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Driving manual: a few questions
- Thread starter Joel Was Right
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Crayon
Member
Lmao
Dude, how weak are your calves? Applying the brakes shouldn't feel like a workout. Not having your brake lights on at night is a safety issue. Don't worry about blinding people behind you, they'll survive.
Joel Was Right
If you smell burning, it's probably the generators acting up. Report it anyway.
When moving off.
1st method
2nd method
I have learnt that the first method is bad for the engine; you should not use the brake whilst lifting the clutch up, that it is "bad practice."
Now imagine you're at a red light and have to use handbrake when you stop and before you move off. That's a lot of steps for what will be 10-15 seconds pause. Doesn't this get tiring constantly using pedals and sticks?
I've only been using the first method up until now.
1st method
- Clutch down
Brake
Clutch up to pulling point
Release brake
2nd method
- Handbrake
Clutch down
Gas
Clutch up to pulling point
Release handbrake
I have learnt that the first method is bad for the engine; you should not use the brake whilst lifting the clutch up, that it is "bad practice."
Now imagine you're at a red light and have to use handbrake when you stop and before you move off. That's a lot of steps for what will be 10-15 seconds pause. Doesn't this get tiring constantly using pedals and sticks?
I've only been using the first method up until now.
Ask your instructor about engine braking. Ask also why you need the handbrake while not on an incline. Listen to her answers and do what she says so you can pass your test. Then come back and take GAF driving advice!
Joel Was Right
If you smell burning, it's probably the generators acting up. Report it anyway.
I'm a lot better now, guys.
I can't imagine driving an automatic - manual is too much fun, especially creeping forward with clutch control!
I can't imagine driving an automatic - manual is too much fun, especially creeping forward with clutch control!
Remember that while you're driving through a city averaging 10mph.
Manual is fun in a fun car on fun roads.
I say this as someone who has both.
zonetrooper5
Member
Heres when a handbrake should be used:
Never coast in gear or in neutral, real dangerous and will fail your driving test at least in the UK. Also first gear is for when your pulling off from a stationary position, e.g. when sat at traffic lights/roundabouts or when your ready to pull out from parking.
- When parked
- Stationary in traffic for long time with gear in neutral
- On a hill
Never coast in gear or in neutral, real dangerous and will fail your driving test at least in the UK. Also first gear is for when your pulling off from a stationary position, e.g. when sat at traffic lights/roundabouts or when your ready to pull out from parking.
QuantumZebra
Member
#1 is correct, however in my 5-speed 2005 Honda Accord (i4) I tend to downshift to 3rd and brake down from there, going to neutral at around ~10-15mph.
Downshifting to 2nd ramps my RPMs too high to be useful in slowing down when I'm going 45mph+ and I don't like the possible stress on the engine.
So:
If going less than 45 mph with ample time, brake using the gear you're in, then once you hit 10mph go neutral
If going more than 45mph, downshift to 3rd, brake till you're at 10mph, then neutral.
17 Seconds
Banned
i basically never downshift unless i need to speed up
Buh??
phisheep
NeoGAF's Chief Barrister
Yay! Glad it is coming together Meus. Told you it would. When's your test?
Fake edit - oh look, you've set them off again.
zonetrooper5
Member
Haha opps.
My thoughts exactly
Costa Kid
Member
Seriously? My commute to college has my leg in bits. I can't wait to buy my first new car; which will be auto
hydrophilic attack
Member
Foot off the gass, clutch, 2nd gear, allow the car to slow down on its own, break to full stop on arrival at junction
Stallion Dan
Member
Man, GAF gonna escalate so many rear end accidents.
Put you handbrake on when stopped ffs.
Put you handbrake on when stopped ffs.
Button
Banned
Nope. Put on neutral and brake.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
keep in third till safe stopping distance, break, clutch down, continue breaking till stop, switch to first.
Or if the traffic is moving, break, clutch down, second gear, break and gas depending on suitable speed.
Or if the traffic is moving, break, clutch down, second gear, break and gas depending on suitable speed.
Stallion Dan
Member
Get rear ended, foot comes off brake, kill or injure someone crossing road in front of you.
Button
Banned
Literally will never happen.
Stallion Dan
Member
This ignorant attitude is why is does happen.
It could happen in an automatic car too. Is it common practice to apply the emergency brake while stopped using automatic vehicles?
Because you completely lose the engine compression which helps breaking a lot.
You know what helps braking even more? Brakes.
Probably a stupid question, but I'm looking to get a stick shift in my next vehicle (Challenger R/T). Never driven one before and unfortunately none of my friends/family own one to practice in. Do drivers ed classes offer courses to learn or what are some options? I've looked at so many videos and read into how to do it, seems simple but I need hands on to make sure I'm ready.
Also, what are options to get it from the dealer if I'm not ready yet? Might bring one of my friends to drive it home for me, but need to make sure he's available. Want to make sure I have options.
Also, what are options to get it from the dealer if I'm not ready yet? Might bring one of my friends to drive it home for me, but need to make sure he's available. Want to make sure I have options.
Buy a beater car to practice on.
