learning stick in a mirage

[Pellaken]

I'm curious how easy/hard it would be to learn stick in a mirage.

I'm considering getting one; but in all financial reality, I'm at least 2 years from getting a car. Regardless, I like to (perhaps over) plan everything, so am already looking for cars! I've narrowed it down to two I really want, one is a competitor that comes from a brand famous for its reliability. my step-dad had one when I was growing up. it's logical, but also boring. The other, is the mirage! I've always loved the Mitsubishi logo/mon, the mirage itself is just so perfect for someone like me! It's "too small" and "uncool" and "underpowered" and all the other supposedly bad things that I always fall for.

However, money would likely always be an issue, and a stick shift (manual) is cheaper than an automatic (cvt), as such, I'm wondering how hard it would be to learn stick in a mirage.

Technically, the one I buy might end up being a 2025 model, so, things could always change between now and then; but based on recent models (say, 2018 and up) I'm curious if people think it's easy/hard to learn stick on this car.

To be clear, I'm 36, and when I was 19, I had a 1997 ford escort. It was automatic. So I'm not learning to drive, only to drive stick. It has, however, been ages since I've last driven anything. Regardless, I'm looking for any good feedback!

[MetroMPG]

The Mirage is easy to learn on.

It's got the lightest clutch pedal of any car I've ever driven. Makes my 1998 Firefly's clutch feel like a dump truck by comparison.

[Pellaken]

is it "too" light to feel the 'bite'? I've heard this as a potential concern.

[MetroMPG]

You can make the case that a lighter pedal makes it easier to modulate the friction / engagement point.

And pedal effort doesn't change when you get to the "bite" point. They're independent. (At least that's the case in the dozens of small displacement manual cars I've owned.)

You don't really feel the "bite" through the pedal; you perceive it through other senses.

EG. assuming we're talking about practicing starting off in first gear without using the gas, at the engagement point: you hear and feel the engine RPM drop; you see the tach drop (if you're watching it); then you feel the car begin to move.

[dspace9]

All aspects of properly driving stick becomes very second nature, after years of driving a manual car.

You're not consciously listening for when to shift. It's like riding a bike, you're not thinking of pedaling as you're biking, once you know how to ride a bike.

I'd buy a cheap used one if I was you, and then sell and resell Mirages into the USA for profit. These cars are going for triple the price as they are in Canada.

[Pellaken]

I learned as an adult I have autism. I bring that up because, as a child, I was obsessed with watching family drive their cars. My grandfather had a big ole station wagon; automatic, but my step dad had a Japanese made manual, and so while I couldn't see his feet, I certainly could hear the engine, feel the car, and watch his hand on the shifter. Knowing what I do know about how to operate the pedals, and, being a logical thinker; I'm confidant I could do it. I just worry about how good/bad I'd be at actually doing it.

[Mark]

I learned as an adult I have autism. I bring that up because, as a child, I was obsessed with watching family drive their cars. My grandfather had a big ole station wagon; automatic, but my step dad had a Japanese made manual, and so while I couldn't see his feet, I certainly could hear the engine, feel the car, and watch his hand on the shifter. Knowing what I do know about how to operate the pedals, and, being a logical thinker; I'm confidant I could do it. I just worry about how good/bad I'd be at actually doing it.

My first car was a 1978 Honda Civic Wagon. Keep in mind, I raised a family, & we had two to three vehicles during much of that time. I've owned an Isuzu Trooper, Plymouth Colt Wagon, Ford Festiva, VW Golf, Ford Explorer, two Honda CR-Vs (1st & 2nd generations), Subaru Forester (currently) & 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage (also currently). All of these vehicles have been 5-speed manuals.

Driving a 5-speed manual Mirage is no different than the rest. If you do things correctly, a Mirage shifts with very little effort.

Key foot work points -
When starting from stop, you let out a clutch really slow (let the clutch engage slowly). I learned at age 8 or so, but it was on a tractor.
When you push in the clutch to shift gears, you let up on the gas at the same time. Your two feet work in unison. Over time it becomes natural.

Key shifting points -
When you are neutral, the stick shift lever has springs that push it to the center. Keep in that mind at all times. If you get lost, go to neutral & let the lever find that center place for you.

