Question for seasoned stick shift drivers

[sen10l]

So how do you slow down to the lights again? I can't press the brakes and the clutch till I stop? I'm supposed to downshift from 6-5-4-3-2-1??

And I've read conflicting advice about whether to leave it in neutral at the lights or not. Some say yes to save the bearing, some say no because you might forget it is in neutral or lose some time trying to put it into first?

[nemosgt]

Originally Posted by Croatcamaro2010

when your coming to a stop light put the car in neutral and let it coast, it saves on brake and clutch also it helps you learn what gear to go into at what speed, as well as finding a comfortable rpm level to keep it in if you just hold down the clutch it burns it out, when on a hill or pulling out of a parking spot on a hill use your ebrake, no problem with that

Not a good idea to coast to a stop in neutral. You have less control of the car and in some areas of the country it is actually illegal. However when stopped on slippery surfaces you may have to select an auto to neutral to prevent the car from moving forward.

As far as whether to leave a manual in gear while stopped,it depends.
Normally it is easier on the clutch to select neutral with your left foot on the dead pedal till ready to go. Again though, if it's a busy intersection it may be better to be in gear in event something happens and you have to get out of the way in a hurry. Keep an eye on your rear view mirror and make sure the cars behind are slowing. Play it by ear.

As many have said, use the brakes to slow and not the gear box. Downshift when you need the lower gear in order to accelerate and make sure you learn to rev-match. Someone mentioned downshifting while turnng. Sorry this is a no-no. Shift down before the turn, not while in it or you may be looking where you just came from.

Lastly do not select reverse when stopped to intimidate the guy behind. You might forget and take off with it still in reverse. For crying out loud. LOL.

For the OP, Lots of conflicting advice here. Read through the posts and decide who seems to be speaking from experience and who is giving their opinions, rightly or wrongly.
No offense meant to anyone. We all have our own ideas.

Cheers.

[QBert]

I teach people to drive a stick like this.
Find an open area and just use first. From a complete stop, and in first gear, slowly, very slowly relase the clutch. Do not have your foot on the gas at all, keep it flat on the floor if needed. With the idle control all Fuel Injected vehicles have, you will be able to start from a complete stop with no throttle input. Once you have done this a few times, start adding in throttle a little at a time till leaving from a dead stop becomes natural. Doing this at idle with no throttle input will save the clutch, but expect to stall it a bunch at first. In the end its all practice.

[nemosgt]

Originally Posted by QBert

I teach people to drive a stick like this.
Find an open area and just use first. From a complete stop, and in first gear, slowly, very slowly relase the clutch. Do not have your foot on the gas at all, keep it flat on the floor if needed. With the idle control all Fuel Injected vehicles have, you will be able to start from a complete stop with no throttle input. Once you have done this a few times, start adding in throttle a little at a time till leaving from a dead stop becomes natural. Doing this at idle with no throttle input will save the clutch, but expect to stall it a bunch at first. In the end its all practice.

Exactly right. You release the clutch till you feel it start to engage, usually 1 or 2 inches, then start feeding in the throttle at that point while continuing to release the clutch pedal. Do the same for the other gears too. Good post.

Can you tell I am trying to up my post count?

Cheers.

[null_x86]

1) DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH ( driving with foot resting on the clutch)
might want to use the e-brake while resting until you can master clutching and braking on the hill. Once you do that, keep it in a low gear and just use that. Also, on backing up, just barely lean in on the gas, and keep the clutch pressed, but not enough to engage. I've done that for years, and have always had better control when doing that, rather then gassing it, then clutching and braking. Also, as long as you do it correctly and only in reverse, you wont damage your clutch.

2) at lights, I normally take it to neutral (auto or stick) if the light is going to be red for a while. If its one of those pull up for red, then go 2 seconds later for green, just leave it in gear. Just do what ever is most comfortable. Just dont let off the clutch when in gear, that will cause you to lunge forward, and you will likely hit the car in front of you.

hope this helps

[Dave_O]

just subscribing for future reference!

[mcarney]

Originally Posted by jdbaker82

From what my dad told me you should put it in neutral at a light its never good to keep the clutch depressed any longer then it needs to be.

[skuttduck]

So, if I understand this correct, giving the car some gas, and keeping your foot on the clutch to keep it in place on a hill is bad for it? Usually I wind up moving forward an inch or two, rolling back a bit, then move forward an inch or two.

On a hill, I usually just have the car in first, clutch full depressed, and brake depressed. I'll only hold it in place when the light is about to change so I take off smooth.

Otherwise I get a bit of a roll back from going from the brake to the acclerator pedal.

[dmiller66]

Why would you keep the clutch depressed at a red light? That will get really old after about two lights.

[Andy0x1]

Originally Posted by jakemaxx

if there is someone on my bumper i put it in reverse so they see the lights

From what I've noticed, 99 times out of 100, the people pulling right up on your ass are truck drivers. Because the morons sit high enough, and can see their bumper, they feel they need to rest it against yours...

Solution; put the throttle to the floor, dump the clutch, and move the clutching foot the brake pedal.

Continue this until there is so much smoke the idiot can't see, The best part about this, is because he was stupid enough to pull in so close, he's pretty much stuck there behind you for the durration.

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by dmiller66

Why would you keep the clutch depressed at a red light? That will get really old after about two lights.

After driving to Oshawa, and waiting two hours to cross the Sarnia/Port Huron Blue water bridge, I made an observation. The redlights I have on my 4 mile commute don't phase me at all. In two hours of stop and go traffic, even leaving the clutch depressed does not leave my left foot sore. My right foot is sore moving from brake to acclerator.

There is enough power in the camaro that you can just let out the clutch on an incline and have it move forward. I just used the hand brake.

On the way down the bridge I had the engine shut off and coasted most of the way.

[vincewalthers]

Originally Posted by zekefreak

When I taught my wife how to drive a stick many years ago in my 78 Z28, she did what most people do - give it gas, start to release the clutch, back off the gas, and do the bronco-bucking, head whiplash thing with the occasional stall. I told her not to let off the gas but to give it more gas so it won't buck. So at the next stop sign she begins to pull out, does the head snap and gives it more gas................. alot more gas. She lit up the tires for about 3 seconds then shifted to 2nd. Then she asked me "Was that better?" And I said "At least you didn't stall it!" She's much better now.

Haha this is how I taught myself to drive.. Just punch it and it'll go! That was when I was 18 with my first manual (98 ford escort zx2) Then upgraded to a 2008 mustang v6.. Yes I know a mistake but hey it was still a manual trans! And then upgraded to the 1SS camaro, because lets face it, a mustang and a v6 are just not good enough! lol However this doesn't mean I wuoldn't love to drive a Shelby!!

Z28 preferred though lol

[calbert1999]

#1 - I learned after awhile the Camaro is pretty forgiving and you don't have to give it gas for it to accellerate, it will not stall if you release the clutch slowly. So, on a hill simplly release the clutch / brake slowly the car will start to move forward on its own.

#2 - Doesn't really matter. Personally, I don't want keep my foot on the clutch during the whole duration of a red light stop.

[formare]

Originally Posted by PAUL SS

At a red light, put it in nuetral with the clutch out and your foot off the clutch pedal. Take it easy on the throw out bearing.

Yep what they said.. And please don't use your clutch as a break to hold the car in place while waiting for the light.