I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
May I also suggest that you should practice with the climate control ON. The heater/AC makes the engine idle at like 800rpm and is a really great starting point. With my climate control off, my engine idles at a little less than 300rpm and I have a little trouble starting from a stop if I am not used to it!!!
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
Hah! That's exactly what I did years ago when I got a brand new Civic. I knew with a lesser powered car that I wanted an MT but didn't know how to drive one. The dealer ended up driving it home for us (~20 miles away) because neither me nor my Mom could actually drive the car.
It can take a long time to become comfortable with it. Not to scare you, but some people (like my roommate, who acquired my old Civic) never master it, either. LOL. The scariest situations are steep hills when someone pulls up behind you. Some people do a toe-heel maneuver or use the parking brake, but I honestly found that more nerve racking than just doing it the right way. You have to execute the launch quickly and smoothly or else you roll backwards (or stall!).
As far as finding the medium between feathering and dumping, you just want a smooth takeoff while still keeping as little in-between time as possible. It's a coordination thing that's hard to describe. It should be one smoothly executed motion without abruptly taking your foot off the clutch. It's just a feeling, you'll know when you do it right.
After having driven sticks for 11 years, I'm enjoying my 5AT coupe quite a lot, but only because it's a really good AT. Once you get used to sticks, you'll probably become supremely annoyed by most generic automatic transmissions. But I think you have to drive a MT to know the difference.
It can take a long time to become comfortable with it. Not to scare you, but some people (like my roommate, who acquired my old Civic) never master it, either. LOL. The scariest situations are steep hills when someone pulls up behind you. Some people do a toe-heel maneuver or use the parking brake, but I honestly found that more nerve racking than just doing it the right way. You have to execute the launch quickly and smoothly or else you roll backwards (or stall!).
As far as finding the medium between feathering and dumping, you just want a smooth takeoff while still keeping as little in-between time as possible. It's a coordination thing that's hard to describe. It should be one smoothly executed motion without abruptly taking your foot off the clutch. It's just a feeling, you'll know when you do it right.
After having driven sticks for 11 years, I'm enjoying my 5AT coupe quite a lot, but only because it's a really good AT. Once you get used to sticks, you'll probably become supremely annoyed by most generic automatic transmissions. But I think you have to drive a MT to know the difference.
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
Driving stick involves nothing more than using your two feet as a balance bar.
Think of it like this, the clutch is the opposite of what your brakes do. When you are moving, you press on your brakes in order to slow the car down. The harder you press, the harder your brakes engage. Pressing too hard will lock up your brakes (no abs).
If you look at the clutch, its the exact opposite. If your car is at a stop, you use the clutch and gas to make your car go. The quicker you lift off the clutch, the quicker the clutch will want to engage. This is why you dont just immediately lift off of the clutch, you dont want to stall. Its also true that if you give too much gas and lift off of the clutch too soon, the car will peel out.
SO, as I said originally.. use your feet like a balance bar, when you give it gas you should also ease off of the clutch.
The EASIEST way to drive ANY stick, is to find the clutch point. The clutch point is the "sweet spot" of the clutch pedal, where you lift the pedal and you feel the car start to bog (almost stall). Look at the RPM gauge or just feel the car, you should be able to find the clutch point quite easily.. be sure not lift off too much while finding the clutch point or it will stall.
Anyway, once you find the clutch point all you need to do is make sure to give it gas before you start to ease off of the sweet spot. As long as you are around 1500-2000 rpms you should be fine. Remember, DONT sit there looking at the RPM gauge.. that will only confuse you. Sit in the car and get accustomed to the sound of the exhaust at 1500-2000 rpms, its crucial you have a feel for the sound of your engine.
Last, be sure to be sitting close enough so that you can push down COMPLETELY on the clutch as to where it touches the floor without having to over-exert your toes. Be sure to sit straight, not gangster style. Turn off the stereo and roll down the windows, this will all help you get acquainted.
- Mike / ClearCorners.Com
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
Think of it like this, the clutch is the opposite of what your brakes do. When you are moving, you press on your brakes in order to slow the car down. The harder you press, the harder your brakes engage. Pressing too hard will lock up your brakes (no abs).
