Manual Transmission AND Daily Driver - Page 5 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Bama 2SS/RS · 03-11-2011, 04:57 PM

The original post was well over a year ago, but I'll throw in my $0.02 here, in case someone else could use the information. This is a trick I learned for steep hills when I was first learning to drive stick about a decade ago.

If you're on a steep hill, and some a**hole pulls up like RIGHT behind you, and you just KNOW you're going to hit them when you release the brake, you can start to ease the clutch out a little bit, with your foot still on the brake, until the clutch just starts to grab, and when you feel the engine just start to bog down, then you can swap from the brake to the gas and ease on the gas pedal and be on your way. This trick helps you to be right at the friction point just before you release the brake, and it will hold your car in place, or at least slow it's backward roll while you switch your right foot to the gas pedal.

I definitely wouldn't advise doing this every time (you'll wear out your clutch) and DEFINITELY don't ease off the clutch pedal until you are ready to start driving forward. Until you're ready to move, just hold clutch and brake in completely. This is basically the same idea as the e-brake trick, just using your regular brakes to hold you until you're at the clutch's friction point, but it will wear your clutch just a little bit more.

Beyond that, for "normal" take-offs, hills or not, you should probably NOT slip the clutch this way. Get off the brake and onto the gas at the same time you're ready to ease the clutch out. For anyone who's nervous about learning to drive stick, you WILL develop the muscle memory, and very quickly, too, faster than you'd imagine. You'll be able to smoothly let go of the break and ease into the gas right as you're letting the clutch out to the friction point and it'll be butter-smooth.

Cbrenthus · 03-11-2011, 09:45 PM

crap, I didn't reelize this thread was revived. Oh well, one point I want to add to the above: While you want to cause as little wear on the clutch as possible, don't be afraid to. Think about it like this, I'd take the cost and work of replaceing a clutch over even the slightest of fender benders any day

Etherij · 03-11-2011, 09:58 PM

My right leg was definitely stronger before I got the Camaro.

bmorecam · 03-11-2011, 10:07 PM

On steep hill driving the key is to know or to get that feel of how far your foot need to come up just enough for the clutch to engage, too much and you will cut power and probably crash, not enough and you will probably crash, so the key is to know when your clutch engage. I got so used to it that on steep hills I dont even have to give gas and same for reverse. Once you get used to it, it will be like your 2nd nature.

swagled · 03-11-2011, 10:41 PM

If you're light on your clutch the rest of the time, using it to take off on an occasional hill is just part of driving. I put 253,000 miles on my last manual transmission, and I did lots of mountain driving. No rebuild was ever needed.

If you just HAVE to, because your inexperience makes you nervous - you can set your parking brake on an incline, and then put the car in gear, and release the parking after getting going. As long as it's not clamped down hard, the brakes won't be damaged. (I once drove about 30 miles in that car with the parking brake set... by mistake... and it didn't have much effect other than loosening the cable.)

piticu667 · 03-12-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevyridinghigh

So as mentioned in other posts, I just started manual transmission lessons. I have never owned a manual car. The Camaro will be my daily driver and although the shifting took some getting used to, it's not difficult once you get the hang of it. Any of you guys buying this car as a manual AND using it as your daily driver... I should also note I commute 25 miles to work, 25% is in some traffic, and 50% coming home is in traffic.

I cannot drive automatic. I use the Camaro V6 M6 as a daily driver. Be aware if you have any transmission issues GM will blame you first. Tell them to look at this forum. Most Camaros have transmission issues with the M6. When you get to 10000 miles take it to a transmission shop and ask them to testdrive it.

Mikeg1028 · 03-12-2011, 01:16 AM

this is my first manual car, its my daily driver and i love it, plus i live in miami which is full of traffic so if that gives you some hope...

TJ91 · 03-12-2011, 02:17 AM

mines a DD and I absolutely love the fact that its an M6, makes my drive soo much more fun. Only problem I have is when stuck on a hill in a traffic jam, and the person behind is about a foot away, that gets nerve racking.
I had knee surgery, and had to drive my car in traffic jams with the M6, the clutch in the camaro is a very smooth clutch so I had no problems, however my brothers stang has a stiff clutch, driving that gets annoying quick

katatonia · 03-12-2011, 10:10 PM

mine is a daily driver and a manual....i drive 30-40 minutes to work and most of it is highway....but when i get to i-16 its a total traffic jam....i wouldn't have it any other way.

