how do you guys drive stick in traffic?

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You get used to it. I'd say that sitting in stop and go traffic is one of my least favorite activities in the world. Sitting in stop and go traffic in a manual transmission car is even worse...getting gang ass-raped would probably be slightly higher up there on the list but only slightly.

Just give it more throttle when starting out on a hill and try to minimize clutch slip by doing everything a little faster. If you're going up a hill for 20 minutes in stop and go traffic you'll get good at this real quick. Either that or you'll burn out your clutch in 20k miles.

I would also leave more of a gap and try to minimize the amount of clutch in/clutch out that you're doing. Don't bother moving up it there is only a car length in front of you.

that's why I refuse to get a stick-shift vehicle living in boston.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Step 1 : Pull handbrake
Step 2 : Hold clutch in fully, put in 1st gear
Step 3 : Rev to 8000rpm
Step 4 : Release clutch, floor it, drop handbrake, and turn wheel violently to one side
Step 5 : Profit?

You forget flipping the bird out the window and laughing hysterically.

Also, you can get out of the car and dance around while listening to E-40.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: MrMatt

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You get used to it. I'd say that sitting in stop and go traffic is one of my least favorite activities in the world. Sitting in stop and go traffic in a manual transmission car is even worse...getting gang ass-raped would probably be slightly higher up there on the list but only slightly.

Just give it more throttle when starting out on a hill and try to minimize clutch slip by doing everything a little faster. If you're going up a hill for 20 minutes in stop and go traffic you'll get good at this real quick. Either that or you'll burn out your clutch in 20k miles.

I would also leave more of a gap and try to minimize the amount of clutch in/clutch out that you're doing. Don't bother moving up it there is only a car length in front of you.

that's why I refuse to get a stick-shift vehicle living in boston.

Did it every day with my old commute into Boston. It's not too bad but we get lazier as technology allows us to be.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Step 1 : Pull handbrake
Step 2 : Hold clutch in fully, put in 1st gear
Step 3 : Rev to 8000rpm
Step 4 : Release clutch, floor it, drop handbrake, and turn wheel violently to one side
Step 5 : Profit?

You forget flipping the bird out the window and laughing hysterically.

Also, you can get out of the car and dance around while listening to E-40.

If you did that, you may as well buy an auto, and ghostride it.

 

[Doggiedog]

Buy a BMW. They have brake assist. It's actually very neat although I don't really need it.

And yes, NJ has hills. I live in the Palisades section right over the GWB. It must be several hundred feet up with lots of hills. Terrible for my mileage.

 

[LTC8K6]

Buy a BMW. They have brake assist.

Or one of many other brands that also hold the brakes on for you on a hill...

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: crazySOB297
My parking garage is what gets me, it's a very steeply inclined spiral and going to fast the front of my car scrapes and going to slow I start to stall out, it's a nasty balancing act especially coming up from the bottom as there is a gate that sometimes you have to stop and wait for. Sucks.

I have a similar problem. Driveway is very steep, but my car is low enough that I have to make a complete stop before starting up the driveway to not scrape something.

Let's just saying it's quite challenging with a Spec stage 3+ clutch and solid driveline mounts all throughout (no give or slip anywhere save for the tires)... I think half my tire lifespan ends up on my driveway.

As for driving in stop and go traffic like that, watch the cars in front of the car you are behind and know that you will actually be moving, and don't just tunnel vision on the car in front of who is on their cell phone not paying attention and keeps jumping the gun and braking and isn't going anywhere.

I have found that my front fascia (painted) is cheaper than just the LABOR on a clutch job in my car. I think I'll just let it scrape until I move and get another fascia

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: NAC
OP, I think you are doing things correctly. Ideally you'd try to wait until there is more than 5-10 feet to drive, but if you can't then you can't.

Some people learned to avoid rolling back on a hill using a hand brake. I've tried it before - but never really needed to. I just don't release the (regular) brake until the clutch is just about to engage. I then have enough time to press on the gas if needed while still releasing the clutch. More often than not, though, I think I let the clutch out at idle.

I've driven from the Major Deagan to 95/GWB. If I recall correctly - there is or was space on the shoulder and people would race up the shoulder to cut in front of people. I've never been happier to see a cop than when he was waiting in the area where the shoulder ends giving tickets. Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly and that is a different area. Or it may have changed since it could have been 10 years ago. Jeez... I'm getting old.

Drove stick most of my driving life, only now have an auto...with that I did something similar, wasn't a big e brake guy, instead kept brake in, let clutch out and then flipped from break to gas in first to keep from rolling...might not have been the best for the clutch but worked and was easier than yanking the ebrake all the time.

 

[w00t]

kinda have to slip the clutch if you are on a hill

when I first started driving, I used the e-brake to hold my car still

pulling the e-brake up with my right hand, car in first, taking my foot off the brake, feel it catch, release the e-brake ( just hold it so you don't forget you have it on )

now.. I upgraded my calipers to Brembos and lost my rear ebrake.. so mad skillz now

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: MrMatt

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
You get used to it. I'd say that sitting in stop and go traffic is one of my least favorite activities in the world. Sitting in stop and go traffic in a manual transmission car is even worse...getting gang ass-raped would probably be slightly higher up there on the list but only slightly.

Just give it more throttle when starting out on a hill and try to minimize clutch slip by doing everything a little faster. If you're going up a hill for 20 minutes in stop and go traffic you'll get good at this real quick. Either that or you'll burn out your clutch in 20k miles.

I would also leave more of a gap and try to minimize the amount of clutch in/clutch out that you're doing. Don't bother moving up it there is only a car length in front of you.

that's why I refuse to get a stick-shift vehicle living in boston.

Did it every day with my old commute into Boston. It's not too bad but we get lazier as technology allows us to be.

People seem to forget that when using an auto it is constantly slipping until in the highest gear when teh tq cov locks up. I also notice quite a few people can't heel toe it either.

 

[kc2keo]

I drive around in Manhattan and Bronx for job and I leave a large gap in front of me and take off later than others. Person behind you may be impatient and try to go around, tailgate, or honk but screw em.

You'll also not want to ride clutch of course. When I know that we will be starting and stopping I'll throw in first, give myself a push and take out of gear to go forward.

Traffic of course can be very bad for up to an hour or more sometimes. Still would much rather deal with a manual vs automatic since auto's are boring.

As for hills we have plenty (and quite steep) where we live (not Manhattan but in Westchester County). Never used the E-Brake for starting. Practiced until I got the hang of it. Sure, was nervous for a while since stalling and car's piled behind you honking not giving you room to roll back. I take off by engaging first and switching from brake to gas fast and taking off. Normally a take off on level ground would be moderate gas but on large hills I give it a lot more.

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[kc2keo]

that's why I refuse to get a stick-shift vehicle living in boston.

Also really sucks when you have to piss and can't stop anywhere.