Manuel Trans question

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I'm pretty sure i got how to drive one down.. But dont want to go out and try with my dad.. cause he makes me so nervous.. I end up popping the clutch.. Reason i need to know.. Is because after i get a job.. I'm looking at Civics.. Get rid of my currently control vehicle ( one im working on that my dad owns :-/ ) I dont want it.. Its ok.. Got a 4inch Lift.. 35's under it.. But not horsepower.. and it rolls easy.. I want something to jam around town in .. Ok... I know all the little BS like switching gears.. ( but not sure about down shifting.. :-/ ) ... Ok.. I got my foot on the clutch.. all the way in.. foot on brake.. E Brake off.. Trans placed into '1st' I bring my clutch 3/4 the way up? Then slip foot off break onto gas pedel.. and ease it in while letting off clutcing slowely? I got it guys? Or? Any other tips.. I just want to learn with my dad cause he is a prick.. lol

Starting from a stop is the hardest. Start practicing on level ground: clutch in, some pressure on the accelerator (revving it a bit, not heavily), then release the clutch slowly. Actually, you release it fairly quickly until it just starts to engage (you can hear the engine sound change), then very slowly until it's fully engaged, then take your foot right off the clutch. It needs a lot of practice, which you can do yourself off-road, if possible.To change to the next gear, clutch in, foot off accelerator, change gear, clutch back in slowly as above (but can be done a little more quickly), foot back on accelerator. Eventually it becomes something you can do without thinking.It's not usually necessary to change down through all the gears when slowing down - use the brake, and depress the clutch when (preferably before) the engine starts struggling, and put it into an appropriate gear for the new speed as above when you reach it.Hills require some variations, but get it right on level ground first before you try the skill of a handbrake start.

If u rev the car to between 2000 and 2500rpm and lift your foot slowly off the clutch, but not stupidly slowly, its more about smoothness and once you've fully engaged the clutch put ya foot down on the accelerator how you want.

If your that way inclined, reving hard and dropping the clutch, by basically flicking it off quick will make you wheelspin...if your that way inclined :smile:

Downgearing isn't really that important as most newer cars brakes are more than capable. Basically what gear you drop down to will depend on the situation.

If your moving into a more congested area, dropping down from 4th to 3rd would be a good idea.

When the engine starts struggling you wanna go down a gear, when the engine starts to scream you wanna go up a gear. If you have a rev counter, keeping the revs below about 4000 would lead to 'comfotable' driving.

At the end of the day its fairly tough to learn initially, but after a few months it becomes second nature and you change gear instinctivly and you just know what to do. You don't even think about it. Once you get to that level you can do what your sposed to - watch the road :smile:

It only took me a few days to learn.....I know it's different for everyone but months sounds kinda extreme.

Personal choice is a geared motor, although most new automatic's are quick to respond there is always that delay. If you want power when you want it, go geared all the way. I can do street racing, and the amount of hire cars my dad gets, give me the chance to drive good high performance motors, so no real worries about screwing up the engine lol We had a brand new Laguna a few months back (only had 700 miles on the clock), managed to get it up to 167mph on open road before the speed restrictor kicked in, good runner but being an automatic let it down (that and I couldn't figure how to start it with the keycard lol)

And before anyone says I'm being irresponsible, I've done my advanced driving test, and have done everything except take the enhanced "blue light" test (the buggers still won't let civilians take it :frowning:)

this is why i stick with an automatic

Yeah, There easy.. But im about to mess my moms up.. I want to goto reverse.. i want to go.. lol... I got this thing.. Everyime i get into a car.. ( since i have driven my dads truck a little bit ) .. Might left foot straight to where a clutch would be.. and right foot on break.. and hand on shifter.. and this is how i drive.. Sometime i start to shift ( automatic ) but realize i cant ... Ok.. On my moms auto... It has ... P N R (D) D 1 .. I think thats the order .. .What are they all for.. (D)- Over Drive? 1st? What is the point? I like to drive around town fast( usually 60+ ).. I just use the regular D.. Is that best for how i drive?

Took months coz i learnt in a manual, i've never driven an auto, i assosiate them with disabled people.And when your learnin theres more than just tryin to do the gears thats on ya mind Don't you lot have those crappy autos with the stick thingie like on the steering colum and not beside the seat where a normal gearstick goes.Although paddleshift cars are becoming big now and the gearbox in the new Golf, i thinks its called DSG or summit that has 2 clutches (1 for odd 1 for even gears) and actually accelerates faster than a manual, lol the American (drivers) dream. Especially considering how simple your roads are over there you should really be using manual anyhow :s

Actually, the only time when an automatic is really useful is in very busy city driving, when you're constantly changing speed as well as having to concentrate on complicated messes with cars and lanes going everywhere. That's the only time I find driving a manual any sort of burden at all.

Try driving in mountainous areas.

grrr in this new job I've got, both of the service users have automatice cars... bloody hate automatics!

Well, I LOVE THEM, even though I can drive both.

I have driven in mountainous areas, websex, and I rather enjoy changing up and down. It gives me the feeling of having more control over the car's performance and being able to get the best out of the car (which is not a trivial issue, as my cars are small-engined and old and need skill to do well on hills). I also like the feeling that handling the changes needs skill and I do it well. There aren't many things at all that I can say that about. :smile:

I'm lazy, so I'm an automatic kinda guy. lol.

I also really like the control of a manual. However, driving a manual in stop and go traffic totally sucks. Your clutch foot gets completely cramped from the constant work. I have no need for a car right now, but when I'm done with school I'm going to get myself a nice, lazy automatic

It's hard to drive a manual and put on makeup at the same time

lol. people like that scare me when I'm driving near them.