I've looked a lot at this forum's threads on manual driving and other forums but haven't found really a beginners guide. I just want to know the exact mechanics going on that produce a smooth transition.

I've been practicing reverse in my driveway for awhile, and found there is a method that generally works:

1) keep gas down at just around 1K rpms

2)slowly release clutch until it starts to catch

3) as soon as I feel the car move I push in the gas a little to try and keep the rpm's afloat

4) keep the clutch at that point where it catches so i can quickly press it in again if i am backing up too quickly.

However I find that either I press down the gas too much and it goes too quickly backwards, leading me to slam on the clutch, or I press too little and it might stall out.

A) Am I doing it right? Or is there some simple mechanism I'm missing, such as not pressing down the gas at all, and waiting for the clutch to catch before pressing it in. Or is there some magic rpm number I should press the gas to until the clutch catches?

B) As far as launching, I figure its really the same mechanics, right?

C) As for shifting up, what I do right now is press in the clutch all the way, then shift, then try to mimic what is done at launching, except much quicker and more a smooth motion to release the clutch while pressing in gas, like a seesaw, so one foot is doing the opposite of the other foot, and both never pause at the friction point, they simply just go smoothly back and forth.

D) Shifting down, I've heard of rev matching? I suppose that means for every car out there, there is an RPM that you should be at to shift to a certain gear. so maybe for shifting down into 2nd you want to be at 2k in 3rd?

Thank you all in advance, if there is some thread I missed that blatantly answers my questions please direct me and I apologize for posting this for no purpose.

 

Have you read this?

https://g35driver.com/forums/g-spot/...-drive-mt.html

 

I must say that it's refreshing to see a n00b post a well-thought out thread. You're on the right track. Driving a manual is a rhythm thing and it just takes practice to get the feel for it. Remember too, the G manual transmission isn't the most buttery-smooth tranny out there, it takes a lot of getting used to even for experienced drivers.


Welcome to the family and enjoy your new ride!!

 

First of all...

Why would you even buy a car thats manual when you don't EVEN know how to drive one.

Second of all...

You realize that you'll burn this clutch out extremely fast by learning on this car?

Third of all...

Replacing the clutch and resurfacing the flywheel that you will inevitably burn the hell out of will cost you more money than I'm sure you can afford.

https://g35driver.com/forums/g-spot/...-drive-mt.html

 

I learned how to drive manual on a friends G and it went well. It's not bad!!! or maybe it's just me...lol

 

^ I'm just sayin

 

i came into this thread expecting facepalm. but after reading the OP, i give you credit for attempting, learning and having the ***** to ask this on a public forum where you knew you would get **** for posting

 

Thank you Calvin that was really useful, especially the attached document, I believe it answered all my questions. I'll go test driving tonight and hopefully won't have to post back here with problems tonight.

Thanks Blue Dream, I appreciate it. I've been researching what car to buy since I was a senior in high school, now that I'm 21 I've saved enough and bought the G35. I'm really happy with the choice I made, I've been reading this forum for awhile but too scared to actually post since I'm used to how internet forums run, especially when people have been on it for a long time they feel as if this corner of the internet is their turf...

 

My 2nd car was a manual and I didnt know how to drive one. But a friend did teach me in his car for about 20 minutes. 3 months later, I got the S2k Friend drove it home. And I taught myself to drive it at 1am in the morning. lol

After a few days, I got the hang of it.

Reading the instructions online did help a bit.

 

lmao i did all three of those

 

You should chill out, this cars clutch is not made out of glass. He'll be fine assuming it doesn't take him abnormally long to get the hang of it.

 

At least he didn't wimp out on "not getting a manual" because he didn't know how to drive one. He may have trouble driving it now, but years down the road, he won't be making a thread asking us how much it would cost to change his auto to a manual.

Most guys would blame it on traffic. This guy decided "F that, I'm getting a manual".

Congrats on the car and good luck! Most of all, be safe and have fun.

 

Its cool man you will get the hang. The best way is to find a slight hill and come to a dead stop at the bottom. If you can make it up the hill without stalling your on your way.

 

I'm chill...but you're assuming it won't take abnormally long...just like I'm assuming he's gonna burn it up, quickly.

And by the looks of it, he didn't take the time to learn prior to buying a manual car. Not a wise decision imho...

I would have learned on someone elses car, burned their clutch up and then buy a manual car.

This just doesn't make any sense to me.

 

Enigmatic you have the basic idea down.
From what you have explained you ARE following the correct steps/logic.
In my opinion your best bet would be to include where u are located in your thread.
That way you can see if someone local that drives stick can give you a lesson in person.

Just be patient, our MT takes a little getting used to.