[guitarman8373]

It was my first manual but not my first time driving one. I had a few hours of experience on one friends old civic and a other friends Nissan or something. Both super old 5 speed cars. The Hondas clutch was actually much more stiff and difficult to operate. I still managed to stall the car alot on the way home. No grinding gears tho. But stalling ain't too bad for a car I've been told.

Here's an idea tho. Practice driving manual on arcade racing games. It actually helped me master my shifting since they too also have short shifters. Sounds corny but it does help. I practiced on my PC racing controller before driving the real thing and it definitely did help. However these cars have a ton of power. A little gas goes a long way, on a flat surface you just need to slip the clutch no gas needed. And in 1st gear the car can basically pull itself up a hill without bogging down.

[Ponyeatr16ss]

Originally Posted by xray

I don't know how to drive a manual but I'm going to take the plunge on a manual Camaro SS when I get one. I'm just ready for as engaging of a driving experience as I can have. The current car I drive is pretty much the opposite so I ready for a change. Has anyone else bought a manual Camaro without knowing how to drive it when they bought it?

Um yea you do realize it's a 450hp sports car right? Not a ford escort. My drives a manual and tried to drive mine, she says she'll never do it again...too much powa. Learn before you take the plunge.

[LesBaer]

Me...my only experience was being pushed down a hill in some European car in Greece 20 years ago LOL. I did take a 1 day driver's ed class though in a Chevy Sonic before my car came in.

[O-Tag]

I learned on an 88 Civic. One of those essential life skills my old man taught me that I'll never forget. Fast forward several years later when I learned all over again on a Freightliner with an 18 speed for work. Now THAT was fun! My advice is to be completely comfortable before you get on public roads. You have a lot more power and can get out of control if you don't know what you're doing.

[LT4Greg]

I agree that learning to drive a manual on a new SS might not be a good idea! Maybe see if you can find a rental car that has a manual and drive it a few days getting used to shifting, parking and driving it. Sometimes the clutch on a new vehicle is touchy and hard to learn on due to the car being new. It's up to you though and if you burn up the clutch you do have a warranty to get it repaired.

[slick3]

This car has tons of torque. EASY. Dont be afraid of the clutch, although they may seem small, these clutches in new cars are pretty tough. Rev matching will help you big time. Hell the car can practically drive itself if you know what pedal to press. Drive the car in sport mode, the pedal is a little more sensitive and in my opinion easier to drive like that, it negates some of that dead pedal feel the first few percent.

You will be fine. I knew how to drive stick before I got my S197 5.0 but never owned a stick car. About a month in it was no longer even being thought about. Avoid big hills if you can and bumper to bumper traffic while you get the hang of it. Once you get it rolling in first, the rest is gravy. You will love the car, the Tremec is a beautiful transmission, enjoy!

EDIT: I disagree with most everyone about learning before you buy. The only way to learn YOUR car is to drive YOUR car. If you know the process of how to drive stick, then outside of that, every car is different. For you to go drive an 88 civic to practice on, then jump in a 450hp RWD car is going to be night and day difference regardless if you know the process or not, the clutch will be different, the pedal will be different, gear box is tighter, everything.

Only thing I can say is if you get in this car at the dealer and look at the 3rd pedal and ask whats its for, then you might want to hold off.

[Jdelgado92]

MEEEEEE learned on this camaro also, very easy.
Read allll about it

http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442287

[detltu]

Originally Posted by slick3

This car has tons of torque. EASY. Dont be afraid of the clutch, although they may seem small, these clutches in new cars are pretty tough. Rev matching will help you big time. Hell the car can practically drive itself if you know what pedal to press. Drive the car in sport mode, the pedal is a little more sensitive and in my opinion easier to drive like that, it negates some of that dead pedal feel the first few percent.

You will be fine. I knew how to drive stick before I got my S197 5.0 but never owned a stick car. About a month in it was no longer even being thought about. Avoid big hills if you can and bumper to bumper traffic while you get the hang of it. Once you get it rolling in first, the rest is gravy. You will love the car, the Tremec is a beautiful transmission, enjoy!

EDIT: I disagree with most everyone about learning before you buy. The only way to learn YOUR car is to drive YOUR car. If you know the process of how to drive stick, then outside of that, every car is different. For you to go drive an 88 civic to practice on, then jump in a 450hp RWD car is going to be night and day difference regardless if you know the process or not, the clutch will be different, the pedal will be different, gear box is tighter, everything.

Only thing I can say is if you get in this car at the dealer and look at the 3rd pedal and ask whats its for, then you might want to hold off.

I agree, the torque of the new cars makes them ideal for learning in my opinion. If you are revving the engine up and dropping the clutch you can certainly get yourself into trouble, but if you can release the clutch slowly and smoothly, you won't need to give it any gas unless you are on a hill. I learned multiple times on 4 cylinder light duty pickup trucks in the early nineties and was never comfortable. My 99 SS was the first car I owned with a manual and it was so much more forgiving than a little anemic 4cyl that would stall if the revs weren't maintained exactly. I agree with others who have said that having someone else drive it home might be beneficial. When people at the dealership are watching you leave or people are sitting behind you at a red light you will feel pressure and that can mess you up. The worst is when someone pulls up right behind you at a stoplight on a hill. You feel like if you roll back at all you will hit them. That's pressure.

Once you get comfortable with where the clutch engages though you will have no problems.

[nancygrl]

Everybody had to learn to drive a manual at one point or another...tis a good car to have as your 1st one though. If you're in Ohio, then I'd wait for the winter weather to go away.

[E-Ray]

Anybody can learn, for example:

[zeekle]

I bought my first 350z with only motorcycle experience. I even ordered it so when it showed up I had to drive it home.

The SS manual should be easier to deal with for a new driver but I am still adjusting to the different clutch.

[bpang1234]

Originally Posted by 2016SS

I didn't but I did buy my first manual with out knowing how to drive it it came natural to me and I left the dealership right onto the 401 with out a issue. My brother pointed out a month later I was riding the clutch to much worked on that and shifting smoothly with in a year I was at the local track putting down good times better then the car advertised.

Practice makes perfect!

I drove my first manual car when I bought it off the lot. Same story here, just drive it with someone who knows better and you will learn it really fast.

I also rode the clutch and killed the clutch on that first car (just a POS Ford Focus) because I always had my foot just ever so slightly on the clutch pedal rather than rested on the dead pedal.

For me, my first night with the car, I went out late at night and just kept practicing getting the car off the line from a stop. After a few hours I had it handled other than when stuck on a hill.

But the Camaro has hill brake assist so you should be super-fine.

[Sunsnare98]

My first manual was a 2011 gt500. I had to get the sales guy to teach me in the parking lot and then he had to drive it my house. My work at the time had a massive parking garage with a steep incline. I was scared @$&@less on the drive to work the next day lol. After about two days I was good to go.

[Sunsnare98]

Originally Posted by Ponyeatr16ss

Um yea you do realize it's a 450hp sports car right? Not a ford escort. My drives a manual and tried to drive mine, she says she'll never do it again...too much powa. Learn before you take the plunge.

It's much easier on a high hp car. My 11 gt500 didn't need gas at all to get going. Just slowly let off the clutch and it went. It has been the easier manual I've ever driven. Much easier that cars with vague or light pedal feels and/or no torque.