[MoreCowbell]

I currently have a 2006 E90(330 with Step). I have a 2 year lease. I am loving the car.

With the next car, however, I am strongly considering a manual(Maybe one of the forthcoming coupes). Problem is, I don't know how to drive stick.

If anybody wants to teach me, i'd be more than willing to compensate them. Of course, i'd need a car to learn on as well.

I live in New York City, would be more than willing to travel anywhere in the tri-state area. I am 30, responsible and have a clean driving record.

Looking forward to hearing from you....

[smithex]

More cow bell!!!

[selm]

If you don't get any luck on the forum, you may want to contact your sales advisor. Generally, they are more than happy to teach you on a used car they have (if they think they may be able to sell you a new car.) Of course, I would offer to do it on a slow week night, not a weekend as that is when they make their money.

[Squawks]

Wow, living in NYC and you want to learn how to drive a manual?

[Edo-]

How do you get a drivers license in US then? just curious oh and i could learn you... haha

[gscone]

When I was 17/18, I wanted to drive a 5/6 speed, but no one would lend me there car to practice on, so a buddy recommended I get a valet car job. I did and it was awesome. My first stick was a lapis blue 993 Carrera 4. Boy, was that a fun experience!

[Nikki]

You can learn on your own as long as you know how a clutch works, and if you don't you can read about it online.

[Drugfranbs]

Its best to learn on a car that has a tight clutch, that way you'll be uber good when you go to the higher end cars. Or, you could buy like a shitty <$1,000 car to learn on. There's like a few on ebay you should check our. Or just go to a dealer.

[climkt]

wow. u won't regret learning to drive manual/stick, dude.
best u take lessons from a driving instructor. i passed my driving test in 1989 in a manual car and until today, i still love to drive the stick. there is just no challenge driving an auto and it just feels too boring! no problems with city traffic for me. beemers make the sweetest manual stick shift!
good on u , gluck75!

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by Edo-

How do you get a drivers license in US then? just curious oh and i could learn you... haha

Here in the U.S., learning to how drive a manual transmission is not required and driving instructors mostly utilize automatic based vehicles unless specifically requested otherwise.

We're too rich here in the U.S. to worry about gas prices and we're also very lazy.

[Squawks]

Originally Posted by Edo-

How do you get a drivers license in US then? just curious oh and i could learn you... haha

Here in the U.S., learning to how drive a manual transmission is not required and driving instructors mostly utilize automatic based vehicles unless specifically requested otherwise.

We're too rich here in the U.S. to worry about gas prices and we strive for convenience if we can.

[leosong11]

I'll be glad to teach you. I don't know about using my car to learn though.

[ShadowfaxS3]

You could always take a motorcycle training class ...

[Daneel]

When I was learning to drive as a teen, I could never get my clutch control right. My dad would say, "Ok, now release the clutch VERY slowly". I could never figure out why the car would lurch, even though I released it as slow as I could.

Then my mom lent me a drivers manual that she used ten years earlier to get her license. It explained how the clutch actually works. After that, the very next time, I had the clutch down pat, and could make progress in other areas (shifting at the right time, blah blah, etc etc).

Someone recommended going online to learn how the clutch works, and then practising on your own. I would agree. Get a used crappy car (do you want to buy my '88 Honda Accord for a grand? ) and practise in a parking lot or something. You'll have it down in a few hours.

[KL2DC]

gluck75: How about posting on your local craigslist...quite sometime ago I saw someone (on my local CL) selling his services to teach stick with his own car for something like $10 bucks an hour...it was interesting as I had been meaning to get my wife to learn stick (we've always had autos) but we (and friends) didn't have a manual car to utilize and as you know car rental places do not have sticks....just an idea. Good Luck!! I say you'll need 1-2 hours tops....including some practice.

[MoreCowbell]

Where and when?

[MoreCowbell]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

gluck75: How about posting on your local craigslist...quite sometime ago I saw someone (on my local CL) selling his services to teach stick with his own car for something like $10 bucks an hour...it was interesting as I had been meaning to get my wife to learn stick (we've always had autos) but we (and friends) didn't have a manual car to utilize and as you know car rental places do not have sticks....just an idea. Good Luck!! I say you'll need 1-2 hours tops....including some practice.

I just posted....hopefully i'll have some luck....

[bsjd00]

Gluck75, there is a driving school in Fairfield, CT (about 1 hour outside of NYC) that teaches manual transmission. The lessons are wildly expensive, $225 for a 2-hour lesson, so I would definitely recommend looking on Craigslist first. But, if you're interested in the school, check out www.drivingschooloffairfield.com and click on "Standard Shift" on the top of the page.

Good luck! Driving stick is fun, and the rollback assist feature in the e90 makes driving the car with manual a lot easier.

[DavE90]

Originally Posted by gscone

When I was 17/18, I wanted to drive a 5/6 speed, but no one would lend me there car to practice on, so a buddy recommended I get a valet car job. I did and it was awesome. My first stick was a lapis blue 993 Carrera 4. Boy, was that a fun experience!

LOL, that's why I park the car myself.

[Snowman811]

Why is everyone saying to 'get a cheap car' and practice? Why not RENT one for a day and return it? That's what I did.

Could have had my 330i five weeks ago if I settled for an Auto. No way. How can you call it a sports car without a manual tranny? Its beyond me. I had them build my car and will wait another month ti take delivery, JUST to get a stick shift. Mmmmm, 6 gears.... drool....

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Snowman811

Why is everyone saying to 'get a cheap car' and practice? Why not RENT one for a day and return it? That's what I did.

Could have had my 330i five weeks ago if I settled for an Auto. No way. How can you call it a sports car without a manual tranny? Its beyond me. I had them build my car and will wait another month ti take delivery, JUST to get a stick shift. Mmmmm, 6 gears.... drool....

Let me know where to rent a stick. I know the basics of driving a stick and have driven one but i just need more practice. I have been looking around for a rental company that rents stick but haven't find one yet. I am in Orange Country, CA

[volsfan0911]

Originally Posted by Squawks

Wow, living in NYC and you want to learn how to drive a manual?

I drive in Jersey traffic (almost as bad as the City - Garden State Parkinglot, Turnpike, etc.) and do it all with a manual and bad left knee. Actually - with an easy take up and relatively light clutch, reasonably torquey motor and some practice, it's EASIER to drive a stick in nasty stop and go traffic IMHO. Don't tell anyone - it'll ruin our rep! And yes - that includes going over the GWB (45 minutes if you're lucky), running down FDR (20 mins up to 2 hours) and the terror of all terrors, the LIE (Long Island Expressway). That is commuter hell - bring two coffee cups - one to drink out of and the other to pee in. I'm not joking - ask anyone from Brooklyn.