If you look at the clutch, its the exact opposite. If your car is at a stop, you use the clutch and gas to make your car go. The quicker you lift off the clutch, the quicker the clutch will want to engage. This is why you dont just immediately lift off of the clutch, you dont want to stall. Its also true that if you give too much gas and lift off of the clutch too soon, the car will peel out.
SO, as I said originally.. use your feet like a balance bar, when you give it gas you should also ease off of the clutch.
The EASIEST way to drive ANY stick, is to find the clutch point. The clutch point is the "sweet spot" of the clutch pedal, where you lift the pedal and you feel the car start to bog (almost stall). Look at the RPM gauge or just feel the car, you should be able to find the clutch point quite easily.. be sure not lift off too much while finding the clutch point or it will stall.
Anyway, once you find the clutch point all you need to do is make sure to give it gas before you start to ease off of the sweet spot. As long as you are around 1500-2000 rpms you should be fine. Remember, DONT sit there looking at the RPM gauge.. that will only confuse you. Sit in the car and get accustomed to the sound of the exhaust at 1500-2000 rpms, its crucial you have a feel for the sound of your engine.
Last, be sure to be sitting close enough so that you can push down COMPLETELY on the clutch as to where it touches the floor without having to over-exert your toes. Be sure to sit straight, not gangster style. Turn off the stereo and roll down the windows, this will all help you get acquainted.
- Mike / ClearCorners.Com
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
MrElussive, I doubt your car was idling as low as 300. The RPM gauge doesn't read that low.. if you take a good look at it, the first tick mark is 500, and it goes up by 100's from there.
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter
Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
When I learned, no amount of instruction really helped. It's almost entirely a matter of experience, getting used to the sensations. As you've already said you've done, take it to a lot (preferably one with an incline) and practice starting from a stop over and over. Start with downhills, then flat parts, then uphills. Those are by far the hardest parts. Personally, I never had much trouble with upshifting right from the first try, only downshifting. Once you've got that down, THEN talk to or ride with other people to fine tune your technique. They can tell you whether you're revving too high or too low on certain shifts just from riding in the car with you. Couple other tips:
1. If you learned on ATs, get used to driving at higher rpms and hearing the engine rev louder, at least while starting out. It'll never be as smooth as an AT, and that bit about MTs consuming less gas doesn't happen until you've figured out how low you can smoothly run your engine (personally, I'll never understand people who go stick for gas mileage, especially on a car that's not made for fuel economy).
2. What really helped me: driving barefoot. It feels a little silly, but you'll have much more precise control over the clutch and throttle, and be able to feel all the vibrations coming through the pedals. And anyway, the whole reason to go MT is to have a more direct connection with your car, so wearing a big thick boot or even sneaker defeats the whole point.
Personally, I still stall out while driving in the city from constantly being cut off by cabs or bike messengers or fearless pedestrians. That's the main reason I got an AT G, without regret. But if I could only have 1 car with one transmission, it'd be a tough choice. Anyway, stick with it (which you will, since you bought the car) and accept the fact that you're going to look stupid on occassion. Everyone goes through it, even experienced AT drivers.
-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532
1. If you learned on ATs, get used to driving at higher rpms and hearing the engine rev louder, at least while starting out. It'll never be as smooth as an AT, and that bit about MTs consuming less gas doesn't happen until you've figured out how low you can smoothly run your engine (personally, I'll never understand people who go stick for gas mileage, especially on a car that's not made for fuel economy).
2. What really helped me: driving barefoot. It feels a little silly, but you'll have much more precise control over the clutch and throttle, and be able to feel all the vibrations coming through the pedals. And anyway, the whole reason to go MT is to have a more direct connection with your car, so wearing a big thick boot or even sneaker defeats the whole point.
Personally, I still stall out while driving in the city from constantly being cut off by cabs or bike messengers or fearless pedestrians. That's the main reason I got an AT G, without regret. But if I could only have 1 car with one transmission, it'd be a tough choice. Anyway, stick with it (which you will, since you bought the car) and accept the fact that you're going to look stupid on occassion. Everyone goes through it, even experienced AT drivers.
-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
This was my first manual car also. Yeah, learning on this baby wasn't easy. It's been about 8 months and 12,000mi later and let me tell you. You made the right choice. My suggestion:
Dont form shifting habits yet.
