Treat your clutch like it's your best friend.

[notfred]

I'm waiting for the post on how to drive w/o using the brakes in order to save money on brake pads :roll:

If you're that cheap, maybe you should buy a bicycle.

 

[Scootin159]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: BenRosey

Originally posted by: tweakmm
you don't buy a porche to baby the clutch

I second that.

Also, if you can afford the Porsche, you can probably afford the clutch later on.

Now, I'm all about conserving your clutch, but at the end of the day, it's kind of dumb to avoid making it do what it's DESIGNED to do!!!!
I mean next you're going to push-start your car to prevent the starter from wearing hehehee

I paid $4k for my Porsche, a new clutch seems to be in the neighborhood of $1k. I still don't baby it though. I didn't buy a Porsche to drive like a grandma, and if it raises the total cost of the car to $5k, whop-de-do, it's worth it.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: notfred
I'm waiting for the post on how to drive w/o using the brakes in order to save money on brake pads :roll:

If you're that cheap, maybe you should buy a bicycle.

HAHA

I figure if you get 100K+ out of a clutch you're doin fine. I got 130k out of my Honda and I won't have to touch it again until I get my next motor. On the other hand, replace it with a cheap clutch *cough* pep boys *cough* and you'll be replacing it a lot sooner.

 

[Confused]

Well maybe this could be useful for one person....the person who bought an Mitsubishi Evo 6 from my dad's work, and had it back 2 weeks later to replace the clutch....£1700 for it, and it was off the road for 4 weeks waiting for the clutch to come in from Japan! :Q

But then again, they were just being rediculous (ie you can drop the clutch 3 times in the Evo before you have to replace it) and less stupid driving (tho not necessarily babying it) will make the clutch last quite a long time!

Confused

 

[Phuz]

Don't downshift to slow the car except when necessary.

As if... downshifting is GOOD, not to mention you'll burn your brakes faster than you'll burn a clutch anyway... so hey, lets just burn out breaks out twice as fast...

I always shift to neutral at stop-signs.

I failed my first driving test like this. Also, if you're not careful and you get hit from behind you'll get shot out into traffic.

Except when necessary do not hold yourself on a hill using the clutch...very bad.

That's what you're E-Brake is for.. you don't have 3 feet for all pedals at once...

I never use fifth except over 60mph on the highway

You're 5th gear is your cruising gear which is made for speeds over 50mph, so if you want to over exert your car "thinking" you're doing your clutch good...


Sorry I just find your clutch conserving ideas not... that.. great, all require the sacrafice of another part of the car that is going to take just as much ware and tear.

 

[Rallispec]

i had to learn how to drive stick on my current car, its also a fun car to drive. So its been through some abuse. I'm not counting on my clutch lasting an extremely long time. If it does, great... i'll be happy. I'm not going to sacrifice my driving for the clutch though.

 

[roncarter]

who cares about the clutch!! its not that pricey!!


DRIVE your car hard!!

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: Scootin159

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: BenRosey

Originally posted by: tweakmm
you don't buy a porche to baby the clutch

I second that.

Also, if you can afford the Porsche, you can probably afford the clutch later on.

Now, I'm all about conserving your clutch, but at the end of the day, it's kind of dumb to avoid making it do what it's DESIGNED to do!!!!
I mean next you're going to push-start your car to prevent the starter from wearing hehehee

I paid $4k for my Porsche, a new clutch seems to be in the neighborhood of $1k. I still don't baby it though. I didn't buy a Porsche to drive like a grandma, and if it raises the total cost of the car to $5k, whop-de-do, it's worth it.

I agree..

My car is by no means fast ('98 Corolla), but it's still much more enjoyable to drive if you don't drive it like a stereotypical elderly woman. If I have to replace my clutch after three years instead of five years, so be it. It's probably worth it.

Same with fuel economy..the previous owner of my car got 37-42mpg - I get what..34-40. I pay more in gas, but it's worth the extra three bucks per tank..

 

[Thegonagle]

I shift all I want. The act of shifting causes very little wear on the clutch compared to accelerating from a dead stop. I think it's 98% in your start-up technique. Give it as little gas as possible, and achieve complete engagement at as close to idle speed as possible, without lugging the engine (which would occur if you allow the engine speed to drop below idle). If you start out and the engine goes "vroom," before you get moving, you?re causing more wear than necessary.

And don't try to shift without the clutch if you're trying to be a cheapskate. You're very likely to cause expensive wear/damage to the transmission. When you shift without using the clutch, and you don't have the RPM matched absolutely perfectly, you put undue wear on the synchronizers, which for all intents and purposes, are little clutches themselves.

Also, when you downshift, give the engine some gas in order to accelerate the engine to the approximate speed that your road speed and gear selection will put the engine speed at when you let out the pedal. Do not use the clutch to accelerate the engine (or brake the car).

