Can you manual guys make sure this is correct?

[Twista]

Had the stang for awhile now but i havent got to drive because of reasons =) Anyways i got alittle time on the car lastnight in a empty parking lot with my father. I stalled the car acouple times but i got into 1st gear actually easy. I f-ed up on stopping the car by just breaking instead of pushing in the clutch than breaking.. which im not sure how to brakecorrectly so i asked the question below.


1
From N to 1st: Push in clutch than start the car. While the clutch is in i let it go slowly and soon as the car starts to pull off add alittle gas and from there i keep adding gas till im @ 2k and shift to second which is down from 1st on the stang. (told to shift @ 2k since im new to the manual thing) Or should i clutch than shift and keep my foot on the gas?

Correct?


2
Next:
How to stop the car correctly?
Step 1 would be to A: "push in" the clutch all the way and let go of it fully and than brake or B"push in" the clutch and while its pushed in i should be braking also?

3
Next:
Shifting Gears: On every shift im suppose to push in the clutch and let it go... take my foot off the gas than soon as i just shifted the shifter tap the gas? If im correct.. every shift i let off the gas than i tap the gas?
Bascially, push in clutch, take foot off gas, shift and put foot back on gas sofly?

Since it was my 1st time i had the car screaming for dear mercy, but since it was @ slow speeds i was told i wasnt doing any harm to it. =( For example when i going from 1st i would just push the clutch in alittle and shift and the car wasnt in gear i guess and the stang engine just screamed back @ me. The answer to my problem would be to fully enage the clutch than shift.. =)

Hope you guys can understand this.. or just barely understand it and get what im asking =)

thanks :thumbsup:

 

[FrustratedUser]

It's actually not that sequential as you say. Letting off the gas and releasing/engaging the clutch when shifting is done more or less at the same time. It takes some 'feel' to get it right.

Finding the right rpm to shift at depends on the car and what speed you are going at.

To stop you usually start by applying the brakes in gear and then release the clutch before coming to a complete stop.


Practice makes you smooth. I can drive a stick so smooth my passengers never notice the up/down shifts.

 

[mb]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It's actually not that sequential as you say. Letting off the gas and releasing/engaging the clutch when shifting is done more or less at the same time. It takes some 'feel' to get it right.

Finding the right rpm to shift at depends on the car and what speed you are going at.

To stop you usually start by applying the brakes in gear and then release the clutch before coming to a complete stop.


Practice makes you smooth. I can drive a stick so smooth my passengers never notice the up/down shifts.

I have such a filthy mind

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: supafly

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It's actually not that sequential as you say. Letting off the gas and releasing/engaging the clutch when shifting is done more or less at the same time. It takes some 'feel' to get it right.

Finding the right rpm to shift at depends on the car and what speed you are going at.

To stop you usually start by applying the brakes in gear and then release the clutch before coming to a complete stop.


Practice makes you smooth. I can drive a stick so smooth my passengers never notice the up/down shifts.

I have such a filthy mind

You sure do.

 

1) Take your foot off the gas while shifting. Ideally, when you put your foot back on the gas, the tach needle shouldn't jump up, nor should it go down...it should go up gradually from the point it's at when you start applying gas. The needle should have fallen just far enough so that it's at the point where it SHOULD be when the car gets back into gear. This is kind of tough, but the timing is key. You'll get the hang of this.

2) It doesn't matter too much. I generally push in the clutch, take the car out of gear, and apply the brake. Or if I'm exiting the highway, I downshift, gently let the clutch back out and brake at the same time. This takes practice so that you don't slam on the brake...differing pressure between your right foot and left foot.

3) You've got the technique right, but NEVER EVER shift with the clutch pedal PARTIALLY applied. When shifting, the clutch should ALWAYS be all the way to the floor. Anything less will cause unnecessary wear on the assembly.

Good luck, you'll never regret it!

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: jumpr
1) Take your foot off the gas while shifting. Ideally, when you put your foot back on the gas, the tach needle shouldn't jump up, nor should it go down...it should go up gradually from the point it's at when you start applying gas. The needle should have fallen just far enough so that it's at the point where it SHOULD be when the car gets back into gear. This is kind of tough, but the timing is key. You'll get the hang of this.

2) It doesn't matter too much. I generally push in the clutch, take the car out of gear, and apply the brake. Or if I'm exiting the highway, I downshift, gently let the clutch back out and brake at the same time. This takes practice so that you don't slam on the brake...differing pressure between your right foot and left foot.

3) You've got the technique right, but NEVER EVER shift with the clutch pedal PARTIALLY applied. When shifting, the clutch should ALWAYS be all the way to the floor. Anything less will cause unnecessary wear on the assembly.

Good luck, you'll never regret it!

or you dont use the clutch at all...

never take the car out of gear and coast with it, that is illegal. i believe. and it would give you NO chance to avoid an accident or what not if you are out of gear. just downshift while braking and you should gradually slow down.

ofcourse i had moderately driven a manual (drove 2 5 speed cars for about 10 min each) until i was forced to take a Ford super-duty with 5 yards of mulch on a 30 minute drive. and then i learned it all in one fall swoop. the downshifting while braking isnt that hard, you just have to time it right to not get a full engine brake just a very slight one.

