Learning to drive . . .
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I appreciate the advice guys! In my head I know this is going to be a complete newb post I'll look back on 2,000 posts from now and laugh at.
After a couple of practice sessions I have it down well and can get around on my own. It was really easy to learn, really only took a couple hours of practice. I think most people remember learning to drive manaul at age 15, which is probably very difficult. My main areas of improvement are as follows:
1. Finesse and REALLY learning the clutch "feel". Still lurching at the shifts (mainly 1->2 and X->downshift->2 etc)
2. For some reason I keep shifting from 2->5. This is a very forgiving car when this happens.
3. Of course, inclines.
Thankfully I'm not mis-shifting on downshifts. I'll keep practicing and then ask the same question about sport shifting in a few months!
Thanks again.
Adam
After a couple of practice sessions I have it down well and can get around on my own. It was really easy to learn, really only took a couple hours of practice. I think most people remember learning to drive manaul at age 15, which is probably very difficult. My main areas of improvement are as follows:
1. Finesse and REALLY learning the clutch "feel". Still lurching at the shifts (mainly 1->2 and X->downshift->2 etc)
2. For some reason I keep shifting from 2->5. This is a very forgiving car when this happens.
3. Of course, inclines.
Thankfully I'm not mis-shifting on downshifts. I'll keep practicing and then ask the same question about sport shifting in a few months!
Thanks again.
Adam
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Near Motown
Is the S2k clutch that soft? I test drove an 01 about a week back, and the clutch was incredibly stiff (particularly compared the the Accord Coupe I drive now). Could there have been something wrong with it? If so, I'm glad I passed.
The shifter, OTOH, was a nice piece of work.
The shifter, OTOH, was a nice piece of work.
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: South Jersey
Go drive an old school Mustang, or even a worked LT1 Z28, and you'll find out what tough clutch is all about. You'll hop in the S2000 and think the clutch is the throttle!! 
NFR, in your lesson 4, is the ignition on? Or am I misunderstanding? From what I can tell, you have him stalling the car everytime if he's releasing the clutch without any gas. Or am I missing something else? I've driven manuals since I was driving (now 13 years) so I don't put much thought into what I'm doing anymore.
NFR, in your lesson 4, is the ignition on? Or am I misunderstanding? From what I can tell, you have him stalling the car everytime if he's releasing the clutch without any gas. Or am I missing something else? I've driven manuals since I was driving (now 13 years) so I don't put much thought into what I'm doing anymore.
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From: Charleston, SC
Originally Posted by mbilderback,Jul 8 2005, 10:25 AM
No, if you're very careful with the clutch, you can start the car off without touching the gas. Most cars I've driven have enough idle power to get moving slowly.
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Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Jul 7 2005, 08:33 PM
Here is the PROPER WAY to learn a manual car....
1) Go into a FLAT (no hills) parkinglot or some kind of open space...
2)Put the car into N and take a deep breath.
3)Push the clutch in, and slide the sniper rifle shifter into 1st gear.
4)WITHOUT USING THE GAS PEDAL....ever so slowly begin to release the clutch... you will feel the car crawling. Slowly take your foot off the pedal, until it is completely off. This is the most important aspect of learning a manual car. This will give you a feel for the clutch, and you will be able to perform more accurate shifts, since you know where the clutch begins to grab.
5)After you got the top steps DOWN COLD, after step 4, give it some gas and get about 12mph.....push clutch in, slide into 2nd gear, and let clutch out (dont pop it, just slowly---faster than in the first 4 steps)...if you feel the car jump, you did it too fast. IF you hear your car rev and its not going anywhere, you did it too slow.
After you master these steps, you will be able to drive the car no problems. Pulling a 9000rpm shift however, is just practice, so wait until you are confident, and slowly build up your skills, 5000rpm, 6000rpm, etc.
Good luck!
1) Go into a FLAT (no hills) parkinglot or some kind of open space...
2)Put the car into N and take a deep breath.
3)Push the clutch in, and slide the sniper rifle shifter into 1st gear.
4)WITHOUT USING THE GAS PEDAL....ever so slowly begin to release the clutch... you will feel the car crawling. Slowly take your foot off the pedal, until it is completely off. This is the most important aspect of learning a manual car. This will give you a feel for the clutch, and you will be able to perform more accurate shifts, since you know where the clutch begins to grab.
5)After you got the top steps DOWN COLD, after step 4, give it some gas and get about 12mph.....push clutch in, slide into 2nd gear, and let clutch out (dont pop it, just slowly---faster than in the first 4 steps)...if you feel the car jump, you did it too fast. IF you hear your car rev and its not going anywhere, you did it too slow.
After you master these steps, you will be able to drive the car no problems. Pulling a 9000rpm shift however, is just practice, so wait until you are confident, and slowly build up your skills, 5000rpm, 6000rpm, etc.
Good luck!
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Euclid, OH
One thing that I've discovered that many people learning to drive a manual do is to try to use the whole leg for the clutch action, keeping the ankle stiff. This usually leads to pretty abrupt shifts. Make sure the ball of your foot is on the clutch pedal, and let your ankle to give you a finer degree of control than by using the knee and hip alone.
JonasM
JonasM
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