Rule #1... watch what is in front and to the sides... anything behind you is on its own...
Most fun in driving in Manhattan is around 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning heading up the deserted avenues timing your speed to the lights (about 40 to 45 m.ph.)... long distance no stopping... pretty light show as you head home after a night out...
Ah... memories...
BTW... in spite of its reputation, in my 21 years there, I found New Yorkers to be very polite... most will go out of their way to give instructions to folks who are lost... politeness being the only way all those people can live on top of each other without mass murder being a daily occurrence...
NJ on the other hand is abominably rude... lots of attitude with bad haircuts...