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"But I don't wanna be an autopilot!"
How reliable is the Manual Tranny? Noobie driving
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I've driven manual trans cars for almost 40 years and have had real problems with them. I've only had to replace one clutch, after 130K miles. Compared to my friends who spend small fortunes on automatic trans repair/replacements, I think it is obvious which is more reliable.
For a long time, I never understood what "engage the clutch" meant. I had it backwards. It seemed like "engaging something" should involve an action, but instead it involves a nonaction (taking your foot off the clutch pedal). Isn't that confusing?
For a long time, I never understood what "engage the clutch" meant. I had it backwards. It seemed like "engaging something" should involve an action, but instead it involves a nonaction (taking your foot off the clutch pedal). Isn't that confusing?
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Originally Posted By: Cogito
For a long time, I never understood what "engage the clutch" meant. I had it backwards. It seemed like "engaging something" should involve an action, but instead it involves a nonaction (taking your foot off the clutch pedal). Isn't that confusing?
How is taking your foot off the pedal not an action?
I've never had a problem with differentiating between "engaging" and "releasing." In German it's even easier, because we use verbs that would translate into "clutching in" and clutching out."
For a long time, I never understood what "engage the clutch" meant. I had it backwards. It seemed like "engaging something" should involve an action, but instead it involves a nonaction (taking your foot off the clutch pedal). Isn't that confusing?
How is taking your foot off the pedal not an action?
I've never had a problem with differentiating between "engaging" and "releasing." In German it's even easier, because we use verbs that would translate into "clutching in" and clutching out."
The only way to learn anything is in a big empty parking lot. My 11yr old cousin learned to drive around in first and to disengage when coming to a stop. This was a success.
Another time a while back, I was teaching girlfriends, but we always tried in the streets, which didn't last very long and created frustration.
Like Keith Code would say it, you only have so many cents ( a dollar to be exact). When you are learning something, it takes up more than after you're experienced. So after focusing all your attention on the modulating the clutch and the throttle simultaneously, you're in over your head and can barely steer. Only in an open area with no traffic or curbs can one be free enough to get a feel for it and learn what is going on, versus memorizing the procedure.
Another time a while back, I was teaching girlfriends, but we always tried in the streets, which didn't last very long and created frustration.
Like Keith Code would say it, you only have so many cents ( a dollar to be exact). When you are learning something, it takes up more than after you're experienced. So after focusing all your attention on the modulating the clutch and the throttle simultaneously, you're in over your head and can barely steer. Only in an open area with no traffic or curbs can one be free enough to get a feel for it and learn what is going on, versus memorizing the procedure.
I started with manual and have been driving them for over 20 years. I still kill it now and then. I've not killed a clutch in almost 20 years.
The thing that kills clutches is slipping them. What kills transmissions is hammering them. You have to go for the middle ground.
The secret to taking off is giving it just enough gas to get rolling, and make sure your foot is off the clutch when you give it more gas to really get moving. Think of the clutch as what gets you moving to a fast walk. After that, your foot should be off of it until the next shift.
You should be off of the power when you shift, giving just enough throttle as you ease off the clutch pedal, to make a smooth transition. A proper shift should neither push you back in the seat, nor slow you down. The clutch should be slipped very little, if at all during the shift.
My fiance has also been driving manual cars for over 20 years. She was not taught properly, and would get frustrated if I tried to correct her, citing the years of experience. She averaged a new clutch about every 25,000 miles. I am not exagerating, she really did. She slipped it the entire time she was in 1st, and slipped it heavily at every gear change. When I started talking about getting a Miata, I got her to agree to let me "unlearn" her, and she does great now. Took knowing I would not allow her to drive it if she did not learn though. There was much wailing and knashing of teeth though for a few weeks there...
The thing that kills clutches is slipping them. What kills transmissions is hammering them. You have to go for the middle ground.
The secret to taking off is giving it just enough gas to get rolling, and make sure your foot is off the clutch when you give it more gas to really get moving. Think of the clutch as what gets you moving to a fast walk. After that, your foot should be off of it until the next shift.
You should be off of the power when you shift, giving just enough throttle as you ease off the clutch pedal, to make a smooth transition. A proper shift should neither push you back in the seat, nor slow you down. The clutch should be slipped very little, if at all during the shift.
My fiance has also been driving manual cars for over 20 years. She was not taught properly, and would get frustrated if I tried to correct her, citing the years of experience. She averaged a new clutch about every 25,000 miles. I am not exagerating, she really did. She slipped it the entire time she was in 1st, and slipped it heavily at every gear change. When I started talking about getting a Miata, I got her to agree to let me "unlearn" her, and she does great now. Took knowing I would not allow her to drive it if she did not learn though. There was much wailing and knashing of teeth though for a few weeks there...
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