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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / September 2004stickshift questions
I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on the street and 5 in an empty parking lot. This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to stall. And it's almost impossible on the street. So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad for the brake? |I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to | drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] | only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad | for the brake? You'll eventually get use to "feeling" if the engine is about to stall. The e-brake trick is a common one...not to worry. > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad > for the brake? You don't have to listen for it, you'll feel it. Seriously if a car starts lugging there's no doubt about what it's doing. Experience is the best teacher in this case and he's probably right on the 20 hour thing. >You don't have to listen for it, you'll feel it. Seriously if a car >starts lugging there's no doubt about what it's doing. > >Experience is the best teacher in this case and he's probably right on >the 20 hour thing. ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] I agree completely that you do not listen at all.. It is all feel...and smell if you have a tendency to slip the clutch way too much...lol Personally ( from teaching my children anyway ) I do not think 20 hours is even close to the time it takes to learn... Sorry but the figure is much much less then that... My 3 children all took 2 minutes to get the feel..another couple of hours playing with the car to become very comfortable with using a clutch ... Now I must admit that the "lessons" were given on generally flat roads.. But neither had trouble holding the car on a incline after the initial "few" hours...using opnly the clutch and no brake... I NEVER allowed any of them to use the emergency brake...not needed Bob Griffiths > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad > for the brake? I wouldn't say that it is bad for the brake unless this is happening alot, but the effect on the clutch might be a different matter. The fact that you need to use the e-brake is indicitave of poor clutching. Taking too long to engage the clutch and start your forward movement could be causing excessive wear. You should shoot for one second max from beginning to engage to full engagement of the clutch even on a hill. This will prevent you from rolling back once you get the hang of it. It's probably better to chirp your tires a little rather than burn the clutch. If the road you're practicing on is too steep than try a lower grade until you feel more comfortable. Even after years of driving a stick, I still feel uneasy when I drive w/o a tach because I often tend to shift late and would suggest that you try to get one installed if you can. Otherwise, as someone else mentioned, eventually you get used to it and will just be able to feel the engine. After a while, it's so natural that driving an automatic will be unnerving. Good luck > I wouldn't say that it is bad for the brake unless this is happening > alot, but the effect on the clutch might be a different matter. I agree. > The fact that you need to use the e-brake is indicitave of poor clutching. Or indicative of early training in the use of the clutch. It is, admittedly, the easiest way to get going when you don't have the various hand and foot coordination efforts down pat. Eventually, the OP will want to get to the point where he/she can sit on a hill, gradually release the clutch to the point that it is engaging and starting to slow down the engine a bit. Then, once ready to start out, release the brake pedal and gently apply throttle to help the slipping clutch keep the car from at least rolling back, and preferably moving forward. > If the road you're practicing on is too steep than try a lower > grade until you feel more comfortable. That's how I taught my daughter, and am now teaching my son, to perform this admittedly tricky maneuver. > Otherwise, as someone else > mentioned, eventually you get used to it and will just be able to feel > the engine. Or know your vehicle well enough to not even feel or hear the engine. I can shift either of my vehicles without looking down at the tach (one doesn't have one) even with the radio going and the A/C blowing full blast. Eventually, you just get a good feel for each vehicle and know about when to shift subconciously. Beware of anyone that attempts to get you to focus on shifting at a particular RPM or particular speed (if you don't have a tach). I've watched more than one person spend more time concentrating on the instrument panel than the road in an attempt to not "burn out their engine" or, worse yet, to "save gas". Most modern engines have a cut-off to keep you from overrevving the engine.  SignatureMalcolm I've drove manuals for years with and without tachs. I find that once I get accustomed to a car I never look at the tach. Just learn to drive by feel, and when it feels right shift. Hearing isn't important, the vibrations tell you all you need to know. Often you hear, "Drive by the seat of your pants", well that pretty much sums it up. If using the handbrake makes it easier thats fine, once you get used to the clutch, you will find its unnecessary. To maximize clutch life. Don't get in the habit of driving with your foot on the clutch. Completety remove your foot from the clutch after each shift. And don't use the clutch to hold the vehicle from rolling backward on a hill at a signal light, thats what the brakes for. >I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to >drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad >for the brake? > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to > stall. And it's almost impossible on the street. What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach? > So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake > only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad > for the brake? I doubt it. You're going so slow, it's not heating up the brakes at all. > > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to > > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach? Unfortunately, most of them. A tachometer is seen as an extra-cost doodad, and a manual transmission as for the pathetically poor. It seems that lots of cars with automatics come with a tach, though. At one time, I wanted to order a manual Escort with a tach; I would have had to order tilt wheel and cruise to get it, as I recall. <snip> Signature-Stephen H. Westin Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors. In ca.driving Larry Bud <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote: :> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to :> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] :> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to :> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street. : What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach? Probably some GM P.O.S. The same company that would mate a foot-operated emergency brake with a manual transmission (on the other hand, Ford this on one of my POS cars). It must be an "American thing". b. > In ca.driving Larry Bud <larrybud2002@yahoo.com> wrote: > :> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > It must be an "American thing". Most manual trans Volvo 240 series came with no tach, not a big deal, you only need a tach if you are deaf, or unaware of what a car is supposed to sound/feel like. Bernard >> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to >> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach? Econobox. > > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to > > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach? My (now departed) 1973 Dodge panel van with a "3-on-a-tree". |
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