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

I figure if you get 100K+ out of a clutch you're doin fine.

Over 100K miles on each of four, standard-tranny vehicles (car/truck) during the past 22 years with zero clutch problems. Have not yet replaced a clutch as a result of my own driving.

How much one pays for automotive maintenance typically depends upon either competence or ignorance.

 

[Bluefront]

How much you pay for a clutch job also depends on the name-plate of the car. In any case you can prolong the life of your clutch by normal-common sense driving. A good clutch for my small truck costs about $130 w/throw-out bearing. Add about $25 for machining the flywheel....and four or five hours labor at a shop.

I can do it in the driveway, but it's a nasty job requiring a few special tools(clutch alignment tool), and some heavy labor. You could get a friend to help if you cannot manage the weight alone. Forget the driveway thing if it's a 4x4...unless you like pain....

If your car is front-wheel drive, the job can be slightly more difficult. You have two drive-shafts to deal with, and it's usually more tricky.

No matter what the whole job costs, I would rather postpone the cost forever. Let the next owner buy a clutch. Drive conservatively and you may never have to pay for a clutch job, which I would consider a major expense.

 

[MooseKnuckle]

I don't completely agree with this post. I have 156K on my original clutch and quoting my mechanic..."You beat the snot out of your car." Drive fast, drive hard, if not, walk.

 

[kgraeme]

Originally posted by: Bluefront

If you drive in big cities like I do, you are forced to sit at electric stop-signs frequently.

Is that electric stop-sign hindering efficient use of your horseless carraige?

 

[jjones]

I like to drive and that means I use my clutch frequently, and I do plenty of downshifting. I pretty much abuse my RX7 but I drive it really well also. More than 25 years of driving a stick, hard and fast, you learn techniques to have fun yet still save the clutch. BTW, my clutches usually last about 80k miles or so and that's good enough for me.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Phuz

Except when necessary do not hold yourself on a hill using the clutch...very bad.

That's what you're E-Brake is for.. you don't have 3 feet for all pedals at once...

With that simple sentance you forfeit all privledges to preach to anyone about their driving habits. Why don't you just stand up and wave your arms and tell everyone you're incapable of performing heel and toes? Learn to drive a stick yourself if you're going to tell other people how to drive theirs.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

With that simple sentance you forfeit all privledges to preach to anyone about their driving habits. Why don't you just stand up and wave your arms and tell everyone you're incapable of performing heel and toes? Learn to drive a stick yourself if you're going to tell other people how to drive theirs.

Huh? Frankly, you are the one who sounds ignorant. Heel-and-toeing makes no sense at all for holding the car on a hill - that is e-brake territory all the way. The fact that you apparently use heel and toe to hold yourself on a hill does not make it an accepted practice. I know how to heel and toe, and it has never even occurred to me to use this technique in a situation in which I would want the brake pedal fully depressed (as on a steep hill). Try this in San Francisco and your clutch will last about a day.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: notfred
I'm waiting for the post on how to drive w/o using the brakes in order to save money on brake pads :roll: If you're that cheap, maybe you should buy a bicycle.

Word! I care less about my clutch, and beat the hell out of my car...if you're that worried, get an automatic.

 

[Phuz]

With that simple sentance you forfeit all privledges to preach to anyone about their driving habits. Why don't you just stand up and wave your arms and tell everyone you're incapable of performing heel and toes? Learn to drive a stick yourself if you're going to tell other people how to drive theirs.

You're funny... Heel/toe is dangerous and stupid.. you'd fail a driving test if you pulled that crap.
Using the e-brake on hills and stops is commonly taught in Europe, but not in Canada... my dad taught me.

 

[TechnoKid]

If I drove and knew how to drive a manual, it'd be a clutchless one anyway, like that of BMW's SMG...or on a traditional transmission, yeah, I'd treat it very well and gently. It a hassle somewhat to replace em.

Heheh...if you read the title of this thread really quick, it says: Treat your dutch like it's your best friend....heh, amusing isn't it?


-Chris

 

[Bluefront]

Some of the replies in this thread are rather amusing, and certainly prove everyone has a differing philosophy concerning his car. Since I don't race around, since I don't use my vehicle as some sort of ego thing, and since I am always concerned about the cost of ownership of anything, I'll admit to driving somewhat differently from a person who has a different viewpoint from mine. No big deal.

"I could care less about my clutch"........I don't care about your clutch either.

"I keep my car in gear at stopsigns to make a fast get-away".........Stay out of those neighborhoods.

"My mechanic told me to run the hell out of my car/clutch"........I guess he would. You pay him to fix it.

"You drive like an old lady"....Old ladies usually drive automatics. They never break their clutches.

"Clutches are cheap"......If you're Bill Gates they are.

Well look, you drive your car like you want. I'll drive my vehicles like I'm the one paying for the repairs.
I am....