MIKE

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: Twista
Had the stang for awhile now but i havent got to drive because of reasons =) Anyways i got alittle time on the car lastnight in a empty parking lot with my father. I stalled the car acouple times but i got into 1st gear actually easy. I f-ed up on stopping the car by just breaking instead of pushing in the clutch than breaking.. which im not sure how to brakecorrectly so i asked the question below.


1
From N to 1st: Push in clutch than start the car. While the clutch is in i let it go slowly and soon as the car starts to pull off add alittle gas and from there i keep adding gas till im @ 2k and shift to second which is down from 1st on the stang. (told to shift @ 2k since im new to the manual thing) Or should i clutch than shift and keep my foot on the gas?

Correct?


2
Next:
How to stop the car correctly?
Step 1 would be to A: "push in" the clutch all the way and let go of it fully and than brake or B"push in" the clutch and while its pushed in i should be braking also?

3
Next:
Shifting Gears: On every shift im suppose to push in the clutch and let it go... take my foot off the gas than soon as i just shifted the shifter tap the gas? If im correct.. every shift i let off the gas than i tap the gas?
Bascially, push in clutch, take foot off gas, shift and put foot back on gas sofly?

Since it was my 1st time i had the car screaming for dear mercy, but since it was @ slow speeds i was told i wasnt doing any harm to it. =( For example when i going from 1st i would just push the clutch in alittle and shift and the car wasnt in gear i guess and the stang engine just screamed back @ me. The answer to my problem would be to fully enage the clutch than shift.. =)

Hope you guys can understand this.. or just barely understand it and get what im asking =)

thanks :thumbsup:

when slowing down, you can do (footing) it in any order... as long as you disengage the gear before the engine starts to bog... in my car i take it out of gear before 1500rpm

for the rest, just understand the engagement point.. that'll answer all of your questions. how slow or hard you jab the gas depends on your gear... when you match the tranny and the motor (by using the clutch), you want them to be at the same speeds... for example, if you're at 20mph going into 2nd gear, you dont want the engine to be spinning at 7000rpm right before you engage the clutch because there is a high speed difference... but you dont want to depress the gas and have the engine idlign at 800rpm either...

get a rough feel for engine speed @ car speed @ certain gears and engage the clutch at proper motor speed .. thats the safest technique

 

[Twista]

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Tips seem very good so far =)

3) You've got the technique right, but NEVER EVER shift with the clutch pedal PARTIALLY applied. When shifting, the clutch should ALWAYS be all the way to the floor. Anything less will cause unnecessary wear on the assembly.

Will keep this in mind for sure. I know after i returned the car back to my dad he got in and on the 1st shift the car bucked badly on what wouldv'e normal smooth shifting=( think i spooked the stang.


Will check back on thread later tonight.

thanks again :thumbsup:

 

Bump for more advice for Twista. Always happy to help out a burgeoning manual driver.

 

[Colt45]

I only shift at 2k when i'm running out of gas

 

[Lonyo]

I tend to depress the cluth all the way and brake as much as I need while slowing, then when I've stopped (if stopping) I change gear to 1st or whatever I start off in, and get ready to go again.
If I'm just slowing, say for a turn, I usually (and badly according to my instructor) press the clutch in, brake, take the turn and then stick in in gear during/after the turn, and then lift off the cluth again as I exit the turn.
When I was learning, I was told to have finished shifting BEFORE I went round a corner. When you've passed your test though, you can do what you want, so I do.

 

[jagec]

The general rule when coming to a stop without downshifting (downshifting is hard for a newbie to get right while slowing down), press JUST the brake until the engine is at ~1000-1500 RPM, then press the clutch in all the way while still braking. When you come to a complete stop (or reach the speed you want), shift to the correct gear, and let up on the clutch.

 

[skyking]

1) get you foot off the clutch ASAP yet also as smooth as possible when shifting. All that slowly stuff is literally removing thousands of miles from your clutch.
2) Do not waste time and effort trying to downshift through all the gears smoothly. It will also cost you clutch and throwout bearing and linkage. Leave it in 3rd or 4th till the RPMS get to a 1200 or so on a stopping manuver, then depress the clutch. If the light changes and you get to go again without stopping, pick the highest gear that will provide smooth accelration. Don't grab 1st if it means 3 grand. Second and 1800~2000 is fine, unless your car is poorly tuned.
3) When you do roll to a stop, put the car in nuetral and get your foot off the clutch. sitting at a light with the foot on the clutch and car in gear is just wearing on the throwout bearing. Get you foot completely off the clutch. Put it on the floor!
Remember, time spent at that grabbing spot in the clutch travel means wear on the friction material. Get past that spot as quickly as you can, while maintaining smoothness. Put your foot on the floor when not actively shifting the car. leaving it on the pedal is called "riding the clutch" . At best, it trashes the throwout bearing over time. At worst, you are actually slipping the clutch and wearing out the pressure plate, flywheel, and clutch disc.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: jagec
The general rule when coming to a stop without downshifting (downshifting is hard for a newbie to get right while slowing down), press JUST the brake until the engine is at ~1000-1500 RPM, then press the clutch in all the way while still braking. When you come to a complete stop (or reach the speed you want), shift to the correct gear, and let up on the clutch.

