Driving a stick
Guest
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LOL i remember the first day I got my WRX. It was my first day with stickshift.. and I was at a stopsign when a couple of young guys were chillen outside and they looked over because.. well its a WRX 
. Then I stalled right there LOL.... but after an hour or so I got the hang of it. Good luck.
. Then I stalled right there LOL.... but after an hour or so I got the hang of it. Good luck.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,537
From: AFK
Car Info: 04' JBP STi 02' WRB Wagon
I learned on my friend's Z, and now my first stick is an STi..........the humiliation of stalling in an STi at a 4 way major intersection promted me to eat, sleep, and drink stick for a week, it was good motivation i tells ya
But yea, the STi tranny and clutch are pretty forgiving, but practice on a beater, your car will thank you for it.
But yea, the STi tranny and clutch are pretty forgiving, but practice on a beater, your car will thank you for it.
Guest
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1st gear is only meant for starting from a stop. Once moving, it is unimportant...
When downshifting, 2nd is as low as you go. From there, you're just using the break to come to a stop while putting the clutch in neutral.
Oh, BTW, I think games like Gran Tourismo are a great way to learn to drive stick. Won't help at all with the physical aspect, of course, but mentally...
It all came together within a few minutes, about rev-matching, downshifting into turns, learning what gear is right for what part of the road.
And it is way faster than auto, being able to control power thru turns. You will start beating your "auto" friends almost immediately! :-)
When downshifting, 2nd is as low as you go. From there, you're just using the break to come to a stop while putting the clutch in neutral.
Oh, BTW, I think games like Gran Tourismo are a great way to learn to drive stick. Won't help at all with the physical aspect, of course, but mentally...
It all came together within a few minutes, about rev-matching, downshifting into turns, learning what gear is right for what part of the road.
And it is way faster than auto, being able to control power thru turns. You will start beating your "auto" friends almost immediately! :-)
VIP Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 4,568
From: Rockland County...NY
Car Info: want a WRX
can you get it for xbox or cp? and ive played this realistic ferrari racing game at dave and busters which i think helps a little with coordination and getting used to a manual tranny
Guest
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Maybe GT-3 is available for pc, but not x-box. I'm sure there are other good games, I'm just used to GT cuz I've always had the Playstations.
On the (superior) PlayStay controller, the downshift is the front left button, and upshift is front right. It's trigger shifting with your first fingers; not unlike the new cars (bmw, rx-8) that have automatics with "paddle" shifters. This is/will be the new standard for car trannys, IMHO.
On the (superior) PlayStay controller, the downshift is the front left button, and upshift is front right. It's trigger shifting with your first fingers; not unlike the new cars (bmw, rx-8) that have automatics with "paddle" shifters. This is/will be the new standard for car trannys, IMHO.
Guest
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And it's more fun! But once you get used to being able to downshift (=excellerate) out of turns or from over-breaking, you will never want to go back to waiting for the automatic to figure it out and do it for you.
I'm sure this applies in real life, as well as the games! Unfortunately, I am still driving my auto toyota, but when I get my new car, it will either be fully manual or manu/matic hybrid.
NEVER totally automatic again!!!!
I'm sure this applies in real life, as well as the games! Unfortunately, I am still driving my auto toyota, but when I get my new car, it will either be fully manual or manu/matic hybrid.
NEVER totally automatic again!!!!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 194
From: Seattle, WA
Car Info: '03 Impreza WRX
But for the sake of turning the converstion to another direction, does anybody else ever make this mistake in an automatic: Start from a stop, let the engine run up in first gear, then lift off the gas and JAM the brake like it's a clutch?
I learned on a stick and have rarely driven anything else, so I have the reverse problem when trying to drive an automatic - imagine a left foot used to the clutch, trying to depress the brake pedal all the way! (Can we say Kangaroo?!!)
The best advice I can give you is if you're going to drive both automatic and manual (stick), is drive the auto with your right-foot only.
its my understanding that a car cant be in gear at a stop so you would either have it in 1st with the clutch in or out of gear, right?
You can be in gear when stationary, in fact it's normal to sit at a stop light in 1st gear (with the clutch fully depressed and the gas fully raised of course).
What you do NOT want to do is sit on a hill, in gear and using the biting point (clutch/gas pedals) to hold you stationary instead of the brake - that is an excellent way to shorten the life of your clutch.
that site says not to shift into first when braking and coming to a stop..why not?(page 5-bottom)
Downshifting on deceleration is to take advantage of engine braking, the lowest gear you want to downshift and let the clutch out is 2nd - 1st is for starting from stationary, nothing else.
I typically downshift one gear 4-3 or 3-2 when driving in the city, two gears 5-4-3 when coming off the freeway.
Tip: in a 2WD, in wet/icy conditions, starting from 2nd is better and you can actually get going in 2nd at any time although you gotta ease the clutch out slow or you'll stall. (I've even got rolling in 3rd before, though I don't recommend it
)
Definately learn to drive stick on a junker, unless you really want to knacker the clutch and possibly the gearbox of a nice car.
I doubt you will be able to find a rental car that is not an automatic, at least in the US - just doesn't seem to be the demand for 'em.
Welcome to having REAL control of your car!
I learned on a stick and have rarely driven anything else, so I have the reverse problem when trying to drive an automatic - imagine a left foot used to the clutch, trying to depress the brake pedal all the way! (Can we say Kangaroo?!!)
The best advice I can give you is if you're going to drive both automatic and manual (stick), is drive the auto with your right-foot only.
its my understanding that a car cant be in gear at a stop so you would either have it in 1st with the clutch in or out of gear, right?
You can be in gear when stationary, in fact it's normal to sit at a stop light in 1st gear (with the clutch fully depressed and the gas fully raised of course).
What you do NOT want to do is sit on a hill, in gear and using the biting point (clutch/gas pedals) to hold you stationary instead of the brake - that is an excellent way to shorten the life of your clutch.
that site says not to shift into first when braking and coming to a stop..why not?(page 5-bottom)
Downshifting on deceleration is to take advantage of engine braking, the lowest gear you want to downshift and let the clutch out is 2nd - 1st is for starting from stationary, nothing else.
I typically downshift one gear 4-3 or 3-2 when driving in the city, two gears 5-4-3 when coming off the freeway.
Tip: in a 2WD, in wet/icy conditions, starting from 2nd is better and you can actually get going in 2nd at any time although you gotta ease the clutch out slow or you'll stall. (I've even got rolling in 3rd before, though I don't recommend it
)Definately learn to drive stick on a junker, unless you really want to knacker the clutch and possibly the gearbox of a nice car.
I doubt you will be able to find a rental car that is not an automatic, at least in the US - just doesn't seem to be the demand for 'em.
Welcome to having REAL control of your car!