I just came home with a black/tan 2000 SS convertible! I've been looking into the car for a while now, and have psyched myself up about it, and now I've got it! It's my first manual transmission car, though, so it's going to be a while before I can REALLY have fun with it, but the point is it's there in the garage! I love it. Anybody have any tips for learning to drive a stick?

...and I wasn't really sure where to post this, so feel free to move it wherever it should be.

 

Gratz on the car! Hope to see pics soon! As for driving it, you gotta....well ... just drive it You probably already know that you didn't pick the easiest thing to learn on, as i did the same thing lol. Wait till that first clutch change!!! whoa!! <if you go aftermarket> But I know you will enjoy it. Take care!

 

does it have any mods done to it from the previus owner. And do you have any plans for it.

 

No mods... the guy used to restore/mod and race old American muscle cars, but bought this car just for mindless fun that he didn't have to think about. I've got big plans for it IN MY HEAD... but considering I can't even properly drive the car yet, I think I'm going to wait quite a while before I start modding. I definitely will at some point, though... my other car is a 1995 Maxima, and I've modded that a little bit and will probably continue (although more for comfort now than performance, since I have a REAL performance car now!).

 

Black and NEUTRAL don't call it Tan please.

It makes me feel better about my car having a neutral interior since I prefer ebony but had no choice.

 

But I like the interior color...

Why neutral instead of tan? Was that the manufacturer name for it? I don't know much about color names (besides the obvious), so I appreciate corrections.

 

FIRST thing you're gonna wanna do is get a decent shifter.

since it's an SS it may have the factory installed hurst shifter. which is an above stock unit. however it will still have the same crappy shift lever as the base model shifter. that stick has a rubber bushing in the base to reduce noise from the tranny. it also makes the shifter VERY VERY sloppy.

look into a Lou's Short Stick. it's about $55 and is shorter and has not got the bushing. it will be a night and day difference on that shifter.

if you have the base model shifter you may as well just upgrade the whole darn thing.

Pro 5.0 is probably the best, but the B&M ripper, or Hurst Billet/Plus (different from the Hurst factory option). you can also try to track down a used hurst from an SS or WS6. they typically sell for $50, then buy the Lou's stick for it.
you'll have a great shifter for about $100 compared to $175+ for aftermarket.

the new shifter will really help you feel ever shift gate and give you much more confidence when shifting harder.

 

Have a friend who drives a stick take you to a big open lot with NO light poles. And don't be afraid of it. You'll probably stall it the first time and spin the tires the second. Not to worry, you wont hurt it.
After you get comfortable, go to a driving school, and learn how to do it right.

 

Nice nice! Can't wait to see some pics! Enjoy it.

 

Did I miss something, What year? How much did you pay? And How many miles? I can see you are pretty excited. These cars are awesome. I drove one for the first time and went home and sold my mustang to pick up a Z28 6-speed. Sure it is no SS, but hey, I can beat you until you leard to drive it, Then I'll get my a$$ spanked. ha ha In case you have not noticed I am just playing with you. Welcome and drive it like you stole it.

 

Sweet car. Lets see some pics!!

 

It's a 2000, and I paid about 15k for it. A pretty good deal, I think... I wasn't seeing any other SSs for less than 18k or so, and this one was in beautiful condition with all the options it could possibly have. Only thing wrong with it was that the rear right light cluster lens is cracked open, and two of the bulbs were dead (wet and rusted contacts on the bulbs and in the sockets), but the guy knocked a little bit off the price for that, and I'm in the process of fixing it, so it's all good.

As for stick, thanks for all the tips! I've clocked in a fair bit of practice time, and I think I've got the hang of it now... it remains to be seen whether I'll be able to do things like park on hills under pressure, but at least I'm getting the basics down now.

Pictures of the SS alongside my other car and my best friend's new car.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10154386@N00/6674469/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10154386@N00/6674489/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10154386@N00/6674535/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10154386@N00/6674592/

 

Go to the steapest hill in the area and get it over with. After a couple of tries you'll be a pro.

P.S. Very nice, looks like you did good.

 

Lmao! Yea'up been there. Stick-shift is kinda tricky at first but you'll get the hang of it. Hope you take care of that SS, and please do be kind to it.

 

Doesnt matter how many SS I see i still get chills everytime.......please treat it good