I suck hardcore at driving, kinda concerned :( - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

nycoupe11 · 05-13-2011, 06:09 PM

Just keep your head up and be positive! It's not like a video game or what you have seen on fast and the furious! I am probably around your age and I know how you feel! Don't practice on a different car because no matter what you will have to learn on your own. Everyday as you said will get better and better.. The car can handle it

1BADLS3 · 05-13-2011, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mellish50

well whats this heat smell? thats whats bothering me most. My starts typically consist of me jerking forward a little bit then giving it more gas and away i go lol

It's probably the clutch breaking in and/or roasting a bit, depending on how much you're letting it slip.

The beauty of the LS3 is that you can pretty much just ease the clutch out in 1st gear and it will go, provided you're on flat ground.

The clutch in the LS3 has one of the stiffest springs I've ever felt. When I first got my car, I was surprised more than a couple times about how the clutch kinda pops out at the end of the pedal travel. Near the friction point, it's noticeably stiffer and kinda catapults your leg back. If you're not expecting it, it can make for a jerky start.

Practice makes perfect. You'll get out as much fun/enjoyment and smoothness in your driving as the effort you put into practicing...

1Camaro2SS · 05-13-2011, 06:10 PM

If it's that difficult just get an auto dude! It won't make you less of a man, trust me. You will smoke most LS3's since there are only a few really good manual drivers out there.

OrangeVert · 05-13-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mellish50

well whats this heat smell? thats whats bothering me most. My starts typically consist of me jerking forward a little bit then giving it more gas and away i go lol

Well, it's probably vintage 2011 chateau clutchplate!

Seriously, if you are wondering what you're doing to the car to make its parts burn up, check out this link. It will explain the mechanics and you can learn and/or adjust your technique accordingly: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch.htm

I learned how to drive a manual in 1983 with nobody teaching me, from reading my 1971 Pontiac Lemans owner's manual. So it can be done. Good luck!!!

scythezo6 · 05-13-2011, 06:11 PM

I learned on my SS too. It was my 1st car with a manual tranny. When I went to pick it up from the dealership I had to drive it home in rush hour traffic so don't be too worried. That burning smell you are noticing is you wearing in the clutch. Just keep practicing it took me about 2 weeks to be able to drive to work and back without feeling scared. About 2 months later I was driving around not even realizing it was manual anymore. It takes time and getting your LEFT foot to respond and do what you want it to do takes time.

Don't do what A LOT of people advise: rev the engine up to about 1.5-2000 RPM then let off the clutch. Gradually let off the clutch until you feel the engine engage, give it a little gas and you'll start rolling. Once you start rolling you can either give it more gas or just coast.

PRACTICE GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO 10 MPH. Once you master that then practice going from 1st to 2nd smoothly without having the car jerk back and forth. From then on practice going from a stop to 10-20mph uphill.

scythezo6 · 05-13-2011, 06:14 PM

More advise. Don't listen to people saying 'just get an auto". I too at the time I was learning felt like "shi* i should have gotten auto" but don't give up. Anyone can learn it.

DarkObsession · 05-13-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BADLS3

The clutch in the LS3 has one of the stiffest springs I've ever felt. When I first got my car, I was surprised more than a couple times about how the clutch kinda pops out at the end of the pedal travel. Near the friction point, it's noticeably stiffer and kinda catapults your leg back. If you're not expecting it, it can make for a jerky start.

Quoted for the freaking truth!

Anyway, as others have said, that smell is likely just the clutch breaking in. Mine did it when I first got my car and I know how to drive a manual. Driving a manual just takes practice and lots of it but after you do it for a while, it becomes second nature. Just keep at it and you will be fine.

6bloodychunks · 05-13-2011, 06:36 PM

i noticed that the clutch on my ss has very short travel from when it starts to grab to when its fully disengaged.

ive been driving manual since i was 17 and this took a little getting used to.

"i hope scotty didnt see me stall it when i was leaving his dealership LOL"

ItIsWhatItIs · 05-13-2011, 06:41 PM

I'm with everyone else that suggests "renting a manual vehicle". As previously mentioned the smell is the clutch and probably not because it is new....if you ride it you will smell it.
By the way its not that hard to blow a clutch and the repair cost will far out distance the rental of a manual.

formare · 05-13-2011, 06:42 PM

Not gonna hurt it is a bit of a stretch. Consider the clutch, pressure plate and flywheel replacement as the cost of the lesson. But don't feel bad, everyone has to learn on something.....

ItIsWhatItIs · 05-13-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Camaro2SS

If it's that difficult just get an auto dude! It won't make you less of a man, trust me. You will smoke most LS3's since there are only a few really good manual drivers out there.

And if you're really good you don't need to use the clutch between gears...just listen to the whine of the engine.

formare · 05-13-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItIsWhatItIs

And if you're really good you don't need to use the clutch between gears...just listen to the whine of the engine.

While possible to match the synchros with an rpm and shift with no clutch a very bad idea.

