Where to finish learning how to drive stick, in Portland?
July 3, 2016 7:44 PM Subscribe
So my husband and I are considering an international trip (Scandinavia), and possibly renting a car. When I started googling this, it seems like a large percentage of rental cars in these countries are stick-shift. While there are some automatic transmission options, I'd want to be prepared in case a rental company screwed me and gave me a manual (I'm usually unlucky when I travel). I'm having real difficulty however finding driving school options in/near Portland, OR that will teach stick. Please help!
I am part of the way through learning to drive stick (2 boyfriends tried to teach me years ago, but I never got confident and have trouble with some things). My husband can't drive stick, and since I've had the most time attempting to learn under my belt, becoming proficient has fallen to me as a goal. I've googled driving schools in Portland, OR and contacted several, and they've all told me that they do not teach people how to drive stick because most people don't drive one. Where can I learn this? Does anyone know of any schools in or near Portland that I can pay to finish teaching me? Maybe I just suck at googling...I'd find it hard to believe there is just zero market for this and I'm out of luck. I know the basic concepts - at this point I just need a school to give me practice and basically someone patient to help me understand wtf to do on a hill. Thanks in advance, I'd appreciate any assistance in figuring out this out.
I am part of the way through learning to drive stick (2 boyfriends tried to teach me years ago, but I never got confident and have trouble with some things). My husband can't drive stick, and since I've had the most time attempting to learn under my belt, becoming proficient has fallen to me as a goal. I've googled driving schools in Portland, OR and contacted several, and they've all told me that they do not teach people how to drive stick because most people don't drive one. Where can I learn this? Does anyone know of any schools in or near Portland that I can pay to finish teaching me? Maybe I just suck at googling...I'd find it hard to believe there is just zero market for this and I'm out of luck. I know the basic concepts - at this point I just need a school to give me practice and basically someone patient to help me understand wtf to do on a hill. Thanks in advance, I'd appreciate any assistance in figuring out this out.
If I were you I think I would consider just renting a stick shift car for a weekend. If you know the basics I don't think you'll get much out of formal instruction -- you just need practice.
posted by crazy with stars at 8:07 PM on July 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by crazy with stars at 8:07 PM on July 3, 2016 [6 favorites]
These classes at PIR don't sound exactly right, but perhaps you could contact them for more options.
posted by bluedaisy at 8:14 PM on July 3, 2016
posted by bluedaisy at 8:14 PM on July 3, 2016
It's not a class but Tom & Ray from Car Talk's instructions are here. Lots of good info about the mechanics of manual transmissions. Once you understand why you are doing what you are doing, put some hours in practicing. I think that's how most people learn - lessons from a buddy/boyfriend/sibling and then lots of grinding/chugging/stalling then restarting practice. Do you have a friend with a manual who can drive you to a parking lot and let you practice an hour every weekend or so?
posted by Beti at 8:17 PM on July 3, 2016
posted by Beti at 8:17 PM on July 3, 2016
I agree with crazy with stars, do you have a friend who drives stick? Buy them lunch and ask them to sit with you while you practice on a rental car. You can start in a mall parking lot until you get the hang of it.
posted by frumiousb at 8:19 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by frumiousb at 8:19 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
If I were you I think I would consider just renting a stick shift car for a weekend.
This. Plus watching videos explaining what to do on a hill.
posted by Redstart at 8:20 PM on July 3, 2016
This. Plus watching videos explaining what to do on a hill.
posted by Redstart at 8:20 PM on July 3, 2016
Response by poster: I did look into renting one and it seemed like everything here only rented automatics. For those of you suggesting this - do you know a particular place here that will rent me a manual transmission car? I looked at the major brands and they say automatic transmission on their respective websites. I will call around if I have to. I don't have a friend with a manual transmission, otherwise I would ask them for help, but thanks for the thought.
posted by FireFountain at 8:23 PM on July 3, 2016
posted by FireFountain at 8:23 PM on July 3, 2016
Rental companies don't have stick shifts in the US as far as I know. I've tried. And as the friend with the manual transmission, I'm not super keen on using my personal car to teach people to shift. I'd start calling driving schools and asking where you can get lessons.
posted by fshgrl at 9:01 PM on July 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 9:01 PM on July 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
If it were me, I might put a notice up on Nextdoor/Facebook offering to pay for lessons.
posted by hungrytiger at 9:26 PM on July 3, 2016
posted by hungrytiger at 9:26 PM on July 3, 2016
You could always try MeFi Jobs if you don't know anyone willing to teach you.
I'd probably teach someone on my personal car for pay, though I wouldn't do it for free unless it was a fairly close friend. However, my standard car is pretty old and not worth much at this point, and I'd want a good rate per hour to take the risk. I'd also cut the lessons short if the person turned out to really suck at driving stick. That's probably going to be the situation easiest for you to find to learn as well -- don't expect someone will be willing to teach you in their BMW.
