So pretty soon i plan on buying a CRX. They're cheap and look nice so its the perfect car for a poor kid like me. But i've only driven a manual a couple of times. i drove a 2004 mustang manual and did pretty well my mom said, that was my first time too. two days ago i drove this dudes civic that had turbo in it and some wierd *** clutch, i could barely get it to move till the last time i tried. got like 20 feet forward and then misshifted into third from first and uh yeah. so any tips for a newbie tryin to learn? everyone i know has an automatic so unless i go to dealerships and act like i'm interested in one of their cars, driving a manual is kinda hard to do heh.

 

Manual is very easy to learn. You can do what I did as a 15 year old kid - take the car to a big parking lot and practice stop and go movements. It is very easy and you'll have it down in no time.

 

Practice makes perfect.

Since it's your first car, there's no shame in learning how to drive in it.

 

ya like stated above, ur main focus with manuals is getting the thing going, by not letting off the clutch too fast. once u get that conquored, its pretty easy from there.

going from 2nd gear to 3rd, all u do is move the shifter to neutral, let off it, it will move itself to the middle, and move it straight up, tada thers 3rd. i used to have the same problem lol, going from 2nd to 1st on accident, but now i mastered it

just takes pratice man, ull get it

 

I learned manual way back when I learned to drive (already 10 years ago), but never drove it again until I just bought a second car. I normally drive a 93 Civic auto, but I just got a good deal on a 90 Civic Si. I literally learned to drive this car days ago, so this is still fresh in my mind.

Leaving from a stop is the hardest thing, particularly at a slight incline where you'll roll back. At first just pull the ebrake to hold you still. Give it a little bit of throttle to around 2000RPM or so, then let the clutch out until it starts to grab. For a long time I would let the clutch all the way out once I felt it grab, but that causes you to stall out. Push the button in on the ebrake and get ready to let it down. You have to hold the clutch right where it starts to grab and give it throttle until you start moving forward, then you can let the clutch out all the way SLOWLY. If when you're letting it out, it starts to bog down, you can push the clutch back in to keep from stalling and find that spot where it starts to grab and hold it there until you're moving.

Second gear is pretty picky too. Just push the clutch in, let the revs drop a little and then catch them with the throttle as you slowly let the clutch out with it in 2nd. Again, find where it starts to grab, hold it there for a second, then let it out slow. 3rd 4th and 5th you can practically drop the clutch and you wont feel it.

Reverse is the same idea. Let it out to where it grabs, hold it there until you start moving, then let it all the way out slowly. I find it easier to hold the throttle steady and push the clutch in and coast if I need to slow down in reverse. That way when I'm done reversing and I need to stop I put the clutch in and hit the brakes.

Coming to a stop I usually let the revs go down to about 1000 in whatever gear I'm in, then put the clutch in and hit the brakes. If it's a stop sign, I immediately put it in first, keep the clutch in until it's my turn, then go from there. If it's a light, I put it in neutral and let the clutch out as I hit the brakes. I'm not sure but I think it's bad to hold the clutch in for an extended period. If I need to stop fast, I'll downshift it a few gears in sequence and let it engine brake along with the brakes.

Best thing to do is go find a hill that has no traffic. Most places have no traffic around 2AM. Start driving up the hill, and back off the throttle and put the clutch partway in until you come to a stop. The idea here is to learn to balance the clutch and throttle so that the car is at a stop but doesn't stall. You're going to need this trick because even on a slight incline, your car is going to roll back when you let off the brake to hit the throttle while you're letting out the clutch to leave from a stop. Use it instead of holding the brake pedal when stopped on a hill.

Sorry if this is wordy, but I didn't have anyone to teach me and I had to figure this all out myself. Took me about 2 hours and I just need practice. Someone that knows more should look over it and make sure I'm not giving you bad advice that's going to burn up your clutch.

 

rev it up to 9,000 and drop the clutch.

 

jus practice and youll get the hang of it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Neren &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then misshifted into third from first</TD></TR></TABLE>

whenever shifting remember that you go from first to second, then third.

