old as a member.. new as an owner.. need help!
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: kuwait
old as a member.. new as an owner.. need help!
hello there guys.. no body know how happy i am bcz im gonna buy a suzuka blue S in the next saturday!! but i have a problem.. i thought u might help me 
well the problem is that my experience in manual transmission driving is so limitid.. in kuwait (where i live) more than 95% of the cars are auto.. i just know how to shift in normal driving.. any hints in driving hard? any comment will be useful for me.. and i wanna say that the problem is just with the maual.. i dirve well in auto
and thanx in advance
well the problem is that my experience in manual transmission driving is so limitid.. in kuwait (where i live) more than 95% of the cars are auto.. i just know how to shift in normal driving.. any hints in driving hard? any comment will be useful for me.. and i wanna say that the problem is just with the maual.. i dirve well in auto
and thanx in advance
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,707
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From: Camarillo
Congratulations on finally getting your S - you will be so !!!
The best advice you'll get is to try to find someone that has a manual-drive car (if possible) that is willing to teach you. It is one of those things that takes a bit of practice to learn the correct balance of letting the clutch out and pushing the gas in so that the car moves forward smoothly.
If that is not possible (to borrow a friend and a car), you will have to learn in your S.
However, I learned to drive a manual in my first manual transmission car while I was test driving it - so it is possible.
Simply put, you must put the car in 1st gear, slowly release the clutch while at the same time applying gradual pressure to the accelerator, and continue this until the clutch is all the way out and the car moves forward. You can engage and release the clutch quicker to shift into 2nd and above once you're going and it's much easier.
As for driving hard .... wait until you have the "move forward smoothly" part learned very well before you start shifting hard and fast.
Good luck!
!!!The best advice you'll get is to try to find someone that has a manual-drive car (if possible) that is willing to teach you. It is one of those things that takes a bit of practice to learn the correct balance of letting the clutch out and pushing the gas in so that the car moves forward smoothly.
If that is not possible (to borrow a friend and a car), you will have to learn in your S.
However, I learned to drive a manual in my first manual transmission car while I was test driving it - so it is possible.
Simply put, you must put the car in 1st gear, slowly release the clutch while at the same time applying gradual pressure to the accelerator, and continue this until the clutch is all the way out and the car moves forward. You can engage and release the clutch quicker to shift into 2nd and above once you're going and it's much easier.
As for driving hard .... wait until you have the "move forward smoothly" part learned very well before you start shifting hard and fast.
Good luck!
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 507
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From: East Bay
As you know by being a member for a while, the S2000 is no wimpy car. It's got lots of power, is RWD, and has a really heavy clutch. Plus you're supposed to stay out of the V-tec range while you're breaking the car in for at least 600 miles. The combination of all these factors would make for a challenging learning environment I'm sure.
Besides, learning to use a stick shift can be awfully tough on a clutch, so it might be best if you can locate an old car with a manual transmission to learn on before driving your new S2K too much. You don't want to burn out the tranny while your still learning.
Besides, learning to use a stick shift can be awfully tough on a clutch, so it might be best if you can locate an old car with a manual transmission to learn on before driving your new S2K too much. You don't want to burn out the tranny while your still learning.
b4 its run in 
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,431
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From: Dragon country
Congratulations! I'm sure your very excited about getting a new S. I know I was!: thumbup:
If I understand correctly, you already have some experience with a manual shift. If so then there are 91 current "heel and toe" threads in the archives concerning this performance technique. There's probably some info there that you can use. Shifting should definitely be "second nature" to your reflexes before trying to be really aggressive.
Becoming smooth and confident with your shifting first will allow you to focus on more important things - like fast approaching obstacles.
It shouldn't be hard to get use to shifting fairly quickly but it might take a while to become smooth on a consistent basis. After you get use to rowing through the gears you might find (as many do) that you prefer the manual over the auto. Good luck!
If I understand correctly, you already have some experience with a manual shift. If so then there are 91 current "heel and toe" threads in the archives concerning this performance technique. There's probably some info there that you can use. Shifting should definitely be "second nature" to your reflexes before trying to be really aggressive.
Becoming smooth and confident with your shifting first will allow you to focus on more important things - like fast approaching obstacles.
It shouldn't be hard to get use to shifting fairly quickly but it might take a while to become smooth on a consistent basis. After you get use to rowing through the gears you might find (as many do) that you prefer the manual over the auto. Good luck!
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Central Massachusetts
I agree with Rob. I will recommend that you try to rent a car with a manual, if that's at all possible, just to practice.
Don't be afraid of it, but definitely be gentle with your right foot as you're learning. You want to keep the revs low during break-in.
Best of luck Suzuka!! (great color!!)
Don't be afraid of it, but definitely be gentle with your right foot as you're learning. You want to keep the revs low during break-in.
Best of luck Suzuka!! (great color!!
)
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 190
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From: Reston
I just learned stick on my S not long ago. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I tried the following strategy:
Strictly train yourself to: when in doubt, step on the clutch. My initial tendency was to do the opposite, which risks stalling or worse. This buys you time to think, since you probably know the concepts but haven't practiced enough to do it subconsciously.
This should reduce the wear on the car during your learning stage.
Strictly train yourself to: when in doubt, step on the clutch. My initial tendency was to do the opposite, which risks stalling or worse. This buys you time to think, since you probably know the concepts but haven't practiced enough to do it subconsciously.
This should reduce the wear on the car during your learning stage.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
Likes: 45
From: Central Massachusetts
Koshiro,
I think that's a very good "rule" to obey. You also want to be using only light pressure on the gas pedal to keep the engine under control (and keep it under break-in rev restrictions).
As for wear... Look, anyone learning a clutch is going to slip it more than they should. That's just the way it is. Again, don't be afraid of it, just drive.
Suzuka, guys,
The S2000 clutch and shifter are very easy to use. I have found nothing unusual about them compared to others -- in fact, it's probably the smoothest clutch I've ever owned. I don't agree with monkeymaker about the clutch being really heavy. Does anyone else feel that way???
Follow s2k_redhead's instructions and, like Koshiro said, when in doubt press the clutch in.
Suzuka, the hardest thing about a manual is dealing with starting on a hilll from a dead stop... I don't know if that's much of an issue for you in Kuwait, but avoid hills and traffic lights until you get familiar with the shifter. It's not hard, it just takes practice.
Oh, hey, also PM xviper. He might've written something on basic driving skills.
I think that's a very good "rule" to obey. You also want to be using only light pressure on the gas pedal to keep the engine under control (and keep it under break-in rev restrictions).
As for wear... Look, anyone learning a clutch is going to slip it more than they should. That's just the way it is. Again, don't be afraid of it, just drive.
Suzuka, guys,
The S2000 clutch and shifter are very easy to use. I have found nothing unusual about them compared to others -- in fact, it's probably the smoothest clutch I've ever owned. I don't agree with monkeymaker about the clutch being really heavy. Does anyone else feel that way???
Follow s2k_redhead's instructions and, like Koshiro said, when in doubt press the clutch in.
Suzuka, the hardest thing about a manual is dealing with starting on a hilll from a dead stop... I don't know if that's much of an issue for you in Kuwait, but avoid hills and traffic lights until you get familiar with the shifter. It's not hard, it just takes practice.
Oh, hey, also PM xviper. He might've written something on basic driving skills.