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Im learning how to drive stick tomorrow. (pg. 2)
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| jupiterone |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ygrene
I swear I would stab the George Washington bridge if I could. Thought I was gonna say stab you, huh?!? lol *stab*
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:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
You better remember to tighten up those wheel lugs before you head out to work tomorrow. |
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| Lilith |
It's really easy Ang, after long enough you don't even think about doing it at all, it becomes reflexes like riding a pushbike.
Gearboxes are a H pattern and the only gear you need to know where you're starting from is the first one to make sure it's in gear, commit where they are to memory.
Don't look down at the thing!
Eyes on road!
Try not to think of it as a big lump of stupid agricultural equipment you've got force the hell out of with a lot of force. They're actually fairly clever things that use syncromesh to work out where they're supposed to go, so use the pointer, index finger and thumb rather than grabbing it with your whole hand and just use those to move the lever gently.
Next the clutch and accelerator, easiest way I can think of there for a learner is to imagine a see-saw, if one is completely in, the other should be completely out.
Clutch all the way in
Select 1st Gear
Accelerator at idle
Then once you're ready to move, imagine the see-saw swinging from one side to the other very slowly over 2-3 seconds and you will be moving as the clutch goes up to and the accelerator is going down. Once the clutch is out completely, the accelerator you can rev a little more freely to 2-3000rpm (the tachometer is your friend more than the speedometer)
Foot off accelerator
Clutch in
Select second and repeat that through the gearbox.
Slowing down.
Use gears to slow yourself down more than the brakes, provided the engine isn't reving hard plan ahead through traffic and corners, so when you want to slow down, ease off the accelerator completely, clutch in, downshift, touch of brakes and let the engine rev up, when it settles down, clutch in and downshift again to about 2nd and heavier braking, then clutch in and engage neutral once you've stopped.
Same with corners, you'll usually have to downshift to 2nd on anything which is a right angle, do this before you get there, not halfway through or anything!
Sweeping bends, go back to third as you're going into the corner to slow down, touch of brakes to a safe speed, halfway through the apex, power on and then once you're going straight, power off, shift up and power on.
Other things
Don't have your hand resting on the stick while you drive, it's not good for the gearbox and mulches things down there, 2 hands on the wheel.
Don't have your foot resting on the clutch when you drive, rest it on the floor or the little pedal thing next to the clutch, otherwise you wear on the clutch. |
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| Enigmatic XTC |
| once you start to get it down go out on the highway. get up to a good speed in 5th gear then pop in the clutch and shift into reverse without hitting the brakes. if you can do that you'll be golden. |
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| Ang ' ela_ie |
Lilith youre awesome.
The only thing Im concerned about is downshifting. Its not as intuitive to me, Im not sure I get it. |
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| bangoSkank |
No advice really, but good luck. Youll love driving through rush hour on 400 and stalling out :p
Im buying a new car tomorrow; it will be manual too |
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| L.E.N. |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie
The only thing Im concerned about is downshifting. Its not as intuitive to me, Im not sure I get it. |
You dont have to downshift yet, just clutch in and brake to get use to the car. Later you can start down shifting. Its too much to think about when you arent used to a manual. |
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| Ygrene |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie
Lilith youre awesome.
The only thing Im concerned about is downshifting. Its not as intuitive to me, Im not sure I get it. |
It will take a bit of practice but, just note that if you shift from 2nd to 3rd at 5600 rpms and that puts you at 3600, you know that when you are going to downshift from 3rd to 2nd you need to be below 3600. lol I'm sorry Ang I'm a bit drunk. |
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| SuspicionVandit |
| quote: | Originally posted by Ang ' ela_ie
Lilith youre awesome.
The only thing Im concerned about is downshifting. Its not as intuitive to me, Im not sure I get it. |
Just downshift to third and test the power of the car by putting the clutch to about 3/4 out before making up your mind to stay or move 1 up or 1 down.
It's very easy to panic in the first couple of weeks. Afterwards, it's as second nature as putting on make up or feeding your Tamogotchi (while driving of course).
and put it in neatral when you aren't doing anything. You don't your foot to get tired, non-chalantly let go and ram the brick wall in front of you, nor do you want to stress out the spring on the clutch pedal. |
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| Alex Petelin |
| quote: | | When u let your foot off the clutch, make sure you have the gas pedal to the floor to prevent stalling. |
I haven't yet driven any newer cars with manual transmission, but I see no need to floor the pedal. All that'll do is lurch the car and rev the engine so hard you'll be able to smell it. Instead, gently push down on the gas, simultaneously releasing the clutch, accelerating slowly.
The rest is practice. Find an empty parking lot and prepare to stall a few times until you get the hang of it. Start in 1st gear, speed up until you're comfy, then shift into second. When going fast enough, shift into third; slow down, and go into second. etc.
PS: not sure about newer cars, but generally you can't shift into first gear unless you're completely stationary.
PPS: when shifting, don't force it. If it doesn't shift smoothly, you could be going to fast (if you're trying to downshift). |
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| L.E.N. |
| quote: | Originally posted by Alex Petelin
I haven't yet driven any newer cars with manual transmission, but I see no need to floor the pedal. All that'll do is lurch the car and rev the engine so hard you'll be able to smell it.
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I think he was kidding... |
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| Alex Petelin |
| quote: | Originally posted by L.E.N.
I think he was kidding... |
But I wasn't sure, which means the other person may have not been sure, which would have resulted in the engine smelling like fried, greasy... engine? :wtf: |
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| L.E.N. |
| quote: | Originally posted by Alex Petelin
But I wasn't sure, which means the other person may have not been sure, which would have resulted in the engine smelling like fried, greasy... engine? :wtf: |
That my be the least of her worries,, the car could lurch into another car. |
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