It took me a while to get used to the way the stang drove...its got a hard clutch and sticky gears in 1 and 2, and down shifting is noisy sometimes (yes i down shift into every lower gear besides 1st when slowing down) When i first got her i would be spinning the tires every time i would start going...the trick is to let out the clutch while your pressing the gas at the same time. Revving then dropping is kinda eh.. It gets you the smoothest start and smoother shifts. I can drive it really smooth now after 3 months, but its no fun to drive like that so i only do it when i have other people in the car (girls) Its a night and day differnce from the 5speed jeep i used to drive also. On hills the jeep would just sit there if i let out the clutch a little bit. Try that on the stang with no gas and she shuts off, so i just throw it out of gear and hold the brake. I find it easier to drive in 1st gear by bliping the throttle and lettin the clutch slip a little so you can turn around and such. When you wanan take off i let the clutch out more on my last blip and she goes off nice and smooth. It just takes some time, thats about the best advice one can give.
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ORIGINAL: Explaced
When shifting into first from a stop, is 1500-2500 RPM too high? I hold the gas in around that range (it varies because my foot's not used to the touchy gas pedal yet). I don't really 'pump' or 'rock' the gas, I just hold it somewhere in that range and slowly let out the clutch so I don't jerk the car.
Is that standard issue as far as driving a manual goes, or am I doing it wrong?
I saw it posted that this clutch is a heavy duty one. Is that information correct?
I took it to the beach and back today on a road trip with my girl. We had a good time, and I didn't shake her around too much with the manual. She said I was doing a lot better than before, so that's good news. I feel a lot better about it now too. Hopefully after a couple more weeks I'll be pretty smooth with it.
I've got over 1k miles on the thing already. I've had it since the 3rd. It had 250 approx. miles when I got it.
Quick Question - is it necessary to let the clutch out all the way at a stop, or can I push it just far enough that I can tell it's disengaged? I don't want to sit at the light and be "riding the clutch", sort of. I'd like to burn as little of the surface off as I can.
I find it easier before I start to let the clutch out to just before I know it's going to catch and hold it there. I've been trying not to do that until I'm just about to start moving though.
Is this ok? Thanks all.
< Message edited by Explaced -- 7/13/2006 2:33:17 PM >
The only difficult thing to driving a stick is stopping on a steep hill. I've been driving a stickshift since I was 18, and I still get scared when I'm on a very steep hill and the idiot behind me has pulled up to nearly touching my bumper. I've slipped my clutch numerous times in this position. One technique taught to me by another is to put on your parking brake while disengaging so you don't roll back, but I've found that on a hill, it's so difficult to get the car moving with the parking brake engaged that you're better off just slipping the clutch. As long as you don't do it too often you should be ok... my 97 mustang has 101k miles on it and the clutch is still in great condition. So don't sweat it.
< Message edited by Revolver -- 7/14/2006 2:54:49 PM >
Quick Question - is it necessary to let the clutch out all the way at a stop, or can I push it just far enough that I can tell it's disengaged? I don't want to sit at the light and be "riding the clutch", sort of. I'd like to burn as little of the surface off as I can.
I find it easier before I start to let the clutch out to just before I know it's going to catch and hold it there. I've been trying not to do that until I'm just about to start moving though.
Is this ok? Thanks all.
When I'm stopped at a traffic light I put it in neutral and take my foot off the clutch completely. I heard getting into that habit will extend your clutch life as the flywheel isn't spinning for no reason when you have it manually in neutral (foot on the clutch).
At a stop sign, well I do alot of rolling stops hehe, but if I were to make a full stop, I'd be downshifted to second, brake to stop with clutch pushed in all the way, and while stopped for the brief second at the stop sign I would shift it into first and then commence.
wether the clutch is in or out when at a stop is the same, clutch wear happens in the process of letting it in or out.. flywheel always spins, its to maintain vibration , and rotaional motion of the motor. its just so happens to be a handy thing for the clutch friction plate to grab on to.
your engine is running.. your flywheel is spinning.. clutch in, transmission is turning (wheels not moiving,and input shaft isnt spinning) cluthc out , transmisson is spinning
if anything youll extend the life of your transmission by keeping your clutch in at stops. because there will be less internal wear on the transmission
if you taking your foot off the clutch at every stop, and putting it back in as the light goes green, youll just put more wear on the clutch , because your engaging and disengaging your clutch more times then you have to
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Ok. What about halfway points? For example, on a hill, I'll let the clutch out till I feel a slight catch, then push it in just enough that I don't have that catch. That way I don't let the cluth out very far before it'll catch to take me up the hill.
Is it wearing the clutch to do that? If it isn't, I'd prefer to do that all the time because it's easier to catch it that way. I know I don't have to push the clutch all the way in to shift, but I'm just not sure if it is better to do so.
If it won't wear my clutch out for 100k miles, I really don't care.
Clutch wear is clutch wear. It happens. If someone stops right on my ass on a hill, i will do one of two things..... Let off the clutch and gas it quickly, or let the clutch out to barely engage it, then give it gas. Sure, having it slip like that is wear and tear...but there's only so much you can do. Go hit some hilly streets and practice taking off on a hill.
here's a link to driving manuals: http://www.10w40.com/individual/100186.asp A lot of this won't be news to you because you've already been driving your manual, but hopefully some of it will help. the article covers a range of issues, but below is the excerpt specifically about stopping at lights and why not to have the clutch partially pushed in (crib notes version: clutch all the way down with the car in first for short stops - foot completely off the clutch and the car in neutral for long stops): (Also, I am new to manuals as well, so if more knowledgeable members disagree with this advice (the source seems reputable) please chime in)
While you're waiting for change:
Imagine you are at at traffic light, waiting for the light to change to green. What gear should you be in? Where should your feet be? If you expect it to be a short light, you should have your right foot on the brake, your left foot should be holding the clutch to the floor, and you should be in first gear. When the light changes to green, you can just let your foot off the brake and start like normal.
But, if the light looks like it will be a while, or for any other reason you don't think you will be moving, you should shift into neutral, and while still holding the brake pedal down with your right foot, let the clutch out. As long as the gear shift is in neutral, the car won't move or stall, or otherwise embarrass you. You should do this because having the clutch pushed in really stresses some of the moving parts. In fact, often times you can hear a whining sound when you have the clutch pushed in that goes away when you let it out. Normally a small sound is not a problem, but a very noticeable whine is a sign that the "throwout bearing" may be going bad. Pay a mechanic to fix it, because you don't want it to fail - the clutch can get quite flaky in its operation as the throwout bearing deteriates.
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RE: 1500-2500 RPM, clutch out? - 
It had 250 approx. miles when I got it.
