taught badly at driving a manual

[The motor guy]

My grandpa taught me how to drive his Mazda Miata back when I was 17, so probably 20 years ago. I was basically learning how to drive and driving a stick at the same time lol. Anyways, my grandpa had some weird ways of driving. He believed that the more you used the clutch to shift, the faster it wore out. Anyways, he always had me go from 1,2 then rev it the engine a little more than you usually would and then put it into 5th gear. I mean it worked fine, but I guess I never had much practice putting it in all the other gears. Then the other issue is I only seem to only get my hands on a manual vehicle about once every 5 years, so I'm rusty. Also, since my grandpa was 80 at the time he taught me how to double clutch a fully synchronized transmission. lmao. Imagine all this as a 17 year old. One thing I was never really sure of was what do you do with the throttle in between shifts? If I remember right I think what worked best was just let off the throttle 500rpm or so and put it into the next gear. Is that the right way to do it? is that what's called rev matching? Or can you just let off the throttle completly, shift into the next gear, then get back onto the throttle? It seemed a little jerky when I did the 2nd method. which is the way you're supposed to do it?

 

[edyvw]

My grandpa taught me how to drive his Mazda Miata back when I was 17, so probably 20 years ago. I was basically learning how to drive and driving a stick at the same time lol. Anyways, my grandpa had some weird ways of driving. He believed that the more you used the clutch to shift, the faster it wore out. Anyways, he always had me go from 1,2 then rev it the engine a little more than you usually would and then put it into 5th gear. I mean it worked fine, but I guess I never had much practice putting it in all the other gears. Then the other issue is I only seem to only get my hands on a manual vehicle about once every 5 years, so I'm rusty. Also, since my grandpa was 80 at the time he taught me how to double clutch a fully synchronized transmission. lmao. Imagine all this as a 17 year old. One thing I was never really sure of was what do you do with the throttle in between shifts? If I remember right I think what worked best was just let off the throttle 500rpm or so and put it into the next gear. Is that the right way to do it? is that what's called rev matching? Or can you just let off the throttle completly, shift into the next gear, then get back onto the throttle? It seemed a little jerky when I did the 2nd method. which is the way you're supposed to do it?

In most countries driving school still use manuals. It is actually mandatory in order to accomplish certain tests like releasing handbrake on the test hill without moving back. It must be done using manual. You have to pass before moving to actual driving test.
So, remember your grandpa. In US it is dying skill.

 

[Chris142]

I learned a manual @9. I drove over 100 miles on the fwy in a manual to visit a friend when i was 14. Took by test in a manual @16 and got 100%.

I only use the clutch to get moving. I up and down shift clutch less every shift .

I can drive a truck with the old 2 sticks. I learned that on a 5 speed main and 3 speed auxiliary.

I have driven 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,13,15,18, 5+2,5x3,5x4 and a 6x4 transmissions.

I got my first job @ pep boys when I was 19 because no employees at pep boys could test drive a truck with a 3 on the tree.

 

[The motor guy]

In most countries driving school still use manuals. It is actually mandatory in order to accomplish certain tests like releasing handbrake on the test hill without moving back. It must be done using manual. You have to pass before moving to actual driving test.
So, thank your grandpa. In US it is dying skill.

I went to driving school, but my grandpa definitely spent the most time with me showing me how to drive. After that my brother probably taught me the most

 

[The motor guy]

I learned a manual @9. I drove over 100 miles on the fwy in a manual to visit a friend when i was 14. Took by test in a manual @16 and got 100%.

I only use the clutch to get moving. I up and down shift clutch less every shift .

I can drive a truck with the old 2 sticks. I learned that on a 5 speed main and 3 speed auxiliary.

I have driven 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,13,15,18, 5+2,5x3,5x4 and a 6x4 transmissions.

I got my first job @ pep boys when I was 19 because no employees at pep boys could test drive a truck with a 3 on the tree.

I did that too. All I did was let off the gas and it slid into the next gear, never touched the clutch. Only tried it a few times

 

[skyactiv]

My dad taught my 4 siblings and I how to drive with his 88' GMC S15 that had a stick and no air. It didn't have power steering or power brakes either. I remember him saying to give it a little gas while releasing the clutch when shifting. Our first cars were sticks.

 

[Chris142]

I did that too. All I did was let off the gas and it slid into the next gear, never touched the clutch. Only tried it a few times

But can you downshift without the clutch?

 

[NibbanaBanana]

My grandpa taught me how to drive his Mazda Miata back when I was 17, so probably 20 years ago. I was basically learning how to drive and driving a stick at the same time lol. Anyways, my grandpa had some weird ways of driving. He believed that the more you used the clutch to shift, the faster it wore out. Anyways, he always had me go from 1,2 then rev it the engine a little more than you usually would and then put it into 5th gear. I mean it worked fine, but I guess I never had much practice putting it in all the other gears. Then the other issue is I only seem to only get my hands on a manual vehicle about once every 5 years, so I'm rusty. Also, since my grandpa was 80 at the time he taught me how to double clutch a fully synchronized transmission. lmao. Imagine all this as a 17 year old. One thing I was never really sure of was what do you do with the throttle in between shifts? If I remember right I think what worked best was just let off the throttle 500rpm or so and put it into the next gear. Is that the right way to do it? is that what's called rev matching? Or can you just let off the throttle completly, shift into the next gear, then get back onto the throttle? It seemed a little jerky when I did the 2nd method. which is the way you're supposed to do it?

