Teaching someone to drive a manual

[Dave S.]

I'd teach someone to drive a clutch in my Boxster, no problem. I've taught several kids to drive a clutch before. I taught several people to drive a clutch in my TR8. I always find a big empty level parking lot and make them learn to engage the clutch without using the gas pedal. After a few tries when they get that, we start applying a little throttle. Once they have it mastered we head out on the road and I show them how to use the parking brake on an uphill start. I have never found it to be hard on the clutch as I don't let them burn it up.
I also find it helps if you spend a few minutes to explain how a clutch works. Draw some pictures so they understand what they are doing.