Hey guys, I might want to get a manual car but i got a few questions: First of all I understand everything there is to know about the mechanics, i studied tranny's and clutches in school. Anyway I drove stick once in my life and that was only shifting from 1 to 2. Thats it. My auto teacher (former GM mechanic) told us that shifting into neutral is better than down shifting (wears out clutch and other stuff in there) and that riding the clutch ruins the throwout bearing.
Here are my questions:
1) Can I shift into neutral without using the clutch?
2) If I'am moving the car for only a couple of feet forward/reverse what would i do?
3) Lets say I have to make an emergency stop how would that be done?
4)Lets say pull up behind someone and i have to slow down? (downshift or neutral, slowdown??)
Thanks guys other than this i think i'm ready for stick
1. Yes, but its extremely hard on the synchros.
2. Use the clutch, thats what its there for.
3. Downshift and get on the brakes hard, a manual car will stop faster than an auto car.
4. Just use the brakes, or let up off the clutch.
Seriously though, if you downshift correctly, it doesn't wear out the clutch at all. All you do is match RPM's, then let out the clutch and let off the gas.
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4cyltuner.com - Information Source For 4 Cylinder Tuners
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man....... i was worried about those things too when I first was learning stick. Everyone showed me to downshift...... but since I'm a hardass on gas, I just stay in neutral most of the time and only go into gear to accelerate - in neutral cavis do a great job staying at the desired speed. <br>
1997 Cavalier Z24 Modified
1) yes,but don't do it..since your new at it don't even try...and even experienced drivers don't do it..also by the time u try it and master it..your gonna need a new tranny
2)moving a few feet slowly=all you need to do is find the friction point on the clutch and hold it their..or just engage like you would normally
3)downshift ..brake hard like he said..but remeber to not stop completly while in gear..or else you stall the car..a high speed brake and stall..could screw up a whole lotta stuff..ever hear those stories of trannies falling of the car...
4)let go of the gas..my z24 has good "compression" it think its called..also you can cruise on a relatively low rpm with the 3rd gen zeds....\
just keep on practicing and the best practice is gonna be the real world..be carefull..remember that clutch is safety..if anything seems wrong..clutch down
This might sound a little stupid, but I've always been able to shift into neutral without using the clutch. It always felt the same as shifting into gear with the clutch .... I'm guessing it's still bad?
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When you guys say let off the clutch for #2 what do you mean? give me the step by step instructions plz.
Just let the clutch out until it starts to engage and move the car forward or backward. Keep it at that point (not let it all the way out), until you've moved the car the desired distance.
You'll get the hang of it without an instruction booklet. Just make sure to leave room between you and the guy in front of you, watch out for hills that you would need to stop on, and you'll find a new respect for leaving space between you and the guy in front of you after you roll back a couple times
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4cyltuner.com - Information Source For 4 Cylinder Tuners
Buy stuff from CarCustoms Ebay! Won't be disappointed!
when u go on uphills...don't freak out..its gonna be a little harder...one of 2 things will happen the first time...1-you'll stall..if u do,,get on the brakes immedialty or else your gonna start rolling back fast..into another car,,,,,,2-your gonna rip the tires..not the worst thing to do if your just starting..just dont make it a habbit..also don't give a damn about people honkin at u....keep on practicing...CLUTCH IS SAFETY..if anything wrong is happening..CLUTCH
1) yes
2) balance the clutch, i wouldn't just let it sit at the friction point give it some gas and let the clutch out until the car moves far enough
3)when there is something dangerous in the road i try to avoid it at all cost (laying on my brakes can lock up the brakes--->can't steer) if i have to stop suddenly i personally would hit the brakes because i think it takes more time to downshift and then stop...
4)i pull it into neutral and when the speed continue then i put it in gear... you never know if the person in front of you is going to lay on there brakes
Have fun driving stick! To me it is more fun than anything else, you are in complete control of your car. i love just flooring it and working on my shifts, listening to the engine hit 6grand and to see how fast i can shift.
remember to match rev's when you downshift. not only does it benefit the car but it benefits your passengers and a lot smoother ride <br>
When changing gears in life, remember Find 'em, don't Grind 'em.
2003 Silver LS Sport Coupe 5-speed
I always hear about heel and toe shifting. wtf is it, and how do you do it?
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Gotta keep on livin', L-I-V-I-N
personally i like to put it in neutral and use the brakes. id rather wear out the brakes than the engine/tranny/clutch...driving a stick becomes natural once u know how to do it. getting going in 1st is the hardest part <br>
more hill tips would be appreicated
207 hp cavy
18,000 so far
200 hp rsx type S
23,900 still stock
I love my car
a good habit as well to get into (even though half the time i dont do it ) is when completely stopped at a red light. hold the clutch in and keep the car in first gear. If for seom reason the car behind you needs a few extra feet to stop you have the abiltiy to move foreward insted of panicing and just mashing the gas only to hear the motor rev up like mad cause it was kept in neutral
<img src="http://speed.supercars.net/avatars/19254.jpg">
a tip for up hill also is hold your e-brake on (the button clicked in to u can lower it) and when u feel the back start to life the slightest bit lower the brake and u'll start moving forward. that was a tip my friends dad gave me when i first learned going up hills. it worked and then i just got the hang of how far i can take my foot off the clutch for it to start to grab and begin to pull forward.
MY 2003 SUNFIRE
I was always let to belive that at certain points you can shift out of gear without using the clutch. If the revs match then it shouldnt hurt anything.
That makes sence to me becuase thats what the clutch is there for. But if you are doing it your self then whats the harm. Either way i wouldnt make a habit of it.
I always use netural and my brakes. I feel the same as the guy above. Id rather place the brake pads than the tranny or clutch.
This thread frustrates me.
O noes!
Smokey wrote:This thread frustrates me.
heh. I don't understand this one...
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3)downshift ..brake hard like he said..but remeber to not stop completly while in gear..or else you stall the car..a high speed brake and stall..could screw up a whole lotta stuff..ever hear those stories of trannies falling of the car...
What's it going to screw up? Stalling is stalling, regardless of what speed you were at before you stalled it. You've still come to a stop (or nearly to a stop) when it stalled.
in reference to 03 sport coups comment too: how would it take more time to downshift and then stop???????? i think u got 2 feet.... one for the clutch to downshift and one to get on the brakes hard.....? and two hands one for the wheel and one for the stick
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98' Pontiac Sunfire SE
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in reference to 03 sport coups comment too: how would it take more time to downshift and then stop???????? i think u got 2 feet.... one for the clutch to downshift and one to get on the brakes hard.....? and two hands one for the wheel and one for the stick
thats exactly what i did when i had to make my first quick stop with my manual z24. all of a sudden theres a dead stop on the freeway and i didnt notice right away and the guy infront of me didnt either. I got on the brakes and pressed the clutch in quick and downshifted into 2nd by which time i got it out gave me enough space to prevent rearending the guy in front of me. but he wasnt so lucky in his navigator he ended up rear ending this guy which i must say got really pissed cause when he got out he was flippin out and stuff and wanted to fight with the person driving the navigator.
J-Bo driver once again.......
