Proper Clutch Pedal Operation !

[fionic]

There aren't. I don't want to repeat this here again to threadjack, because I already made this point before, but it's shocking how hard it is to learn to drive a manual transmission.

I have searched for manual-transmission classes at driving schools from Maine to Virginia and as far west as Pittsburgh -- nobody teaches them. No car rental agencies rent manual transmission cars. I don't know anybody who owns a car with a manual -- I've only sat in one once, when I was 17 decades ago. I only know two people who've ever driven a manual, and when I ask them about teaching me they both say "don't bother learning; it's awful and you'll wish you were never born in traffic." Not that they could teach me -- nobody has access to a manual to try out on.

The only option would be buying a manual car sight unseen and then trying to learn how to drive it then and there. My concern with that is that I wouldn't be able to get it out of the parking lot -- the one time I was ever in a car with a manual, when I was 17, I tried to get the car into gear for almost two hours, stalling over 100 times without ever being able to make the car move a foot.

It's easy to say "just learn!" and a lot harder to actually find a way to do it... one forum member here told me he'd teach me if I was ever in Rochester, and that's closest I've ever come to being able to find a way to learn how.

I found 1 10 minutes away from my house (in Naperville, IL) I assure you, they exist.

http://www.exceldrivingschool.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1432

it's truly not that difficult.

just buy the car and you'll be good to go in a couple days.

NY clearly just sucks for manual transmission. All your friends sound like assholes.

I mean... I already hate NY city, but you're just adding fuel to the fire.

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[fionic]

NY City:

http://www.brooklyndrivesny.com/stick-lessons.html

http://citidrivingschool.com/Manual-Stick-Shift-Driving-lessons.php

that took me 30 seconds.


Uncle Pennybags should be able to afford this:

http://www.prodriveny.com/stick.htm

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

I found 1 10 minutes away from my house (in Naperville, IL) I assure you, they exist.

http://www.exceldrivingschool.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1432

it's truly not that difficult.

just buy the car and you'll be good to go in a couple days.

You know, I searched for this a few years back and couldn't find anything. I just did a quick google search and found multiple schools that do it in the NY area too. That's... really cool, actually, and I'm glad that I looked into it again; I'll definitely take some classes now!

As to the just buying the car... I really doubt that would work. Like I said, last time I tried to drive stick, I stalled over 100 consecutive times without ever getting the car to move a foot. I wouldn't want to buy a car and then not be able to drive it off the lot...

 

[fionic]

You know, I searched for this a few years back and couldn't find anything. I just did a quick google search and found multiple schools that do it in the NY area too. That's... really cool, actually, and I'm glad that I looked into it again; I'll definitely take some classes now!

As to the just buying the car... I really doubt that would work. Like I said, last time I tried to drive stick, I stalled over 100 consecutive times without ever getting the car to move a foot. I wouldn't want to buy a car and then not be able to drive it off the lot...

You could also ask your salesman to give you a quick lesson; They are trying to sell you

Just remember not to release the clutch too fast.

 

[Clink]

My brother and I tried to take my sisters '83 Honda Civic out one summer day when both of us didn't know how to drive a stick and weren't even old enough.

Ended up having to push it back into it's original spot because we had it jumping all up and down the street...

 

[Clink]

Uncle Pennybags should be able to afford this:

http://www.prodriveny.com/stick.htm

:lol:

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

You could also ask your salesman to give you a quick lesson; They are trying to sell you

Just remember not to release the clutch too fast.

Well, that's easier said than done. I suppose that's the most difficult part, since you've got to give the car gas, taking your foot off the clutch pedal slowly enough to keep from stalling while stilling being fast enough to move your foot over two pedals to give it gas.

 

[oyitsagreen]

Well, that's easier said than done. I suppose that's the most difficult part, since you've got to give the car gas, taking your foot off the clutch pedal slowly enough to keep from stalling while stilling being fast enough to move your foot over two pedals to give it gas.

That was for me too. Shifting was easiest for me.

The best thing to do is to just slowly let out the clutch until you feel the car moving forward. No gas yet. Once you feel you've got that down it'll be easier to learn everything else.

Glad you found classes.

