STICK SHIFT!!!!!

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Another must is learning the handbrake maneuver for hills, which is very hard to understand without it being shown to you.

Pfft, fuck that. I've never had to use the e-brake, even on hills. That's the mark of a good driver, if you know how to balance the accelerator/clutch pedals so the car doesn't move, even on hills.

If you're first learning, I'd recommend finding a car with a stiff clutch, because the feel will be exaggerated for you and the beefier the clutch, the less likely you are to burn it.

I recently bought an '99 Integra GS-R, it has a nice stiff clutch, especially for a Honda, because they tend to have lower-torqe clutches. Because they have close-ratio transmissions, they don't need higher torque engines. The car I had before that was a '01 Mitsubishi Lancer, it had a lot of bottom end grunt for a 4cyl and a great clutch for a learner.

Just remember, you don't need a tach, I recommend learning it by sound and feel, get to know your car first. Find an empty parking lot and go to town. It took me a couple of sessions of practice before I got it, first. Eventually, you don't even think about it, like riding a bike.

Jam it back in, in the dark.