I broke two records today...

[ConspicuousConsumption]

MultiMediaWill... Three tips from a fellow manual non-expert:

1) take it easy. Even 4th at 70 is balls out driving for a first day inexperienced driver. Just because you have the power doesn't mean you need to use it (right away)

2) find a trusted, more experienced manual driver and put them in your driver seat. Shut up and learn.

3) drive while keeping the engine below 3,500 rpm without bogging it and as you get comfortable and know what gear to be in, then you can feel out the higher power band. See point #1.

Enjoy!

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[wag4513]

When I was 17 I got a new 1965 Mustang with a three speed on the floor. I had never driven manual transmission. I was working out of town and my uncle brought the car to me and left it. I drove around on dirt section line roads most of the night learning to feather the clutch and get the car going. The dirt roads were good because they also provided just poor enough traction to take pressure off of the clutch.

 

[RobD]

Wow what a thread. Glad you got your car back and the damage only cost 1k. We all make mistakes and learn from them hopefully.

I once made a critical mistake over reving a 429 big block that I just built and installed in my 1970 Mach 1. It was an auto car and I was showing off to a buddy going through the gears with No tach. I was just going by feel and sound before I manually shifted. It was running awesome and I was so proud of my build..... Until I came to a stop light and heard that awful sound of a rod knock. (a sickening sound you never want to hear) So I went home and pulled a valve cover and found lots of shiny metal in the oil which was the rod bearing going to pieces. That was a bad day! BTW I was in my early 20's and had lots to learn....

 

[73MachI]

MultiMediaWill... Three tips from a fellow manual non-expert:

1) take it easy. Even 4th at 70 is balls out driving for a first day inexperienced driver. Just because you have the power doesn't mean you need to use it (right away)

2) find a trusted, more experienced manual driver and put them in your driver seat. Shut up and learn.

3) drive while keeping the engine below 3,500 rpm without bogging it and as you get comfortable and know what gear to be in, then you can feel out the higher power band. See point #1.

Enjoy!

Damned good advice.

MultiMediaWill - thanks for keeping us in the loop on your experience! You got a good heart bro. Keep learning.

 

[GTP]

OP, I see you found the best choice of wheel up grades offered.

Someday you will be writing posts on how to tell others the way to shift.

 

[lowatts]

Here she is after class! So happy to have her back :cheers:

Glad to hear it worked out and you have it back, $1k sounds like a lot but really not a lot as you will learn later as far as mistakes we make in life--we all make them. I threw out a lot more than that just at car spending/purchasing mistakes when I was young. Just chalk this one up to the cost of car ownership and driving lesson.

As far as shifting, I have missed about four times in my new V6 as well, going from 5th to 4th when I was going for 5th to 6th. Never missed shifts before in my other cars even when racing in autocross. Fortunately in my case I wasn't going fast and at least eased into the clutch a little, but still not the best thing for the car. This car seems a little harder to shift right than my past manual cars ('88 GT, '89 Prelude Si, '83 Jetta, '81 Civic), probably mostly because of the 6th gear in the pattern, I've only had 5 speeds before except for my motorcycles--unless my 1988 GT was a 4 speed, not sure, 26 years ago. And the seat side boaster does get in my way a little when I move my arm right and back to go into 6th. If I move the seat back enough for arm clearance, then my leg can't reach enough to get the clutch pedal to the floor. So I have to use some wrist motion to get it into 6th. Not a complaint though, just an observation, as I do like the shift feel overall.

 

[Steeeliskt]

In some situations the clutch cannot be all out. Eg when going up on a hill with tight bumper to bumper traffic...You will have to learn how to balance the car with just the clutch and the gas with no brakes...

In fact you can practice that on your driveway or uphill with no traffic. Get the car to the balance point where it is not moving with no brakes but just the clutch and gas...rolling it back en forth till you master that technic. And you can do it without burning the clutch.

Exactly how I learned how to drive a manual. I passed the permit test at 15 years old, my dad took me to a large hill in his '96 GT, I switched to driver seat, disengaged e-brake, he says to me "when you can consistently start without rolling back on a hill, you will be ready to drive a manual". Got pretty frustrated trying to figure it out (clutch was swapped with a cobra clutch making it feel like a 50lb leg press).. but after about 30 mins of trial an error, I got it down and drove all the way back home across town. Of course while practicing I did stall here and there and have weird issues, but it was a great way to learn and really understand what was going on with a clutch.

These new cars are insanely easy. Super light clutch pedal, hill assist, etc.

 

[CrazedAntelope]

MultiMediaWill- you went all out for your first manual car!

I really wanted a GTPP, but I test drove it and quickly realized it would be too much for me considering it was my first sports car, first manual, first RWD car. I got an EBPP with M/T, I bought it but my dad had to drive it home

Edit: I was 21 when I got it

 

[CB]

I see some luck in this situation. That clutch plate blew and saved you an engine over rev.

 

[RouteAbel]

Man I feel lucky, I have shifted into the wrong gear before in my GT. I guess I have been lucky or realized the revs going up quick enough to jam the clutch back in.

 

[Barry626]

Well to be fair this was my first day ever driving a stick shift. The goal is to never let a novice mistake like this ever happen again.

:hail:

 

[Horse]

why wouldn't rev match suffice? clutch in, downshift, rev engine, clutch out. less steps...

hope this helps
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showpost.php?p=991521&postcount=372

 

[Horse]

It depends on how you get that balance point right...A little too much of the clutch in can cause the burning hence the smell. But it is a good technic to master.

For instance...If you ever have to back up or say parallel park in a tight spot. You will have to have the clutch not all the way out (balance point) otherwise the car will stall due to the RPMS being too low.

Yes, sometimes we have to do this. But this practice is wearing the clutch by definition, so we should avoid doing this as much as possible.

 

[cop on my back]

No offence to the OP, engineers have made cars pretty much idiot proof, but there is always a bigger idiot. Why learn stick on a car like this is beyond me. As for stalling, I think this car is the most forgiving vehicle I've driven with respect to that. Ad the hill start function and it is nearly impossible.

 

[dogiebitt]

No offence to the OP, engineers have made cars pretty much idiot proof, but there is always a bigger idiot. Why learn stick on a car like this is beyond me. As for stalling, I think this car is the most forgiving vehicle I've driven with respect to that. Ad the hill start function and it is nearly impossible.

Some people don't have the opportunities to learn stick on a beater/friends car/rental. Nothing wrong with learning on a car like this, just know what the consequences are and be ready to accept them (extensive clutch wear and eventual early replacement).

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