Learning Manual and Test Driving Cars?

[DivideBYZero]

Practice finding the 'biting point'. That is the point that the clutch is engaging with the flywheel. One way to do this is to take the car to a flat space, like a parking lot, and with it idling just bring the clutch up enough to either drop RPM's ever so slightly and maybe just move the car a little. Get used to this four or five times, then repeat the process, but this time give a small amount of gas, say no more than 500 over idle, and bring the clutch out as before, but this time allow it to engage.

Practice this over and over till you are happy with moving the vehicle from a standstill and you are 70% there.

As for braking, do as you would in an auto car, but just before the engine stalls, push in the clutch pedal. That's it, not before and not after or you will stall it . Not any more difficult than that.

 

[BlackTigers]

The nice thing about learning in a GTO is that it has so much torque and will forgive you if you let the clutch out too fast.

If you let the clutch out too fast in my Escort, it dies. When I drove my buddy's SVT Cobra... it snapped necks upon clutch droppings.

As soon as you get a feel for the movements....everything becomes second nature. When I installed my manual transmission (...lol) it was my very first time driving a stick. I learned in about a half hour in a parking lot later that night, and within two hours of having my car I was all over the city.

Just realize that you shouldn't move the stick without the clutch in.
Clutch should be in or out, don't hold half way - remember it's slipping!
Don't let RPM's drop below idle.
If you feel the car lurching, you need to either gas it or clutch in. Pick one.
For now....don't shift mid-turn. Always before or after.

Oh, and it's a damn GTO. Rev the piss out of it in first gear and let the clutch out. =]