What I mean is, the times that I made the biggest leaps in my learning how to drive this thing smoothly, was when I left it alone for a few days and aproached the car almost with a different attitude
. Its almost like you keep trying the same thing, the same combination of gas and clutch, and it just gets frustrating. But once you leave it alone for a few days and forget that combination you kept trying, its like starting over again, but with a little more base knowledge. This was a big help for me. just keep trying different things until you get it smooth.
If that just made any sense. Good luck.
G35Coupe B/B 6MT Aero/Premium
Dont form shifting habits yet.
What I mean is, the times that I made the biggest leaps in my learning how to drive this thing smoothly, was when I left it alone for a few days and aproached the car almost with a different attitude
. Its almost like you keep trying the same thing, the same combination of gas and clutch, and it just gets frustrating. But once you leave it alone for a few days and forget that combination you kept trying, its like starting over again, but with a little more base knowledge. This was a big help for me. just keep trying different things until you get it smooth.
If that just made any sense. Good luck.
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
Hahahaha... funny post!
I was in your shoes, years ago. Did the same exact thing-- My very first new car (at the age of 18) was a 5 speed Mustang GT. Had no idea how to drive it, but still managed to get it home (with my father in the passenger seat) from the dealer.
I knew I wanted a manual trans, mostly because it was far faster than the automatic version of the Mustang GT.
I had a bit of buyers remorse for the first 2 or 3 days, then as I learned to actually drive a manual, I quickly grew to love it.
Since then I've owned about 16 different cars.
13 of them have been manual tranny. 'Nuff said.
I was in your shoes, years ago. Did the same exact thing-- My very first new car (at the age of 18) was a 5 speed Mustang GT. Had no idea how to drive it, but still managed to get it home (with my father in the passenger seat) from the dealer.
I knew I wanted a manual trans, mostly because it was far faster than the automatic version of the Mustang GT.
I had a bit of buyers remorse for the first 2 or 3 days, then as I learned to actually drive a manual, I quickly grew to love it.
Since then I've owned about 16 different cars.
13 of them have been manual tranny. 'Nuff said.
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
ryoken, I'm not making a mistake dude, I promise you. Once the engine is all warmed up and every time I am not running the climate control and I am just sitting in neutral, the engine idles at around 300rpm. It is ridiculously low and at first I thought there was something wrong with the car, but it does this every time, so I am used to it now. I think the engine just doesn't like to sit in traffic....
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
MrElussive
03 G35C 6MT
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From: Vancouver BC
Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
feathering the clutch a bit is not going to hurt ur car.
It is really odd, I used to race motocross and never drove a strandard car.. For some odd reason I was able to step into a standard car and drive it without much trouble at all. I guess it could be the changing gears and using the clutch on the bike tought me the idea of things, and all I had to learn from there was to use different body parts to accomplish the same things =)
Just keep trying u will get the hang of it. If need b at very first if u are uncomfortable on a uphill and stopped u could use your e-brake to hold u there and let out the e-brake as u let the clutch out and give gas to take off. but asap do it normally..
Once you are really used to it, u can start heel to toe downshifting.. If u wonder what this is, basiclly u use your inside of your right foot on the brake and the outside of your right foot to blip the gas as downshifting to match your rpm's as to not upset the car coming into a corner.
Hmm I guess this is much more important on a RWD car as compared to a FWD car cause if you just downshifted 2 gears coming into a corner the rear tirews would lock up from what I understand. This will be my first rwd car. I have had fwd since I was 16.. Should be interesting
2004 IP 6MT BREMBO'S NAVI on order...
It is really odd, I used to race motocross and never drove a strandard car.. For some odd reason I was able to step into a standard car and drive it without much trouble at all. I guess it could be the changing gears and using the clutch on the bike tought me the idea of things, and all I had to learn from there was to use different body parts to accomplish the same things =)
Just keep trying u will get the hang of it. If need b at very first if u are uncomfortable on a uphill and stopped u could use your e-brake to hold u there and let out the e-brake as u let the clutch out and give gas to take off. but asap do it normally..
Once you are really used to it, u can start heel to toe downshifting.. If u wonder what this is, basiclly u use your inside of your right foot on the brake and the outside of your right foot to blip the gas as downshifting to match your rpm's as to not upset the car coming into a corner.
