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Old 04-05-2009, 08:37 PM   #1
NightmareSS

 
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Question New to the Stick...Advice?

Ok...Ive asked about this a few times in multiple threads but i figured I might as well start my own thread to get responses from some more people...

I ordered a 2SS/RS in manual but i dont really have any experience driving stick. Well, I drove it a few times on a couple of my friends cars which included an old ass Volvo turbo, 95 Civic bubble back, and a 2006 Mini Cooper Type S...But the last time I drove any of these was atleast 3-4 years ago, so whatever I learned then is likely to have been forgotten. Although I do know the basics as to what i have to do as far as getting it moving. Getting into first was tough at first being the first cars i drove was the old Volvo and the Civic with a worn out clutch. I won't 4get how i stalled it 3 times at a light in the Civic. But when I drove the Cooper it was a breeze. My guess was that the clutch was brand new and it caught easily. Which is what im hoping will be the case for the Camaro. Give it a lil gas and ease of the clutch till it catches and once you get rolling you can fully release the clutch. Now knowing when to down shift is something im not familiar with and I'm really nervous that im gonna look like an asshole in traffic! Besides that, I dont want to mess up my tranny...Now I know alot of you might be thinking that i shouldn't even be getting manual but I want it. There isnt a day that goes by now, that I don't wish my 300zx was stick. And I dont know anyone with a manual car that will let me practice on and I don't want to pay for a class at some driving school. I think I'll manage just fine but I am still a bit nervous for when I go pick up my car. I live in New York and I ordered in New Jersey only about 25mins away with no traffic...but the dealership is on the side of the highway and when i pick it up i have to merge onto the higway and drive that baby home over the bridge! (PLEASE GOD DON'T LET THERE BE TRAFFIC!)

I know there isn't much you guys can do to help me without actually showing me first hand but if there are any tips or advice you can bestow upon me to help calm my nerves, take it easy, and help me not ruin my tranny it would be greatly appreciated! Come on Camaro5...help a Camaro brother out! I'm all ears...
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:42 PM   #2
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Go out, by yourself, with no one around, and teach yourself. People suck and get pushy. You gotta learn yourself how to drive your car the way you wanna drive it. The more you relax, the easier it will come.
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:43 PM   #3
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Funny that was my 300th post and the 300zx i drive now is what has inspired my to want to drive a manual transmission!

Oh and I also just wanted to add that I've thought about renting a car to learn on but how am I supposed to drive it out of the lot without looking like an ass...LOL
Actually I can prolly manage that but still, what do you guys think?
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:46 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielleAnne View Post
Go out, by yourself, with no one around, and teach yourself. People suck and get pushy. You gotta learn yourself how to drive your car the way you wanna drive it. The more you relax, the easier it will come.
Well yea im gonna be by myself but im nervous for that first trip home before I can take it to an open area and practice! But man is it gonna be an adventure...our first adventure together......Just looking for some tips that experience drivers might be able to share with me that might make it easier.
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:46 PM   #5
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try to find a friend that doesnt mind you destroying the clutch on his car and practice because thats the only way you will learn.

My dad my freshman year of college bought the one and only manual transmission car that my family has owned while I have been alive (was 20 at the time). My sister was able to drive it to and from school every day (she was in HS at the time) and it took her a couple of months but 5 years later (we no longer have the car) she can drive a manual pretty well and because I never got any real experience with it I pretty much suck at them. practice makes perfect.
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:51 PM   #6
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I grew up and learned how to drive on a manual transmission so my advice may be a little biased and possibly sound silly; it is not meant to be.

Take it easy and find a large expanse of parking lot with no obstacles to practice in. Once you're comfortable going from P to R and shifting from 1 to 2 and 2 to 1 find yourself a stop sign on a deserted (or low traffic) street to practice starting from an incline. You could even ask the dealer if for your first drive in it, he accompany you around the lot (away from the other cars), until you're comfortable enough to drive it through traffic to home.

