YACT: I'm really starting to hate driving a MT

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
After a year of driving stick, I still can't handle hills or inclines well. I can drive fine when there aren't hills to deal with, but it's still an annoyance. I've tried the parking brake method, as well as letting the clutch up to the friction point for a split second before taking off. I haven't been able to do either method with much success however. How did you MT drivers get well at handling hills?
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,443
27
91
Practise. Lots & lots of practise. Practise until you feel like you could drive a stick in San Francisco without burning out the clutch. :roll:

Seriously, it's just a matter of doing it until it's natural. Like with everything else in life, driving a stick well is easier for some people than others. And like everything else, if it's not easy for you, but you still want to do it, you work twice as hard to make it happen.

Good luck! :D
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Hills aren't a problem - Just rev up a little more than usual, and you just let off the clutch slower than usual (for me at least - not much slower, don't want too much slippage). I live in FL though - I only see hills when I go out of state - lol

My first car was a manual - been driving one for 5 years.
 

Zysoclaplem

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2003
8,799
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The only thing I hated about my manual was going up hills in the rain at stop lights. I could keep the clutch at the friction point, but I would always slip throwing it into first from a stop going uphill. Oh I hated that.
 

Freejack2

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2000
7,751
8
91
After a year you still can't handle hills? You definitley need more practice on hills then. Go out one night on a hill street where noone is around and practice, practice, practice!
 

aolj

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2000
1,383
0
76
Are you a heavy foot person? You really have to control the foot on that. Like everyone else said. Practise practise practise/.
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: Freejack2
After a year you still can't handle hills? You definitley need more practice on hills then. Go out one night on a hill street where noone is around and practice, practice, practice!

Agreed. My mother got the hang of it pretty damned quick. Weeks, if I remember.
 

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
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Originally posted by: Freejack2
After a year you still can't handle hills? You definitley need more practice on hills then. Go out one night on a hill street where noone is around and practice, practice, practice!

lol....with these gas prices, gotta think twice, unless u dont care. maybe think of it as an investment in driving lessons...comes out cheaper this way.
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: Freejack2
After a year you still can't handle hills? You definitley need more practice on hills then. Go out one night on a hill street where noone is around and practice, practice, practice!

lol....with these gas prices, gotta think twice, unless u dont care. maybe think of it as an investment in driving lessons...comes out cheaper this way.

:roll:

- M4H
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,283
18,164
136
I had it down pat within a month, and this was in 73 Super Beetle. I did live in a hilly neighborhood at the time.
 

Reckoner

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
10,851
1
81
I can handle the other aspects of MT driving fine. I can't remember the last time I stalled. But with hills, and rolling back, it usually puts me into a panic. This alone is why I'm planning on purchasing an automatic
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
0
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Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I can handle the other aspects of MT driving fine. I can't remember the last time I stalled. But with hills, and rolling back, it usually puts me into a panic. This alone is why I'm planning on purchasing an automatic

do you have feeling in your feet? i've parellel parked on a few really steep hills no problemo and this is my first MT car.
 

Bullhonkie

Golden Member
Sep 28, 2001
1,899
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Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I can handle the other aspects of MT driving fine. I can't remember the last time I stalled. But with hills, and rolling back, it usually puts me into a panic. This alone is why I'm planning on purchasing an automatic

Sounds more psychological than anything else. I think you should go practice a bunch on hilly terrain until you feel completely comfortable and natural doing it. Then you won't conciously think about it so much and make yourself panic.

If you've been driving it over a year with no problems getting going on level ground, you shouldn't have too much trouble at all unless the inclines are extremely steep. Using the e-brake method for those situations can help.

If anything you want to give it a little more gas than usual but slip the clutch quicker. IIRC you drive a WRX so you shouldn't have any traction problems in doing so. The car should just grab and go. Try doing a 'soft launch' of sorts. Rev up to 2Kish and slip the clutch quickly - quicker than you would for a launch on level ground. Best way I've had it described is bringing your leg up as if you'd just realized you stepped on a pile of dog sh1t.

That's generally the best way to get good 60' times with a Subaru AWD launch too. Give it 3-5k and launch it like you stepped in something nasty - not a complete sidestep or drop - lest you find yourself replacing 1st gear.
 

PingSpike

Lifer
Feb 25, 2004
21,758
602
126
Its not that hard....stomp on the gas and let the clutch go-BAM! You're off in a hurry. Plus, I have it on good athority that chicks get wet everytime they hear a car peel out. Or at least, thats what those douchebag ricers around here seem to think.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
0
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I don't think you really have it the whole driving stick thing down cold yet.

If you claim you can handle flat terrain with no problems, starting on a hill shouldn't be much different. Just add more gas.

When I learned, I didn't even bother practicing on hills, or using the e-brake.
When I came to a stop on my first hill and had to start, I rolled back maybe a foot or two, and realized I needed to give more gas and release clutch quicker.

Even today, I still roll back a few inches on inclines, and traffic on an uphill sucks hardcore (probably sucks even worse for my clutch), but I won't stop driving stick because of it.
 

RollWave

Diamond Member
May 20, 2003
4,201
3
81
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I can handle the other aspects of MT driving fine. I can't remember the last time I stalled. But with hills, and rolling back, it usually puts me into a panic. This alone is why I'm planning on purchasing an automatic

do you have feeling in your feet? i've parellel parked on a few really steep hills no problemo and this is my first MT car.


I'm confident with a stick, but I'm not sure I would try this hehe
 

EatSpam

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
6,423
0
0
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
After a year of driving stick, I still can't handle hills or inclines well. I can drive fine when there aren't hills to deal with, but it's still an annoyance. I've tried the parking brake method, as well as letting the clutch up to the friction point for a split second before taking off. I haven't been able to do either method with much success however. How did you MT drivers get well at handling hills?

Practice makes perfect. Also, some clutches are better than others.
 

EatSpam

Diamond Member
May 1, 2005
6,423
0
0
Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I can handle the other aspects of MT driving fine. I can't remember the last time I stalled. But with hills, and rolling back, it usually puts me into a panic. This alone is why I'm planning on purchasing an automatic

Don't panic, you won't roll that far... not far enough to hit anyone. Just relax, and do it.
 

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Just put the clutch in like 3/4 and give it gas. Keep the gas constant. You will idle high, which is normal until you get comfortable doing this. If you roll back give it more gas. When its time to go increase the gas steady and slowly let out the clutch.

My girlfriend in high school actually knew how to do this before I did. I manned up and learned really quick.