CosmicGroinPull
Member
I'd do that too, for a month at least.
Wouldn't want any expensive mistakes.
Also, driving a performance car for your first manual is kinda like..... learning to ride a horse for the first time... on a race horse. Good luck.
My hats off to you though, for making this choice. *thumbs up*
The real solution, turn around drive to a car dealership and trade in your car for a vehicle with a transmission that is not outdated 50 year old technology. If there is one great thing about the self driving car revolution is that it will finally kill the lunacy that is driving a manual in the 21st century.
Al-ibn Kermit
Junior Member
I have to warn you that that car has a lot of power which makes it harder for a manual newb. So definitely get to the point of being comfortable with stop-and-go city driving another manual trans car with half the power before revving a big boy engine.
I think you could pick up a manual transmission rental from Turo which is like an airbnb car rental type site. Regular car rentals from Hertz or whatever are all automatic. But whatever you practice on, treat even a rental gently since it is somebody elses property and have a friend with manual driving experience guiding you along.
Yeah you're totally wrong. A more powerful engine is way easier to learn on because the low end torque makes stalling much harder than a gutless 4 banger.
Spoken by someone who has absolutely zero skill driving a manual transmission.
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
One thing I've learned in this thread is that people from the UK are OBSESSED with the handbrake. Because their driver's ed teaches using the handbrake every 3 seconds (I wish I was joking), they literally cannot understand how a manual transmission car can operate without engaging it constantly.
The way I always do it is, step on clutch, gear to 2nd, foot of the gas, release clutch slowly to slow down with engine brake and apply brake as needed until you got to complete stop then step on clutch and brake.
From here it up to you whether to put it to neutral and handbrake or switch to 1 with both clutch and brake pressed (first one for long stop, second one for quick stop)
From here it up to you whether to put it to neutral and handbrake or switch to 1 with both clutch and brake pressed (first one for long stop, second one for quick stop)
Rest
All these years later I still chuckle at what a fucking moron that guy is.
I keep my foot on the brake just enough to keep the vehicle stopped and watch my mirrors if no one is behind me. The one time I was rear ended I saw it coming. I took my foot off the brake so that the weight of my car would take up some of the energy of the hit, then hit my brakes to stop both my car and the one that hit me. Doing this made it so that there was no damage to either car.
Rest
All these years later I still chuckle at what a fucking moron that guy is.
All this handbrake nonsense has me wondering though, what do your truck (lorry) drivers do in traffic? Popping spring powered parking brakes in traffic all day must make for some amazing traffic noise and start/stop fuckups. Some trucks can't even move for several seconds after you air up the parking brakes to release them, do you guys just sit through lights if there's a truck in front of you?
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
It's absolutely bizarre. I have never heard of anything like this handbrake nonsense in my life. My brother has been daily driving a manual for 20 years and I daily drive a manual, and every other manual driver I've ever known does nothing even remotely close to what the UK teaches with handbraking constantly.
Unless my car is parked at my destination, or if I'm at a drive-thru window paying/getting food or something, my handbrake is NOT engaged. I could drive for 10 hours straight and not use my handbrake once... which I'm sure would make a UK driver's head explode.
Pankratous
Member
Just because we learn it and demonstrate it during the test, doesn't mean we apply it as taught. I was taught to use my handbrake at all times, even during a 3 point turn; swing car across road, stop, handbrake on. Turn wheels. Handbrake off. Reverse car to other side of road, stop, handbrake on. Turn wheels. Handbrake off, drive away. Takes ages thus never happens in practice after 18 years driving a manual. I use my handbrake for hill starts and when stationary in traffic, that's about it.
Same for feeding the wheel between hands, that goes out the window fairly swiftly.
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
Al-ibn Kermit
Junior Member
Unfortunately, I'm not wrong. The example you're thinking of is usually with a pickup truck or something big and slow with a high torque/horsepower ratio. A truck is designed to crawl slowly and smoothly and is fairly hard to damage when you mess up using the clutch.
On the other hand if a manual newb starts practicing in a 400 horsepower car and accidentally throws it into 3rd gear when they meant to select 1st for setting off on a hill, you're totally right that they won't stall but there will be a cloud of smoke coming from the clutch. Ask me how I know.
Chuckie
Member
You are joking right? You were taught to dry steer?
I know, but if I'm sitting in traffic for any length of time, I'll stick it I'm neutral for obvious reasons, so unless it's a dead flat road handbrake is needed to stop the car rolling away.
xDUMPWEEDx
Banned
...you realize that pedal in the middle is a brake right? You do not need to use the handbrake.
Oh shit son! Heh, I know, but why sit there foot on brake for minutes at a time (traffic can be bad in my city) when I can whack the handbrake on and then my feet are free to dance along to whatever inevitably sick beats I have playing.
Pankratous
Member
That's how I was taught as well. Of course I have never ever done this since I passed because it is both not necessary and takes a very long time.
Chuckie
Member
One of the first thing I was taught is to not steer when the car is stationary unless it is absolutely necessary
Even that is excessive. It's not needed for either one.
Using handbrake for hillstarts is good practice.
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