03-11-2011, 09:58 PM	#59
Etherij Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: V-Town, Tx Posts: 372	My right leg was definitely stronger before I got the Camaro. __________________ *TEAM LS3!* Mods so far: JBA Catted mid-pipes Flowmaster AMT

03-12-2011, 01:16 AM	#63
Mikeg1028 dark side has cookies Drives: 2012 Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cape Coral FL Posts: 104	this is my first manual car, its my daily driver and i love it, plus i live in miami which is full of traffic so if that gives you some hope... __________________ 2011 Camaro 1SS ::stock:: -Traded in- 2013 Mustang GT Paxton 2200 SL Supercharger Recaro Seats -Current-

03-12-2011, 02:17 AM	#64
TJ91 :chevy: Drives: 2LT/RS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,035	mines a DD and I absolutely love the fact that its an M6, makes my drive soo much more fun. Only problem I have is when stuck on a hill in a traffic jam, and the person behind is about a foot away, that gets nerve racking. I had knee surgery, and had to drive my car in traffic jams with the M6, the clutch in the camaro is a very smooth clutch so I had no problems, however my brothers stang has a stiff clutch, driving that gets annoying quick __________________ CAMARO Consult your doctor before taking Camaro Side effects include Sudden increase in Heart Rate, Insomnia and occasional hallucinations If you experience Permagrin exceeding 4 hours after taking Camaro, seek immediate Camaro5 Help CAMARO Bringing excitment back into the Garage

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03-11-2011, 04:57 PM	#57
Bama 2SS/RS Drives: 2011 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dothan, AL Posts: 175	The original post was well over a year ago, but I'll throw in my $0.02 here, in case someone else could use the information. This is a trick I learned for steep hills when I was first learning to drive stick about a decade ago. If you're on a steep hill, and some a**hole pulls up like RIGHT behind you, and you just KNOW you're going to hit them when you release the brake, you can start to ease the clutch out a little bit, with your foot still on the brake, until the clutch just starts to grab, and when you feel the engine just start to bog down, then you can swap from the brake to the gas and ease on the gas pedal and be on your way. This trick helps you to be right at the friction point just before you release the brake, and it will hold your car in place, or at least slow it's backward roll while you switch your right foot to the gas pedal. I definitely wouldn't advise doing this every time (you'll wear out your clutch) and DEFINITELY don't ease off the clutch pedal until you are ready to start driving forward. Until you're ready to move, just hold clutch and brake in completely. This is basically the same idea as the e-brake trick, just using your regular brakes to hold you until you're at the clutch's friction point, but it will wear your clutch just a little bit more. Beyond that, for "normal" take-offs, hills or not, you should probably NOT slip the clutch this way. Get off the brake and onto the gas at the same time you're ready to ease the clutch out. For anyone who's nervous about learning to drive stick, you WILL develop the muscle memory, and very quickly, too, faster than you'd imagine. You'll be able to smoothly let go of the break and ease into the gas right as you're letting the clutch out to the friction point and it'll be butter-smooth.

03-11-2011, 09:45 PM	#58
Cbrenthus Drives: 2011 VR 1SS Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: FL Posts: 516	crap, I didn't reelize this thread was revived. Oh well, one point I want to add to the above: While you want to cause as little wear on the clutch as possible, don't be afraid to. Think about it like this, I'd take the cost and work of replaceing a clutch over even the slightest of fender benders any day

03-11-2011, 10:07 PM	#60
bmorecam Account Suspended Drives: jealous vendors mad!! HAHA!! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CYBERGMONSTER@GMAIL.COM Posts: 3,658 View My Garage	On steep hill driving the key is to know or to get that feel of how far your foot need to come up just enough for the clutch to engage, too much and you will cut power and probably crash, not enough and you will probably crash, so the key is to know when your clutch engage. I got so used to it that on steep hills I dont even have to give gas and same for reverse. Once you get used to it, it will be like your 2nd nature.

03-11-2011, 10:41 PM	#61
swagled Drives: Y2000 Olds Intrigue Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NC Posts: 180	If you're light on your clutch the rest of the time, using it to take off on an occasional hill is just part of driving. I put 253,000 miles on my last manual transmission, and I did lots of mountain driving. No rebuild was ever needed. If you just HAVE to, because your inexperience makes you nervous - you can set your parking brake on an incline, and then put the car in gear, and release the parking after getting going. As long as it's not clamped down hard, the brakes won't be damaged. (I once drove about 30 miles in that car with the parking brake set... by mistake... and it didn't have much effect other than loosening the cable.)

03-12-2011, 10:10 PM	#65
katatonia Drives: 2010 SW 2SS/RS 6M Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 144	mine is a daily driver and a manual....i drive 30-40 minutes to work and most of it is highway....but when i get to i-16 its a total traffic jam....i wouldn't have it any other way.