 

[kulfyur]

...when I was 17 decades ago... when I was 17...

17 * 10 + 17 =.... omg you're 187 years old?! :eyebulge: I must know your secret!

I tried to get the car into gear for almost two hours, stalling over 100 times without ever being able to make the car move a foot.

Damn those were some pretty smooth stalls if the car didn't lurch forward even .12 inches each stall. You may be the best MT driver ever and not even know it cause i assure you, when i stall... that car is MOVING!

(I'm just teasing dont take me seriously)

 

[fionic]

Well, that's easier said than done. I suppose that's the most difficult part, since you've got to give the car gas, taking your foot off the clutch pedal slowly enough to keep from stalling while stilling being fast enough to move your foot over two pedals to give it gas.

I'm sure it's been said already, but try getting the car moving without gas.

You'll be able to find the point where the clutch starts engaging, and it will make your life easier.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

17 * 10 + 17 =.... omg you're 187 years old?! :eyebulge: I must know your secret!

Ha! Fair point; my bad on the unclear grammar. I'm 33, not 187. Which would make me some kind of wizard.

 

[MikeAZ]

Well, that's easier said than done. I suppose that's the most difficult part, since you've got to give the car gas, taking your foot off the clutch pedal slowly enough to keep from stalling while stilling being fast enough to move your foot over two pedals to give it gas.

I've taught several family members how to drive a manual. First lesson is to find a big open, level parking lot and get the car moving using only the clutch pedal. You shouldn't need to touch the accelerator to get the car slowly moving on a level surface. Make sure to take your foot completely off the clutch once the car is moving so the clutch doesn't slip and cause premature wear. Stop the car and repeat. Keep practicing this until you get a feel for when the clutch will engage.

Lesson two is the same except you use a parking lot with an incline. If it's too steep, you'll need to use the accelerator a bit, but you should be able to handle it if you performed step one until you were comfortable getting the car moving. Cars with hill assist will make this easier, but you should really learn without the crutch. Some people use the clutch partially released and the accelerator to "hold" the car but that will cause the clutch disc to wear. A better technique is to use your right foot on both the brake and the accelerator at the same time. It takes a bit of practice, but you can hold the car with the brake while releasing the clutch and also depress the accelerator enough to get the car moving. Once going, move the right foot completely off the brake and keep control on the accelerator.

Lesson three is using the clutch to change gears. Stick with the level parking lot. Start out in first as in lesson one, accelerate to 10-15 mph, depress the clutch, shift to second and release the clutch. This lesson will help you get a feel for what using the clutch feels like both when the car is at rest and when it is in motion. Stop the car and repeat until you are comfortable and smooth in changing gears from a stop through first and into second.

By this time you should be competent enough to go out in traffic and just drive around. From this point on the rest is easy. You won't stall and you won't cause the car to jump around while starting from a stop. You'll pick up when to shift either by engine noise, or looking at the tach. Eventually, you'll just change gears by instinct and won't even think about doing it.

Like others have said, heavy traffic can be a pain, but you can learn to manage it. Leave enough room so that you can slowly coast in first gear and keep the car in motion. If that is not possible, when stopped, take the transmission out of gear and release the clutch. Your left leg will thank you for the relief from depressing the clutch for long durations while stopped and it is better on the clutch assembly.

Each of my family members learned using this method in less than a week. Some were functional in less than a day. Attitude has a lot to do with it. If you approach it timidly and think you can't do it, it will take longer.

At some point you may want to learn how to double clutch and heel-and-toe if you plan on any track base activities. These are easier to learn before you develop bad habits. Modern transmissions don't require these techniques in normal driving, but they do help reduce lap times on the track.

 

[Clink]

This is serious at this point, who on this forum lives close enough to Jimmy and can teach him with a Go Pro setup for all of us to enjoy/celebrate with him? :help:

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

This is serious at this point, who on this forum lives close enough to Jimmy and can teach him with a Go Pro setup for all of us to enjoy/celebrate with him? :help:

There are schools that teach it! I looked everywhere for such schools about ten years ago and they flat out didn't exist, but now I found one a half-hour from me:

http://www.brooklyndrivesny.com/stick-lessons.html

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