 

it's not that hard, good luck

 

It just takes practice. like everyone said go to a parking lot and just practice stopping and going. It's almost impossible to stall it in any other gear than 1st.

 

Takes practice. Don't be afraid to stall, especially on an incline...well unless there's a car behind you. lol.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ILOVEMYEF8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Takes practice. Don't be afraid to stall, especially on an incline...well unless there's a car behind you. lol.</TD></TR></TABLE>
well, when your in a incline situation like that just rev it up and who cares if you burn out well, care but atleast you aren't going to hit the car behind you if their is one...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sanimalp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">rev it up to 9,000 and drop the clutch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hahahahahahehheheeheee

Thats badass.

No, seriously. I think everyone remembers their first time with leg on the clutch. I think everybody's leg shaked some.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Twilight &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hahahahahahehheheeheee

Thats badass.

No, seriously. I think everyone remembers their first time with leg on the clutch. I think everybody's leg shaked some.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My leg shaked like a bitch. I learned on my dad's 96 mustang cobra and my leg was sore for the longest time after that. It got even harder when he upgraded to the 04 mustang 6speed tranny with some aftermarket clutch and flywheel. I forget what the clutch and flywheel are though.

Edit: If there is a car behind you on an incline I strongly recommend using the e-brake trick. That way the car doesn't roll back at all. I still use it sometimes like when I'm in frisco and someone is on my *** on a hill.

wow just noticed how gay that sounded.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Twilight &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hahahahahahehheheeheee

Thats badass.

No, seriously. I think everyone remembers their first time with leg on the clutch. I think everybody's leg shaked some.</TD></TR></TABLE>
****, mine did, i ain't going to lie... mine shook to the point that i let go of the clutch

 

you guys are making it hard for him. i gurantee you 1day with the car with just you in the car, going wherever. at the end of the day you'll get the concept and from there it's just practice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 88 Crx Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
****, mine did, i ain't going to lie... mine shook to the point that i let go of the clutch</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh man..I almost forgot about that..lol.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by michaelOlson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Edit: If there is a car behind you on an incline I strongly recommend using the e-brake trick.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It works.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by michaelOlson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I still use it sometimes like when I'm in frisco and someone is on my *** on a hill.

wow just noticed how gay that sounded.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL hahaa.

 

haha I had to learn to drive and perfect driving manual in just under one week.

That was when I had to take my drivers test and everyone I knew only had manuals. So I pracitice all day up to the test.

Stallled the car once while testing other then that I passed first time through.

I have yet to own a Automatic car (that can wait until some kids are on the way). Roughly 7-10 cars all Manual operated

Inclines, declines, curves, upside down doesn't matter. I conquered it all.

-Shane
Practice from a stop. ALOT

 

Well the first thing to learn is the pattern. With the car off, just sit in it and practice going from 1-2-3-4-5. Pretend you are stopped and go into 1st gear. Simulate all the actions of getting the car moving and even use the gas pedal.

once you have learned the pattern then start learning how to get the car rolling. My instructor kept talking about finding the friction point. With the car running and in nuetral you wanna press down on the clutch pedal. Now put it into 1st gear and keep your left foot down on the clutch. Put your right foot on the brake and step on it. VERY SLOWLY bring your foot of the clutch pedal. You will notice the engine starting to vibrate more the higher the clutch pedal gets. If you go to high the car will buck and die, but you dont want that. So as you are bringing the clutch pedal up you notice the engine and car vibrating. Once you feel that, take your foot of the brake...you might even notice the car rolling forward. Move your right foot and start applying a little gas. As you apply more gas you want to let off more on the clutch pedal.

The trick is to balance how much your left foot is stepping on the clutch pedal and you right foot is stepping on the gas pedal.

 

Haha I remember my first time driving a manual car which was like three years ago. Didnt really drive that much, probably 30hours out of it max, after that it was an auto until now. About two months ago though I bought my first manual car and boy was it hard learning it again