Just came from my first lesson driving stick shift, and I am very frustrated...How long will it take to learn?

I went to an empty parking lot to learn when i was 16 and drove around until i could get the car into first gear. after first gear the others are cake just try to release the clutch at the same speed you give it gas. from what your saying it seems as though your being to tentative and you need to provide the car with more fuel and your stalling it. its quite easy to do once you get the hang of it and after 1 hour of practice i was able to drive 3 miles home. sure i still stalled but thats part of learning just give it more gas. if you try giving it more gas than you should it will never stall but you'll leave starts very fast and use alot of gas but eventually as you get more refined you can use less and less until your very efficient. don't get discouraged about its difficulty,learning stick makes for a smarter more aware driver who listens to his vehicle and pays more attention to the road. i personally believe it should be mandatory, automatic vehicles are simple and require no thought about the vehicle just hit the go button, a stick requires attention to many things but makes you safer. don't get discouraged keep trying and you'll be a professional in a week. clutches can take alot of abuse don't worry about that and they at most cost 100 dollars. focus on the lesson at hand. you'll do great.

Go to a local drag strip and watch the clutched cars leave, Clutches are very strong, You are using about 800-1000 RPMs and stalling, racers use 3500-5000RPMs and spin the wheels.

You stumbled across the answer but didn't believe yourself, USE MORE GAS to start, then step down to a friendlier #.

AFTER you get moving, driving a manual is very much like driving an auto.

Think of juggling eggs, in an auto you use 3 eggs now you add more eggs for the stick.

dont worry ur not the only one that has had trouble !!!!!!!!!!!!! i had it too my husband is an excellent teacher to me and he says u arent gonna get it rt away and stay as calm as u can feel the clutch release and give gas little at a time one foot goes up the other goes down practice feeling the clutch release while ur giving gas in driveway or in open area that has slopes to it too u will need more gas for hills and less clutch U WILL GET IT just give it time hun with my hubby it took me about 4 days to get it but i stikk had trouble with hills for a while i was scared stupid on hills for a little while but i got over it and have been driving my 86 chevy 1/2 ton for years now and its a standard shift with a 4 spd low geared mamma! i love it ! i wouldnt change it ever so hun u will get it just practice as much as u can with ur dad and he will steer u rt GOOD LUCK !!!!!

go in a empty parking lot and practice starting and going through a few gears, do this for awhile until you are used to it, then go out of town on a back road and do the driving, do stopping and starting,,, take someone with that has patience if you want, dont get frustrated, in a day or so, you will have it down,,, once you have learned it, you will be glad you did

Don't worry, even I got it eventually and I'm hopeless.

Don't be afraid to keep the clutch down longer than you think is right. Later, you can learn to let it up faster. It is true that "riding the clutch" is a terrible habit, but it will give you smoother transitions while learning.

It shouldn't take too long, a couple of hours should do it. I think I learned in about 30 minutes. My mom learned when she was past 40 years old. She needed a car so I bought her a car but it was a stick shift. When you are desperate, you learn quick.

depends on the person. it not that hard .. just focus and understand it will take a little time.. one of the hardest thing people have trouble with is stopping and starting off on a hill. the brake /clutch /gas combo can be tricky . need to practice that till you get it down.

make sure to first practice in a flat empty lot, take your time and slowly raise the clutch while adding gas. don't give up and you will learn.

Wont take very long, especially if you make it your only vehicle to use. Practice, practice, practice. Don't be afraid to mess up, you wont get it perfect, so don't try to get it perfect. Just work on getting the timing right, soon you will be as shifty as anyone else.

Within a few days you'll be driving without even thinking about it