First off this seems like an awesome forum with alot of knowledgeable people!
I'm in the market for a new car, and the 09 wrx 5dr is at the top of my list. Problem is, I have next to no experience driving a manual car. All I have is a basic to moderate understanding of how the transmission works (took vehicle dynamics/I'm in a Formula SAE program), and a ton of videogame practice. So, what I'm trying to find is a way to practice on a car before I test drive the car I might actually buy.
This is more difficult than I thought! I have some friends with manual transmissions, but they're all too afraid I'll damage their clutch (alot of em keep their cars in crappy condition, and the clutch is already just about to burn out). I looked for car rental places that offer manual transmissions, and it seems like all car rental places only carry automatic transmissions now. Same thing with driving schools.
So where should/can I learn??? I'm thinking of just going to a place like carmax, and giving the intention that I want to buy a car. Hopefully have a salesman could drive out with me and let me practice on some random car. Problem with that option is I don't feel like having that guy calling/emailing me nonstop about a car I'm not interested in at all. Another option is I could just go right to the dealer I am thinking about buying the wrx from and be truthful, and maybe they would help me out. The thing is I don't want the first time I try manual to be in the car I might buy!
Unfortunately that might be the case unless there's another option I'm unaware of? Driving manual (when not in traffic anyway) seems like it's a blast...especially in a wrx. You guys got any ideas where I can learn?
Thanks for reading
I'm in the market for a new car, and the 09 wrx 5dr is at the top of my list. Problem is, I have next to no experience driving a manual car. All I have is a basic to moderate understanding of how the transmission works (took vehicle dynamics/I'm in a Formula SAE program), and a ton of videogame practice. So, what I'm trying to find is a way to practice on a car before I test drive the car I might actually buy.
This is more difficult than I thought! I have some friends with manual transmissions, but they're all too afraid I'll damage their clutch (alot of em keep their cars in crappy condition, and the clutch is already just about to burn out). I looked for car rental places that offer manual transmissions, and it seems like all car rental places only carry automatic transmissions now. Same thing with driving schools.
So where should/can I learn??? I'm thinking of just going to a place like carmax, and giving the intention that I want to buy a car. Hopefully have a salesman could drive out with me and let me practice on some random car. Problem with that option is I don't feel like having that guy calling/emailing me nonstop about a car I'm not interested in at all. Another option is I could just go right to the dealer I am thinking about buying the wrx from and be truthful, and maybe they would help me out. The thing is I don't want the first time I try manual to be in the car I might buy!
Unfortunately that might be the case unless there's another option I'm unaware of? Driving manual (when not in traffic anyway) seems like it's a blast...especially in a wrx. You guys got any ideas where I can learn?
Thanks for reading