I learned how to drive stick in my old VW Jetta GLI. Learning in an import is no more difficult than learning in a domestic car - in both cases, you have to quickly learn how not to burn the clutch and find the "sweet spot" where you're engaging the gear. It's also obvious in a high-performance car that you're not going to shift at the same RPMs as a dinky little "get-me-there" sedan, so you can never put a standard on when to shift. Depending on traffic conditions, I don't always shift out of 1st when I normally would - if traffic is just going to slow down to a trickle/stop again, there's no point in engaging 2nd gear just to have to shift back down again.
BTW, getting used to driving stick again in Beltway traffic isn't the most fun, but it sure is nice to be able to zoom-zoom away from everyone once it clears out.
