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Okay, i havnt driven a stick in six years and i bought my 03 SI today, well i tried to take it out of the dealer lot but ended up stalling it 10 times before i gave up. luckily i had my g/f there who knew how to drive a 5spd. i told her to take me to one of the abandoned warehouses so i could get the feel of a stick again.
well im getting better, but i just got back from driving around for experience points and these are the problems im having.
stalling my car, i let the clutch out to fast. when i dont stall, i let it out real slowly, takes me awhile (10 sec) to get the plate down smothly.
not shifting with rythm, harsh shifts,
what rpms do you guys shift at.
what rpm do u hold it in before dropping the clutch ( i do 2k)

these problems can be dealt with in time, im just fustrated.

 
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On street, I shift at 3000rpm always. Getting on the highway, I'll shift at 3500-4000rpm. Letting the clutch out at 2000 is probably higher than you need to. I let it out probably about 1500. Read the manual though, it tells you what speed you should shift at whether shifting to accelerate or shifting into the gear you are going to stay in. In the case of the LX, the speeds always amount to be about 3000rpm.

 
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Read the manual ? are you serious ? Just keep pratacing with your girlfriend and soon it will come back to you. Then you can develop your own shift points.

 
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you'll get the hang of it, just practice. i shift at every 3000rpm or every 15mph, but check the manual. you got everything basically down just practice and everything will become better. just balance the clutch and gas pedal, don't worry you'll get the hang of it.

 
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im bout to go back out again, i am fustraded as hell

 
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i want a 5-speed, but i have to drive 100+ miles a day in rush hour traffic, so i'd end up killing myself after a week. anyways, i never really pay attention to the rpm's, i just go with what feels about right, but then, i've been practicing for about a year in my bro's car.

 
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i usually shift between 3500-4000rpms... but to get going... i give it some gas... and let go of teh clutch... the clutches are usually a lot softer on new cars... ive driven cars where the clutch needs a lot more effort to goes down

 
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Why, yes. I think I am.

 
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The key to shifting correctly is not shifting at a certain rpm all the time, but shifting at the right rpm for the gear you are in. I may be wrong, but I think the EX and Si are geared the same. So if that's true then this is what I'd suggest.

1st to 2nd, 3500 RPM or 18 MPH,
2nd to 3rd, 3000 RPM or 26 MPH,
3rd to 4th, 2600 RPM or 34 MPH,
4th to 5th, 2600 RPM or 44 MPH,

These shifting points should keep you above 2000 RPMS, that way you still have power, but aren't racing your engine too much.

These are made on the assumption that the SI, has the same transmission as the EX, which I'll check on, and fix if necessary, as for now, i'm going to sleep...

-Mark

 
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Im back, Im getting better, though no speedracer yet. only stalled once this last time out. still dropping the clutch to fast though, feeling the car slightly skip when i drop it.
im not worried about the clutch though. going to replace it in a year along with the flywheel. im going to try to free up some hp before the HKS kit comes out

 
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also, what do you ppl do when your facing up a hill; pull the parking brake or are you just fast with your hands and feet, that you hardley even roll back

 
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Since you are just learning I would use the parking brake if i were you. But I just do it really fast because i've learned the car.

 
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I don't know why all of you people are shifting at damn 3000 rpm. This isn't a domestic he is driving. It's a HONDA and they love to rev high! If you are shifting at 3000rpm you aren't even hitting VTEC yet. Plue is you shift higher like around 4000-5500 for daily driving its easier to get into gear.

Jeff another tip......just practice letting the clutch out until you feel it grip. Don't use the gas, just let out the clutch slowly and you will learn the right spot to apply the gas.

After 1 day you should have the basics down. After 3-4 days you should be able to do everything smoothly. After 7 days, it's time to start practicing your drag racing.

 
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Hehehe funny thing, I never drove a stick before but only practice a few times like 4-5months before I got my new car and drove it home... stalled 2 times but practiced for atleast 5-6 hours afterwards...