DON'T take someone with you while practicing, they'll be a distraction unless
they are of a calm demeanor and you trust them..

Each car is a little different, so specific advice on how to ease or pop the clutch in combination with go pedal, will have to be learned gradually. Don't worry about stalling the vehicle, and don't be embarrassed, it has happened to us all before (those who say no are lying)

You might want to look into seeing if a friend or the dealer has a manual you could practice in prior to picking up your new ride too.

Downshifting. Some may hate me for saying this, but while learning the RPM limits of your Camaro, you can downshift from a high gear right down to 1 after coming to a complete stop (or real slow), without worry. Skipping the intermediate gears altogether. Once you get used to how the manual operates with your driving style, get used to breaking while in gear and downshifting on the fly until it becomes second nature, listen to the engine for cues on when to both up and down shift, you'll get used to what she wants in no time flat.
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:55 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightmareSS View Post
Funny that was my 300th post and the 300zx i drive now is what has inspired my to want to drive a manual transmission!

Oh and I also just wanted to add that I've thought about renting a car to learn on but how am I supposed to drive it out of the lot without looking like an ass...LOL
Actually I can prolly manage that but still, what do you guys think?
I doubt you will find a rental piece with a stick....for the obvious reasons. First accept the fact that you will stall the car. Forget the car behind you and don't get flustered, clutch in, restart and calmly try again. Stalling is better that glazing the clutch. I've taught novices to drive everything from a Cobalt to a ZO6! in our back lot. You want to try to get the car rolling with NO gas first. This will begin teaching the muscle memory of where the clutch starts to engage and where is is totally engaged. Once you master the "magic inch" of clutch engagement, you have 90% of the battle won. Keep the radio OFF, the car will tell you when to shift. Down shifting is an advanced lesson. Keep power off when moving through the clutch engagement zone. Burning the disc is an expensive tuition payment and will not be covered by warranty. RELAX, focus and enjoy.
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:56 PM   #8
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best thing you can do is practice, especially since you already know how to drive. dont feel bad though, that 2ss is gonna have a lot of power and take some getting used to for pretty much everyone on here if they dont already have a car similar in power. so once again just practice with a friends car if possible to get reaquainted with driving stick, last thing u wanna do is wreck your baby before you even get home
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Old 04-05-2009, 08:56 PM   #9
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lol I went from driving an auto to getting a daily driver C4 corvette with a 6speed Manual in it & havent looked back.

I wasnt confortable driving manuals like yourself, but my husband told me once he left for over seas That the only car I can drive when the weather was good, was our 96 Geo metro that had a 4speed Manual in it lol.

I got pretty ok in that, then we sold that & he got his vette Said he will get my comfy in it while driving & he never did, So last May He needed his vette moved & told me to take it around the block lol half hour later I come back drooling wanting one, two days later we picked up my C4 & I havent looked back since, I still have some problems shifting but not as bad as it could be.
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Old 04-05-2009, 09:03 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightmareSS View Post
Well yea im gonna be by myself but im nervous for that first trip home before I can take it to an open area and practice! But man is it gonna be an adventure...our first adventure together......Just looking for some tips that experience drivers might be able to share with me that might make it easier.
I know how you feel. When I bought my 00 camaro I had never drove a manual before. They wouldn't even let me test drive it but I wanted it and got approved for it then I took it out. I was scared at first. Thinking man why did I get a manual, People are going to be makin fun of me for stallin it out or missing a gear. I started it up and pulled out of the lot and up the road I went. The torque in these cars help alot, you aren't going to stall it out that easy.

Just so happened that at the first red light a mustang pulled up next to me reving the engine. I thought oh no.... I dont know what Im doing and Im goin to make the camaro look bad.... well i couldn't back down (I was younger and dumb) So I reved back, man that drowned out the sound of their stang. The light turns green I popped the clutch and hit the gas. I looked to see where the stang was and he had stalled out at the light.. I laughed my @$$ off. I pulled in the next gas station and the guy drove by and wouldn't even look. I know it was stupid but how many of you could resist it?

