When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Find an open space (like a mall parking lot) and let her drive the car. Be patient, show her the proper technique for using the clutch/shifter, and who knows, she may catch on quickly.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
A cammed C5 is definitely a recipe for baptism by fire. My next door neighbor is 50, and I've known her for over 10 years, and throughout that time when I have been home, she has always mentioned how much she wanted to drive my car. Well, a month ago I obliged her request. Now, this wasn't a novice to a manual shift but, she didn't inspire confidence driving in the neighborhood to allow a more extended drive in the real world. No way in hell I would've turned it over to her if she never had driven a manual. I think she would do well with more time with the car but, sorry I'm not that generous.
As other's have mentioned. Getting her trained on a vehicle that is a lot more friendly so she can learn the basic mechanics of shifting will inspire confidence enough for her to someday drive a more challenging prospect like your cammed Vette. Knowing it's your baby and modified, will not help her focus on learning how to drive a manual. She'll be too worried about fking up or your car. Just my .02
Glad to hear that she actually wants to learn. It seems to be a dying art. Good luck whatever you decide.
Find an open space (like a mall parking lot) and let her drive the car. Be patient, show her the proper technique for using the clutch/shifter, and who knows, she may catch on quickly.
She can't hurt it if you're with her and keep her from slipping/riding the clutch TOO bad. The plus side is if she can master driving the C5, she'll be able to drive ANYTHING.
My wife enjoys driving manual, and when she drives my cammed car she always comments how "tough" it is to drive smoothly. I rode with her and instructed her how to drive "smoother" and she got the hang of it pretty quickly.
We often take my C5 on trips, and I really wanted her to know how to drive it just in case something happens to me (you never know).
The responses have been phenomenal! I've been loving reading all your comments and really interesting the spectrum of opinions and how polarizing some opinions are. Sometimes I feel one way of the spectrum of being selfish, protective and what I think to be logical of the notion and sometimes I feel the other way of the "whatever, it's just a car, a badass car but it's just a car" and she's my long time girlfriend which I plan to make my wife. She insists that I'm really underestimating her ability and willingness to learn while I think I know better than that and me being realistic might come out as being negative. Anyway, I've enjoyed this thread and your guys responses a lot. I still haven't made up my mind. Might do the Turo route, or might do Vetteman Jack and DetroitPlac route. After all, she does win my heart. For you that are "on the fence" and just wanted to see pics lol, here she is.
She'll be fine, big parking lot like everyone has said and go, I was my wifes instructor at her first track day, put her in my ST1/TT1 car with 510rwhp she did great!
I have a cammed C5, and I definitely know what you're talking about with the 'cam buck.' I took my wife out for a couple lessons in a parking lot, and she did fine. That being said, you can't truly learn stick without doing it every day for a while. I'm trying to get my 5 speed truck in good enough shape that she can borrow that for a while and learn. She wants to get a Mustang in a couple years, so I've got to get her trained first.
I have a cammed C5, and I definitely know what you're talking about with the 'cam buck.' I took my wife out for a couple lessons in a parking lot, and she did fine. That being said, you can't truly learn stick without doing it every day for a while. I'm trying to get my 5 speed truck in good enough shape that she can borrow that for a while and learn. She wants to get a Mustang in a couple years, so I've got to get her trained first.
Mine's a medium/mild cam (.585/.585/228/230/112LSA) so it's streetable and doesn't buck that bad, but sometimes it does give you an attitude at low RPMs and constant speed (doesn't really buck at decel and accel). Stock clutch really helps to make it easier. Her interest for learning has grown and mostly because she is now falling in love with the idea of having an old school Jeep (like a CJ or a YJ), and I told her she better get it manual, I told her all the good reasons and she's sold on the idea. I like the Jeep idea too and I do like hearing from her this willingness to overcome challenges and prove me wrong. When I outline to her all the reasons why NOT to show her on the C5, it just fuels her as more of a challenge just to prove me wrong about it being too difficult for her to learn on. I like that strong will mentality from her and part of me feels bad to keep denying her request. Like you said, the real learning is when you actually own and drive a manual car everyday anyways. It's kind of like flight hours for a pilot; you get better as you have more seat time. Who knows, might be a bit nerve wrecking but probably fun to see her rowing the gears and struggling with the bucking, and hopefully rewarding for both of us once she learns at least to roll from neutral and shift to 2nd. I'll sure be proud of her.
Go rent a Fiat 500 for a few days and let her learn on that. Then let her drive the Vette. My wife learned to drive a stick in my '65 442. I let her drive the Vette anytime she wants.
Ahhh, what the hell. Hand her the keys and hope for the best. She'll probably be working the gearbox in short time. The mere fact that she has an interest in driving a Corvette AND learning stick shift indicates that you've found a winner... The good looks are the bonus... GOOD LUCK!
My wife learned on an 1980 Dodge Omni 024 (fine quality Chrysler Corporation motor carriage).
She was my girlfriend at the time and it always was a pride thing with her to boast to our friends, "you mean you can't drive a stick?"
She did equally well on our 1970 Cutlass (Hurst 4 speed) after we got married, our 1988 Ford Ranger and now our C5. She hasn't even come close to stalling the C5 and I'm more than comfortable when I see it missing in the garage, her out having fun.
Marry that pretty young girl and get closer to her by being patient and teaching her at a very slow, forgiving pace.
She'll make mistakes, so don't criticize, respond with, "let's try it this way, honey".
Worked for me.
I think the C 5 (not cammed ) is one of the easiest manuals I have ever driven ??? ( and that's a lot of manuals)
I'm on the same page as you. A manual C5 is insanely easy to drive. How many manuals out there can you start in 4th gear and not stall it out? A lot of low end torque helps wonders.
I let my wife drive and drive my C5, and killed it so many times we almost didn't make it home because the battery was almost dead. Also, probably took a few thousand worth of miles off the clutch.
It all depends on what matters to you more...making her happy, or some extra wear and tear on your car.
05-23-2019, 12:25 AM
Also, probably took a few thousand worth of miles off the clutch.