I am 27 and have never driven a manual car...would a C5 Z06 be a good car to learn on or is it a tricky car to drive?

 

C5 is a pretty easy car to learn on. It is really difficult to stall and the clutch and gas are easy to modulate.

I learned on little 4-cyl Hondas and I would not consider a C5 to be any easier or harder.

 

The first manual car I ever drove was a 2000 Camaro with the LS1 engine. Not quite a Z06 but close enough for this discussion. It was a breeze. These drivetrains are amazing and easy to learn on. The amount of power the car makes on matters if you try "put the throttle down". Just keep the RPMs low on take off by going easy on the throttle and dont be afraid to slip the clutch, or disengage it all together if you feel you might have too much throttle.

Good luck

 

My first manual car was/is my vette...I had driven a few of my buddies cars in the past, but had never owned a manual before..It was fairly easy to drive the C5 from day 1....go for it...

 

The only difficult part is shifting from to 4th to 5th. The strong spring that returns you to neutral requires you pay a small bit of attention,in the beginning.

 

I learned on my coupe, 5 years and 60K miles later, the same stock clutch is still going strong.

 

Easy shiz

 

Hopefully it has the 1-4 shift bypass on it. That could mess with you a little bit if it doesn't.

 

Bought my 6 speed Vette in SC having never driven a manual before. Flew down and taught myself on the way back.

 

Some of the shifters are tighter than others, so depending upon the car, you'll need some force to get her shifted. Sometimes the tranny can slip, too, due to a variety of issues, so you need to get used to the car. The best practice I ever got was waiting on the line to drop off my daughter at school. You move up, brake, move up, brake, and you really, really get a feel for the clutch and gas ratio. Go into a parking lot and practice that. Coming off the mark. The chances of stalling will happen the most going into first and coming out of first into second... once you go stick on a sports car, though, you'll never want to come back, BAM!

 

My 1st manual is my car now. Ive driven manuals before. I actually was taught by my brother in his 86 Mustang SVO. From then on i caught on. But after 3 weeks of driving it i have gotten better at shifting smoother. I still jerk the car sometimes shifting into gear. But i was told i will get everything down pretty quick.

 

I learned how to shift in a '93 GMC Sierra and I was only 13 years old! LOL So im sure you will have no problems with learning in a Vette. Easier to drive and a bit more torque allows for less throttle application to take off.

 

I learned after I paid the previous owner and he put the keys in my hand lol... I bought it in September and everyday is a learning experience. The hardest part (still) is getting it going in first without jerking.

Like the fellas said, it is very hard to stall. Well, after you get the hang of it for a while. I easily stalled it 20+ times during my first week. I was sweating bullets in traffic. The guys here (thanks!) taught me to leave space in front, so I don't ride the clutch. I do my best to let it inch up on its own. At times, I HAVE to ride the clutch, but it's almost never after I got a better grasp at it.

I have yet to comfortably reverse into my driveway as I can’t see the garage behind me and I am scared ****less I’ll give it to much gas and I’ll lose it.

 

I taught my son how to drive a manual on the Z. I thought that the clutch was easier to "feel" than my other manual car, a Civic. It took him about 10 minutes, but after that, he had it down.

 

I would say its not the easiest car to learn on.. You have to pay attention to alot of different things in Corvettes. Being low to the ground is one big thing. Plus the higher power level can get scary if you like the throttle!!

I see no problem though. I spent 15 months not driving a manual shift vehicle. I actually drove a 20 ton 6 wheeled Armored Truck... Nevertheless I had the Z06 waiting for me when I returned and had NO problems driving it for the first time!!! (I bought the car while I was gone)

 

Remember what I am about to tell you! Take it slow until you get it down. The car is only as fast as you want it to be. Have fun and be smart!

 

I started on an Audi A4 with the 1.8T. I find the vette to be much easier to drive than that car was. even with the turbo the Audi had no power whatsoever. get the throttle to clutch ratio just a little off and it would stall. the vette is different, if you get the engine a little too slow just give it some throttle and you're fine.

also remember to use the hand brake if you are ever in an uncomfortable situation. most drivers have automatics out there and some tend to forget that everyone is not just like them. you may find yourself on an uphill waiting for a stoplight when the car behind you pulls up 12" from your back bumper, or keeps inching up every few seconds until the light turns red as if that's going to get them home faster. push the release button down on the handbrake and pull the handle up all the way, then you can take your foot off the brake to work with the throttle and clutch without worrying about rolling backwards any. as soon as you feel the car start to pull forward, put the brake back down.

just make sure your Ebrake is in good working order first! many C5's are adjusted wrong from the factory, or have worn down to the point they need to be adjusted. its not the easiest thing in the world, but instructions are on the forum.

 

I learned on my uncle's '49 Chevy in 1955 when I was nine years old. Been driving manual transmission cars ever since. An auto just seems out of character for me now.

 

These cars are a piece of cake. I learned on a 1962 Chevy Station Wagon. 3-sp shift on the column with a non-hydraulic clutch. Just remember that these cars can reallymove, so until you got it take it easy.

 

Unless the Z has a vastly different clutch feel,,piece of cake!! These cars have a GREAT torque curve,making the motor very flexible. The clutch is not "heavy" and have an easy "take up"!! Just start in a quiet traffic area and you should be good!!!