Rep Power: 312

I know that one, i drive 3 manual normally, all different sides of the spectrum, my step-dad's 97 Dodge dakota, my roommates 98 intrega and my friends 2000 camry (yea they do make manual camrys). SO i drive a manual truck, a manual sports car, and a manual family car.....never knew that clutches could be so damn different

 
Rep Power: 264

is there a reason why the clutches are different? like because of users or uses anything like that? or is it just because it's by different manufacturers

 
Rep Power: 288

performance, drivability, workability (I.E.) sports car, family car, work truck/vehicle That's my .03


DAMMIT!!!!! wal-mart.com is sold out of my mp3 player DAMMMMMMITTTT!!!!!!!!

 
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i remember driving my new 00 sir out of the dealership in brmpton
i was so nervous of stalling it ! He he he.. needless to say i didnt
ps that government set up is sick dude i been in that room & it reminds me of the enterprise

 
Rep Power: 269

I've been driving manual cars since I could see over the wheel. I used to drive my dad's work truck on private roads. I remember when I was test driving cars at one of the dealerships, the salesman was amazed I could drive them so smoothly. I think he felt inferior since he was like 15 years older than me and he was jerking, then I start driving and and he was like it feels smoother than an automatic. Now most cars I drive I can pick up the clutch and throttle within 5-10 minutes, only car I had a problem with was my friend's dad's 04 M3. I stalled that twice and felt bad as hell, but then I got the hang of it and was going like 140 on the highway 20 minutes later.

 
Rep Power: 264

i want your talent.

 
Rep Power: 344

about 10-15 minutes. my stepfather, who i grew up with, is an ex-professional race car driver...he taught me well.

 
Rep Power: 319

took me about 20 mins to learn it solid and a few weeks to get good at it and train my clutch foot

 
Rep Power: 316

dude i dont want to burst your bubble but driving a manual car is way different then driving manual dirtbikes and quads. Its just like dirt bikes are a lot easier to shift gears on then a sportbike. its different, but the concept is the same. you gotta have coordination. i have a manual civic and i ride dirt and street bikes...

 
Rep Power: 309

Only took me like 5 minutes or so, I've always had 6 speed manual transmission motocrosses and it was really a great help. Very easy.

 
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my dad tried to teach me that didnt work out it just turned inot alot of yelling. then my brother stepped in and we went to a middle school parking lot, and in about 5 minutes i knew how to drive stick took a couple of days to get it smooth but it wasnt that hard. first carwas 78 VW Super beetle 4 speed.

 
Rep Power: 264

yea i'm going to teach my lil brother too, i know it's gunna take him a long time though (he's a bit of a momma's boy). i want him to know manual though.

 
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teaching is more entertaining, my brother and i taught a 15 year old how to drive stick ahile we were drunk as **** he figured it out quick.

 
Rep Power: 309

My girlfriend wants me to teach her how to drive manual, but the only car manual that's in my family is my civic, I'm a little concerned if she screws my transmission, that's why I have not taught her.

 
Rep Power: 334

My girlfriend's asking me the same too. Lucky for me, she's a smart girl! And she CARES about and LIKES cars... strange little world, isn't it?

 
Rep Power: 264

is that your girl in the avatar?

 
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i first learned on an 80's toyota pick-up. it was much harder because the clutch was harder to press and no power steering lol. and also, if you downshifted too early at high speed the wheels would kind of chirp (almost like lock!).

i remember when first learning stick it was scary to drive alone and especially in stop and go traffic.

i got my '04 Civic DX coupe in the summer of '04 and it was hard getting used to. stick cars are different from each other! i think i drive pretty smooth now but if i drive another stick car it would take some time to get used to how the clutch catches and stuff (it felt weird to drive my friend's ford focus).

i just drive normal though. i don't know the heel-toe or double-clutch, etc. but then again i don't race

i don't think i'll ever parallel park on a hill though....too scary haha

 
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I learned the basic "how-to" in like an hour or two but i still get the jitters everynow and then when i drive one cause i dont daily drive a stick. The funny thing is that the only sticks i have driven has been 6 speeds haha

 
Rep Power: 264

well i don't get the jitters anymore now, so that's good. i have a question about when to switch gears though.

ok so should i switch to 4th gear when i hit 40mph or should i switch to 3rd gear when i hit 40mph? i think i'm supposed to be switching to 4th gear but i could be wrong.

 
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^ just listen to your car's engine or look at the tachometer. i'm not sure but i think redlining too much is bad.....

 
Rep Power: 264

yea but i don't know how much i'm supposed to rev it. it sounds like a race if i'm doing 40 in 3rd gear (which i don't mind), i just don't want to be hurting the engine.

at what rpm should i shift?

 
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about 3K for normal every day driving on most vehicles is kind of a general rule... The higher the rpm that u shift the ******* gas milage that u will get but shifting at 4k isnt really bad 4 ur engine either but COULD be slightly more stressful but idk... higher rpm = higher heat = more wear and tear/stress???

if ur crusing at 40 then shift into 4th 4 sure... which in an EX will put u around 2500-2600rpm I think. If I'm going like 43 I will go into 5th and be at 2200rpm....

 
Rep Power: 277

Generally, I shift at 2.5k rpm with my Si (EX).

 
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I learned manual in about 5 minutes when I first got my new stick Prelude Type-SH. The sales person, which was my friend over at the dealer, put me onto the ramp at 6p.m. in the dealer's lot, then he said, use both clutch and accelerator to hold the car, and he left. Then I learned it and went straight to the freeway...

There's no absolute point of shifting. If you look into the manual, it will give you probably 3000rpm if you convert the speed into rpm. But the general rule of thumb is that, when you start hearing the engine giving you "whrrrrrrr" sound, you shift to the next gear for best fuel saving...Try keeping your cruise speed between 2500 and 3000rpm as it will give you the best torque in this region so that you can still accelerate when needed. Another point of best torque is in 5000rpm region that you don't want to hold for too long, and it's not that comfortable for you too....

 
Rep Power: 264

yea, when i'm turning onto a road trying to reach "cruising speed" i use high rpms, once i reach about 35 or 40, i knock it into 3rd for a couple sec, then switch to 4th going the same speed.

 
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That is one awesome way of learning manual. Good tip! I'm currently teaching both my brother and my girlfriend to drive standard, on my car. I'll try to have them try that :-D

 
Rep Power: 264

all you really need to know is the clutches engagement point, once you find that, you're set.

 
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As long as you relax and doing everything natually, it will be smooth...

 
Rep Power: 281

The best way to learn manual is to let the clutch out on flat ground with out hitting the gas and get the car moving with only idle rpms. You need to learn the feel of the clutch, and the clutch's grabing point (already mentioned).

You also need to learn to shift smoothly, finding the right amount of time to wait inbetween shifts, making sure not to let the rpms drop too much or not enough, letting the clutch out at the right speed, and giving it the right amount of gas after a shift.

As for shifting at high rpms, it is actually beneficial to do every once and a while.

 
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Learned on friends car in about 15 minutes.