I fail at Camaro, stick shift & life (a self deprecating rant)

[tommygun6644]

Hello all. So as I mentioned in a separate topic, we were in for some nice weather so I was thinking about pulling the Camaro out of the garage.

Well I did earlier today, and it didn't go so well.

Let me explain. I took delivery of this car 6/11/09, coincidently 6/11/09 was also the first day I drove a manual transmission vehicle. Basically, between last June and last November I got the only stick shift experience that I have - about 5-6 months and 3,000 miles worth (mostly high-way miles to boot). This may be enough for some people but it apparently wasn't enough for my dumb ass.

I started off alright when I took it out of the garage after basically not driving it for two months. I was just planning on putting some air in the tires, washing it, and gassing it up. I've used about 1/4 of a tank idling it while daydreaming.

When I got to the laser-wash, there was a line. In a nutshell, I stalled the car like freaking 4 times, 4 times in a row inching forward when a car in front of me moved. It was embarrassing and I felt like a ra-tard.

This leads me to my ultimate weakness when driving this car: slowly moving forward. I had got pretty good at it last Fall but lost any touch I had over the past few months. Just basically hold the brake, let the clutch about half-way out, and let the break up little by little right? I mean in the situations where you cannot totally let the clutch out or give it gas because you will hit the person in front of you. Also when I do this the car usually comes dangerously close to stalling or - in these cases - does stall.

The ride wasn't over yet. As I was driving it, I started hearing some strange rattling noise whenever I gave it gas. I have no freaking clue what it might be, but I *suspect* it might be the new pistol grip I installed. Not the grip itself, but perhaps how I installed it? I don't know.

So I got home. I have a very narrow one car garage, so I have to enter it verrrrry slowwwwly. And of course, this lead me to my weakness again. But this time I didn't stall it, no. I depressed the clutch, put my foot on the break, let the clutch out slowly, and pumped the break so I would inch forward. Well, I did something wrong because when I got out the car had a funny smell. I've smelled burned clutches and it didn't quite smell like that, so it might have been something else, but I can't imagine what.

So there you have it. It honestly made me not want to look at the car again until Spring. The only upside was that when I was at the gas station filling up the tank and increasing the psi's I had more freaking people stop and ask about the car than I have ever had in a single day (over half a dozen). However this made me feel worse since it made me feel like I didn't deserve the own this car.

Days like today I wish I just caved and got an auto.

Thank you for taking the time to read my dumb post if you did. I'll accept any tips and/or insults you may have.

[brAnd7onX]

Sounds like a rough day. I hope the driving experience gets better for you. But if you are really worried I would see if you have a friend who has a manual or rent a car and try to learn some more so you dont get paranoid with the camaro. Good luck man!

[eynigush]

You're right...you don't deserve it.

J/K!!! A little more practice and you'll get the hang of it. Think of it as a sport. Some people are born-athletes and others are made-athletes. You need to practice practice practice. So pull the car out of the garage and show that f**king clutch whose boss!!!

--Eddie

[Legend]

I would suggest not riding the clutch so much...I don't know for sure but sounds like you are riding it and that is the brunt of your problems. You can inch forward without riding the brake and you can even pull out and never touch the gas pedal.

I've drove a manual car for the last 25 plus years and this Camaro seems to me, to be one of the easier ones to get a handle on. Practice a bit more, but let up off that clutch and don't ride the brake so much.

Not a bad day though...you got to drive your Camaro...right?

[kbs71]

I learned on a clutch and have been driving them all my life. The last 2 clutch vehicles were Japanese and was about 4 years ago. First test drive of the car stalled it twice with the salesman and my son in the car. Second test drive stalled it once. Went and picked up the car this week, drove it 1500 miles home and guess what? Stalled it twice. Don't feel stupid or retarded, it happens. After you bring it out this summer and stall it a few more times and get use to the clutch, you'll be loving the M6 in no time.

[Downwithopp]

I don't know about everyone else but even in the situations where you drive slowly you can still gas it. Driving through SF I have a good amount of experience with slow traffic and I've never not given it gas while trying to slowly inch forward. I've never heard of letting out the clutch AND brake without gassing it a little.

There's a balance you can find with a little gas, and letting the clutch up to move forward slowly. If you are stalling, you aren't giving it enough gas. It just requires a little double foot coordination and you'll get it.

[tommygun6644]

Thanks for the input everyone. I actually should have mentioned when I was stalling it at the laser-wash I would have rolled and hit someone behind me if I let off the break, which was why I was relying on the clutch for movement so much.

[v6sonoma]

Oh thank God! I was reading expecting to see "Then I drove into..." or "Pulling into the garage I took out a mirror" phew. You had me worried. It's nothing major you'll be fine but it sounds like you need to just let off the brake and instead just ease up the clutch till it starts grabbing then give it a little gas to prevent from stalling and inch up when you get close just push in the clutch all the way and brake. By riding the brake I think you're causing it to stall the engine. You'll be fine you just need to shake off the rust. lol Just don't scare me with anymore posts like that. There's been to many Camaro casualties already. My heart can only take so much! lol

[Hoddi]

I think you are concentrating too hard on it.
Just think about the rad machine you are driving and it
will become second nature.
Once you get the hang of a stick, you'll wonder why
you ever had such difficulty learning.

[1CAMSS]

The clutch smell is normal. Just practice
at home to move the car slowly forward
and when you are going up hill like on
any incline you can find with no cars around.

[tommygun6644]

I was originally going to blame my Sketcher's "Shape-Ups" for my shortcomings but I decided to man up.

[Downwithopp]

Originally Posted by tommygun6644

I was originally going to blame my Sketcher's "Shape-Ups" for my shortcomings but I decided to man up.

[monstertodd]

I understand your apprehension dude, but I really think you're freaking out over nothing. Just keep driving it, you'll figure it out.

[CUPRA]

I've driven stick since the day I learned to drive...

One thing you can try is this:

Take your camaro (or alternate stick shift vehicle if you aren't comfortable) to somewhere open, with a slight incline (somewhere that if you were to let off the brake, the car would roll back slightly). Make sure there is nothing around for you to roll into or drive forward into.

Pull up the ebrake.

Then sitting in the car calmly, in gear, press the gas and lift up the clutch gently till you feel the 'biting point' of the clutch, and the car try to move forward. Let off the ebrake. If the car moves forward, lift off the gas a little, and press the clutch in a little (and we are talking a little). If you roll back a little, press the gas a little more and let out the clutch a little. There will be a 'sweet spot' (biting point) where you will neither accelerate, nor roll down the hill (just like an automatic does). This is when you have complete control of the gas and the clutch, working in harmony. Keep your hand on the ebrake just for safety sake if you need to halt the car quickly if you don't feel 100% confident, pull it up to steady the car, then when calm, try again.

Keep practicing, till you can instinctively hold the car on the hill without moving.

Then, when you are in your situation like you were at the laser wash, you will know exactly how the car feels and what 'biting point' you need in order for you to neither roll forward or roll backward, leaving you in total control of the car.

Exercises like this can be fun and help you feel more in control of your car.

Just a thought.