When my wife and I were on vacation and the kids were left home alone, I felt safe and secure with the knowledge that my Porsche was sitting, safe and sound, in the garage since my two sons never cared about learning how to drive a stick. However, my keys were always hidden away since I knew one of their friends just might have that skill (thus avoiding a "Risky Business" event).

On the other hand, my bar was often compromised, like when my previously, almost full bottle of Grey Goose, was amazingly still almost full, yet had lost most of its alcohol content, and likewise, the content of my almost full bottle of Jack Daniels was now the same color as my never opened bottle of Captain Morgan.

 

Have him watch closely your footwork. Don't do the 'drop the clutch' approach. That's no way to learn properly.

You can actually (with the proper foot work) slip into first and have your foot entirely off the clutch at 4-5 mph if you are gentle. Just teach him about matching engine and tranny speeds.

 

Find a big empty parking lot and go get some cones. Set them up to mimic various turns and stops on a real road. Practice there before you go on the road.

 

The biggest problem I had here in the Florida Keys (max height above sea level other than garbage dumps is about 8 feet) was finding a hill. Teaching someone to start on a fairly steep hill is key to mastering a manual.

 

The first time my son was behind the wheel, it was in my GTS. We started in a parking lot with a slight slope. I explained the mechanics and he drove off perfectly on his first try. I was surprised. My dad taught me in a manual and it didn't go as smoothly... it was also an Escort vs. Porsche! Admittedly, we've been practicing more in my wife's Edge. Besides the great memories, I've been impressed by the way he describes the differences between the two cars.

 

Well, this technique works just fine for my Boxster, and my Turbo, and for a number of other cars I have owned. The DME will attempt to keep the engine at the desired idle speed and so as long as the clutch is engaged smoothly and not too fast the engine shouldn't stall.

This is the key and the intent of the exercise and that is to teach smoothness coupled with a slow enough release to get the car moving without the distraction (of the new driver) on having to think about the throttle at the same time.

And because the engine is at idle what slippage the clutch experiences is at as low an engine speed as it can be which means the clutch should not be any worse for the wear, unless the young driver just doesn't get the hang of the technique after a few attempts. In this case then instead of continuing the lesson at the cost f the clutch, the lesson is over and the driver is restricted to driving an automatic until he can buy/pay for his own manual transmission equipped car with which he can use to learn to drive a manual.

 

Perhaps.
My car is different from stock, it will stall. Gt3 throttle body, 200 cell cats, sach sport clutch and modded ecu. So i probably simply forgot how it was supposed to be by now. I have no much slippage, it just bites in. But, may be it is worth to try if car allows to start rolling without playing throttle at same time. Still, for uphill start you will need to raise rpms.

Realistically, a sport car like 997 is not a good platform to learn manual. I had rented some ford model in ireland this summer, they have practically no cars with automatic in there, and i was amazed how soft and smooth clutch was in that car. That would be probably better thing to do to teach a kid.

 

utkinpol,
I think your sachs sports clutch is the reason why yours won't start moving in first with no gas. I was wondering why your car wouldn't do it and that is probably the reason why.

To the OP. I posted a link earlier to a rental car place that still rents manuals. please go that route.

 

I think you should let him! I remember when my aunt(she was a huge car person) taught me how to drive stick on her 996 C2. It's a memory I will never forget. I'm sure your son will also think it's one of the coolest things....I know I did when I was learning. Sure, there's the possibility of some damage....but parts can be replaced. If you miss out on a moment, you rarely get another chance to make that memory.

 

I haven't read this entire thread. I taught my daughter and her mom how to drive on my 911 3.2 .At 20 , I let drive my 360.

I'm looking for 997 and if its the only manual available when my next son makes 14 I use that to teach him.

The clutch isn't that fragile

 

although not in the top ten this thread still make the list of "stupidest and useless questions asked" .i did not read all the posts lest my head would explode but i am amazed how much of a struggle life is for a few.