How easy is it to learn to drive manual in the ZL1? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

bork_bork · 03-24-2016, 08:05 AM

I'm about to purchase a 2013 ZL1 manual. Problem is my wife can't drive it but wants to learn. Is this a good learning car? Can the clutch handle some learning beatings? I know I should probably buy a beater to teach her

lbls1 · 03-24-2016, 08:32 AM

Have your wife take lessons before driving the ZL. I was a novice to a manual before owning my ZL; In fact I took lessons two days before taking delivery on my ZL. The lessons will give you the basics in terms of operating the car. The real learning will come from seat time and driving in traffic. The ZL has been very compliant and patient when I was learning, so your wife should do fine.

nvydvr · 03-24-2016, 09:02 AM

One irritating feature (at least to me) is the hill assist, but it's probably a great feature for someone new to a manual... Just my .02

polarisiq93 · 03-24-2016, 09:46 AM

I had only had minor experience driving manuals in the past. but have rode dirt bikes my whole life. I started driving my dads c7 a lot and it was easy to get the hang of. Then I got my zl1 and I found it very easy to drive, so I can't see her having a hard time learning if she understands the concepts

Whos_Drivin · 03-24-2016, 10:38 AM

There's so much torque it's hard to kill. However expect her to get loose a bit if she's giving too much throttle and too quick on the clutch.

I personally like the manual because the wife can't drive it and I plan on keeping it that way.

Shark72 · 03-24-2016, 10:57 AM

Rent a car with a manual transmission for teaching her.
Then let her behind the wheel of the Z.

MYLSA · 03-24-2016, 11:12 AM

Not any harder or easier than any other 6M I have owned.

Only concern would be the power (controlling it) like after she lets out the clutch in second on cold tires...if she put her foot in it...car will get squirly

I personally love it but could be a rude awakening for a begginer???

DRKS1D3 · 03-24-2016, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shark72

Rent a car with a manual transmission for teaching her.
Then let her behind the wheel of the Z.

This 100%

Rawcka · 03-24-2016, 12:08 PM

I learned to drive manual on my zl1. I can't compare it to other manual cars as it is the only car manual I have driven. I did find it fairly easy not sure if most standards are like this but you can get in first gear without giving gas as long as you are very slow on the clutch, I just practiced that for a day in a parking lot and that really gives you a good feel of when the clutch grabs. After mastering that, getting into first and giving it gas is easy peasy.

But like anything practice makes perfect and putting in seat time is the only way to learn.

slow72 · 03-24-2016, 12:13 PM

My wife learned to drive standard in our ZL1 last year. She had maybe done it 5 times prior.

jayno20 · 03-24-2016, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarisiq93

I had only had minor experience driving manuals in the past. but have rode dirt bikes my whole life. I started driving my dads c7 a lot and it was easy to get the hang of. Then I got my zl1 and I found it very easy to drive, so I can't see her having a hard time learning if she understands the concepts

This is exactly how I learned to drive a stick. My first stick was like 10 years ago but the dirt bike/motorcycle clutch was really a good learning tool. I got in my first stick car and never really had any issues because I just followed the same logic of the dirt bike clutch.

Whos_Drivin · 03-24-2016, 12:24 PM

My grandpa taught me to drive a manual by making me stop in the middle of a hill on his driveway and telling me to start going again without rolling backwards in his old farm truck. That made me learn throttle and clutch control quickly, and more importantly how to do a burnout!

MaroSS · 03-24-2016, 12:35 PM

I personally didn't own a stick before driving the ZL1 and had to learn while driving my Z with only having a few parking lot/small street driving in my friends Camaro SS. It was very easy to learn and I plan on teaching people in my ZL1 if need be. As long as she gets where the friction point is on the clutch before anything, the car will be fine. Also make sure your car is stock when teaching and it isn't cold out lol.

ZED SLED · 03-24-2016, 12:42 PM

My wife has been wanting to learn to drive mine for 3 years. Who knows, this may be the year. Everyday I tell her we'll go tomorrow.

