seriously chill out bro its not like your perfect and you learned how to drive a manual when you were born. our car is a car, nothing different than learning a manual on another (other than ours being more expensive than little hondas). why dont you just dont post

 

You seem to know the basics but you can check youtube. They have some great videos on how to drive manual.

 

actually I learned how to drive a manual when I was 10...in a Class 9 sand car.

I couldnt even walk when I was born...how is driving even possible. lol

Bottom line is. Its cheaper to learn how to drive a manual car on something that doesn't cost $1k+ in parts and (reliable) labor once its destroyed.

Just trying to save OP some money.

and I'm still chill.

and I'll continue to post my opinion rather than posting retarded pictures like a "human intake"

 

I know what your trying to say, but your coming off way too strong man. My friend went from a sedan auto to a coupe manual and he learned it fine. anyone can learn a manual you have to be stupid to **** up really bad

 

I haven't heard of anyone replacing their clutch right after the learned to drive one. It's not that bad. Most people just stall. The only time they "burned" their clutch would probably be on a hill or when someone is driving behind them at a stop.

Just practice in an empty lot or late at night. And have someone there to coach you. I taught myself after a 20 minute lesson in a friends car.

 

considering the car is an 03. There is a good chance that the clutch hasn't been replaced. Depending on the mileage, all it would take is one hill start and it's gone.

 

Sounds like you got the basic mechanics of how to drive. I doubt you will burn out your clutch like the others are implying. I learned how to drive after about 2hrs of practice.

Go into a empty parking lot at a complete stop and practice going from a complete stop then first and complete stop then first again. Do that for an hr and the rest is easy, after awhile you can feel if the car is gonna die or not just from the vibrations of the engine and gas pedal. You'll also be able to shift without looking at the tach since you'll know what rpm your at just from the sound of the motor.

Going from a complete stop and going into first and not stalling is the hardest part of driving stick, the rest is easy.

 

i think of driving a manual is like playing with a teeter totter between the cluth and the gas. gotta push in and let off the right amount.

 

seriously?

 

Thanks everyone for your advice, I have it mostly down however now I'm just scared of destroying the clutch with some habit I've developed, so I have one question:

How much should I use the clutch to determine the speed of the start/smoothness of the start?(including going in reverse)

My dad has a habit of using the clutch to control the speed in reverse, which makes the driving really smooth and slow, however it scares me to keep the clutch right at the point of contact, where I would feel more comfortable trying to get it into a full mesh before doing anything. However this causes me to backup far too fast and dangerously.

As for going forward, the same issue presents itself. If you release the clutch slowly, aren't you potentially grinding the wheel by engaging it and disengaging it on the very edge of contact so that it makes a smooth transition?(also for hill starts) Wouldn't the best way to start to be to try and smoothly release the clutch so it grips very quickly or am I completely off track here?

And as for Johnny who got everyone pissed off... his advice makes sense, to practice on your own car is obviously more expensive to yourself, and more expensive when its an upscale car, but personally I would rather pay for my own car than hurt someone else's car. I think everyone just got riled up cause he came on pretty strongly...


TLDR: How do I protect my clutch?

 

I say you actually are, One thing i wish someone told me when i was learning is that you dont NEED the gas to start moving. I had the same fears as you and thought that it would rub and cause excessive wear and tear, but actually its fine, you learn to keep it smooth and consistent (and you'll know when you "burn" it, a little rubbing is what they are made for). What your dad does in reverse is exactly what i do and im sure others as well (unless on a hill or something) and its actually better than dropping the clutch out quickly like you do and what i used to do. you can do that in first as well (although you have to let it out slow and usually takes the time we save by applying gas to speed up the process) . I had never driven a manual either before i got my g and trust me i think i was in the same position as you at 18 trying to figure out the physics of the clutch. After time you will get it and be able to use the catch point to your advantage, and also the other tip i like is the high sweet spot makes it so you dont have to push the clutch to the floor and the shifts usually are smoother. I think this is solid advice since this is everything i wish that i was told when i learned lol. gl and dont worry just drive

 

Hey at the end of the day its only money. I'm on my 4th clutch and third flywheel and i have never burned a clutch. My dumbass friends have and funny thing is they drive mt cars all happened in 15 min. My car only has 75k and all of this happened in the last 10k. One of the clutch and flywheel was aftermarket off ebay and it was either crap material or bad install.

Lesson is nobody ever drives any of my cars again ever, not even jesus can can get a spin. If you can get into first then u can drive a stick. Just ease off the clutch till car moves then ease on the gas. Anyway stay away from traffic as it is a freakin bitch

 

I'd suggest renting a MT car for a weekend and go driving. You can learn to start on a hill and other essential things using someone elses clutch.

 

Thats actually a good suggestion, but I've pretty much already got it down, only thing that gives me trouble is when I need to launch quickly I sometimes stutter. I can start up hills and start slowly and smoothly now.

 

stuttering just means you need more gas. i think you just need to train your foot better, i think mentally you have the technique down you just have to work on the execution. There's no real point on training on a different car because the grab points will be different then on your g35 unless you plan on renting a 350z.