this is my first car with a manual transmission so i have a few questions.

How do you drive slow? like at times when your in stop and go traffic and you only need to go 2-5 mph. Do you release the clutch fully or leave it half in to control the speed better?

How about reversing? when ever I reverse I always have the clutch half in so it doesnt go too fast. Should I be releasing the clutch all the way even when reversing?

And is it okay to cruise around at 2k rpm? Ive heard this can be bad for the engine but dont know if its true since autos can drive that low to save gas.

Thanks

 

stop and go i do my best to stay in gear, even if that means going a bit slower and leaving more room. dont ride the clutch, that will wear out your clutch really quickly.

and I cruise around 2k most of the time, if your engine isnt lugging it shouldnt be a problem.

 

My very first car was a manual trans and all but one have been since then. Opinions vary on your questions I am sure but in my opinion you should rarely if ever depress a clutch only half way for any extended length of time. A clutch should either be fully engaged or not at all. Half way clutch work will really take its toll on your release bearings, and overall life of your clutch if you are rolling around with it half depressed all the time.

Your reference to speed when in terms of using a clutch come down to your engage point, throttle control, and braking. This comes with experience and will get easier as you get used to it. Technically you don't even need a clutch to change gears once moving (I do that in my 74 Nova all the time) BUT DON'T TRY THAT!

When I lived in SoCal, stop and go freeway driving was a regular routine and I am still on my stock clutch since 03 when I purchased the car new. I don't drive like an old lady either. In heavy traffic I always found it best to have the clutch fully out and just let the idle speed of the engine move the car at really low speeds and just used the brake and throttle to control the speed in 1st gear until I was moving fast enough to shift into 2nd. I treated it as a game really. How long you can go without having to push the clutch in kinda thing. Distance from the car in front of you is key in that game but once your car is in motion you shouldn't have to have the clutch in at all. Half way is only doing damage. Coast at idle speeds until you are forced to brake or come to a complete stop, then push the clutch in and brake. Once you are ready to move again let out the clutch with a little throttle and coast at idle again.

Reversing for me is, release the clutch with a little throttle enough to engage and get the car rolling backward then push it back in and use your brakes to handle speed. If you need more speed simply release the clutch with more throttle enough to engage again and repeat. You will get a feel for how much throttle and how quick to engage as time goes on as well.

As for your RPM question that really depends on what gear you are in and what speed you are going. By cruise do you mean regular street speeds of 30 to 40 mph? Or freeway speeds of 60 to 70 mph? The best answer I can give is pay attention to your car. If the engine feels laggy and droned down then drop it down a gear from 4th to 3rd for example. But if the engine is high pitched with more vibration bump it to 4th, etc. I have at times run my coupe in 5th going 40 to 45 but most of the time I am in 3rd and 4th in town driving. 5th and 6th on the freeways.

My best advice is spend some time riding around with someone that has and has driven a manual transmission for a long time. Pay attention while they perform the same things as you mentioned. Listen to engine rpms, how they down shift for corners, etc. It just takes practice to get a feel for your car but soon it will become autopilot. I don't even need to think about it anymore. It just happens.

Hope that helps!

 

^^ Good Advice from both!!
Have also been driving a stick for 30+ years.
Half way in is a no-no like was said above.
I never even rest my foot on the pedal.

 

everyone else has answered pretty well

if i'm going 40-45 mph i'm usually in 5th and if i can get to 50 mph with no traffic or anything i'll throw it in 6th

 

you cant cruise at 2000? damn maybe something is up with your G then, im doing it just fine

but dang you drive in high gears for 40-45

 

I stay low on the rpms too. Normal driving at 30mph im in 4th and main roads 40mph im in 5th. If I need more speed I just down shift. As ex when getting onto the highway. In slow traffic I leave plenty of room in front so I have to push the clutch in as least as possible.

Check out youtube, there is a video made by some guy in a M5, you can learn some stuff from it.

 

woops my bad... i cruise at 1600-2000

it's fine

 

I usually cruise in the city in 5th gear, and sometimes late at night with no traffic I'm in 6th gear [50-60Kmph (30-40mph)]. During the day, when more cars are on the road, I will probably be in 4th most of the time.

As far as RPM's, when I am in 5-6th gear, my rpms are usually about 1200-1500 and I shift by 2000. Just cruising, if I need to accelerate, I always downshift first to prevent lugging of the engine. I get HORRIBLE gas mileage, and I've been trying this to see if it's my driving that's causing my 16L/100km fuel economy (15mpg). I do 98% city driving. So far with this super low rpm cruising and shifting, I've only improved my mpg marginally. My tires are inflated at the proper psi too. wierd.

 

well no wonder your gas mileage is bad you're doing 98% city driving

 

THAT bad though? jeeezDOMO

 

yah well pretty much and also remember the g35 is not really known to be a fuel efficient car so take that into account as well

 

I've read a few threads in the past where people were doing about 80% city and still managing about 17-19mpg. Oh well :P It's fun giving it some gas sometimes

What rpm do the rest of you guys cruise at around while in the city? And in what gear?

 

i cruise 4th and its like 2500 or so

 

You seem to always be in a gear higher than you should be. I wouldn't go below 2250 RPMs in 5th or 6th, you might even feel the need to never downshift. And I'm pretty sure you are not perfectly matching those downshifts, so don't wear on the clutch when you should actually be in a lower gear.