Tips for driving manual :)
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Near Chicago
Honestly there is nothing we can tell you that will help all that much. You got to just get out there and do it. After a week it will start feeling natural and you wonto even think about it. I wouldn't buy a beater to learn. Any car can handle a rough few days of learning.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 10,599
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From: The 604
@lopez14, ahah, that was actually my plan. If i get an s2k and I have nothing else to drive. I'll have to figure it out. But sometimes I think about that plan and its stupid.
@alspeek2k Hitting the clutch is easier said than done when I'm in a panic. I think on the tsx i was supposed to hit the clutch but hit the gas and it screeched really loudly...
besides practicing on a beater any specific tips?? probably factor in that i'm a girl and over-analyze everything..
Thanks everyone!
@alspeek2k Hitting the clutch is easier said than done when I'm in a panic. I think on the tsx i was supposed to hit the clutch but hit the gas and it screeched really loudly...
besides practicing on a beater any specific tips?? probably factor in that i'm a girl and over-analyze everything..
Thanks everyone!
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,937
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From: houston
I would never suggest that anyone learn how to drive manual for the first time in an S2000.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,911
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From: Benicia, CA
Originally Posted by 03suzuka...s2000' timestamp='1354168859' post='22178580
Buy a cheap 88-91 civic for under $1000. And slowly teach yourself. You can really get a feel for the clutch with the cable clutch in the older civics. Thats what i did, i taught myself while driving it home after i bought one for $600. Lol
I would never suggest that anyone learn how to drive manual for the first time in an S2000.
But I don't see anything wrong with learning on the S. It's a very simple car to drive. Just realize you don't know how to drive fast (or at all really, manually anyways), so don't even try it, and you'll be fine. But if you lack self control, and know this, go the beater route.
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,359
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From: Houston, TX
That might be true but spend some time training yourself to do this. Left foot: clutch. Right foot: brake and throttle. Pushing the clutch in when you get into trouble will definitely help you while you're learning.
You'll need to be able to overcome your tendency to panic in emergency situations when you're actually driving around. Different situations are going to require different reactions.
Gender doesn't matter. My ex picked up driving stick in no time. Each person differs. Overanalyzing is a problem but you'll get over that once you get a feel for it.
Chugs's post is a good, basic guide and there are other resources out there that you can refer to on the internet as well but I'd recommend having an experienced driver (who is good at training newbies) there with you to give you immediate feedback. As others pointed out, keep in mind that each car is different. Learning where the friction point is a skill that you will want to have as you'll need it every time you change cars. It's also the majority the battle in learning to drive stick. Once you get it rolling the rest of the basics are relatively easy to pick up.
Once you have the basics down then you'll want to look into rev matching, heel-toeing and taking the car to the track. Enjoy the journey!
You'll need to be able to overcome your tendency to panic in emergency situations when you're actually driving around. Different situations are going to require different reactions.
Gender doesn't matter. My ex picked up driving stick in no time. Each person differs. Overanalyzing is a problem but you'll get over that once you get a feel for it.
Chugs's post is a good, basic guide and there are other resources out there that you can refer to on the internet as well but I'd recommend having an experienced driver (who is good at training newbies) there with you to give you immediate feedback. As others pointed out, keep in mind that each car is different. Learning where the friction point is a skill that you will want to have as you'll need it every time you change cars. It's also the majority the battle in learning to drive stick. Once you get it rolling the rest of the basics are relatively easy to pick up.
Once you have the basics down then you'll want to look into rev matching, heel-toeing and taking the car to the track. Enjoy the journey!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,239
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From: Miramar, FloriDUH
Originally Posted by 03suzuka...s2000' timestamp='1354168859' post='22178580
Buy a cheap 88-91 civic for under $1000. And slowly teach yourself. You can really get a feel for the clutch with the cable clutch in the older civics. Thats what i did, i taught myself while driving it home after i bought one for $600. Lol
I would never suggest that anyone learn how to drive manual for the first time in an S2000.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 928
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From: las vegas, nv.
When I was learning to ride motorcycles, a friend gave me a tip "Pretend you're ringing out a towel with your hands." That gave me the motion I needed to feel the bite of the clutch and I was off. I found the same tip helpful when teaching my girlfriend how to drive manual cars, except you imagine the motion with your feet.
Weird tricks and practice will calm all your fears.
Weird tricks and practice will calm all your fears.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 735
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From: Kaiserslautern, Germany
My method of teaching friends to drive stick has always been this:
Go to a flat parking lot, or somewhere with a good amount of room and where you won't feel pressured.
Keep your right foot planted on the floor. Don't touch the gas pedal at all.
Put the clutch in, go into first gear, and ease off of the clutch until the RPMs drop slightly, and FREEZE(this is the friction zone of the clutch). If you freeze, the car is going to start moving very slowly, and after a few seconds you'll be rolling at a few MPH. You can then let the clutch all the way out.
Repeat this over and over, until you know the point where the clutch starts to grab(friction zone). Once you're comfortable with getting rolling without the gas pedal, try it with the gas pedal. You can give a little bit of gas to be able to let the clutch out faster. Keep practicing until you can get rolling pretty quickly, with the clutch fully out, with minimal RPMs.
Practice makes perfect.
Go to a flat parking lot, or somewhere with a good amount of room and where you won't feel pressured.
Keep your right foot planted on the floor. Don't touch the gas pedal at all.
Put the clutch in, go into first gear, and ease off of the clutch until the RPMs drop slightly, and FREEZE(this is the friction zone of the clutch). If you freeze, the car is going to start moving very slowly, and after a few seconds you'll be rolling at a few MPH. You can then let the clutch all the way out.
Repeat this over and over, until you know the point where the clutch starts to grab(friction zone). Once you're comfortable with getting rolling without the gas pedal, try it with the gas pedal. You can give a little bit of gas to be able to let the clutch out faster. Keep practicing until you can get rolling pretty quickly, with the clutch fully out, with minimal RPMs.
Practice makes perfect.
I also use this method when teaching people how to drive a stick.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,283
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From: Easton, PA
Originally Posted by honda606' timestamp='1354248236' post='22180806
[quote name='03suzuka...s2000' timestamp='1354168859' post='22178580']
Buy a cheap 88-91 civic for under $1000. And slowly teach yourself. You can really get a feel for the clutch with the cable clutch in the older civics. Thats what i did, i taught myself while driving it home after i bought one for $600. Lol
Buy a cheap 88-91 civic for under $1000. And slowly teach yourself. You can really get a feel for the clutch with the cable clutch in the older civics. Thats what i did, i taught myself while driving it home after i bought one for $600. Lol
I would never suggest that anyone learn how to drive manual for the first time in an S2000.
[/quote]
Agreed. I think this car is much easier to drive than other standard cars I've driven. The clutch is light, doesn't engage too abruptly, shifter has clear notches for each gear.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: OC
Random tip: Sometimes when you put the car in reverse, the gears will refuse to go in. So to counter that, I normally just shift up or down from 3rd and 4th gear, and reverse should be a little easier to get into.