Tips for first time Manual Transmission Drivers from a new Camaro Owner (First post)

[Cam#7]

This was a well written article and explains the process of shifting well.

But, the best advice was started out with learning to drive a stick on an older car. It's intimidating (possibly costly) to learn to drive a stick on a $25,xxx to $45,xxx car. The best advice was in the beginning to learn on something cheap. I wouldn't advise anyone on ordering a new Camaro with a stick without previous experience. Find someone that has a S-10 pickup that's been run through the mill.

[CaniacFan]

Very Nice Post OP!! It is refreshing (as some have already noted) to see proper sentence structure as well as punctuation.

Nice lesson too, thorough and accurate information. I've been driving a stick shift since I was in my teen's some 30+ yrs ago (where has time gone). I made each of my four children learn to drive on a stick as well. Each balked a little, but now, all four drive cars with a manual transmission. I didn't want my two daughter's to ever be in a position to where they "couldn't drive" someone elses vehicle in the case of an emergency.

Great Post, thankx..

[Capthowdy]

Do you edit books or something sim? lol....

[Sterling]

Thanks for contributing to the site and welcome! Great first post...

[LoneCynic]

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback. For those with short attention spans, or that this did not apply to, I would suggest you just don't read it and move on to another thread if it seems too long for you. Too often, when I ask for help on something, on any forum on the net I am a part of, I don't get the answers I am looking for.

Generally, this is because someone skimmed what I asked to begin with, then just gave a generic answer, or tell me to do something that I already said was a route I did not want to take as a solution. When I ask questions, I try to give as much information as possible so would be advisors know my situation and what type of solution I am trying to find.

I joined the forum, and saw a couple posts from first time manual drivers asking for information on driving a stick shift. They got a bunch of generic "Practice, practice, practice" answers, and not much else. This post was for them, and them alone. My intent was not to insult people who'd been driving one for a long time, nor to frustrate people who suffer from the so called, "Attention Deficit Disorder". Yet, the thread still keeps accumulating responses from people who appear to be upset that I posted at all.

Thanks to those who shot me kudos, thanks to the poster who encouraged me to contribute more threads like this, and special thanks to the poster who added the picture for Automatic drivers regarding this topic. I am starting to think that picture might also be a solution for some of the negative responses in this thread as well!

Also, to the poster who asked about taking off on inclines, read through the first post, I cover the solution for that in my "wall of text".

[Berean]

Ok, I read the whole thing.

I disagree on a couple of points and keep in mind I have an LS also, and have been driving manuals since I was a teenager.


First, I've never heard of anyone using the parking brake to start on a hill. I'm not saying it doesn't work, since it obviously does for you. I've never heard of it though and it strikes me as unnecessarily complicating a start from a hill.

Once you find the "sweet spot" where your clutch engages, which you can easily feel when you get used to it, all you have to do is let up on the clutch until it engages, keeping your foot on the brake pedal, and when you take your foot off the brake, the clutch will hold the car in place on the hill, and will not stall while you are moving your foot to the gas pedal.

It's really not difficult once you get used to the "sweet spot". I've never had a problem on a hill and since I've never heard of anyone doing the parking brake start, I would guess most manual drives use this method.


Also, I disagree with your speed and RPM recommendations. 2000 RPM is a good shift point for many cars, including most older cars, which generally had red lines at 5000 RPM's, but it's not the best place to shift for the high revving 3.6 Camaro.

It took me a couple of weeks to figure this out because I was also used to older cars with shift points around 2000 RPM's.

I shift at 3000 minimum, and depending on how I'm driving, I may shift at 3500-4500 RPM's.

I NEVER hit 6th gear unless I'm on the highway, and I rarely hit 5th gear. So open it up, it's a lot more fun to drive and you aren't hurting it at all.

[LoneCynic]

I agree, I've only had the car since Monday, and have since found that it is better to shift at 2750-3250 RPM range as well. I came from older, lesser cars that shifted at around 2000 rpms, and when I wrote this post, that was all I knew. So I concede that point to you.

However, I stand by the hand brake start as being an important thing to learn. I have NEVER had to use it in the past ten years living in Ohio, every incline was easily overcome simply using what you stated. It is different some places though. When I was a teenager and first driving, we lived in West Virginia. Now, there, even in towns, there are some RIDICULOUSLY steep inclines. By ridiculous, I mean so steep at some stop signs that you could barely see up over it to the road you were trying to turn on to. In those instances, the brake method was the ONLY way to guarantee a safe take off into traffic without the risk of a stall/collision. So, while I understand where you're coming from, having lived in a region without such hazards for a decade or so, I still would hold fast that it is a good thing to learn for people who live in areas with stupid road planning and sharp inclines.

[Chevyg1rl]

Originally Posted by LoneCynic

This technique is the balance between the clutch, the gas, and the emergency/parking brake. What you need to do is begin at a full stop, put the parking brake up, and take your foot off the brake pedal. Now, with your left foot on the clutch held all the way in, and your right foot hovering over the gas pedal, put the vehicle into first gear, and place your right hand on the parking brake with the button depressed while holding the brake up, keeping the vehicle in place. What you want to do here is ease off the clutch, and onto the gas as you normally would with the first balance, but at the same time, as you reach the sweet spot, also ease the parking brake down and off with your right hand. Your goal is to locate the three way sweet spot where you can make a smooth takeoff, taking the brake off seamlessly in the process.

You forgot to mention that balancing the clutch and brake, and stomping on the gas, is the technique used for brake stands in a car with a manual transmission.

[cntryman77]

the first vehicle I owned was a manual ('93 S-10), I learned to drive stick by driving it home from the dealership...God bless the shift light in those...LOL...it was a good tool for learning...now I go by sound, but back then it was a life saver...I've only ever owned manual & when I can't get a stick anymore or can't drive it, I'll turn in my license...great write up though

[Gunmetal]

I would def. agree that this would not be a great first manual to start with.

[CHEROB10]

Originally Posted by pugandbull

Although I have driven a manual for many many years, I found this to be very informative. I have driven an automatic for a year now, so I hope I won't forget how to drive a M6 when I finally get a new Maro!

You won't forget...it had been 7 years since I last sat behind the wheel of manual. Takes a little getting used to the clutch.....but I never stalled once. Good luck

Thank you for the refresher LoneCynic!!

[LoneCynic]

My secondary vehicle is a 1991 Chevy Silverado, and it has that shift light in it that you spoke of. It was my second vehicle, and I've kept it all this time because it is in great shape for its age and only has 134,000 miles on it. That shift light was helpful when I first purchased it because driving a stick shift truck is slightly different than a stick shift car. I wonder why GM did away with that feature? I'd think it would be useful even these days for first time stick drivers. Although, if it existed in modern vehicles, I'd want a button to switch it off. That thing just annoys me nowadays because it comes up earlier than you really need to shift.

[ToeKneeSS]

Have to say, alot of great information on this thread, just bought my first Camaro last week, a 2013 SS manual, I also own a 2005 Silverado pickup that is automatic. I love the manual, took me a few stalls to get the balance right on take offs, but a few days later I am taking off like a pro.

[rontammy0]

wow......that could be the longest post i didnt read on camaro 5. Ok i read a bit