It's very unusual to find a manual transmission vehicle for rent because it's very easy to do a lot of damage to one if you, say, wanted to rent one to learn to drive.
In the US, some newer "stick shift" cars don't have a clutch pedal. It might not be as hard to drive one of these as you think. You might want to take a closer look at what you'd be renting.
posted by yohko at 9:36 PM on July 3, 2016
I'd probably teach someone on my personal car for pay, though I wouldn't do it for free unless it was a fairly close friend. However, my standard car is pretty old and not worth much at this point, and I'd want a good rate per hour to take the risk. I'd also cut the lessons short if the person turned out to really suck at driving stick. That's probably going to be the situation easiest for you to find to learn as well -- don't expect someone will be willing to teach you in their BMW.
It's very unusual to find a manual transmission vehicle for rent because it's very easy to do a lot of damage to one if you, say, wanted to rent one to learn to drive.
In the US, some newer "stick shift" cars don't have a clutch pedal. It might not be as hard to drive one of these as you think. You might want to take a closer look at what you'd be renting.
posted by yohko at 9:36 PM on July 3, 2016
Also, another option is to buy a cheap stick shift for $2000 or so and sell it after you learn.
posted by yohko at 9:37 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yohko at 9:37 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Plus watching videos explaining what to do on a hill.
This reminds me that if you find a formal instructor you might let them know that you're only planning on using your new skills on a rental car where the long-term health of the clutch is not your concern.
Nothing handles like a rental.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:40 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
This reminds me that if you find a formal instructor you might let them know that you're only planning on using your new skills on a rental car where the long-term health of the clutch is not your concern.
Nothing handles like a rental.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:40 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's very unusual to find a manual transmission vehicle for rent
Not outside of the US. In most countries (especially western Europe and Latin America), exactly the opposite is true, and an automatic will universally be more expensive, and somewhat harder to find.
The only reason a rental company would have an automatic in Italy is to rent it to Americans.
posted by toxic at 9:46 PM on July 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Not outside of the US. In most countries (especially western Europe and Latin America), exactly the opposite is true, and an automatic will universally be more expensive, and somewhat harder to find.
The only reason a rental company would have an automatic in Italy is to rent it to Americans.
posted by toxic at 9:46 PM on July 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
Try renting from a car dealership. I ended up with a manual transmission sports car once when my car was in for repairs.
posted by SLC Mom at 10:48 PM on July 3, 2016
posted by SLC Mom at 10:48 PM on July 3, 2016
I have a stick - MeMail me and we can probably work something out.
posted by bendy at 11:07 PM on July 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by bendy at 11:07 PM on July 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
If the cost of private driving lessons is what it was when I was first learning to drive a stick in Portland 20 years ago, it might be worth it to buy a sub-$2000 beater, drive its (probably already extremely iffy) clutch into the ground, and sell it back.
Or, on preview, maybe you can borrow bendy's car, assuming you are mentally prepared to replace its clutch. (Most people ride clutches pretty hard when they're first starting out, because the rolling-backwards-stall is scary - and it's pretty much inevitable in a town where many bridge and freeway approaches are uphill in stop-and-go traffic.)
posted by gingerest at 11:15 PM on July 3, 2016
Or, on preview, maybe you can borrow bendy's car, assuming you are mentally prepared to replace its clutch. (Most people ride clutches pretty hard when they're first starting out, because the rolling-backwards-stall is scary - and it's pretty much inevitable in a town where many bridge and freeway approaches are uphill in stop-and-go traffic.)
posted by gingerest at 11:15 PM on July 3, 2016
(I'm a very easygoing person, I've taught other people to drive stick and my car is young and under-used. You wouldn't give it any significant damage.) Also I abuse my clutch a lot myself and take full responsibility for it.
posted by bendy at 11:44 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 11:44 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
See if you can rent a hybrid (Yaris say). As I recall it has auto transmission.
posted by A189Nut at 12:33 AM on July 4, 2016
posted by A189Nut at 12:33 AM on July 4, 2016
(That was meant to be light-hearted, not derisive, but I'm not sure I got there)
posted by gingerest at 1:35 AM on July 4, 2016
posted by gingerest at 1:35 AM on July 4, 2016
I'd want to be prepared in case a rental company screwed me and gave me a manual (I'm usually unlucky when I travel)
Just to put some context around this, I've rented a car outside the U.S. several times over the last few years. I need an automatic. I've always been able to get one. Some further details:
I've always reserved in advance, usually like three months. In some cases, I got the impression that the companies might have transferred the car to my pickup location based on my reservation.
I've always picked it up from an airport (where there are likely to be Americans arriving to rent cars).