03-24-2016, 08:05 AM	#1
bork_bork Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Convert Triple Black Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Simpsonville SC Posts: 408	How easy is it to learn to drive manual in the ZL1? I'm about to purchase a 2013 ZL1 manual. Problem is my wife can't drive it but wants to learn. Is this a good learning car? Can the clutch handle some learning beatings? I know I should probably buy a beater to teach her

03-24-2016, 08:32 AM	#2
lbls1 Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 4,022	Have your wife take lessons before driving the ZL. I was a novice to a manual before owning my ZL; In fact I took lessons two days before taking delivery on my ZL. The lessons will give you the basics in terms of operating the car. The real learning will come from seat time and driving in traffic. The ZL has been very compliant and patient when I was learning, so your wife should do fine. __________________ '02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B '08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo *'14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic*

03-24-2016, 09:02 AM	#3
nvydvr Drives: 2015 Red Rock ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Panama City Beach, Florida Posts: 1,097	One irritating feature (at least to me) is the hill assist, but it's probably a great feature for someone new to a manual... Just my .02 __________________ Alex 2015 Red Rock ZL1 Panama City Beach, FL

03-24-2016, 10:57 AM	#6
Shark72 Drives: '16 Z06/Z07, '15 Z/28,1972 Stingray Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Drivers Seat Posts: 837	Rent a car with a manual transmission for teaching her. Then let her behind the wheel of the Z. __________________ 2015 Z/28 #642 Black Bad Ass

03-24-2016, 11:12 AM	#7
MYLSA Drives: 2014 ZL1 6M Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: 813 Posts: 118	Not any harder or easier than any other 6M I have owned. Only concern would be the power (controlling it) like after she lets out the clutch in second on cold tires...if she put her foot in it...car will get squirly I personally love it but could be a rude awakening for a begginer??? __________________ 2014 ZL1, 6M, Summit White/Black, Carbon Fiber hood insert 2014 2SS/RS LS3 "sold" ZL1 Exclusive Member

03-24-2016, 09:46 AM	#4
polarisiq93 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Ontario Posts: 217	I had only had minor experience driving manuals in the past. but have rode dirt bikes my whole life. I started driving my dads c7 a lot and it was easy to get the hang of. Then I got my zl1 and I found it very easy to drive, so I can't see her having a hard time learning if she understands the concepts

03-24-2016, 10:38 AM	#5
Whos_Drivin Drives: '12 Camaro ZL1, '16 Silverado Z71 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Blaine, MN Posts: 846	There's so much torque it's hard to kill. However expect her to get loose a bit if she's giving too much throttle and too quick on the clutch. I personally like the manual because the wife can't drive it and I plan on keeping it that way.

03-24-2016, 12:08 PM	#9
Rawcka Drives: 2015 Red Hot ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 29	I learned to drive manual on my zl1. I can't compare it to other manual cars as it is the only car manual I have driven. I did find it fairly easy not sure if most standards are like this but you can get in first gear without giving gas as long as you are very slow on the clutch, I just practiced that for a day in a parking lot and that really gives you a good feel of when the clutch grabs. After mastering that, getting into first and giving it gas is easy peasy. But like anything practice makes perfect and putting in seat time is the only way to learn.

03-24-2016, 12:13 PM	#10
slow72 Drives: 2015 Camaro ZL1 BVM Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Posts: 31	My wife learned to drive standard in our ZL1 last year. She had maybe done it 5 times prior.

03-24-2016, 12:24 PM	#12
Whos_Drivin Drives: '12 Camaro ZL1, '16 Silverado Z71 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Blaine, MN Posts: 846	My grandpa taught me to drive a manual by making me stop in the middle of a hill on his driveway and telling me to start going again without rolling backwards in his old farm truck. That made me learn throttle and clutch control quickly, and more importantly how to do a burnout!

03-24-2016, 12:35 PM	#13
MaroSS ZL1 Drives: 10' SS/RS - Sold; 15' White ZL1 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Harbor City, CA Posts: 683 View My Garage	I personally didn't own a stick before driving the ZL1 and had to learn while driving my Z with only having a few parking lot/small street driving in my friends Camaro SS. It was very easy to learn and I plan on teaching people in my ZL1 if need be. As long as she gets where the friction point is on the clutch before anything, the car will be fine. Also make sure your car is stock when teaching and it isn't cold out lol. __________________

03-24-2016, 12:42 PM	#14
ZED SLED Drives: 2017 Mosaic Bk ZL1 M6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of Raleigh, NC Posts: 9,477 View My Garage	My wife has been wanting to learn to drive mine for 3 years. Who knows, this may be the year. Everyday I tell her we'll go tomorrow. __________________