Yes, cup holders belong on a lawn chair.
You know why you have two hands? To put on the steering wheel. Not to hold a cell phone, shift, steer, and smoke a cig while drinking a cup of whatever.

Driving a manual transmission is something that takes muscle memory skills. You get better with practice If you have a good driver show you how to correctly shift your muscles will learn the right movements early.
Also makes the entire driveline last longer.

I disagree with who ever said hold the clutch out enough to keep car from rolling back. Maybe you are in the clutch replacement business.

What you should do is on a steep hill: foot on the brake, depress clutch, pull up on hand brake lever, move foot to gas. As you release the hand brake apply gas and clutch as normal. No need to rev engine or ride clutch.

#1 rule with manual cars. Clutch is either IN or OUT

 

I used to do this all the time. So you're significantly decreasing the life of your clutch by riding the clutch like that?

 

^^^ yes....but i think the parking brake thing is for when you are first learning. I am quick enough to go from brake to gas and clutch before the car rolls. Just don't use the clutch to hold you on the hill while you are stopped.

 

[QUOTE=OnRailsJust don't use the clutch to hold you on the hill while you are stopped.[/QUOTE]

oh snap!
when i learned to drive stick on my 83 VW scirocco, i'm pretty sure i was TAUGHT that this is a good way not to roll back. i've even done this a few times in my rx-8. omg nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

 

the saleperson gave me a lesson on driving manual when i got the car. taught me all the basics. after that i was driving around fine after another 2 hours of practice.

 

Thanks for all the replies. A friend is going to teach me on a 96 Civic tomorrow. He said I'll learn it in 10 mins. I doubt that. But I hope that however much I learn tomorrow will be enough to at least take the car for a test drive.

 

You might be suprised at how quick you learn... I never owned a stick before my 8 but had driven one a few times, mostly a pickup truck at an old job. I test drove the 8 twice and didn't stall but I have probably stalled a dozen times since I bought it a few months ago, mostly in the first couple of weeks and once on the way home from the dealer . After that I was driving confidently and have focused more on improving my clutch technique, speeding up my shifts and making them smoother. The 8 is a pretty easy car to learn on but it is also a different type of driver: like previous posters said you can stay in lower gears much longer, and you can let the clutch out a little higher in the RPM's than you would on other cars too.

Have fun and go get that 8!