As some of the other people on this board have pointed out, the whole frustrated parent thing can really make it harder to learn. Maybe an uncle or family friend would be willing to take your son out for a couple of hours? Kids are usually more respectful to teachers who aren't their parents (familiarity breeds contempt) and they will probably take criticism better as well.

A true story: I had helped a lot of friends buy cars over the years. I know what mechanical problems to look for and I know how dealerships operate. So this woman that I worked with asked me to take her daughter car shopping. They had gone together the previous week and gotten in a huge fight. We went to a couple of dealerships and she ultimately found a two-year-old Honda Civic. She loved it. It was in her price range and had everything she wanted. Except an automatic. I told her not to worry. We told the saleman that we wanted to test drive the car. He drove it off the lot, then I took over to make sure everything ran okay and the brakes worked, etc. Then I announced to the salesman that I was going to teach this girl how to drive a stick shift real quick. I think he almost killed me.

Of course, I was an ass by putting the salesman the a position of losing a sale if he didn't let me, but who here hasn't had a car dealership salesman make you want to kill them? "Chris, I've got a question for you, Chris. What would it take for you to drive this car off the lot today, Chris?" I hate that. I figured it was just karma for this guy. So I gave this girl a quick "ground school", showed her how the gas and clutch work together, and then we switched. It was rough, but she did fine (thank God for easy Honda clutches). By the second lap through the neighborhood, she pretty much had it down. And yes, she did buy that car.

Anyway, that's my rambling story. Good luck, AeroJT; try not to kill your son.

-Chris

posted by 63.255.9...

• Teaching my teenager how to drive a stick: Thoughts!, AeroJT, Mon, 3 Mar 2003 22:02:08
  • Get somebody else to do it, Chris M, Wed, 5 Mar 2003 11:12:11 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Use a car with a newer clutch!!!, Atul, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 16:19:56
  • Re: Teaching my teenager how to drive a stick: Thoughts!, sonett43, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:32:00
  • Best Way? - Doing it alone..., ScottS, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 11:02:34
  • Re: Teaching my teenager how to drive a stick: Thoughts, Dave, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 10:48:43
  • It's been awhile...., AeroLady, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 10:40:35
  • Sweet memories......!, Roger, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 06:53:00
  • I remember those days..., MisplacedYankee , Mon, 3 Mar 2003 23:50:11
  • Some ideas..., Stephen Goldberger, Mon, 3 Mar 2003 22:53:32
    • having driving skills doesn't always help, dip, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 23:10:11
    • Re: Some ideas..., David in Michigan, Tue, 4 Mar 2003 17:56:04
      • Thank you, AeroJT, Wed, 5 Mar 2003 23:12:13

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