Hmm I guess this is much more important on a RWD car as compared to a FWD car cause if you just downshifted 2 gears coming into a corner the rear tirews would lock up from what I understand. This will be my first rwd car. I have had fwd since I was 16.. Should be interesting
2004 IP 6MT BREMBO'S NAVI on order...
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
The key to this is (and was for me at least) to learn the engagement point of the clutch. If you cannot get the car moving forward in a flat empty parking lot WITHOUT touching the gas pedal then you haven't learned the engagement point of the clutch. AFTER (and ONLY after) you have learned the engagement point you will be able to give gas at just the right time and start the car briskly forward from under 1000 RPMs.
People who are saying to rev the car to 1500-2000 rpms and then feather the clutch to move forward are costing you money.
--Steve
People who are saying to rev the car to 1500-2000 rpms and then feather the clutch to move forward are costing you money.
--Steve
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
zimbo> The key to this is (and was for me at least) to learn the engagement point of the clutch.
I completely agree with you on that.
People who are saying to rev the car to 1500-2000 rpms and then feather the clutch to move forward are costing you money.
I completely disagree with you on that.
It really depends on the MOTOR, I drive a 2.0L turbo and you simply cannot move the car without giving it a little gas. I will say though, the torquey VQ motor is VERY easy to control with manual transmission, the clutch does not require extreme amounts of effort and grabs gradually.
So, I think the bottom line here is it all comes down to practice, practice, and more practice. Good luck!
- Mike
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
I completely agree with you on that.
People who are saying to rev the car to 1500-2000 rpms and then feather the clutch to move forward are costing you money.
I completely disagree with you on that.
It really depends on the MOTOR, I drive a 2.0L turbo and you simply cannot move the car without giving it a little gas. I will say though, the torquey VQ motor is VERY easy to control with manual transmission, the clutch does not require extreme amounts of effort and grabs gradually.So, I think the bottom line here is it all comes down to practice, practice, and more practice. Good luck!
- Mike
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
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From: Los Angeles
Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
I do strongly agree with zimbo. Practice driving on a flat surfaced empty parking lot. learn to make ur car move forward without adding any pressure to the gas. Driving a stick is soooooooooo much fun.. once u get the hang of things... I'm not tooo familiar with the RPM stuff... I just try to balance the pressure i add to the cluch and gas..
Heres how i learned how to drive a stick.. A old friend of mine (my ex.. to be honest) took me to a park with a hill. If you look back all u see is trees... he left me in the middle of the hill and told me if i can't move forward then were both gonna die cuz the car will roll backwards off a clif. Well.. I lived and since that time forward i have no problems driving a stick.. But one problem that i am still facing is when i go up a big hill and stop in the middle i can't drive forward.. its sooo hard. but all the other hills i'm okay with... I think i bumped into that problem when i went to glendale... But other than that... i'm okay... Good luck to you...
Ladyg35
Ivory PearlG35 cpe, 6-spd manual tran. w/ Navi
Heres how i learned how to drive a stick.. A old friend of mine (my ex.. to be honest) took me to a park with a hill. If you look back all u see is trees... he left me in the middle of the hill and told me if i can't move forward then were both gonna die cuz the car will roll backwards off a clif. Well.. I lived and since that time forward i have no problems driving a stick.. But one problem that i am still facing is when i go up a big hill and stop in the middle i can't drive forward.. its sooo hard. but all the other hills i'm okay with... I think i bumped into that problem when i went to glendale... But other than that... i'm okay... Good luck to you...
Ladyg35
Ivory PearlG35 cpe, 6-spd manual tran. w/ Navi
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
MrEllusive,
How are you determining the idle RPM?
Not by using the factory tachometer, I hope.
Your car should be idling at about 750-800 rpm.
If yours is idling at 300 rpm, then something is definitely very wrong.
How are you determining the idle RPM?
Not by using the factory tachometer, I hope.
Your car should be idling at about 750-800 rpm.
If yours is idling at 300 rpm, then something is definitely very wrong.
