Manual Transmission Drivers: How can I feel where the clutch engagement point is?

[Tommy2000GT]

I have been driving my 5-speed WRX for about a couple of days and this is my first manual transmission car. I can't feel where the clutch engagement point is. People keep telling me to start giving it gas when I get to the engagement point. I know it's somewhere half way of the pedal but I can't feel it. The only way I can tell where the engagement point is when I slow release the clutch and watch the rpm's drop a bit. I don't think this is a good way because sometimes the engine stalls before I can tell when the rpm's drop. So sometimes in traffic I try to prevent stalling the engine when starting off by releasing the clutch to about 1/3 of the way and rev to 2k rpms, then slow releasing the clutch to get the car moving. But I don't think this is too good for the clutch.

So how can I feel where the engagement point is? Are hydraulic clutches like in the WRX harder to get a feel for the point than mechanical clutches like the ones in Mustangs?

 

[vi edit]

Basically when it starts to shudder and shake right before it dies. You'll learn the "sweet spot" in time. Just takes some getting used to.

 

[Aeolus]

It just takes practice. Try easing off the clutch slowly without giving it any gas, you should start to "inch" forward. Thats the easiest way to find out. When you feal the engine start to spudder, you know the clutch is engauges and the engine needs fuel. It will become smoothe and second nature-like in a few weeks.

 

[Rahminator]

You just get used to it and after some time it's natural.

 

[Thegonagle]

Um, when the car starts to go.

Just practice, and enjoy your WRX.

 

[The Stigenator]

You will get used to it. I mean its your first time your driving stick, you will get used to it.

Tip: If your on a slope, pull handbrake, then normally get off first gear, just when the engine starts to pull release handbrake and continue.

The friction zone depends on car to car.. however the best way is this..

release clutch, start giving a little gas at teh same time, somewhere in between you will feel it engage and pull.. when it engages, relase clutch fully.

for other gears, take foot off the gas, engage clutch, shift, disenage clutch, hit gas.

Hope this helps.

All I can say is practise makes one perfect.

 

[Thegonagle]

TGG I think Subaru still has that goofy hill holder feature, so that shouldn't even be necessary. Of course it was broken in my Surbaru, but the owners manual told of it. I didn?t care, none of my other 14 manual transmission cars had the feature, so I wasn?t missing anything.

With all the driving I?ve done, I?m a regular pro and I barely roll back at all even on the steepest of hills. You ever been to Duluth, MN? I?d wager that San Francisco?s got nothing on Duluth, except that it?s a much, much larger city.

Like I said, practice. You'll get better.

EDIT: Oh, hey, to answer the Q about hydraulic clutches vs. mechanical (cable operated) clutches, no. IMO, hydraulic clutches have a lighter, smoother operation due to there being less friction, but otherwise they should feel similar. Any difference is not due to it being hydraulic vs. cable, but due to it being a different car. That's all.