Bad Driving Habits (M/T)
 

I've had this car for almost two weeks now. It's the first M/T I've owned. I learned to drive a stick a few years ago from a good friend so I'm sure there are some things I still need to know.

Surprisingly, I've only stalled a hand full of times while getting used to it. What are some bad habits that you should try to avoid or break when driving a stick? I tried searching but didn't have any luck. Hopefully me and others on the forum can learn and have our cars last a little longer, lol.

One habit I don't do myself but I see my other friends do is put the car in neutral and coast at a somewhat good clip like ~20mph especially when they are going downhill. Better to just leave it in gear and not touch the gas.

Please xcuse my low knowledge on this but why is this a bad habit?

Oil starvation maybe?

I believe lack of lubrication to the internal transmission components. It's also illegal in some states to coast in neutral.

Well the way I was taught - if you are going at a speed like that it's always safer to be in gear so you are ready to move and react if something should arise.

Also, coasting at speed in neutral - oil starvation + waste of gas. Leaving it in gear while coasting wastes no gas and your car is read to move if needed.

Neutral has throttle body on idle speed = fuel being used
In gear while coasting = throttle body shut so no gas being wasted on idle

Cool. What about while waiting at a red light, feathering the clutch; you know the light is about to turn green so you let out the clutch almost to the friction point in preparation for the green light.

Keep it in neutral until you know the light will change. Holding down clutch wears the throwout bearing.

IMO the only really bad habit with a m/t is to ride the clutch. Don't do it. It may be harder on your neck, but it's better for the clutch (and your wallet). The only exception to this may be while on a hill and you're worried you're going to roll back into the person behind you.

Re: coasting downhill in neutral
I only do it when I'm approching a red light or a corner where I know I'm going to be braking.
I'm not sure I agree with the wasting gas thing, but it's no biggee.

file this one under "taking it too far" :p

Holding down clutch is a bad habit of many people on M/T when stop, or coming to a stop with the brake and cluth pedal down at the same time.

Also keeping your foot on top of the clutch pedal while you drive.

I'm guilty of the above, often I find myself doing this more so when in small neighbourhoods and might be shifting between 2nd and having to come to a stop quickly....its like i hate the brake or something lol

learned this the hard way on my previous car. laziness is expensive!

370Z was my first M/T I owned also. Worst habit I learned to break: don't freak out if someone is behind you and you think you're going to roll back and hit them. They're farther away than you think. Maybe as you get used to the friction point and how much gas to apply, you can learn to do a hillstart in the meantime.

--Come to a stop. set the handbrake, go in neutral, relax...you can take your foot off the brake and the handbrake will hold you.
--Light turns green, put it in 1st, start to give gas + slip clutch. When the car feels like it wants to move forward, let the handbrake off and go. No rolling back.

So...what I'm trying to say is don't freak out (you're going to) it will just make you burn the clutch with your reactions hehe. Try not to look in the rearview when you're at a red light.

Good info D, also just wanted to make note that something i noticed when test driving a Z back in October, the clutch tends to engage a little on the high side when letting go of the pedal so might want to keep that in mind when driving the MT Z...of course this is from someone who is used to the clutch on an older 96 civic so your experiences may differ lol