Up & down from that central point is 3rd & 4th. If I want 1st or 2nd, I need to pull the shift lever to the left & push up (1st gear) or pull down (2nd). When you are going to 3rd, just pull up to neutral & left springs push you to the center, and then push up to 3rd. Want 4th gear, just pull straight down from 3rd. Want 5th gear, push up to neutral, push out to right & up. You'll find yourself in 5th gear.

I've been driving manuals since the 1970s. When I push in the clutch, I let up on the gas every time I make shift. Once you get the car rolling, your shifts don't need to be perfect. There are times when I am in 5th gear @ 35 mph & above with a Mirage. Picking the right gear when turning at an intersection will take more practice. Most of time, I am in 2nd or 3rd gear for a turn off.

This is probably one of the most detailed lessons I have seen presented on youtube.com. There are 4 lessons. I will copy/paste the 1st one, & you can go from there. The last new forum member I shared this with bought a CVT afterwards!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW2Q7lIxrRo&t=124s

Ironically, I owned a 2000 Honda CR-V that was exactly the same as the one Rick uses in the clips. Except, we have speedometer that read in mph instead of km/h. My 1st generation CR-V was my favorite vehicle of all time. My Mirage is still growing on me, however.

Don't be afraid of a manual. A child can do it. Like anything new, it takes practice.

[dspace9]

I learned as an adult I have autism. I bring that up because, as a child, I was obsessed with watching family drive their cars. My grandfather had a big ole station wagon; automatic, but my step dad had a Japanese made manual, and so while I couldn't see his feet, I certainly could hear the engine, feel the car, and watch his hand on the shifter. Knowing what I do know about how to operate the pedals, and, being a logical thinker; I'm confidant I could do it. I just worry about how good/bad I'd be at actually doing it.

Yea eh, you can learn stick shift for sure. Those who grew up with stick shifts, sure it is easier. But having that third pedal becomes second nature.

Best way to learn stick is a big empty parking lot, where you can practice.

You get used to it a bit, take the car to a residental neighbourhood with no traffic around and practice parking and stopping and going smooth. You need someone else who knows stick shift. That is the only thing. Not safe to start out on the interstate. But it's not that hard and many love their 5 speed manual Mirages.

Everyone stalls the odd time. Mirage's clutch is light and stalling happens to me the odd time when parking. Can be a scene lol if you end up making a scene blocking traffic, but that does not happen often. Way more interesting and fun driving lol! No need to rev like crazy either.

[Pellaken]

when I first got my car, it had been months since I'd last driven, and, had done most of my driving in drivers ed. So I went out at 2am and drove it back and forth and back and forth across the roads on the university campus, until I could do so without overpressing any pedal. I presume I'd be doing quite the same with a new manual. There's a nice and steep hill in town that I can practise hill starts with. The "funnest" part would be driving away from the dealership! As for stalling, sometimes my grandfather and stepfather would switch cars; when the latter was going on a trip I didn't want to go on and they needed the bigger car; so I got to see my grandfather drive stick. He actually stalled it once, turning at a light, and, while the car was still rolling, restarted it, in second. I was amazed, didn't know this was even a thing one could do! I expect I'll be stalling it a lot, and plan to make a little sign that says "learning stick, may stall" and put it on the back of the car, likely on some cheap magnetized whiteboard. I suspect I'll need it on for a week or so, but should be able to take it off after that - I hope. There aren't any hill stops in my local area that I'd go to regularly, except when coming back from a doctors appointment, which would put me on the big hill - but even then there are alternative routes where the hills are in the middle of a stretch of road, vs at a stop. My main worry is I'll burn out a clutch instead of worrying about stalling too much.

edited to add - oh btw, to help everyone understand what kind of a person I am; when I wipe off "learning stick" from the sign, I plan to replace it with, quote "worlds roys" and keep it like that until it washes off or unsticks itself.

[klroger]

There's a nice and steep hill in town that I can practise hill starts with.

For some reason I think the Manual Mirages have a "Hill Start Assist", to help you out. This kinda holds the brakes on to keep you from rolling back until you start to move. Sorry I have a CVT, but maybe the Manual drivers can confirm that???