manual question.

[Forrest]

So since im new to a manual and i am the king of stalls in first gear or to much gas and launch like a bat out of hell(im a pro at that). My friend who is teaching me, she is telling me DO NOT cruise at 40mph in 6th gear its bad for the engine.

Shes a good teacher but im wondering is it true?

And any thing else you guys wanna point out to tell me NOT to do that will save my a** some time and grief.

Oh yeah i been watching utube videos on how to drive manual for a smoother first gear start.

[!xoible]

40 might be a tad too slow, but for a car like that it shouldnt be a problem if ur just "cruising" and dont need pulls. im in 2nd gear at 40 mph man lol

for older weaker cars she's right.

this thread is hella helpful

Official Learn To Drive Manual Cars Thread - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum - E90Post.com

btw where's the 707 area code?

[Forrest]

lets see, santa rosa, windsor, healsburg, cloverdale, ukiah, any of those towns ring a bell?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_code_707
this helps to it lists them all and shows map of area i am at

[kustomZ]

Every car is different, as each one has its one gear ratios between the transmission and rear-end. Also, the amount of torque an engine has is a factor also.

You'll get used to the car soon enough, and you'll be able to tell if the revs are too low for the gear you're in. The most important thing is to keep from riding the clutch, which will wear it out too fast. At the same time, you don't want to let the pedal out too fast, or you'll stall. Traction control can be your friend while you're learning to drive a stick. Good luck!!

[Forrest]

Another question, im getting better at starting first and reverse but reverse even with no foot on the gas it shoots backwards like a bat out of hell.

So heres what i end up doing for reverse.
#1 I end up keeping my left foot sort of pressed on the clutch
#2 I find if i let go of the clutch and press the brake to slow down = stall
#3 i find a clutch+brake combo = sort of slow reverse with out gas even used.
#4 I will either clutch all in + brake to stop or stall out cuz i forgot to put in clutch
Am i doing this wrong for a slow reverse?

For first gear, i end up doing same method,
#1 i let the clutch out slowly till i start to roll
#2 I start to put gas in at this point to assist
#3 i start to give more gas till im moving at a decent pace
#4 at this point i start easeing off the clutch
this seem accurate or am i doing it wrong?

[ArtVandaleigh]

The key to smooth driving is finding the clutch engagement point. When i learned to drive manual, i went to a vacant parking lot and practiced my stop and go driving for an hour a day. A week later, I had improved dramatically. If you can find a little incline to practice standing starts up a hill, this will also help you improve the feel of the clutch (not only to prepare you for the car rolling back as you start from the hill in possible traffic). Try gently applying the gas and in turn, gently letting up off the clutch. Once you feel the car lurching forward, put the clutch back down if you feel the motor bogging or ease it up to start forward. It wont take long before you will begin to take off smooth without bogging down, just start slow. Practice makes perfect.

[Forrest]

i been doing this, i just need to make sure that im not messing any thing and doing the right steps, i know my cordination is not there yet but im hoping the steps i am applying are right.

Btw i have been doing a hour and then some driving every night. I still need to find a incline hill.

Tonight i will be out for 3-4 hours hahah

[kustomZ]

Here's a quick tip for steep inclines. Let's say you stop at a red light on a big hill and some a-hole pulls up right behind your bumper. Engage the parking brake, then give it gas and engage the clutch like you normally would. When you feel the transmission load, let off the e-brake. This whole operation should last about 1-2 seconds...in other words, don't start driving with the e-brake on. Just use it to keep you from rolling back while you work the clutch.

[Forrest]

soon as i find a hill i will be practising the ebrake start

[epod86]

In reverse, applying the brakes is probably not a good idea. For the amount of time you spend in reverse, just easy the clutch out until it grabs enough to get you going, then put the clutch back in, repeat as necessary. This isn't going to do much wear and tear on the clutch. "Burning" the clutch with high rpm-and-hold starts does a lot more damage. Also, if you're at a stop light always go to neutral and clutch out. If you keep the clutch in it will shorten the life of the bearings.

With modern fly-by-wire throttle/accelerator pedals, there is a lot of skill and finesse in getting a car into first and off the line smoothly. In the pony, I can't wait for the clutch to grab before applying the gas because it bogs to quickly, so i tend to rev as I clutch out. If I need a quick start, i tend to let the revs hit 1500 before the clutch starts grabbing. I've gotten better about this and i think I'm normally do it at about 1100 now.

Hill starts are always going require more wear and tear on the clutch. But the other option is rolling into whoever is behind you. I'd make sure you're very comfortable with the multitasking required of manual shifting. I tried my first hill start when i was still uncomfortable shifting during turns and it wasn't pretty. I had a incline (about 6 inches rise over the length of the car)coming out of my families house that i didin't really need a hill start for, but it was good practice to use the e-brake on that incline. It was enough for the car to roll, but not very quickly.

[Crash]

If the car is broken in properly, there's no reason to worry about cruising at any speed as long as you're above 1500 RPM. Not true for ALL motors, but it's a good rule of thumb. I cruise in final gear at 40 all the time in all the manuals I drive.

Also, remember that an Automatic will shift into it's final gear too if the car is driving 40+mph.

[Forrest]

Originally Posted by Crash

Also, remember that an Automatic will shift into it's final gear too if the car is driving 40+mph.

That is what i was telling my trainer! she was like hell no!

[Crash]

Meh... Well, it's not bad to cruise in 5th either, though. When you don't need her anymore, cruise in 6th! Getting into 6th at 40 in a low torque car doesn't really spare you much gas really. In a torque-heavy V8, 6th is going to save gas, but it shouldn't be a big deal with the VQ37.

[!xoible]

Originally Posted by Forrest

Another question, im getting better at starting first and reverse but reverse even with no foot on the gas it shoots backwards like a bat out of hell.

So heres what i end up doing for reverse.
#1 I end up keeping my left foot sort of pressed on the clutch
#2 I find if i let go of the clutch and press the brake to slow down = stall
#3 i find a clutch+brake combo = sort of slow reverse with out gas even used.
#4 I will either clutch all in + brake to stop or stall out cuz i forgot to put in clutch
Am i doing this wrong for a slow reverse?

For first gear, i end up doing same method,
#1 i let the clutch out slowly till i start to roll
#2 I start to put gas in at this point to assist
#3 i start to give more gas till im moving at a decent pace
#4 at this point i start easeing off the clutch
this seem accurate or am i doing it wrong?

when you back up get on the clutch just lightly until it starts moving then depress the clutch back and forth to make the car move as u want. riding the clutch (altho a horrible habit when normally driving) but when ur reversing it's what u gotta do. hoping ur not backing up for 1/4 of a mile lol

i figured 707 is very far, lol i was gonna offer to drive to where u are and show u but never mind that.

oh, on start do not get in the habit of getting the car move then gas. just rev it up to 1000 or 1500 then engage the clutch (stick to it for a second or 2) and go

[Forrest]

Originally Posted by !xoible

when you back up get on the clutch just lightly until it starts moving then depress the clutch back and forth to make the car move as u want. riding the clutch (altho a horrible habit when normally driving) but when ur reversing it's what u gotta do. hoping ur not backing up for 1/4 of a mile lol

i figured 707 is very far, lol i was gonna offer to drive to where u are and show u but never mind that.

oh, on start do not get in the habit of getting the car move then gas. just rev it up to 1000 or 1500 then engage the clutch (stick to it for a second or 2) and go

did alot of practising, my foot is finding that engagment part of the clutch faster while my other foot is hitting the gas barely faster also, so its improving alot. Im working on now putting my clutch+gas at same spot at same time with 'speed' or tryign to increase my speed.