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From: Broward
<=P
wow... u guys are too awesome... =D Thanks for ALL the feedback.. wow... hehe. I'm still not where anything comes natural.. we'll stalling is natural... but otherwise I'm still i guess u could say trigger happy with the gas and too quick/slow with the clutch.. but I guess its getting better I only stalled 4 times today... <=X
As for hills.. I'm in central FL... lolz, what are hills? hehe. Traffic does suck tho.. I guess thats where I'm finding most of my problems.. I'm starting to get this whole engagement point idea tho... I can feel it.. but then I get this weird feeling when i let out too slow... but it works. I dunno.. I'm getting there, but thanks for all the help guys... my cousin's 325 and other cousin's civic si beware!! hehe... *shrugs* I guess I felt cool to say that for once...especially since my last car was a big ole slow suv... *sighs* ;-P
As for hills.. I'm in central FL... lolz, what are hills? hehe. Traffic does suck tho.. I guess thats where I'm finding most of my problems.. I'm starting to get this whole engagement point idea tho... I can feel it.. but then I get this weird feeling when i let out too slow... but it works. I dunno.. I'm getting there, but thanks for all the help guys... my cousin's 325 and other cousin's civic si beware!! hehe... *shrugs* I guess I felt cool to say that for once...especially since my last car was a big ole slow suv... *sighs* ;-P
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Re: I'm an idiot 4 getting a stick.... <=O
2slo2bfurious> we'll stalling is natural... but otherwise I'm still i guess u could say trigger happy with the gas and too quick/slow with the clutch.. but I guess its getting better I only stalled 4 times today...
The g35 is definately an easy car to learn stick on, the transmission is butter smooth and the engine is powerful enough to move the car.. all you have to do is engage the clutch smoothly and be sparing with the gas.. you'll be fine. The more time behind the wheel, the better. Just remember, dont get nervous if you arent "up to pace" with the rest of traffic. Most new stick drivers tend to get nervous if they are taking longer to move the car compared to other cars on the road, they start looking in their rear view mirror worrying about rolling back and such. When driving, just be focused on what you are doing and block out all unnecessary distractions, that is why I said to have the radio off and the windows down.. it helps. Also, a good set of sport shoes should be more than sufficient.. anything that has a thin sole and is comfortable. Good shoes are needed, later down maybe you can try rev-matching and heel-n-... nevermind, you dont have any turns out in Florida.
ladyg35> But one problem that i am still facing is when i go up a big hill and stop in the middle i can't drive forward.. its sooo hard. but all the other hills i'm okay with... I think i bumped into that problem when i went to glendale... But other than that... i'm okay... Good luck to you...
The worst hill in SoCal has to be the one in LA when you take La Cienega to the top of Sunset, hands down. I love hearing people say "if you use e-brake you arent a good stick driver," thats nonsense. On major hills you SHOULD use e-brake, it will save your clutch and puts much less strain on the car. E-brake is your friend, no need to waste your clutch for super steep hills.
- Mike
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
The g35 is definately an easy car to learn stick on, the transmission is butter smooth and the engine is powerful enough to move the car.. all you have to do is engage the clutch smoothly and be sparing with the gas.. you'll be fine. The more time behind the wheel, the better. Just remember, dont get nervous if you arent "up to pace" with the rest of traffic. Most new stick drivers tend to get nervous if they are taking longer to move the car compared to other cars on the road, they start looking in their rear view mirror worrying about rolling back and such. When driving, just be focused on what you are doing and block out all unnecessary distractions, that is why I said to have the radio off and the windows down.. it helps. Also, a good set of sport shoes should be more than sufficient.. anything that has a thin sole and is comfortable. Good shoes are needed, later down maybe you can try rev-matching and heel-n-... nevermind, you dont have any turns out in Florida.
ladyg35> But one problem that i am still facing is when i go up a big hill and stop in the middle i can't drive forward.. its sooo hard. but all the other hills i'm okay with... I think i bumped into that problem when i went to glendale... But other than that... i'm okay... Good luck to you...
The worst hill in SoCal has to be the one in LA when you take La Cienega to the top of Sunset, hands down. I love hearing people say "if you use e-brake you arent a good stick driver," thats nonsense. On major hills you SHOULD use e-brake, it will save your clutch and puts much less strain on the car. E-brake is your friend, no need to waste your clutch for super steep hills.
- Mike
http://www.ClearCorners.Com -//- There are four corners to this world, we're clearing each one, one step at a time.