But as far as you not knowing how to drive the stick.... I think you'll be fine. I'm sure your dealer will help you if you ask. Or anyone from here I am sure will be more than happy to help. They will have to actually show you with you in the passenger seat..lol
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Old 04-05-2009, 09:18 PM   #11
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I've driven stick turf trucksters with 3cyl brawny diesels as my training for about 5 years. Had the same problems as all of you guys but I have since learned some neat little tricks of torque-y vehicles. Hell I even blew out the cable clutch on the vehicle my first week. :/ (Yeah, all I know how to drive are cable actuated clutches.. This camaro is gonna be butter.)

Still, remember:

-Listen to the motor
-Listen to the motor
-Listen to the motor

Got it? Radio and Drinks should stay off and out of the vehicle for about a month or so until you feel REALLY comfortable with your driving. If you think they're a distraction with an auto..just wait until that stop light. Also having experience on a bike helps with that situational awareness thing..
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Old 04-05-2009, 09:32 PM   #12
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imo i would suggest trying to find a friend with a diesel truck with a manual in it. that is the easiest to learn how to drive a clutch in, due to the fact you cant stall them unless you just dump the clutch. you dont have to worry about releasing the clutch and giving it gas at the same time. simply let the clutch out and the truck moves. TORQUE. then you can practice easier. plus if you miss a gear in a diesel say first to fourth it still moves and wont stall so you can learn way quicker. yea it lugs down but it will still move. but then again ive been driving a manual my whole driving career but i learned in diesels and its a whole other world in a gas motor. espescially like my girlfriends toyota four banger that you have to have master the right combo of gas and clutch to even move. imo they are the hardest to drive. good luck
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Old 04-05-2009, 09:33 PM   #13
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Thanks guys...appreciate the insights...you make me feel like everything is gonna be ok!! HaHa...

Quote:
Originally Posted by NUCAR View Post
I doubt you will find a rental piece with a stick....for the obvious reasons. First accept the fact that you will stall the car. Forget the car behind you and don't get flustered, clutch in, restart and calmly try again. Stalling is better that glazing the clutch. I've taught novices to drive everything from a Cobalt to a ZO6! in our back lot. You want to try to get the car rolling with NO gas first. This will begin teaching the muscle memory of where the clutch starts to engage and where is is totally engaged. Once you master the "magic inch" of clutch engagement, you have 90% of the battle won. Keep the radio OFF, the car will tell you when to shift. Down shifting is an advanced lesson. Keep power off when moving through the clutch engagement zone. Burning the disc is an expensive tuition payment and will not be covered by warranty. RELAX, focus and enjoy.
What does glazing the clutch mean? and I always thought if you didnt give it gas while releasing the clutch it would stall...but your saying if I just get it to the catching point the idle will keep it running and rolling slightly aslong as i dont fully release the clutch?
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Old 04-05-2009, 09:48 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by NightmareSS View Post
Thanks guys...appreciate the insights...you make me feel like everything is gonna be ok!! HaHa...



What does glazing the clutch mean? and I always thought if you didnt give it gas while releasing the clutch it would stall...but your saying if I just get it to the catching point the idle will keep it running and rolling slightly aslong as i dont fully release the clutch?
Slowly let out the clutch with no gas. When you get to the "sweet spot", the car will begin to roll. Too much of the clutch being let out without relief from the gas pedal will stall it.

When the car begins to roll, that's when you know when to give it some gas. (This is just for practice so you know when you'll need to give it gas...you wouldn't do this all the time.)

Downshifting is harder to tell in a forum because you really have to pay attention to how the engine is reacting...and what it sounds like. At first, just pop the car into neutral and use the brakes to stop...and then just put it in the necessary gear to go again...You can learn downshifting after you're not freaking out about stalling it!


(Just so you know and you can feel a little more at ease... When I test drove my 350Z, I stalled it before I left the parking lot.) It happens to everyone. I was coming from a manual on a Jeep...which was a LOT different than the Z!
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