:thumbsup:
I will add that you should put it in nuetral and get your foot on the floor if you will be stopped for more than a few seconds, such as a light that you know will take a while.

 

[SandInMyShoes]

What everyone has said so far has been excellent... I haven't been driving a stick very long, but it's really pretty easy. One thing about your technique really struck me though: You said you start the car in first gear, with the clutch depressed. I don't know if there's really a "proper" way to do this, or how most people do this, but after the first couple times I did that I quickly changed my approach. One thing about that is if you don't have the clutch all the way in when the engine is turning over, the car will tend jump forward. It sure did for me a few times. I find it much easier and possibly safer to throw it into neutral BEFORE starting the car. That also makes it a little easier to get going if you're parked on a slope.

Letting off the gas at the same time you are shifting is one of the most important things that I had problems with... Practice made perfect. The other thing that got me was how high I let the engine rev before shifting. Since that Mustang engine probably has quite a bit more torque than what I was learning on, you can get by with shifting sooner. Get a good feel for when to shift while keeping the engine at low speeds, before trying to get the most out of it. I found that once I had learned how to time shifts at low speeds, and shift fast and smoothly, it was *VERY* easy to transition to a high-revving car that was fun to redline

 

[Twista]

Thanks guys. Didnt know this thread got more replies =) About to read the 3-4 new ones. Going back out all day to pratice tomorrow on a BIGGGG parking lot so i can get up to gear 5 instead of only getting up to 3 and having to stop the car b/c theres nomore room.


(thanks for the bump, jumper) :thumbsup:


-edit: Good tips!!! One problem i know will be letting off the gas while shifting. Ill get use to it though. Think ill sit here on the pc for awhile and pratice with the air.

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Honestly, shift based on sound. The rev numbers are different for all cars depending on their torque curves...

Ya, i notice while i was looking @ the rev it was harder b/c my mind was on trying to get to 2k and than to shift. Ill keep the sound thing in mind b/c i notice it was hard trying to look @ revs and control the car and shift and clutch.


look @ revs and control the car and shift and clutch. = :shocked: :Q

 

[skyking]

don't sweat the last few gears man. As the speed/momentum of the car increases, it tends to smooth out any herkyjerkies. The best practice is the sub-20MPH stuff

 

[Goosemaster]

Honestly, shift based on sound. The rev numbers are different for all cars depending on their torque curves...

 

[Chrono]

HELLO. You suck at the learning.


Please reference off of here for more info. I learned from this site.
http://www.standardshift.com/faq.html

remember to visit the forums for more hints as well

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: Chrono
HELLO. You suck at the learning.


Please reference off of here for more info. I learned from this site.
http://www.standardshift.com/faq.html

remember to visit the forums for more hints as well

ya, i checked out that site before and post on the forums=) Always good to have anandtech advise on the side.

 

[Chrono]

You know what? Don't sweat it. The more you drive your stang, the more you'll learn about timing and etc. for shifting. Eventually you'll be shifting without looking at the Tach and Speedometer anymore.

<-- drives 05' RSX Type S.

It's fun.

 

[NeoPTLD]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I tend to depress the cluth all the way and brake as much as I need while slowing, then when I've stopped (if stopping) I change gear to 1st or whatever I start off in, and get ready to go again.
If I'm just slowing, say for a turn, I usually (and badly according to my instructor) press the clutch in, brake, take the turn and then stick in in gear during/after the turn, and then lift off the cluth again as I exit the turn.
When I was learning, I was told to have finished shifting BEFORE I went round a corner. When you've passed your test though, you can do what you want, so I do.

Staying on the clutch like that is not good for your idler bearing.

Gear 1 and 2 are pretty far apart so you have to release the clutch slowly or it will jerk. You either release the clutch slowly or wait until the engine rev goes down low enough to match(takes a bit of time). Latter is easier on the clutch.

 

[Twista]

wooo, i conquered it today! =) Got all the way up to 4th gear @ i dunno what speed. Did that about 30 times from 1th gear to 4th. =) The tips from here and the manual website helped abunch!!!!!!! Learned a few things also about manuals today that i didnt know lastnight. I got the whole clutch in +no gas+ shift than gas all in order! Got the left leg working with the right leg on the 2nd day. Only problem i have is going from a dead stop and abusing the stangs engine trying to get going from a damn stop. =( Wish i was learning on a old beater car!!

Ill be back in the stang tomorrow learning.