If it drives ok then keep driving. What ever damage you did was done.
If it chatters a lot when leaving in first gear then decide if you
want to replace it.  But you did the clutch no favors. Just figure a
new clutch pack with new flywheel, disk and pressure plate and 6 hours
labor. See last weeks post on $1300 clutch job to get for feel for
your oops.

Jim B.

Sam,

I start in 2nd all the time even on hills; I'm a scatterbrain driver.  My
clutch still works no problem.

I think that you'll find that your clutch is fried if it starts slipping -
that usually happens in the higher gears, after which you can just drive to
a shop in a lower gear, i.e. don't use 5th.

I wouldn't sweat it too much

cheers,

Jd

I wouldn't worry so much. You didn't do good things to the clutch, but one
mistake usually won't kill it. I bought my 79 rabbit new in Canada, and in
getting it home, crossed over on a small ferry. The road getting off was a big
gravel hill, and I was praying everyone wouldn't stop, as my experience on hills
was limited. Well, the traffic stopped, and I was forced to start on the
hill...I think I slipped the clutch and had the thing floored all the way up.
Got that nasty clutch smell...but the clutch lasted until there was 220,000
miles on the car.

If you normally drive carefully, don't worry...just leave the wife home next
time  (;^P) (we can say that since she isn't here!)

Dude, I seriously doubt it!  Don't feel so bad I'm sure it's fine.

Number one thing that destroys clutches: Riding the clutch.
Number two "                          "  Riding the clutch.
etc..
etc.

The way to tell if you clutch is fried:

1) It's hard shifting into a gear.
2) It chatters on take off.
3) The engine goes faster in a tall gear (say 5th) with no noticable
increase in speed.
4) It continues to smell.

Always remember these fine safety tips from Igon when in a similar
situation.

1) Stop.
2) Tell the wife to get out.
3) When satisfied you have the momentary upper hand in the relationship (its
fleetingly transient, I assure you.) resume travel and resume arguement.
(Necessarily in that order.)

It's cheaper.

Oh... and 1300 is a bit ridiculous for a clutch.  Even if its in that
Monopoly money known as Canadian dollars... ;)

And remember RPMs kill clutches on engagement.  Practice speed matching your
shifts, and your clutch can last a lifetime. (I know...  I had to replace a
clutch in a Jeep (Bloody slave cylinder let go), and the mechanic pulled it
apart.  He offered to put the original pressure plate back in, because it
was seemingly brand new (OEM parts.)  No warpage, the clutch was almost new
(save for the oil soaked pads) and that was at 170,000 miles. (280K
kilometers?))

I smoked a clutch trying to get a car on ramps, once.  For a while
afterwards, it would be "grabby" on take-off in first gear, but eventually,
it got back to normal again.  I assume the burned portions wore off, and it
got back to smooth-engaging, unburned material.  I ran that car another
60,000 miles before selling it, and the clutch still worked fine at that
point.  I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.