Just practice, you'll get the hang to it and love it =P

 
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seriously, i feel like i'm bogging the engine when i shift @ less than 3000, so i shift between 3500-4500 normally, but if i'm going to hit 5000 anyway, i go all the way to 6000. just feels like it wants to rev that high anyway...

 
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you guys forget..... this is an si with close mission gearing... so i dunno the what the shift points are...

 
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after wrecking my prelude, it was quite a while before i drove stick again. when i test drove my civic, i almost rolled backwards into another car. the dealer looked at me and said, "i almost just **** myself. thanks matt!" i laughed and then got the feel back again. it just takes some time. that dash mounted stick i heard takes some getting used to also. so it might be that as well? i dunno. good luck tho.

 
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I was just suggesting how to drive when learning, also, it depends on what you want to do. Sometimes I'm in the mood to redline the hell out of my car, and other's I just need it to get me somewhere.

-Mark

 
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I shift at 7k all day every day...hahaha

naw...everyday driving around 3500. launch under 2k usually i think..i dont really pay attention...after 17000 miles you get the hang of it. I didnt drive stick for 4 years and picked it right back up. no down time. Youll be back at it in no time.

 
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Shifting at 5500 is nowhere near the redline for our cars, much less an Si. When I was first driving my car I tried shifting at 3000 and my car bogged and shook every time. But if you go over 4000+ rpm the shifting is smooth and perfect.

 
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what? bogging down at 3krpm? no way! i shift no hirer than 3100 rpm on average.


dont worry.... sticks all about confedence, once you get it down and are confident about how you work with it, then its all second nature.

 
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keep practicing from a full stop and going in 1st gear... and try not to rely on the tach (switch off the sounds) and hear the engine instead since when driving in traffic, you don't want to be focused on the gauges, but the road ahead of you... just takes some practice... in a week or so, you'd look at how much you've progressed and give yourself a pat on the back

btw, there should be a sticky on 5speed FAQs... or even a DIY teach yourself how to drive 5speed or something

 
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maybe you need to break her in just right

 
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just give it some time man

 
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well seeing as how u just got the car..

dont rev it high... just break it in slowly.

i know there's a debate on that, but better be safe than sorry.

in either case just keep practicing... you'll get there. can't be in a frustrated mood when u sit in the car or else it wont work good.

and as for hill, since u're starting out again and are having trouble... parking brake is good till you start rolling and just release it...

sometimes when I'm on a really steep hill and the guy behind me is up to my butt, I use the parking brake.. most of the them i'll roll back by a bit then I'll get going.

I shift around 3,000 rpm cuz I'm not in a hurry to accelerate.. plus its a waste of gas...

 
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I shift by feel. Always have, never look at the tach. I took to the 5-speed liek a pro. 5 mins trying to get it goign and after that I was set. I have an auto but I'll jum;p into a five speed figure the clutch and gas out and go.

Pissed my dad off one day. He got a new dodge ram with a stick and I was doing donuts in it after 15 mins. He had broken it in already, he lives 100 miles from me so he had about 2000 on it already, he drives a lot. Ever seen a 50 year old man sh*t his pants when you start spinning his new toy?

 
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When I picked up my car I have no clue how to drive stick maybe besides my friends seeing it.

Let me tell you first few weeks was the roughest 200 miles this car ever seen.

 
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go up as many hills as possible but do it at night so you don't roll into anyone, that will teach you

 
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Maybe you should stop trying how to learn on it during the "breakin period" and trade cars with your GF for a while

 
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I shift at 3k for one reason..and one reason only. Gas mileage. As far as when to shift..there isnt a set point. There are always variables. Like if your going uphill slightly..then you would let the engine spin a little higher. Downhill would be the opposite. Going around a sharp corner you might want to delay shifting untill after the turn. or maybe right before the turn. Variables my friend. IF driving was a science (it's an art BTW) then monkeys would be driving. After you drive a stick for a while..you'll get a feel for when you need/ or more to the point when you WANT to shift. Good luck