Driving A Standard

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 06:56 PM

If you drive a car with a manual tranny how did you learn to drive it? Getting my new car tomorrow and its standard and I have never driven a standard.

**rev440** · 11-11-2005 07:04 PM

Its not that hard. If youve rode a dirtbike with a clutch youll learn quick is very similar with starting out and stuff. Ive driven my moms bmw and my dads mustangs that are sticks but i say that the dirtbikes really helped me out in learning how.

**Al Mac** · 11-11-2005 07:11 PM

Super man!!!

Check your PM!!!

**maddoughboy** · 11-11-2005 07:20 PM

I would go find a desant size parking lot with no cars then after you get a hang of that you should go find a hill with no treaffic.

**RCmafiA** · 11-11-2005 07:30 PM

i'm preety sure you hit and hould the gas gentally then you hit the clutch and then you put it in gear, or hit the clutch then put in gear then hit the gas. I now that and i'm only 13 and my parents and nobody i know drives a stick.
-CB

**2.5driver** · 11-11-2005 07:40 PM

Originally posted by maddoughboy
I would go find a desant size parking lot with no cars then after you get a hang of that you should go find a hill with no treaffic.

Good advice. My dad took me to an empty parking lot to get me to learn to drive a stick. What I do is I start it in nuetral, push the clutch in, put it in gear, and then start letting the clutch out. When my RPMs start dropping, thats when I start giving it gas.

Once you get used to the vehicle your driving, its simple. Eventually you will get to the point where you'll forget your driving a stick because your so used to it.

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 08:00 PM

I would like to start out in a parking lot but I can't. I get this car tomorrow and I have to drive it from dealership to my home. Not a lot of traffic but still.

Also I consider my self a "car guy" so I understand how to drive a stick, just never have.

**batjerk** · 11-11-2005 08:07 PM

If it's a new car and you've never driven a manual before, it won't be very easy. New clutches tend to be very grabby. Find someone experienced to go with you. Let them get the car to the lot.

An empty parking lot is sufficient to begin with. Size is unimportant at first. All you need to concentrate on is getting moving. Count on burning the clutch some. Once you're under way, it's easy. Provided you remember to shift. Then, count on chewing some gears.

Then, once you can get started on level ground, find a hilly parking lot...

Traffic will make for difficult learning. That pressure is often too much for the new driver. Once you kill it in traffic, it is very difficult to get going again. You get nervous, other drivers get annoyed and impatient. Which, of course, only compounds the problem.

Once you have the basics down, practice. Then with the experience that comes, you will know how to drive by feel.

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 08:11 PM

Dont know anyone experienced with a standard. Just moved here and my brother is giving me a ride to the dealership. He doesn't know how to drive a stick either.

Quick question, if you kill it while going do you have to stop to restart it?

**nvracer** · 11-11-2005 08:18 PM

Its not too hard, The first time I drove a clutch was on my dirt bike. Then over the summer we went to my aunt's house and she has a manual jeep and manual Saab 93. I drove both and they were a lot more fun to drive than an automatic.

Once you get used to it is a blast being able to down shift into a turn then fly out of it and shift back up. Also if the car has a decent transmission you can shift late and get a lot more acceleration. If the car has an up shift light, ignore it, they don''t work too well and usually come on way too soon, I think they are designed to get the best gas millage possible.

Its hard to kill it when you are moving unless you up shfift way too soon, if you do then just shift down and it will be fine. If it completely stalls then you will need to restart it. Are there any back roads home from the dealer? If you have never driven a shift then its going to be a pain trying to drive home in any traffic at all.

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 08:28 PM

From the dealership there is like 1/4 of road that has light traffic. Then the other 20-25 miles are a back road highway. This is the backway home. My brother might have a little experience driving a standard so we will see.

**onesicsaturn** · 11-11-2005 10:25 PM

Stick is easy once you get it. The hardest part is starting off in first, but everything after that is easy.

I took me a few days to get hte hang of it, now it is like second nature.

