My manual transmission thread: I will post my n00b questions here.

[chuckywang]

1) Is your foot all the way off the ground when you are lifting up the clutch? The clutch is so long that, in my case, my foot has to be lifted off the ground.

2) Do you lift up the clutch all the way before you go from 1st to 2nd gear? When I start to get moving, I'm already at 3,000 rpm's before the clutch is lifted all the way, so before it's lifted all the way, I step on the clutch again and shift to 2nd. Good or bad idea? I don't want to wear the clutch out.

 

[Chrono]

WTF? I thought you had an EVO ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? WTF!!!!!

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: Chrono
WTF? I thought you had an EVO ????????????????????????????????????????????????????? WTF!!!!!

LOL, it's "registered" in my name, but my cousin's driving it.

 

[Chrono]

I only slip when I'm in first since it's the hardest gear to get into. After that, I clutch in and once I pop into a higher gear I let go of the clutch after a "timed" period (so that the rpm transition between the lower and higher gear is smoother).

 

[TheChort]

1. Yes
edit: once you get comfortable with how heavy your clutch is, you might figure out a way to leave your foot on the floor, or you just wont notice this any more.
2. you are probably taking a long time clutching and releasing the clutch. That's fine. Over the next month or so, you'll be able to do things a little faster or at least more comfortably, where this issue wont even bother you

In fact, I had to dig back to 4 years ago to when i first started driving stick to understand your questions.
So, has anyone honked at you yet because you stalled on a hill and couldn't get going in time?

 

[chowmein]

clutches are designed to take 1st gear beatings. i can ride my 1st gear for a good 15 -25 mph before i shift up.

also you can feel the catch point when the clutch is engaged or not.

 

[Cuhulainn]

Originally posted by: TheChort
1. Yes
edit: once you get comfortable with how heavy your clutch is, you might figure out a way to leave your foot on the floor, or you just wont notice this any more.
2. you are probably taking a long time clutching and releasing the clutch. That's fine. Over the next month or so, you'll be able to do things a little faster or at least more comfortably, where this issue wont even bother you

In fact, I had to dig back to 4 years ago to when i first started driving stick to understand your questions.
So, has anyone honked at you yet because you stalled on a hill and couldn't get going in time?

10+ years ago for me, too long to understand the question, apparently. I don't ever recall so much "lifting" involved.

 

[AndrewR]

Apart from four years of seventeen driving, I've had a stick. I prefer them in some ways unless I'm trying to drink a soda while driving (especially since I don't have a drink holder!).

Be patient and don't worry about other people getting mad at you. It's crappy learning to drive manual, but it's fun when you can.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Heh, try using a spring clutch instead of that weak hydraulic BS! (I am actually trying to trasition to hydraulic, different animal). I typically am all of the way out of the clutch (clutch fully released) by 10 miles an hour (I drive a torquey truck), but YMMV.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: TheChort
1. Yes
edit: once you get comfortable with how heavy your clutch is, you might figure out a way to leave your foot on the floor, or you just wont notice this any more.
2. you are probably taking a long time clutching and releasing the clutch. That's fine. Over the next month or so, you'll be able to do things a little faster or at least more comfortably, where this issue wont even bother you

In fact, I had to dig back to 4 years ago to when i first started driving stick to understand your questions.
So, has anyone honked at you yet because you stalled on a hill and couldn't get going in time?

Not yet. I'm trying to avoid hills with stop signs, cause I don't want to accidentally back into someone.

 

[soydios]

I'm in the process of learning to drive a manual as well (started about six months ago). If there's one mantra I can tell you, it's "PRACTICE!"

My technique for standing starts:
- put the car in 1st gear (obviously), with your feet on the brake and the clutch
- let the clutch out until you start to feel the clutch engage (either via the clutch pedal, engine RPMs, or subtle car movement)
- move your foot to the gas, and give it a little bit of gas (if starting up a hill, give it even more gas and let the clutch in a tiny bit more)
- once the car starts moving a bit, let the clutch in a little more
- once you get over 5-10mph, let the clutch all the way in

My technique for general gear shifting:
- push the clutch all the way out, drop engine RPMs (to 1500rpm for upshift, 2200rpm for downshift)
- shift gears (be absolutely sure you're in the right gear, I went from 5th to 2nd instead of 4th once, and it made the drive tires squeal pretty loud)
- let the clutch all the way in (start adding throttle if upshifting when the clutch is halfway in, for faster acceleration)

Some tips:
- Practice starting from a stop while going uphill. Practicing with nobody behind you will make it a lot less stressful, instead of having people honking at you at a stoplight!
- Ask some friends who know what they're doing to show you how to drop the clutch at high RPM (burnout the tires for show, and wear down the clutch too), and heel-and-toe downshifts (enable you to blip the throttle for a smoother downshift without removing your foot from the brake).

 

[her209]

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