Question for seasoned stick shift drivers

[Restroom]

Oh, come on, I was expecting at least one attempt to teach the poor guy double-clutching despite his syncros and some long, romantic heel-and-toe confessionals from the crowd here. I can't believe this place isn't populated with folks that have to get the left trouser leg bigger than the right, with how macho stick-obsessed you are! I mean really, if you guys can all shift as fast as you think you can, better than that 6L80, you don't even need the clutch! Come on, no one's even told him to file down his shoes yet? Pathetic! This is the internet! I don't know about you pansies, but I can get a perfect shift every time just by giving the tach a mean look! I can shift every old M22 on a city block just by blinking! Autos are for suckers! Right? RIGHT? (crushes a beer can on forehead) EARRGH!!

[fastball]

Originally Posted by Restroom

Oh, come on, I was expecting at least one attempt to teach the poor guy double-clutching despite his syncros and some long, romantic heel-and-toe confessionals from the crowd here. I can't believe this place isn't populated with folks that have to get the left trouser leg bigger than the right, with how macho stick-obsessed you are! I mean really, if you guys can all shift as fast as you think you can, better than that 6L80, you don't even need the clutch! Come on, no one's even told him to file down his shoes yet? Pathetic! This is the internet! I don't know about you pansies, but I can get a perfect shift every time just by giving the tach a mean look! I can shift every old M22 on a city block just by blinking! Autos are for suckers! Right? RIGHT? (crushes a beer can on forehead) EARRGH!!

No one ever said anything bad about the automatic. True, a car like the Camaro just begs you to row your own gears, but there's nothing wrong with the auto.

It's just those who drive stick are pretty enthusiastic about it and encourage anyone who wants to learn to do so properly.

[rudack]

[krauser1980]

Is driving an 18 wheeler any diffirent than driving a manual car? I have a class A and can driva a big rig, but I've never driven a manual car. Are there any diffirences?

[badkarma]

Originally Posted by krauser1980

Is driving an 18 wheeler any diffirent than driving a manual car? I have a class A and can driva a big rig, but I've never driven a manual car. Are there any diffirences?

I don't think you'll have a problem

You won't need to double clutch the downshifts unless you wanna show off.

[krauser1980]

Kool, thanks. Was feeling a little nervous cause I learned to drive stick on a tractor...but never had the chance to try out a regular car....

[DropTheGloves]

If the people are so close behind you, that you fear hitting them then they are too close to begin with by law. I mean if they are that close to you, and if someone rear ends them then they will hit you. Say screw it, and let your car roll back, not too hard, but it will teach them a lesson, and it shouldn't be your fault.

[2001ragtop]

Originally Posted by tommygun6644

So, with your definition of riding the clutch, is it normal to ride it for split seconds at a time when your taking off (balancing it with the gas) or shifting? Maybe I just need to be quicker or more fluid.

#1) Riding the clutch would be if you are on a hill and in order to keep from rolling backwards, you let the clutch out half way and let the "grabbing effect" of the clutch pedal keep the car from rolling back, but if you do that, you are wearing down the clutch disk for no reason. At that point, you should just have your foot on the brake.

#2) It is normal to ride the clutch for split seconds when you move the car from a dead stop. However, If you just do NOT GIVE any gas and let the clutch out very slow, the car will just get in gear and any wear you created will be extremely minimal. Like someone else said, you DONT HAVE to give any gas. once the clutch pedal is all the way out, then go ahead and give it lots of gas. you won't be wearing the clutch disk out at that point because your foot no longer is on the clutch.

#3) on those occasions where u are going super slow and you have to gently let out the clutch for an extended period of time, on those occasions it would be best (again) not to give gas, just use the clutch pedal itself, keeping the engine RPMs low.

Clutches are fun unless you cannot replace one by yourself.
that is where having lots of extra cash helps.

[Bbrock25]

Don't mean to sound like a complete noob here, but I've been riding dirt bikes/4 wheelers all my life, and driving a stick for a bit too. And I've heard the term 'doubling clutching", but I'm not 100% on the definition of it.

[nards444]

as far a hill thats just practice and learning your cars sweet spot, and I dont care what anybody says, every car is different for some reason.

Number two leave it in gear, my philosophy is that the light isnt going last that long and if you have to move out in an emergency your in gear and ready to go, if you leave it in Neutral that split second it might take to put in gear might cost you or that fact that your first reaction is to hit the gas and nothing happens.

[ToddSS]

Practice, Practice and more Practice...You'll be powershifting in no time.

[badkarma]

Originally Posted by Bbrock25

Don't mean to sound like a complete noob here, but I've been riding dirt bikes/4 wheelers all my life, and driving a stick for a bit too. And I've heard the term 'doubling clutching", but I'm not 100% on the definition of it.

Double clutching the downshift involves the following.

1. clutch in
2. Move to neutral
3. clutch out
4. blip the throttle
5. clutch in
6. Select lower gear
7. clutch out

Good drivers can do this in around a second or so.

Double clutching is for smoother downshifts on non-syncro'ed transmissions Since we have syncros, it's not really needed. But it can make for smoother downshifts even with syncros.

Do a google search for double clutching for a more in depth explaination.

I usually just rev match.

1. clutch in
2. blip throttle
3. select lower gear
4. clutch out.

If you get the revs in step 2 to match what they would be in the lower gear at the speed you are going, the shift will be really smooth.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by tommygun6644

So, with your definition of riding the clutch, is it normal to ride it for split seconds at a time when your taking off (balancing it with the gas) or shifting? Maybe I just need to be quicker or more fluid.

I think most people consider "riding the clutch" being when you have the clutch partially engaged for more than a second or so. A normal start should be done quickly with a minimum of partial clutch engagement.

Some people actually rest their left foot on the clutch when driving, perhaps not being aware of it, and if they're depressing it just a bit to where it starts to disengage, that's also riding the clutch, and really bad for it.

And for normal length traffic lights, it really doesn't matter one way or the other if you have the clutch depressed and the gearshift in first gear, or you leave it in neutral. As a matter of convenience, however, I think you will eventually put the car in neutral and keep your foot off the clutch while waiting at most lights - mainly because it's more comfortable than holding in the clutch.

[badkarma]

Originally Posted by wjones14

As a matter of convenience, however, I think you will eventually put the car in neutral and keep your foot off the clutch while waiting at most lights - mainly because it's more comfortable than holding in the clutch.

And your throw out bearing will thank you for it.