Until I started driving a right hand car that is stick. that took awhile to get used to

AJ

**stupid pede** · 11-11-2005 10:38 PM

dont worry its not as hard as you think and when you dont have a chois you learn real quick. i learned the "hard" way one day at a stop light my mom got out and said ok you drive lol and i learned real fast with all the peaple honking and flipping me off

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 10:39 PM

Originally posted by stupid pede
dont worry its not as hard as you think and when you dont have a chois you learn real quick. i learnd the "hard way one day at a stop light my mom got out and said ok you drive lol and i leard real fast with all the peaple hanking and flipping me off

Think of them as motivation

**stupid pede** · 11-11-2005 10:40 PM

Originally posted by superman0604

Think of them as motivation

yep and it worked so i guess im greatful haha

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 10:43 PM

The same thing will probably be happening to me. I will just smile and waive. That should really make them mad.

**Ian Bowers** · 11-11-2005 10:54 PM

Im 13, I've only driven the Manual a couple of times, the Bimmer and the Toyota, but I can probably lend some help.

When you start to release the clutch, keep your right foot on the throttle, The best way to get off from the start without killing it is to keep it revved at a RPM higher than idle so even if you dont give it the right amount of throttle from the start you might not kill it, thats how I learned atleast ( I can move the cars around to park them and the such, which im happy to be able to do.

)

Just start to release the clutch while giving it a bit of throttle and when you feel the clutch "Grab" give it more throttle, once you get it down, its easy, and usually 1-st to second changes and the such are easy.

Goodluck, I've only drove the Bimmer a couple of times but It sure is fun being able to control when to shift and the such.

**superman0604** · 11-11-2005 10:56 PM

I guess I have to learn sometime, so why not now and here.

**stang07** · 11-11-2005 11:30 PM

best thing to do for manual for begginers find a hilled driveway or in the car lot and try 2 stay in one spot really gets u use to the feel of the clutch.(When i mean stayin one spot put it in first get 2 a point where u dont go 2 far up or dont roll back)

**nvracer** · 11-11-2005 11:35 PM

Originally posted by stang07
best thing to do for manual for beginners find a hilled driveway or in the car lot and try 2 stay in one spot really gets u use to the feel of the clutch.(When i mean staying one spot put it in first get 2 a point where u don't go 2 far up or don't roll back)

That burns you clutch really fast!

**stang07** · 11-11-2005 11:37 PM

no....
its at a super low rpm
thats wat the clutch is made for...now 5500rpms and then dropping the clutch thats burning it!!!

**emomoonbase** · 11-12-2005 04:44 AM

Just work on being smooth with the clutch and gas pedals. Let the clutch out gradually as you slowly push in the gas pedal, and after a few frustrating attempts you'll start to find the right point where the two motions intersect and then it's smooth sailing. Takes about a solid month to really get it down good.

And stay away from up hills until you get it down!!! Very important!

**Bolt** · 11-12-2005 05:24 AM

Originally posted by superman0604
Dont know anyone experienced with a standard. Just moved here and my brother is giving me a ride to the dealership. He doesn't know how to drive a stick either.

Quick question, if you kill it while going do you have to stop to restart it?

no, you don't, just press the clutch and turn the key... assuming the engine is at 0 rpm, if your moving fast enough, and the car is off, press the clutch, put it in gear, and release the clutch and it will start again... lol

easiest way to do it... a little hard on the clutch until you get used to it, but works.

1. press the clutch and brake at the same time, and release the e-brake
2. rev to 1500 RPM
3. release the clutch at a slow to medium pace, or somewhere in between
4. do NOT let the RPM drop below 1500 while driving, or 2000 in a 4 cylinder... you will start lugging the engine and that's hard on gas/clutch and burns oil
5. RELAX and don't think about it!

when you get a little more used to the car, you'll be able to start off with a little lower RPM, and better clutch timing...

that's the simplest way to learn... the rest comes with practice, in no time at all you'll be shifting without the clutch

Have fun with that Z! they're nice cars!

**traxxas14** · 11-12-2005 10:51 AM

its not very hard at all. you will have learned it by the time you get back to your house with it Im sure. I learned how to drive a standard when I was about 11

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 10:59 AM

Well its time to go get it. Thanks for all the tips and help.

**Bolt** · 11-12-2005 12:29 PM

Let us know how it went!

