If you’re just starting, start out by going through your gears and get a feel for them. You should start on a flat surface just get a feel for the car and practice stopping and going.”

2. What is the best experience you’ve had?
“First time learning with my dad was fun. He had me start practicing on a hill ’cause you’re never able to experience that again.’”

3. What’s your worst experience?
“It would be the same time I was learning because I kept killing the car and it just frustrated me.”

4. What’s your most favorite car you’ve driven that’s manual?
“My dad’s Dodge Ram because it’s just fun to drive, because it has lots of power and torque.”

5. Anything else you want to share?
“Honestly, when you learn a manual, you learn something with a low amount of power.”

Ms. McIntyre, Teacher

1. What are some tips on learning manuals?
“Learning how to start from 1st gear is one of the most important things to master, just like driving on a hill. Once you get the car rolling it’s not that difficult.”

2. What is the best experience you’ve had?
“I feel unique to know how to drive a manual because not a lot of people do.”

3. What’s your worst experience?
“Rush hour traffic and driving on lots of hills.”

4. What’s your favorite car you’ve driven that’s manual?
“An Acura RSX.”

5. Anything else you want to share?
“Practice, don’t give up, it’s worth it.”