So like the title says, I'm looking for any and all tips on driving a 5spd. I started learning 2 days ago and can pretty much comfortably drive.

My main problem (and it's a biggy) is starting on a hill. How can a do you do this right? I've tried the ebrake method but I just keep stalling... I heard there's also a method where you hold the foot brake and release the clutch and when it starts to grab you give it gas but I'm afraid the car won't stay put if it's a steep hill.

Also, how bad is stalling for the car? Can it do any serious harm to a brand new car?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Learning to start on a hill, you have two options.

You can learn the right way and go to your local, non-trafficy hill and practice, practice, practice OR you can do it the cheating, stupid way and use your emergency brake.

Seriously though, do yourself a favor that'll last the rest of your driving years on this earth and go practice this until you can do it perfectly. I don't know how many times I've just shook my head in sadness when someone uses the e-brake method, lol.

 

So your saying to use the foot brake method? Does it work on any type of hill, even really steep ones?

 

Yes, use your regular brake, just like you would at any intersection. You're going to need to practice this skill though. The better you practice, the steeper the hill you'll be able to start on.

 

read here:

http://www.standardshift.com/

 

How badly does all the stalling I do while practicing hurt the car?

 

practice makes perfect but there is no substitute for experience. Two days is pretty soon to be expecting great things. You will first have to master driving a manual and then master your own clutch. Only with time will you be able to move quickly and comfortably from brake to gas on a steep hill. It is a bit nerve racking at first but ease will come the more you do it, in traffic with the pressure that is. There is no pressure or nerves on a quiet hill but in traffic is when you will choke and mess up. Just give it some time, and of course practice, and yes the e-brake method is cheating.

And i know there will be a bunch of people who might post after this flaming me, but no there is no harm done to your car when you stall. It is better to stall your engine than to ride the clutch at 2,500 rpm's and ease it out nice and smooth, which will eat at your clutch very quickly. I used to be embarassed when i stall but i still do, it just happens, so don't worry about it.

 

standardshift.com says to use the ebrake method. You guys think I should learn the foot brake method first?

Also, when I upshift from 1-2 I sometimes give it a little gas (up to about 2k RPM), otherwise it's jerky. This isn't bad for the clutch is it?

 

When I first started out with the hills I was afraid of stalling so I drove on roads that weren't hilly and if I was on a hill I just popped the clutch n burnout. After a week I got it. Just hold the clutch at the grabbing point, give it gas n slowly let the clutch out. I've yet to use the the ebrake on hills.

If u do the ebrake method have ur foot on the brake with the clutch in and put it in first. Pull the handbrake all the way but hold the button in. Let off the brake n slowly let the clutch out as u give it some gas. U'll feel the car wanting to move and then u proceed to slowly release the handbrake. That's the best I can do to describe it. U really need to find a place to practice to find out how to do it. Try a mall parking garage during a weeknite late so there isn't to much activity goin on. If u can get those steep ramps ur set. Best of Luck.

 

I disagree. It's best to practice this away from traffic. I think the world will thank you for not holding them up in traffic and rolling backwards into their car, lol.

 

I learned in my moms Saturn, on empty streets around my house. Try to find a slow section of town, and just keep on trying, DON'T get angry if you stall, it happens to everyone, even the ones who drive a stick all the time.

Don't worry about the radio, or your phone, just concentrate on smooth shifting. If you feel that you are about to stall, just push the clutch in, and you will be fine. Don't try to do fast and the furious style shifting (ultra quick shifts) until you get a lot more practice.

Just be calm. Drive on empty streets. You will be fine.

 

Don't even try to start on a hill until get it perfect on flat surfaces, and then on flat surfaces in high pressure traffic. On steep hills (when I lived in a place that had them) I still used the ebrake every now and again to get rolling. Sure as heck beats burning the clutch, bumping into the car behind you, or doing heel-toe yoga to get it rolling.

 

Yes, this is bad for the clutch. Unless you are driving for performance, learn to let the clutch out at the RPM 2nd gear will be in and your jerkiness will go away.

 

Try keeping this in mind:

The clutch is the interface between the tranny and the motor. The reason you have to use the gas is that when the motor's flywheel meets the tranny, it encounters the inertia of the car and it's resistance. When you blip the gas pedel, you counteract that resitance with work from the motor.

You don't have to hold the gas in, you simply need to blip it in a bit, then slightly left off of it.

 

Basically when ur stationary but on a slight incline going up pratice standing still by applying gas and clutch, but enough so that counter measure each other. enough gas to cancel out the clutch and vice versa will keep u stationary on a incline and u acn apply that method eve more on a hill but applying more gas and clutch.

 

now that schools are out or almost out-- high school parking lots are great places to learn manuals. We had our daughter learn there, depending on the school size the lot may be big enough to get into some 1-2 upshifts, same for downshifts..... plus shifting while cornering, etc...to help build confidence before hitting the streets.
As for learning to master the hill thing--keep in mind NEVER use the clutch to hold the car in place... I've seen/heard people at intersections 'almost' engage the clutch so the car doesn't roll back but doesn't roll forward either.......and sit there until light turns green.... not good

 

why is doing this bad ?

works fine for me

 

This is probably the worst thing you can do to the clutch besides riding it.
Even the owners manual will tell you to NEVER use the clutch to hold the car steady on an incline.

 

o snap. good thing i only did it a few times

 

yeah, do it too many times, and you may wonder why your car sounds like it's racing towards redline as you hit the throttle..... only to be accelerating like a common honda...
sorry, couldn't resist...

actually at any long stops ( on flat roads if you're beginning anyways ) you're better off putting the car in neutral and keeping the foot off the clutch until you're ready to go... and when learning to drive, keep the left foot OFF the clutch pedal at all times except for shifting.... you can cause issues by even the lightest pressure on the pedal ( ie as you wait to up-shift while accelerating ).

now go practice... once a stick gets in your blood, it will always remain there... even us old farts gotta go row the gears once in awhile...