teaching 16yo daughter driving manual in a Ferrari

I figured that she'd have had this down by the time she was about 6, just from observation*!!


* .... and possibly genetics and osmosis.

 

Just an observation: She does not look too excited/interested in it all.

 

You're a braver man than I! and a great teacher also

I would imagine she did not look happy because she was nervous

 

Great video. You both showed patience.

I have successfully taught quite a few people how to drive stick.

Most people already understand throttle and break so, I separate the clutch and teach them how to use it. Only having to concentrate on the clutch and using the break to stop makes it less overwhelming.

If it’s a car that has plenty of torque that you can start out in first without touching the throttle that is best. If the car doesn’t have enough torque to start in first gear without using the throttle teach them while facing slightly downhill so no throttle is needed.


Then just have them slowly let the clutch out to get the car rolling until the clutch is all the way out. Then once they’re comfortable with when the clutch engages and when it is fully engaged… then I have them add throttle.

I also first explain the mechanical action of the clutch. A stationary surface (The transmission) is engaging with a rotating surface so, some slipping has to occur (to some extent) before it’s fully engaged and you’re trying to minimize the slipping.

Allowing them to only focus on the clutch makes the whole process a lot less daunting.

 

My 17 year old is so excited about the Testarossa he asked if he could drive it if he learned stick. It's not that powerful so I agreed, thinking that he would take a while to find a car to learn on.

As it turns out, he already asked his tennis coach to borrow her spare ~2010 Hyundai Elantra that's a manual and so he immediately asked me to take him over there to get it.

So we get in this Elantra and it's got an easy soft clutch and pick up. Exactly like Scott discussed, I tried to explain what a clutch is in kid terms and how the pedal separates the drive shaft. After a few minutes of practicing with the car off and me talking him through the pedal action he started driving and went about three miles and 7 turns/street lights before stalling for the first time at a red light. He missed first and was accidentally going to 3rd. We then go around for a half hour and the only time he was stalling was from misjudging 1st position. I was super impressed he was driving so smoothly right away. And he has been practicing daily.

Now I am a little nervous to get the TR back this week!

 

I taught my daughter when she was 14 or 15, in a parking lot with my 348. I used a trick where you don't even use the gas, but just gently come off the clutch. Later I introduced the gas. Women tend to do this well as they as are more patient with the clutch. Leaving the gas out of the mix at the beginning keeps it simple.

 

Geeze Louise! Learning how to drive in a Ferrari. Life is good!

 

This is spot on. Works best in a car with a high idle speed. Just have them push the clutch in and out. The engagement range is only about a inch of travel. Once you educate your left foot, feeding in the gas is easy. Oh, you want to do this in a big empty parking lot.

 

Later I showed her how to use bricks of various weights to take care of the missing OEM cruise control .

 

My daughter will be learning on a manual Jeep after her 15th birthday next month!


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You don't use a pencil?

 

kinda curious - what did she get for her first car?

 

My son turned fifteen in March and has been practicing on our manual Jeep since. He handled the 308 like a pro. It's an easier clutch. His only complaint was how heavy the steering was (at low speed), lol.

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I taught my 16 yr old in the Dino. He now drives a 6 speed GTI. its way more fun than the Dino. Great job to all!

 

you have balls of steel....no, titanium.....love the video. God bless her...she'll be great

 

Nice. But 16 already? Geez you must be gettin old.

 

Not everyone can say they learned to drive stick in a 355!

 

LOL! My daughter had the same puzzled enthusiasm but she learned on my 550…it’s the only thing I had with a stick except my racecar.