Manual Transmissions: Who is the worst MT driver you know?

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
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Tell me about the worst manual transmission (MT) driver you've ever seen.

This weekend I drove with someone that just got a new Mazda 6. He said he'd driven a MT before and preferred it, but after watching him drive, I wonder...

He was alright out of first gear, but 2 - 5, he would hold the clutch in while he sped the car up for a not-insignificant amount of time. I would say he left the clutch at least partially in WHILE he was accelerating for 3 - 4 seconds before he finally took his foot completely off. Amazing. The car had < 2k miles on it, and he'll be lucky if that clutch lasts to 30k miles. Sad.

So who was the worst MT driver you've ever seen?
 

Spineshank

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
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I know a guy that insists on driving his neon in low gears all the time. He drives around the parking lot in 1st gear as its reving at like 5k. He also downshifts all the time for no reason.
 

miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
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me, ive had 4 manual transmission cars and I still dont shift smoothly all the time
 

Zach

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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Originally posted by: miri
me, ive had 4 manual transmission cars and I still dont shift smoothly all the time



Same for me. Especially after I drive an AT, my brain flushes important things like holding the clutch down while starting. I downshift too much also, I should just use my breaks but it's a habit now.
 

DougK62

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2001
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Originally posted by: miri
me, ive had 4 manual transmission cars and I still dont shift smoothly all the time

What do you mean by "shift smoothly"? I engage the clutch quickly when shifting gears and it's definitely not a "smooth" transition, but it's good for clutch longevity.

 

Tommouse

Senior member
Feb 29, 2004
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Probably my roommates girlfriend. My neck was sore after a 30 minute ride city type driving. She would gun it up to 2.5k in 1st then rev all other gears to 4k. She had to downshift through every gear, and then her engagements were rough, hence the sore neck.

Another one might be my friend, boy does he just love to drop the clutch. He seems to enjoy reving it, rushing the gear change and then dropping the clutch. He downshifts like a maniac as well, with those same "smooth" shifts.
 

Kalvin00

Lifer
Jan 11, 2003
12,705
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lol, i was at a 4-way intersection w/ stop signs once, and on my right i see this kid and his mom in a red corolla or something like that....i see the car LURCH forward and then stop almost immediately and he waves the guy in front of me to go....so i wait there at the sign, he goes to take off again, i hear his engine, VROOOOOOOOOOOOOM, he slowly starts moving and then chirps the tires and takes off around the corner :laugh: i could see his mom practically pulling her hair out
 

Riverhound777

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2003
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Well not really that bad, but my roommate's GF never uses 5th gear. She will drive around at 60 in 4th gear on the freeway(yes she has 5 gears).

The sad part is since my roommate drives with her a lot, he does the same thing. I let him drive when we were on a road trip and it bugged the hell out of me. I kept having to tell him "Shift damn you!" and he would just say "oh i forgot you had 5 gears" grrrrr...
 

DougK62

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2001
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It's not the WORST practice, but it peeves me when people are stopped (like waiting for a light) and they have the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.

 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
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Originally posted by: Riverhound777
Well not really that bad, but my roommate's GF never uses 5th gear. She will drive around at 60 in 4th gear on the freeway(yes she has 5 gears).

The sad part is since my roommate drives with her a lot, he does the same thing. I let him drive when we were on a road trip and it bugged the hell out of me. I kept having to tell him "Shift damn you!" and he would just say "oh i forgot you had 5 gears" grrrrr...
How can you forget the 5th gear? There hasn't been a 4-speed car in YEARS. I just got a 6-speed, and I never forget, and I have only driven 5-speeds in the past.
 

Modular

Diamond Member
Jul 1, 2005
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Worst = anyone whom I've ever taught for the first time

Best = Me. I'm awesome. One time I drove for 15 minutes with a friend in the car and the only reason he realized it was a manual was because he saw me engage the P-brake.

Smooth shifts, and always rev-match on downshifts, especially when going through a corner...
 

Riverhound777

Diamond Member
Aug 13, 2003
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Originally posted by: DougK62
It's not the WORST practice, but it peeves me when people are stopped (like waiting for a light) and they have the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.

I do that sometimes, but usually only when I think the light is going to turn green soon. If it just turned red, i take it out of gear.

In fact when people do the opposite it bugs me. My other roommate doesn't always pay attention to the lights and always takes his car out of gear(also never downshifts), even when it is obvious that the light is about to turn green, so he doesn't notice when it does and wastes time putting it back in gear and people honk at him...
 

aswedc

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 2000
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Someone I know had to get his clutch replaced on a new Mazda 6 after 3 months. Do I win?
 

miri

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2003
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Originally posted by: DougK62
Originally posted by: miri
me, ive had 4 manual transmission cars and I still dont shift smoothly all the time

What do you mean by "shift smoothly"? I engage the clutch quickly when shifting gears and it's definitely not a "smooth" transition, but it's good for clutch longevity.

when I have the A/C on I have to shift differently or it jerks, when the A/C is off I can shift smoothly, but with the air conditioner on I have to adjust my shift points or have a jerky shift
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: DougK62
It's not the WORST practice, but it peeves me when people are stopped (like waiting for a light) and they have the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.
You have something against people who drive properly?

ZV
 

ViviTheMage

Lifer
Dec 12, 2002
36,189
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madgenius.com
I am actually pretty good..but as for bad people. I tired to teach my sister...stalled everytime we came to an intersection, girlfriend, stalled after every intersection. it seems they freak out when other cars are around so they forget to clutch :S
 

Ausm

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,213
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Hell if you know how to shift right you don't even need the clutch!


Ausm
 

Ilmater

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2002
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: DougK62
It's not the WORST practice, but it peeves me when people are stopped (like waiting for a light) and they have the clutch pedal depressed the entire time.
You have something against people who drive properly?

ZV
That's not proper, but I do it sometimes. The problem is two-fold. One is the wear and tear on the assembly, two is the fact that if someone hits you from behind, your foot will likely fly off the clutch, and you'll lurch forward, possibly causing more problems.