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This is the kind of question that maybe people just don't ask, but I'm curious and I'm not about to pay anyone to tell me the answer.

Those of you with manual transmissions, and you are obviously the majority here, what type of clutch technique do you use when driving generally (not racing or high-performance)?

What I want to know specifically is, do you anchor your heel on the floor and bend your foot up, or do you draw your entire leg back? I am a tall guy, about 6' 3", and even with the seat all the way back in my Civic, I can fairly easily knock my knee against the steering wheel if I'm not careful, so lifting my whole leg can get cumbersome.

My problem, though, is that with my heel in the same place, when I lift my foot out, the pedal gradually slides down my foot, so if I have to depress it again before I've fully engaged it, it's too far down my foot to repeat. That probably makes no sense.

Give me your clutch experiences and insights. This is an important topic.

 
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Well, Im short (5'1") so I can't speak on leg postion, but mostly I rest my foot on the "side" rest step on the left side of the drivers seat (its a little area right next to the clutch). Its fun to have it there during SCCA meets.

 
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it was hardcore pimp. Like turbo in a really little car pimp

 
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But what about when you're actually using the clutch? Do you move your whole foot, or pivot at the ankle? See, I think if you're shorter you have an easier time just withdrawing your whole leg.

2nd fastest female dragbiker in HAWAII? Rock out

 
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Hey guys I remember this 323. Was it pimp? It came out but It didn't gain popularity. There was a dude with it on the street the other day.

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/478645

 
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i'm like 5'10" and i raise my whole foot, it's really the only proper way to do it. it gives you much more control and allows for finer "feathering" of the clutch in those situations when you need to. when i first started driving stick i used the technique you're describing and i had the same problem with the pedal slipping and being unable to depress the clutch again. rasing your whole foot is the only way to go. btw, people who choose automatics are either too lazy (either to learn or just to drive stick) or girls. at least that's how it is where i'm from.

 
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I'll never buy another auto again... My first two cars were auto and once you go stick you never go back. It's a lot more fun, and you are in more control of the car. People say "it losses it's fun" and I don't understand... Sure it may not be fun 100% of the time of course, but what about those times your in the mood to be shifting and flying around corners? Also people complain it's a hassle... what hassle? It's not some terrible burden to shift gears! After awhile it's in the back of your mind, but if you want to utilize it... it's always there!

 
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same

 
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i lie my auto good for being lazy and having road sex. but... other than that i wish i had m/t so i could turbo, and welll have more fun on hilly roads and winding roads.

riley

the best thing for me would be a TRue tiptronic like porsche 996 w/ paddles... or the ferrari 360 f1.. or something simliar..

they got auto mode and then clutchless manual mode w/ paddle shifters...

riley

only thing that sucks.. i drove in a modena(i didnt drive, i drove in!) in miami and the reverse was a bitch with the paddles... it would like "launch" back and my friend had to like hover the break.. it was scary trying to paralel park on ocean.. anywho it was pimp as ****, it was a demo car his dad had bought 355/the maranello and a gt3 and they were considering a 360.... was ..hmmm....dealership thats by the mall.. the.showcase?

 
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I have an auto. I only get a stick in my sports cars. My last vette was a 6 speed and my next one will be also. My hybrid is used almost exclusively for stop and go traffic, though, and there's nothing sporty about it so I chose the auto.

 
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A hybrid has that CVT transmision, it not really a traditional auto, but I guess to the driver it seems the same. My uncles '03 vette is an auto, he had the torque converter tighted a little more, and beats all the sticks all the time. Only down side to is that it's still a little sloppy in turns.

 
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I got an Auto but id rather have a stick. I wish i had a 87 GN and fix that puppy up. Only came in Auto and was rated faster than the corvette that yr with the 3.8 Turbo V6. The GN would be the only Auto i'd own if it wasnt for the one i got. Next car will be a Manual.

 
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Manual is the only way to go unless your lazy or you don't want to learn how to drive a 5 speed, like my mom

 
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Those where some fast cars

 
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People keep mentioning loss through the torque converter. I thought we had lock-up torque converters to eliminate that over a certain speed. Does anyone know for sure?

 
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I think what people really mean on hear is the time it takes for the torque converter to tighten as opposed to the instant power you have when the clutch is engaged.

And yes I think we do have locking converters, but where they lock at I'm not sure.

 
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Manuals hands down!I wish I chose the manual than the automatic

 
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I love my car.....but sometimes.....lol........I tend to stay home more when I'm feeling lazy and dont wanna be shiftin....but I wouldn't give it up for the world....

 
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imo manula is much better

for one, you have more control over the car. for two, you have a slight edge in power. and for three, it usually costs 1000$ less. i cant even see the benefits to auto.

my dad always said "any idiot can put a car in drive and point it...manual is actually DRIVING" lol

omg lol. now THAT is the epitome of lazy

 
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LOL I said that....at least I admitted I can be lazy....

 
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Auto here but wish I had manual sometimes, other times I don't like when stuck in traffic! I spend a lot of time on the road, over 83k on my 2002. (looks as good as new though) Manual is quicker, but not always faster, it's tighter and you have more control which I like but auto is a must for anyone who is always stuck on I-75 like me! Manual gets old quick when in heavy traffic.

If I had a car just to joy ride with or take out as a toy on nice sunny days, then I'd have a manual. Or, if I just drove to and from work maybe. But right now I drive wayyyy to much.

 
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too many damn lazy people in the world like 98vicchick who have a manual but refuse to drive it sometimes becasue they are tired of shifting boo hoo...j/p

I can understand being in go home traffic on the freeways or in the streets, I know that gets tiring because your constantly letting the clutch out and pushing it back in and out in and out, it get's old real fast!

 
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I have an '03 manual, my g/f has a '04 auto... guess who's won in a drag race the other night (and yes it was on a drag strip before anyone tries to flame me for road racing)...... I beat her by 0.13 seconds and I have a AEM V2 intake and far more suspension mods to stiffen my car for a better take off, and I didn't spin the tires that much either. Now I know I'm not a pro drag racer, but niether is she. So I really don't think the manuals are that much quicker, but they do give for better control in corning and what not.

 
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Where would a manual sequential fall into this debate?

 
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This thread will never die.

 
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lol... it keeps coming back alive like annoying telmarketers. You tell them to go away and die and they just call back 15 minutes later for a different company.

 
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damn, this is ancient... lol... Auto sucks

 
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Manual is good cause if your are in a heads up race you can shift faster and better obviously, but say you goto a tournament and it is running ET then you have no worries cause if u have automatic ur time is gonna be mostly the same all u have to do is worry about reaction time mainly cause the shifting will always be the same.....

 
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auto??? freakin gay..... use your auto as beater..

 
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drive your auto off a cliff, charge admission and buy a car with a manual transmission