YACT: In new cars with stick is it as audible to hear when it's time to shift up? Also...

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Is it as hard to get into 1st gear?

I'm a total newbie to driving stick. Had a fella brought me to a training road and play with it several times. With his 86 Prelude, getting into 1st gear is pretty challenging for me. I don't quite get how far to release the clutch before I apply gas. Its either too much or too little gas, and the car starts choking to death Past 1st gear, the rest I can pretty much manage.

What about new cars with stick? Are they just as hard? I mean is the behaviour unique to each car or does the problem lie between the seat and the wheels?

With new cars and new engines that are so quiet these days, how do you know when is the time to shift? Do you always shift at the highest speed of each gear? I guess if you don't it'll cost you your gas mileage efficiency?

Sorry for the not so spectacular english, but hope you guys understand what I'm trying to say.


BTW, having driven an auto for the past 6yrs, driving stick is like learning how to walk and talk again. It's a whole different experience. A fun one at that.

 

[Encryptic]

In my experience, once you get used to the stick, you'll know when you want to gear up or down. Just pay attention to the engine sound. Everyone has trouble with shifting at first and trying not to stall out when letting up on the gas or clutch. After a while, you get used to it.

This is pretty basic stuff that should apply to just about any stick-shift car out there that you may drive.

 

[Lithium381]

you'll get used to it within a day if you've got experience driving stick......i can move between vehicles, even those i've never driven before and have them down within a day or so, it takes me a while to get the feel for it down....you should have no problem, just listen/watch the tach at first, after a while it'll become 'reflex' to shift when it's time.

 

[Eli]

You'll get the hang of it in a day or two. Don't sweat it.

It's pretty hard to explain things that you just get a feel for in text. Every car has a different feel.

 

[Crucial]

make sure you pivot on the heel of your clutch foot if you can. It is much easier to feather the clutch when starting this way. The alternative way would be to lift your whole leg to do it. Not as much control. It took me a good day before I realized this way back when I started driving.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

What I did at first is release the clutch half way til the car starts rolling, then let go all the way in gear 1, then step on the gas. It's for practice only for now until I can get the timing right. No way I can drive like this on the road, to dangerous, especially on turns where there's no time to roll around.

The clutch is pretty firm as well, so don't quite get the hang of it yet.

How many consumer cars have shifters at the wheel instead of at the foot? Race cars do.

 

[Crucial]

yeah you can't just let it go halfway in first, unless you are trying to race or something. You have to do it in one smooth motion. Just remember, pivot your foot on the heel.

What kind of car is it? Older models used to have the shifter on the steering column. "3 on the tree" It wasnt very common from what I know.

 

[Lithium381]

Originally posted by: csaddict
yeah you can't just let it go halfway in first, unless you are trying to race or something. You have to do it in one smooth motion. Just remember, pivot your foot on the heel.

What kind of car is it? Older models used to have the shifter on the steering column. "3 on the tree" It wasnt very common from what I know.

it's an 86 prelude.......probably a 5sp

hondas have nice clutches from what i hear....very forgiving that is

 

[Crucial]

How many consumer cars have shifters at the wheel instead of at the foot? Race cars do

This confuses me now that I've reread it. cars dont have shifters at the foot, motorcyles do. THe clutch pedal is the only thing at the foot.