I learned to drive manual on my TC when I got it 3 weeks ago and it's the only manual car that I have driven for more than 5 minutes. I'm very comftorbale driving it now and can get around smoothly. My only problem is sometimes when launching from a complete stop at say a red light or something... the car starts off rolling fine then does a slight "bob" before going normally again. It's also more noticeable on hills. Does anyone else experience this "bob" on their TC? I can't seem to figure out what's causing it and if it has something to do with my gas/clutch technique or if its from the car itself.

 

It hapens to me rarely now but I can't remeber if it was when I disengaged the clutch to slow or to quick. It could be both.

 

It happens when I let off too slow.

 

Cool..I'll try releasing faster and see how that works. I probably got into the habit of releasing too slow when I was learning to drive to avoid stalling. Is there anything u guys think about when launching the car? I'm trying to get my launches more consistent and smooth until it becomes 2nd nature.

 

Learn the point where the clutch starts to engage. If you know that point by second nature everthing falls into place.
Basically you just need to engage just a bit and then gas it a bit and let out the clutch, it took me at least a couple months to get good and a good year to do it well 95% of the time.
And you get all screwed up again when you drive a different car...

 

i've been drivin stick shift for a while but this car seems a lot different than most i've driven, or maybe it's just cause it's a brand new clutch. i'm gettin better though.

 

Depends on what you drove earlier, chain clutch? Hydralic clucth? Are you used to the gas delay yet?

The gas delay kills me when I come back from the RX7, takes me a few mins to get it right again. Although there is that delay fix I wanna try at some point.

 

It's in the technique also. I found out early on that if I let off too soon, the car jerks, or in this case bobs. And like someone said, get to know the engagement point so you know when to apply more gas as your car starts to move. There is a technique i was taught called "blipping the throttle". You basically tap the throttle a few times while letting the clutch go. When you feel the car react to this, you have found the engagement point. It's worked for me on numerous occasion, for street or strip.

 

alteratly you can just let out the clutch REALLY SLOW and when the clutch starts to engage you will feal the car move forward. In this manner you can get the car in first gear without touching the gas.

 

^^ and burn up your clutch about 50,000 miles early

If you are feeling the car fall on its nose, you arent giving it enough gas, are letting off too quickly, or both. The trick is to let off smoothly and evenly without slipping it too much and increase your gas as you go. The last part is important, you should be giving it more gas as you let off the clutch and you will have a nice smooth takeoff.

Go drive an rx7 for a while.. this will take care of that issue

 

a$$, you should know mine is un-drivable at this time!! It saddens me so...

And before I forget again MisterKe, 'blipping the throttle' is normaly used as the term for matching the engine and tranny on a down shift. Just so theres no confusion later.

 

I have the same problem sometimes as you (I'm about two weeks on my standard shifting experience), but I'm pretty sure its due to keeping on the clutch too long. This is usually what happens in that situation for me:

1) I'll rev, and start releasing the clutch.

2) Once I start creeping forward as the clutch is slipping, I won't add gas and will just keep the clutch pedal at the point where the clutch is slipping until its stopped, then I'll let go and take off

This, for me, usually causes bobbing and a not so smooth takeoff. If I get it timed right, my smooth takeoffs (Which I always try to do) is

1) Rev, and start releasing the clutch
2) As you reach the engagement point, try to keep the RPMs steady as the clutch slips
3) You will automatically continue letting out the clutch smoothly instead of pausing at that one point since you aren't as afraid about stalling (I think I've figured out the psychology of why I get "stuck" on the clutch while just constant revving)

That usually will give you a smooth launch, and limits clutch slipping

 

the rx7's were fun as hell to drive. What year do you have?

 

1. Release clutch to point of engagement (near the top of pedal in my car, car should be moving slightly forward)
2. Feed the car some gas, and releasing the clutch in the same manner. Try to have your clutch fully engaged no later than 1500rpm, but ideally 1000-1400.
3. Hammer it until you hit bounce off the rev limiter
4.Shift

 

1986 N/A. I just put in Tokico shocks and Eibach springs and then my Throw Out bearing died. So its sitten in the school parking lot waiting....

I agree, its such a blast to drive. As soon as I get back to school its number one on my things to do list, after school work of course.

 

I guess I couldve read your sig about the car

Good luck getting it running again, theres nothing like winding a rotary up!

 

Thanks for the luck! It will be the first time taking the tranny out but I have some friends there that have done it before so it should be good. Though its about that time to change out the clutch too...resurface the flywheel...blah blah blah.

 

You are doing this in a matter of 1 second right? Im evisioning you waiting for like 5 seconds and thats a good way to kill your clutch. Your clutch should Idealy be in or out, not inbetween. At the point of engagement you should start revving and releasing at the same time.

 

of course, get to the friction point, and start revving. I try to do this as quickly as possible... if not possible in less than 2 seconds (like if traffic stopped again or something) then I'll immediately clutch in again

yea I'm trying not to glaze my clutch to krispy kreme perfection

but at the same time I'm still not perfect because of my limited experience, I'm still learning

 

Give it gas at the same time you are letting off, increase gas and let off the clutch in a smooth combination as the car begins to move.

When you get it down that is what you are looking for. Avoid trying to learn other tricks to make it easier, or you will pick up bad habits that are hard to lose later.