Automatic is treated basically as a premium or even luxury class. Not the top class in price, but consistently more expensive. Driving a manual is definitely cheaper. You've probably noticed this.
On the other hand--the automatics you get can be very nice cars. When I rented an automatic in Budapest, I got a very nice Audi A4 with German plates. It was the only automatic they had, and staff at the lot all knew it as "the Audi". The car stood out, particularly in small towns. That might be either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it.
So, if you can learn to drive a stick before you go: excellent idea. You'll have a much better experience overall and save money. But if you can't make that plan work out, you'll probably still be okay.
posted by gimonca at 6:52 AM on July 4, 2016
Just to put some context around this, I've rented a car outside the U.S. several times over the last few years. I need an automatic. I've always been able to get one. Some further details:
I've always reserved in advance, usually like three months. In some cases, I got the impression that the companies might have transferred the car to my pickup location based on my reservation.
I've always picked it up from an airport (where there are likely to be Americans arriving to rent cars).
Automatic is treated basically as a premium or even luxury class. Not the top class in price, but consistently more expensive. Driving a manual is definitely cheaper. You've probably noticed this.
On the other hand--the automatics you get can be very nice cars. When I rented an automatic in Budapest, I got a very nice Audi A4 with German plates. It was the only automatic they had, and staff at the lot all knew it as "the Audi". The car stood out, particularly in small towns. That might be either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it.
So, if you can learn to drive a stick before you go: excellent idea. You'll have a much better experience overall and save money. But if you can't make that plan work out, you'll probably still be okay.
posted by gimonca at 6:52 AM on July 4, 2016
Okay, so maybe renting a stick shift car to practice with in the US isn't really possible. You know where it is possible? In Scandinavia, where you're planning to rent a car anyway. Practicing before you go seems like a good idea if you can manage it, but if you can't, you can probably do the same kind of practicing with your Scandinavian rental car when you first pick it up.
posted by Redstart at 9:56 AM on July 4, 2016
posted by Redstart at 9:56 AM on July 4, 2016
When I was learning to drive the only option to learn to drive a stick was to practice in the college parking lot early on weekend mornings. I learned to drive on hills by going to the mall parking structure at night.
Find a sympathetic friend and ask them to help you practice.
posted by vignettist at 10:13 AM on July 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Find a sympathetic friend and ask them to help you practice.
posted by vignettist at 10:13 AM on July 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Anecdotal and not really answering your question, but I was in your state (not confident about driving stick and still having trouble after dabbling in it over a few years) until I had a week where I had no choice but to drive a manual. It was in Ithaca, NY, a town I also did not know at all and which is full of crazy hills (so there was no way for me to just avoid the hills there....not that you can really do any driving in Ithaca and avoid hills...) I also did some reading in advance of this situation and with the book knowledge plus cursory training, I had a few embarrassing stalls but after the first day, it was really fine. I am now a 100% stick driver and have owned several.
Also to second gimonca, my company has rented cars for me in Finland a few times (so I don't make the transmission choice) and I've always gotten an automatic. This is extra funny because most recently my coworker and I were both manual drivers and could not figure out how to turn on the automatic.....we had to ask for help, to work the automatic. I suspect that rental companies know very well not to give out manuals to Americans, at the risk of their transmissions....
posted by Tandem Affinity at 1:27 PM on July 4, 2016
Also to second gimonca, my company has rented cars for me in Finland a few times (so I don't make the transmission choice) and I've always gotten an automatic. This is extra funny because most recently my coworker and I were both manual drivers and could not figure out how to turn on the automatic.....we had to ask for help, to work the automatic. I suspect that rental companies know very well not to give out manuals to Americans, at the risk of their transmissions....
posted by Tandem Affinity at 1:27 PM on July 4, 2016
I learned stick on a two-ton horse truck. First gear was only used when fully loaded, on hills. It was surprisingly painless, and I had less training coming into it than you do. Have any friends with horse trucks?
posted by lhauser at 6:46 PM on July 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lhauser at 6:46 PM on July 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Swap cars with someone you know whose car is manual, then drive it for a week (or for as long as you feel confortable swapping wars)
posted by Kwadeng at 3:28 AM on July 5, 2016
posted by Kwadeng at 3:28 AM on July 5, 2016
Response by poster: Just in case anyone reads/finds this thread later, wanted to follow up and say thanks to everyone and also that after making numerous calls/emails, the performance driving school and other schools in this area told me that they know of no one who offers this kind of training. Seems like unless you have a friend with a stick-shift car, or you feel like buying a stick-shift car, you won't be able to learn around here.
posted by FireFountain at 10:17 AM on July 8, 2016
posted by FireFountain at 10:17 AM on July 8, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by toxic at 7:54 PM on July 3, 2016 [1 favorite]