I have had a tough time on occasion to get into 2nd, 3rd, and Reverse. Seems the tranny has to be forced into gear with more effort than most.... its not way near as silky smooth as some honda and pretty much any other toyota for that matter.

The biggest piece of advice, THAT BEEN REPEATED A THOUSAND TIME BY NOW, is not to expect those epa gas milage numbers (31-35) and to keep shifting around 3K in typical driving to preserve the economy idea behind the box. Above 75MPH on freeway in the 5-spd the gas milage drops like a rock.

 

SInce you've got a week to wait, make the rounds of the used car dealers and "test drive" a few stick shifts. That way you're not starting your lessons in your new ride. :twisted:

 

Tear it up man! After driving in N. VA traffic for 1-2 hours, you will have first and second gears down pat.

And technically, you did not walk out of Miller with your new car if you are waiting to take delivery still.

 

thanks for everyones help. I took out a 92 explorer this weekend and picked it up right away. The only time I had any problems was trying to get into first on a incline. Im not sure if it was his clutch, or if i was paranoid of over-reving, but i def. stalled a few times. Hopefully picking up my lava in less than 12 hours.

 

Im sure most people knew what i was "technically" talking about. I am jut impressed that miller came through when most dealers were more interested in me picking another color since most of the 5spd lavas are gone.

 

learning is easy... took me about 20 minutes, never reading anyhting or anyone telling me, maybe it was because I had to drive it to work school the next day or maybe it was just because I loved the car so damn much (galant VR4), but just jump in and trial and error it, you shouldnt drop a clutch the first day.

 

my xb came in today, but i didnt have a chance to pick it up (dealer was closed when i got off work!) I've been practicing driving m/t every chance i can get. I've gotten it down pretty good, other than a few little details. I was wondering what is the proper parking technique. I know to park it in first, but if its in first, and you brake to a stop, wont it stall? if anyone could clear this up, i need to know SOOON. thanks.

 

When you come to a parking spot move in it slowly and push in the clutch as if you were stopping at a stop sign and keep the clutch in put the e-brake on and shut the car off, then it will be in first gear once your parked. At least thats what my sister does.

 

This is what i have been doing, but the car stalls when you let the clutch out in first at a complete stop. I am assumming that stalling can't be good on the engine, but i can not think of another way of parking.

 

um then... keep the car in first until you're about to shut it off then put it in nuetral. Shut the car off, put e-brake on, then just put it back into first once the cars shut off. I
m pretty sure that is the way i was trying to remember.

 

Sometimes the best way to learn how to drive stick is to see how a clutch assembly actually works. Check out this site and it will show you exactly why you should or should not do certain things with a manual transmission. Hope this helps!

BTW, first post, I just joined. Love these forums.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch.htm

 

Parking is the same as stopping at a light or stop sign or whatever. Just depress the clutch any time you're stopping or even crawling so slowly the engine seems about to stall.

Think of the clutch like a kind of safety valve. It's always there and you can always use it to keep from stalling. That's what my Dad told me a hundred years ago when he taught me to drive (back roads, New Hampshire, late at night and one memorable close call) and it always helped.

Have fun and don't worry about hurting anything.