And for the record, he will be purchasing his own manual car in the near future, so it wouldn't fall under the use it or lose it category. He just wants to be competent enough to drive his new Scion TC off the lot.

 

Fixed.

 

first lesson together in a parking lot. Next two one-on-one on local streets. By third session (<1 hr. each), they had it. One had zero prior experience on a stick, the other one short lesson a year ago (also in a Mini!). Clutch seems no worse for wear at all--very smooth.

 

Agreed. My wife didn't know how to drive stick, but she was going to be the primary MINI driver and it was non-negotiable that the MINI would be a 6-speed manual. She learned in no time... a couple hours of driving time, max, and she was plenty competent. No known clutch issues, either, and we're at ~45k miles.

 

How about next time you take your MINI in for warranty/service, get a loaner to teach him on (empty parking lot)? Once when I took mine (automatic) in for some warranty work, they were out of auto trans loaners. They had a Cooper 5 speed that I took; had a great time for a day and a half. I learned a long time ago on a '66 Ford pickup (3 in the tree)! It is truly like riding a bike, for me it's like I've always driven a straight shift.

 

not if it comes in all charred and blackened.