Learning stick on a 1le

[_Onyx_Wolf_]

Thanks guys for all the help

[CapeCruisin]

learned how2stick on my 1le also
be aware that you dont need to have the clutch 100% down or 100% up in order to shift in or out of gear. I like working within the 20-80% range
getting it rolling in 1st is the hardest part
just know this:
the clutch is a 'consumable' like your brake pads are a consumable. don't worry about keeping your foot on the clutch a little bit as you are accelerating in 1st gear. you might burn it a bit the first couple of days, don't worry about it though.

work on getting the car moving without any gas first. once you can do this over and over, you'll get a better feel for the car

there isn't a better way to learn than just going out and getting some seat time.
don't worry about being 'fast', that will come later
just worry about being 'smooth'

your first blip-downshift will make you feel awesome.

[Joseph1LE]

Back when I first learned stick (not in my 1LE) the thing that I did that really made all the difference for me was get on a slightly slanted surface, let the car roll back and learn how to "catch" the car and stop it from rolling and make it roll back forward with no gas. Once I got the hang of that I was solid. This is the most critical thing for really learning what it feels like to be in the "sweet spot" of the pedal, and where that spot is in the pedal travel. When I taught my girlfriend in my 1LE she struggled at first. Once I got her on a slightly slanted surface to practice rolling back and forth she had it down in about 30 mins.

[_Onyx_Wolf_]

Originally Posted by CapeCruisin

learned how2stick on my 1le also
be aware that you dont need to have the clutch 100% down or 100% up in order to shift in or out of gear. I like working within the 20-80% range
getting it rolling in 1st is the hardest part
just know this:
the clutch is a 'consumable' like your brake pads are a consumable. don't worry about keeping your foot on the clutch a little bit as you are accelerating in 1st gear. you might burn it a bit the first couple of days, don't worry about it though.

work on getting the car moving without any gas first. once you can do this over and over, you'll get a better feel for the car

there isn't a better way to learn than just going out and getting some seat time.
don't worry about being 'fast', that will come later
just worry about being 'smooth'

your first blip-downshift will make you feel awesome.

Good stuff, I thought you had to give it gas when rolling or it would stall I'll try just letting out the clutch super slow and see if it rolls on its own. And yeah nothing like seat time is right but it's been raining like crazy the past few days but I'll give it a go anyway.

[markgws6]

Also even expert "stick shift" operators here have stalled this car on a slope due to the HSA (Hill Start Assist) feature. I recommend not learning to drive it (stopping) on hills until you are comfortable on normal level roads. If you have a steep driveway, You have no choice I guess (my HSA sometimes kicks in too only in a slight bump level driveway.)

[paul84043]

Originally Posted by Thor142

My first MT was about 20 years ago. It was about a year between my last stick shift and my 1LE. I still find it to be the most temperamental manual transmission I've ever driven even after 4000 miles. It's so unrefined IMO, noisy, clunky. It was almost like learning a MT all over again.

I love the sounds it makes... I like hearing the linkage move, the throw out bearing disengage, the mechanical sounds to me are awesome..

[AzShadow]

Originally Posted by Joseph1LE

Back when I first learned stick (not in my 1LE) the thing that I did that really made all the difference for me was get on a slightly slanted surface, let the car roll back and learn how to "catch" the car and stop it from rolling and make it roll back forward with no gas. Once I got the hang of that I was solid. This is the most critical thing for really learning what it feels like to be in the "sweet spot" of the pedal, and where that spot is in the pedal travel. When I taught my girlfriend in my 1LE she struggled at first. Once I got her on a slightly slanted surface to practice rolling back and forth she had it down in about 30 mins.

Ha! I learned on an old 3 speed Corvair--my buddy took me out to the country, and said it was easy as pie. So--I took the wheel and going straight down the road was actually much easier than I thought. But then he had me turn on a side road, and all of a sudden I was facing a big uphill climb. No problem! I was 1/2 way up that hill when he said STOP! I didn't know what was wrong, so I stopped. Then he said, never mind, keep going. HA! HA! That was my 1st lesson. The 2nd lesson was getting that sweet spot where I wouldn't roll back or go forward---just like pressing the brakes. Best driving lesson I ever had.

[maraging]

It took me awhile to get used to mine. My last manual was my 05 gto. It would be a piece of cake if the clutch didnt grab at the very top of the pedal travel.

[xinfamousxi]

Is there anything wrong with starting from 2nd?

[Matty Ice]

Nope, I do it every now and then when traffic dictates it or driving in the snow. Just have to be careful not to slip the clutch too much.

[Joseph1LE]

Originally Posted by xinfamousxi

Is there anything wrong with starting from 2nd?

Not at all. I do it all the time.


Nice to see I'm not the only one that thinks the pedal engagement/disengagement spot is stupidly high on the 1LE.

[xinfamousxi]

Originally Posted by Joseph1LE

Not at all. I do it all the time.


Nice to see I'm not the only one that thinks the pedal engagement/disengagement spot is stupidly high on the 1LE.

Would it cause me to burn has any faster?

[Camaro Dude]

Originally Posted by Thor142

My first MT was about 20 years ago. It was about a year between my last stick shift and my 1LE. I still find it to be the most temperamental manual transmission I've ever driven even after 4000 miles. It's so unrefined IMO, noisy, clunky. It was almost like learning a MT all over again.

+1

Been driving stick over 20 years as well, and this car single handedly stripped me of my black belt and sent me back to novice class.

Anyone who defines this cars tranny chemistry as "easy" just because low end torque works for you from 1500 rpm, and thus no stall, has not driven the vast array of European and Japanese cars, past and present with fine manual trannies. Sorry but you haven't.

That said, thus is a heavy duty unit, it's a heavy car with gobs of torque. Expecting Honda like shifting is ludicrous, but the BMW crowd might smirk a bit.

BMW set the standard for a heavier high performance car with awesome stick engagement back in the late 80's, with the E28.

[paul84043]

Originally Posted by Joseph1LE

Not at all. I do it all the time.


Nice to see I'm not the only one that thinks the pedal engagement/disengagement spot is stupidly high on the 1LE.

High? That's relative. My 1LE, and my 2010 2SS feel to me like they're right off the floor.
You want high... drive a Jeep Wrangler...