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 01:51 PM

Well I got it home in one piece

Still having some problems going from stopped to going, but I did ok with 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd. Didn't grind the gears any but did squelch tires a little when taking off.

**bretthawk** · 11-12-2005 02:10 PM

hi here in uk we only really use manuals dont know why .
my advice to you would to practice pulling away on a flat road somewhere quiet you should allways be able to move off with no throttle this is a good way to learn clutch control without ruining your clutch.
once you have mastered a manual you will have much more fun than an auto
good luck

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 02:17 PM

I kind of live in the country so there are quite a few roads I am going to do some practice this evening.

**razer** · 11-12-2005 03:07 PM

Originally posted by superman0604
...but did squelch tires a little when taking off.

I'd guess that's pretty easy to do with a 350Z.

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 05:00 PM

I had another thread that I was going to post pics in but it kind of turned into a flame war, so it got closed and I thought I would post pics on here.

Once again thanks everyone for your help.

This thing is going to be a blast once I get driving a standard down. I had fun driving it today and I really wasn't that good.

**razer** · 11-12-2005 05:32 PM

Originally posted by superman0604
I had fun driving it today and I really wasn't that good.

I couldn't resist quoting that!

Just try to resist being stupid in it. I remember how I drove when I was 19...

The car looks great! When they first came out, I didn't like the look of them at all, but they really grew on me.

Do you know how hard it is to keep a black car clean? My Eclipse was black and most of my driveway is gravel and if I washed it in front of my garage & then drove it down to the mailbox, it was already dirty!

I like the truck too, lol.

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 05:46 PM

I'm a very good driver. I still make complete stops at stop signs, using a blinker has become habit and I am always checking my mirrors.

Right now I drive a black acura integra and have cleachy (sp.) driveway. I have an air compressor in my garage so I guess I will be blowing the dust off every time I park it.

I like my truck too. Don't drive it much because gas prices but very handy to have when you need to move things.

**RCmafiA** · 11-12-2005 05:51 PM

So thats actually a nice car but the downside to that car is the V6. I think that it should come with a V8 though. How does the 350Z V6 do out there?
-CB

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 05:54 PM

Originally posted by RCmafiA
So thats actually a nice car but the downside to that car is the V6. I think that it should come with a V8 though. How does the 350Z V6 do out there?
-CB

If it had a V8 the power would be insane. With the V6 that is in it, it puts out 300hp.

How does the 350Z V6 do out there? If you are referring to the country, its not like regular dirt roads and offroading. I live 20 minutes from Fort Worth so its as country as it gets around here. All roads are paved except my driveway.

**traxxas14** · 11-12-2005 06:01 PM

whoa! nice car. I didnt know what car you were talkin about till I saw the pics

..
yea like razer said, dont be goin crazy in a nice car like that lol.
have fun!

**superman0604** · 11-12-2005 06:06 PM

Can't really get it out and drive it until Monday because as of right now it has no insurance. I have been going forward then reversing up here around my house to get used to taking off. I managed to reverse it out of garage then pull back in without touching the throttle, so I think I am starting to get the clutch down a little. Theres a fine line between taking off smoothly and it trying to stall.

**razer** · 11-12-2005 06:27 PM

Originally posted by superman0604
How does the 350Z V6 do out there? If you are referring to the country, its not like regular dirt roads and offroading. I live 20 minutes from Fort Worth so its as country as it gets around here. All roads are paved except my driveway.

Hey! I just found a pic of superman0604 from next weekend!

**RCmafiA** · 11-12-2005 06:32 PM

Originally posted by superman0604

If it had a V8 the power would be insane. With the V6 that is in it, it puts out 300hp.

How does the 350Z V6 do out there? If you are referring to the country, its not like regular dirt roads and offroading. I live 20 minutes from Fort Worth so its as country as it gets around here. All roads are paved except my driveway.

I meant like how well does it perform and what kind of car did you have before the 350Z.
-CB

**traxxas14** · 11-12-2005 06:47 PM

Originally posted by razer
Hey! I just found a pic of superman0604 from next weekend!

hahaha!

Thread: Driving A Standard

Thread Tools

Display

Driving A Standard

Posting Permissions