Where to Learn to Drive Stick Shift Cars in Newport News, Virginia

 

When you've only been used to driving with automatic transmission vehicles, it can get very challenging to shift to a manual vehicle. However, it will be worth the effort and cost of manual car driving lessons when you learn how to drive a stick shift car. Of course, aside from that rewarding emotion, there are a lot more good reasons why manual transmission driving classes should be more popular. The main point is, it's a helpful and sensible skill to have knowledge of how to drive a stick shift automobile in this day and age. And if ever you're considering getting a couple of standard transmission lessons in the area, here is a list of parking lots you can practice driving manual transmission cars in Newport News, Virginia.

 

Find a Manual Transmission Instructor Nearby

 

Use the map above to find a stick shift instructor near you

 

Where To Learn How To Drive Manual Near Me

Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606

 

Peninsula Memorial Park is located 0.5 mi from Virginia Cemtery Services via Nettles Dr.

How To Drive A Stick Shift Truck at Peninsula Memorial Park

Because you've familiarized yourself with the gear shift, pedals, steering wheel and their placement inside a manual car; it's time to learn moving into first gear and drive at slow speeds. For brand new drivers of stick shift cars, this can be especially tough, particularly if you've only ever used an automatic vehicle. To be truthful, you're probably going to get a couple sputters and false starts while you're still learning how to go into first gear on a manual car. If this happens to you, don't panic. You and your car's engine will be more than fine. You may be a little put off with how shaky it gets, but stick shift cars are made to survive a bit of wear and tear. Honestly, you're probably underestimating how sturdy they really are. Now, when you're doing manual transmission driving lessons, this is how any driving school or instructor will usually teach you to get a manual car into first gear. Slide the shifter knob to the N position with your right hand, press down on the brake pedal with your right foot and keep your left foot on the floor; once in position, turn the engine on. If you haven't already disengaged, make sure to pull up the hand brake. Then, take your left foot and press down on the clutch until you hit the floor. After that, gently push down on the gas pedal with your right foot until the RPMs get to 1500. When you're there, take care to keep your foot steady on the gas. Afterwards, count back from 7 seconds as you ease your left foot off of the clutch pedal. Do this very carefully and keep it as consistent as possible. When done correctly, you'll hit the clutch bite point and it will get the manual transmission car rolling. After releasing the clutch, push down on the gas to pick up speed with your stick shift car. Keep going until you hit 2500 to a max 3000 RPMs with the engine, then you can start slowing down. To successfully decelerate, practice your clutch work again, starting with pushing the clutch pedal fully. Then, move your right foot to the brake pedal from the gas. Important to note here, the clutch ALWAYS comes before the brake. When you've pressed the brake down to the floor, the stick shift car should stop. When stopped, slide the driving stick into the "N" position and engage the parking brake. When safely parked, pull up your feet from the clutch and brake pedals.

Bryant & Stratton College, 4410 E Claiborne Square #233, Hampton, VA 23666

 

Bryant & Stratton College is located 0.2 mi from Peninsula Town Center via Merchant Ln.

Learning Upshifting at Bryant & Stratton College

Given that you've now learnt driving a stick shift vehicle in 1st gear, you should learn and practice upshifting and downshifting next. Now, because it's just a matter of adding some movements with your hands on the gear shifter, this will be way more simple than getting a manual transmission vehicle in 1st gear. You already know how to do clutch work with your feet. Include a couple of movements, and you'll be on track to getting the hang of shifting up and down to higher and lower gears. Survey the parking lot and find an area with the lengthiest amount of space. For your own safety and convenience, you should have at least 500-1000 feet of pavement ahead of you. Make use of what you've learned earlier and begin driving your manual transmission vehicle in first gear, stepping on the gas until you arrive at 2500 RPMs. The moment you get there, put your left foot on the clutch and start pressing down while slowly pulling your right foot from the accelerator , slowing down and sustaining 1500 RPMs of speed. You can even coast a bit in neutral position so you can go through the steps one by one, if you like. Then if you're at a nice and steady RPM of 1500, slide the driving stick from 1st gear to the next higher gear with your right hand. Once you've shifted into second gear, slowly raise your left foot from the clutch pedal. Then, when the clutch pedal is fully released, start pressing on the gas pedal and keep going until you reach 2500 RPMs. Right now, you'll probably notice strange noises coming from the manual vehicle's engine on your first couple of tries. You might even hear it get louder, and that's absolutely okay, so don't stress.

Hampton Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Dr, Hampton, VA 23666

 

Hampton Coliseum is located 1.2 mi from Peninsula Town Center via Coliseum Dr

Learning Downshifting at Hampton Coliseum

Now, take everything you've learned in how to upshift, and we're going to apply them in downshifting, but in reverse. Look around the parking lot for a good, lengthy span of road to practice in; you want enough space to downshift carefully, like with learning new techniques on a manual transmission car. You may have your automobile rolling in 2nd gear and want to shift into lower gears until you get to a complete stop, for example. There's a number of ways you can do this: you could coast with the manual gearbox in N position until you stop entirely; or better yet, downshift one gear at a time, from 2nd gear to 1st then first gear to a full stop. You don't want to shift up or down more than one or two gear, so we advise practicing to downshift by getting the manual transmission car from 2nd to a lower gear. Switch the engine on and drive around until you get the car rolling in 2nd gear, then step on the clutch while easing up on the gas pedal with your right foot, until you reach 1500 RPMs. When you get to that nice and steady pace, get the gear shifter into 1st gear. Next, slowly get your left foot from the clutch pedal, then press down on the brake with your right. You might notice the engine revving a bit beyond 1500 RPMs, and that's fine. It may even create some strange sounds from the engine, but that's normal, and it's just because the drivetrain and engine aren't in sync yet. When you've fully pressed the brake pedal and you're back to driving at a constant 1500 RPMs, repeat the clutch work process. Press on the clutch again with your left foot then gradually step on the brake until the car stops fully. When you're completely stopped, move the gear lever to neutral and engage your hand brake.

