05-13-2011, 06:09 PM | #15 |
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
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05-13-2011, 06:09 PM | #16 | |
Drives: Sold: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 1,896
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Quote:
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... |
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05-13-2011, 06:10 PM | #17 |
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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.
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432 RWHP 391 RWTQ 12.37 1/4 mile on stock tires
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05-13-2011, 06:11 PM | #18 | |
"Catharine"
Drives: '11 2SS/RS LS-3 IOM/IO vert Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 2,132
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Quote:
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!!!
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05-13-2011, 06:11 PM | #19 |
Virologist in the making
Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: El Paso TX
Posts: 2,865
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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.
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05-13-2011, 06:14 PM | #20 |
Virologist in the making
Drives: 2010 VR SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: El Paso TX
Posts: 2,865
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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.
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Victory Red 1SS/RS Ordered - 8/4/09 & Joined Camaro5.com family
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05-13-2011, 06:24 PM | #21 | |
Drives: 2011 Camaro SS2/LS3 Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Jose
Posts: 329
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Quote:
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.
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2011 Chevrolet Camaro SS2/LS3 - Pretty much bone stock (SLP SkipShift Eliminator, GTO clutch fluid reservoir mod) - 13.025 @ 110.492 MPH (12s?? )
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP (retired) - Cam, exhaust, CAI, 12 PSI, tune - 13.465 @ 101.04 MPH |
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05-13-2011, 06:36 PM | #22 |
Drives: 2011 2SS/RS SGM Join Date: May 2010
Location: uniontown,PA
Posts: 787
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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"
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05-13-2011, 06:41 PM | #23 |
Drives: #5 Tom Henry Racing 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009
Location: North Coast
Posts: 370
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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, 06:42 PM | #24 |
The Milano
Drives: 2017 Firefly ShipWorks Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN)
Posts: 1,877
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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.....
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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, 06:44 PM | #25 |
Drives: #5 Tom Henry Racing 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009
Location: North Coast
Posts: 370
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And if you're really good you don't need to use the clutch between gears...just listen to the whine of the engine.
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05-13-2011, 06:46 PM | #26 |
The Milano
Drives: 2017 Firefly ShipWorks Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chicagoland (Crown Point, IN)
Posts: 1,877
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While possible to match the synchros with an rpm and shift with no clutch a very bad idea.
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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, 06:53 PM | #27 |
Drives: 2011 SW M6 2SS Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: New Brunswick Canada
Posts: 252
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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
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A driver don't pick the cars. Mmm-mm. Cars pick the driver. It's a mystical bond between man and machine.
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05-13-2011, 07:01 PM | #28 |
Drives: #5 Tom Henry Racing 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: May 2009
Location: North Coast
Posts: 370
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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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