You're just trying to match the engine rpm to the transmission input shaft speed for whatever gear you're in. If it's got synchronizers they're going to act as brakes and do that for you. If you're upshifting then just releasing the accelerator will decrease the engine rpm and if you shift fast enough you will match it at the right rpm. If you're downshifting you have to rev the engine up to the rpm to match the input shaft speed in that lower gear (higher input shaft speed).

I had a 1967 International Scout with a three speed nonsychro transmission. That thing was a bear. Would crawl right up a wall in first gear low range four wheel drive. Rusted right off the frame though.

 

[The_Jeff]

You really only have to rev match when downshifting, and, at that, downshifting into 2nd as that's the synchro that gets the most wear. Dump it into neutral, release the clutch, blip it to 3500 rpm or so, then declutch and go for the gear. If you get a junky enough car with bad synchros it will help you learn as it'll balk at going into gears if you don't do it close to right.

 

[supton]

I taught myself in the 90’s, no internet but plenty of car magazines and books back then. I had aspirations of becoming a car mechanic, so once I knew how the pieces worked, the rest fell into place.

Taught the wife how to drive a stick. She liked it so much she went out and bought a manual Civic. She then second guessed it, and had me drive it. That thing was the most gutless turd I’ve driven, the first ever that could not take off without throttle. Once I “gave her permission” to goose the throttle, she was happy with that car for years, and insisted that the next one be stick also.

I always drove by feel. Go until power drops, upshift. I usually skipped gears when slowing down, a good burp and drop into the gear that felt best. Really can’t beat just going out and doing it, after a while its second nature.

I wonder if your grandfather started out on 3 speeds and just preferred to drive as if they never went away.

 

[Pew]

Redline> Flat foot shift > repeat. All day, every day.

 

[Pablo]

I'd rather wear a clutch out than grind gears, some transmissions are more fragile that we think. *choke* - *cough* suuuubaaaroo *achoo* *gag*

 

[joekingcorvette]

I learned to drive an 8n Ford tractor at about 11 years of age. My dad always had tractors on my parents acreage and he always had something with a clutch. Plus my 6 other brothers and sisters had various vehicles with manual transmissions too. It amazes me to this day that some people cannot drive a manual transmission vehicle. A buddy of mine had a 94 Ford F150 that had a 4 speed on the floor. Second gear synchronizers were about out of the transmission and he would rev it up pretty good in first gear then shift to 3rd and then to 4th which was high gear on that vehicle. He bought it from a bank for about half price and it was probably a repo. That truck lasted many years.

 

[The motor guy]

But can you downshift without the clutch?

I dont think I tried. I think the gears would grind for sure doing that on that particular trans

 

[supton]

I dont think I tried. I think the gears would grind for sure doing that on that particular trans

For the first few times, it will—until you learn how to rev match.

 

[dfarr67]

I learned on a Hyster forklift...

 

[dlundblad]

Learning how to drive a gear drive tractor is what helped me.

I always was a little hard on the stick when shifting. Slamming it into gear. I was told to treat the knob like it was an egg. That helped.

 

[Pew]

One thing I was never really sure of was what do you do with the throttle in between shifts? If I remember right I think what worked best was just let off the throttle 500rpm or so and put it into the next gear. Is that the right way to do it? is that what's called rev matching? Or can you just let off the throttle completly, shift into the next gear, then get back onto the throttle? It seemed a little jerky when I did the 2nd method. which is the way you're supposed to do it?

As the RPM gets closer to the proper RPMs for the next gear, start trading clutch pedal for gas. Enough to minimize any bucking but not so much where the RPMs start increasing before the clutch is fully engaged. For downshifting, same thing but press on the gas to jump the RPMs up between shifts. Both ways are considered rev matching. After a while it's muscle memory and your body times it so well that you think you went into neutral from how smooth the shift was.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

For the first few times, it will—until you learn how to rev match.

I remember: ON the go pedal a little then roll off gas so no load on the trans, lightly pull and slip into N then on the gas to rev match to slip into that lower gear, think all that that take about 2 - 1/2 seconds on a bad day.
My Ford Fairlane BB wouldl split parts store motors after a hard launch, and the clutch pedal cross shaft would fall of the block nipple. Had to drive home or better yet to the garage with the clutch engaged. Had to time lights or end up using the starter in 1st if RED light or Stop sign and stalled out.

Ah the good ol'e days

 

[supton]

I remember: ON the go pedal a little then roll off gas so no load on the trans, lightly pull and slip into N then on the gas to rev match to slip into that lower gear, think all that that take about 2 - 1/2 seconds on a bad day.

Only did it a handful of times, years ago. At least with syncro's you could sorta just lightly pull, IIRC, and when the rev's matched they would fall in--pull hard and it'd grind. Something like that. Fun to try out. Never did try my hand at double clutching, but I suspect it was for naught as I only ever owned fully syncro'd transmissions.

For years and years, in my 5MT's, I might coast in 5th, clutch&burp and drop into 3rd, then just burp the throttle and shift to neutral without hitting the clutch. Or coast in 4th, drop into 2nd, then bump out of 2nd w/o hitting the clutch. I'm sure it saved on nothing but was a habit all the same. Done right, it's as smooth as can be to shift to neutral and just roll to a stop with the brakes.