Greenlawn Memorial Park, 2700 Parish Ave, Newport News, VA 23607

 

Greenlawn Memorial Park is located 0.3 mi from B.T. Washington Middle School via 35th St.

Learning Reversing at Greenlawn Memorial Park

You've gone through the fundamentals of learning how to drive a manual transmission, including turning the ignition on in the manual car and practicing to use the pedals correctly. And now that you've gotten more comfortable with using the gear shift and cruising at different speeds, both low and slightly higher, we're proceeding to reversing. Begin this process by turning the engine on, then driving the manual car to the far end of the longest stretch of road found in the lot. When you get there, move the stick from 1st gear to reverse gear and gradually back up your vehicle all the way to your initial starting point. To start off, move the shifter to the "N" position, then step down on the clutch pedal with your left foot and on the brake with your right foot. Then, get the gear stick from "N" to "R", and get your foot off of the brake and onto the accelerator pedal. With your right foot on the gas, carefully raise your left foot from the clutch, doing it slowly and consistently over a 7-sec period. Then, start gaining speed by stepping on the gas with your right foot. It might be a friction point especially for brand new drivers, and it may take some more time than you thought, but don't stress. It's far better for your own safety to just drive as gradually as you want and pick up speed once you're more comfortable.

AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24, 1 Towne Centre Way, Hampton, VA 23666

 

AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24 is located 1.6 mi from Thomas Nelson Community College - Hampton III Building via Thomas Nelson Dr.

Learning Parking at AMC Hampton Towne Centre 24

Parking is already hard to learn, and the two trickiest types of parking you can and need to learn is 1) driving back up to a parking slot and 2) parking in parallel. That first one describes what's commonly called back-in parking. Start this process by pulling up right next to the car in front of the parking space, turn on your blinker, then check your mirrors to ensure the coast is clear. After, step on the clutch and move the gear shifter into "R". Until you begin backing your vehicle into the parking space, make sure the clutch pedal stays all the way to the floor. You should start with the clutch and brake pedals pushed down to the floor of the car. Then, when you're ready, gradually let up on the clutch pedal until you feel the rear of the car lift up and you hear the engine make a different sound, which means you've hit the clutch bite point. Once you're there, take your right foot off from the brake pedal and control the movement of the manual car with the brake and clutch. Take care not to go above a handful MPH while backing into the space. You might not be satisfied with the stick shift vehicle's position, and you probably won't get it right either the first time anyway. That's all right, just do some slight adjustments until the car's settled nicely in the middle of the parking spot. Next off, let's talk through parallel parking in a stick shift car, step by step. First off, turn on your blinker to signal a right turn. Drive the car forward until you're two to three feet ahead of the space you want to park in, and side by side to the vehicle in front of it. Make certain that you won't run into any people or cars on the road behind you, double-checking your surroundings with your mirrors and backup camera. Push the clutch and brake pedals all the way to the floor, and straighten up the steering wheel to get your tires aligned. When you have an all-clear to start backing up the manual car, ease off on the clutch to release it. Like we said earlier, you know you've hit the bite point when the rear of your vehicle raises a bit and you hear a change in the engine sounds. Once there, slowly get your right foot from the brake to get the wheels rolling. Keep a sure and steady pace by carefully controlling your clutch and brake pedals with your feet. Keep checking your side and rearview mirrors as you back up, and steer your wheels to the left once your rear bumper is a couple of feet from the other car's back bumper. Then, as soon as the rear bumper on your right closes in on the curb, spin your steering wheel all the way to the left. Do some careful clutch work with the brake and clutch to carefully bring the vehicle to a full stop.

Book Stick Shift Driving Lessons Today

 

Parking lots are an excellent location to learn how to drive a manual transmission car, since they are flat and private areas. You may also learn how to drive around other drivers and traffic, in an easier and safer setting. The best way to learn how to drive a manual vehicle is through one-on-one instruction with a professional. You can learn at your own pace and schedule, which makes this option perfect for busy individuals. When you are ready to begin learning the techniques of manual transmission car driving, arrange driving lessons with qualified driving instructors that can help the clutch feel a lot less frightening. Driving a stick shift is an intimidating skill, and not many people take that leap. At Stick Shift Academy, we have certified driving instructors all over the nation that are experts at helping you to overcome that fear, and become a master of the manual vehicle. To learn how to drive stick near you, connect with Stick Shift Academy to schedule your very first manual vehicle driving lessons in Newport News, Virginia.

Your cart