Mellish50 · 05-13-2011, 06:53 PM

I dont ride the clutch, i explicitly focus on not doing just that lol okay im not going to worry about the smell so much, had me worried that i was screwing up pretty bad

i was also worried about the few times where (when starting to move) the car would lunge forward then almost stall then lunge again then almost stall then lunge again, at that point i either stall or i smoothly start moving. Been watching a few videos online and reading the posts on the forum here to help me

really impressed at how helpful people can be

ItIsWhatItIs · 05-13-2011, 07:01 PM

Its all a matter of engaging the clutch smoothly with giving the vehicle just enough gas so it will not stall. Practice makes perfect.

05-13-2011, 06:10 PM	#17
1Camaro2SS Drives: 2010 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,430 View My Garage	If it's that difficult just get an auto dude! It won't make you less of a man, trust me. You will smoke most LS3's since there are only a few really good manual drivers out there. __________________ 432 RWHP 391 RWTQ 12.37 1/4 mile on stock tires

05-13-2011, 06:11 PM	#19
scythezo6 Virologist in the making Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 2,865	I learned on my SS too. It was my 1st car with a manual tranny. When I went to pick it up from the dealership I had to drive it home in rush hour traffic so don't be too worried. That burning smell you are noticing is you wearing in the clutch. Just keep practicing it took me about 2 weeks to be able to drive to work and back without feeling scared. About 2 months later I was driving around not even realizing it was manual anymore. It takes time and getting your LEFT foot to respond and do what you want it to do takes time. Don't do what A LOT of people advise: rev the engine up to about 1.5-2000 RPM then let off the clutch. Gradually let off the clutch until you feel the engine engage, give it a little gas and you'll start rolling. Once you start rolling you can either give it more gas or just coast. PRACTICE GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP TO 10 MPH. Once you master that then practice going from 1st to 2nd smoothly without having the car jerk back and forth. From then on practice going from a stop to 10-20mph uphill. __________________ Victory Red 1SS/RS Ordered - 8/4/09 & Joined Camaro5.com family 6000, Delivered to the customer - 12/21/09

05-13-2011, 06:14 PM	#20
scythezo6 Virologist in the making Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: El Paso TX Posts: 2,865	More advise. Don't listen to people saying 'just get an auto". I too at the time I was learning felt like "shi* i should have gotten auto" but don't give up. Anyone can learn it. __________________ Victory Red 1SS/RS Ordered - 8/4/09 & Joined Camaro5.com family 6000, Delivered to the customer - 12/21/09

05-13-2011, 06:36 PM	#22
6bloodychunks Drives: 2011 2SS/RS SGM Join Date: May 2010 Location: uniontown,PA Posts: 787	i noticed that the clutch on my ss has very short travel from when it starts to grab to when its fully disengaged. ive been driving manual since i was 17 and this took a little getting used to. "i hope scotty didnt see me stall it when i was leaving his dealership LOL" __________________ ---2011 synergy green 2SS/RS--- 09/27/2010 - (3800) 10/01/2010 - (4200) 10/09/2010 - (4800) Vehicle on final destination route 10/19/2010 - (5000) delivered to dealer 11/19/2010 - (6000) delivered to customer

05-13-2011, 06:42 PM	#24
formare The Milano Drives: 2017 Firefly ShipWorks Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN) Posts: 1,877 View My Garage	Not gonna hurt it is a bit of a stretch. Consider the clutch, pressure plate and flywheel replacement as the cost of the lesson. But don't feel bad, everyone has to learn on something..... __________________ My first Love. She was called "Miss Carriage" (still cry when I think about her) 383, Muncie 4 speed, custom linkage mated to hurst short throw shifter.

05-13-2011, 06:09 PM	#15
nycoupe11 Drives: 2011 2ss/rs Summit White Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NYC Posts: 335 View My Garage	Just keep your head up and be positive! It's not like a video game or what you have seen on fast and the furious! I am probably around your age and I know how you feel! Don't practice on a different car because no matter what you will have to learn on your own. Everyday as you said will get better and better.. The car can handle it

05-13-2011, 06:41 PM	#23
ItIsWhatItIs Drives: #5 Tom Henry Racing 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Coast Posts: 370	I'm with everyone else that suggests "renting a manual vehicle". As previously mentioned the smell is the clutch and probably not because it is new....if you ride it you will smell it. By the way its not that hard to blow a clutch and the repair cost will far out distance the rental of a manual.

05-13-2011, 06:53 PM	#27
Mellish50 Drives: 2011 SW M6 2SS Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Brunswick Canada Posts: 252	I dont ride the clutch, i explicitly focus on not doing just that lol okay im not going to worry about the smell so much, had me worried that i was screwing up pretty bad i was also worried about the few times where (when starting to move) the car would lunge forward then almost stall then lunge again then almost stall then lunge again, at that point i either stall or i smoothly start moving. Been watching a few videos online and reading the posts on the forum here to help me really impressed at how helpful people can be __________________ A driver don't pick the cars. Mmm-mm. Cars pick the driver. It's a mystical bond between man and machine.

05-13-2011, 07:01 PM	#28
ItIsWhatItIs Drives: #5 Tom Henry Racing 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Coast Posts: 370	Its all a matter of engaging the clutch smoothly with giving the vehicle just enough gas so it will not stall. Practice makes perfect.

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