Teaching My Girlfriend How To Drive Stick In C7...

[CarGuy11]

Am I crazy???

[Milliwatt Rob]

Trying to learn to drive a manual on a C7 is like trying to learn to shoot a handgun with a 44 magnum.

I learned the basics of driving in an open field on a farm tractor. A manual car transmission, on a 1951 Buick with a high torque straight 8 that was almost impossible to stall, and 3 on the tree.

[JB]

Todays fuel injection syste,s and roll back prevention make learning to drive a manual transmission vehicle pretty easy...the key in my opinion is to make the person learning feel calm and easy....

ive taught probably five people over the years....its fun to see how happy they are when they master the task..

[John]

learned the basics of driving in an open field on a farm tractor. A manual car transmission, on a 1951 Buick with a high torque straight 8 that was almost impossible to stall, and 3 on the tree.

I learned on a 51 Chevy pickup in a farm field in western Tennessee. Was 14 and did not get my learning 100% correct. I was so busy concentrating on upshifting, that when I got into third gear, I was going too fast, heading right into the Mississippi River. Got it stopped with the first half of the truck into the river. Took the farm tractor to help pull it out. Thankfully no damage and the farmer was in town many miles away with his wife in their car throughout it all. When the farmer came home to see his pickup washed of its massive mud, he was more than a little curious as to my “initiative” in washing it — the first time it had ever been washed since it became the “farm pickup.” Whew, was I lucky that all ended well.

Thanks Rob, for I had not thought of that “escapade” of mine for many, many decades.

[John]

Fun, fun. Pretty soon you are going to happily give CarGirl you C7 when you get your own C8.

[MidEngine]

Good for you; good for CarGirl.

[Mobius]

I learned in a VW Beetle-based "dune buggy" in the late 70s. Two of my older brothers bought a used VW from a junk yard for ~$100 (my best guess), got it running, pulled off all four fenders and mounted 15" Chevy wheels/tires (using adapters). They also fabbed-up a skid plate to protect the engine (particularly the push rods). They then brush-painted it camo.

This car was no where near street legal, but that was never the plan...

Our house bordered on ~150 wooded acres, with multiple dirt roads running through it - perfect for this little car.

That thing was such a blast to drive, and since I was only 13 (and would sneak it out when they were working) I was pretty popular in my neighborhood.

[John]

Another “JD” (and for those who are too young, that is what we were called, e.g., juvenile delinquents — for your driving before you had you license but as you were on private roads, great place for you to learn. Nice you had older brothers helping you be a constructive JD!

Still can get a “restrictedDrivers 🎻 license” in South Dakota at 14 1/2 years old — though it allows you to drive on public roads if no traffic violations during your learning permit period and from your permit acquiring through 16 when it becomes a regular license.

[Fireeagle]

Trying to learn to drive a manual on a C7 is like trying to learn to shoot a handgun with a 44 magnum.

I learned the basics of driving in an open field on a farm tractor. A manual car transmission, on a 1951 Buick with a high torque straight 8 that was almost impossible to stall, and 3 on the tree.

Rob, good analogy. I learned on a 73 Vega GT. Didn't care if it stalled.

[CarGuy11]

Join in Weds night at 9EST for a livestream discussion where CarGirl11 talks about her experience plus good old Corvette talk!

[Tolearnistodo]

Well done Car Guy, you've just gained yourself another subscriber!!

It's no easy feat teaching anyone how to drive stick yet alone in a C7, so good on the both of you!

[CarGuy11]

^^^Thank you sir! Welcome!