Stick shift lessons

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:55 am

Jason Mauldin wrote:

I have never found a situation where starting on a hill with a handbrake was required. Why would you ever do this?

In the theoretical world of drivers ed where the world is static and everyone follows the rules of the road, I remember being parked on a hill w/ an automatic '72 Plymouth Fury III. The teacher said "don't roll backwards!" Applied the e-brake and then some gas and then release. Passed that part....

But to your point, once you master the art of the dead stop and going up a hill, you should be good to go.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:04 pm

I agree, I never have used the hand brake method, the only case I can think where I might at this point is off-road.

Jessi had the issue of once the car started to move she would just dump the clutch also, that tends to be the downfall of most people learning for the first time, which is where making them getting the car moving without throttle really helps to teach to smooth consistent pedal out movements.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Richard Casto wrote:

Also starting from a stop on a hill with a handbrake. Absolutely the last thing to teach.
Richard

I have never found a situation where starting on a hill with a handbrake was required. Why would you ever do this?

Go drive a car with a dual mass flywheel and no torque while trying to keep the revs under 2k.

It's not required, but makes it easy and painless. It also makes you look like a driving savant since you're using all 4 of your limbs separately.

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:07 pm

Chad Culbertson wrote:

I agree, I never have used the hand brake method...

I have. But in Very Big Vehicles(TM) (like 20ton dump truck) with ancient electric park brakes that take eons to release anyway.

Quote:

Jessi had the issue of once the car started to move she would just dump the clutch also, that tends to be the downfall of most people learning for the first time, which is where making them getting the car moving without throttle really helps to teach to smooth consistent pedal out movements.

My niece had the same problem. I made her drive the bug around a parking lot without using the accelerator. It's the only time drive-by-wire has been a plus.

The correct answer is, of course, RALLY CROSS. :mrgreen: Get the revs up, release the clutch... doesn't matter if the wheels spin. Repeat until you can do it without stalling, lurching, or spinning.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:13 pm

If you are used to your clutch and you don't experience really steep hills then quick timing and good foot work is all you need. However driving a car with a finicky or unfamiliar clutch and/or steep enough hill then adding in the handbrake makes it easy. It's a good skill to have.

I was driving in San Franciso a while back (automatic rental) and was starting from a stop on some hills so steep (nothing but sky in front of the hood) it would have been a challenge to do without a handbrake unless you did it every day. I will say that I am unable to find anything local that "required" a handbrake while teaching my daughter. That might be why it is an odd concept for some.

Richard

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 4:41 pm

They teach you to use the handbrake when ever you are stationary in the UK to avoid dazzling the driver behind you with your brake lights. It makes sense given how dreary the weather is there.

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:00 pm

My dad took my sister to my grandparents house who had a long driveway with a turn around at one end. He then rode with her the first few times up and down the driveway and then let her solo for about an hour until she was tired. The driveway was long enough to start and get into 2nd gear before turning around. That car taught 2 people to drive a clutch before we bought it and my sister how to drive a clutch. It puked the clutch when the rear main seal let go at about 100k miles.

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:39 pm

Good news, no shouting tonight!

Just been working on the clutch biting point until she got tired of it.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:59 pm

Agree completely with the don't yell approach. It just makes her more frustrated. Actually, Autocross is a relatively easy teaching tool. There is no need for a smooth start, heck all she has to do is dump the clutch press the gas. So she will get confidence in knowing she can get the car rolling. She only has to shift once.

Miata clutches are pretty resilient and easy to learn on. My wife has tried to learn to drive the Corvette and it was difficult. The Miata is easier.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

FrancisChan wrote:

At some point the phrase "Why do cars even have gears!" is usually heard.

That may have been Elon Musk's real motivation. What do used P85Ds go for these days?

On the other hand, if you buy her an S2000, getting started is just about as simple. You just rev it to 6000 RPM and sidestep the clutch. No finesse required at all.

Let us know when you get to the lesson on double-clutching

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2015 7:24 am

Side story of when I learned to drive a straight.

When I was 16 my dad asked me to driver the flower truck for a funeral (He was in the funeral business, the truck that carries the flowers to the grave site) I had driven a 62 VW with a straight previously but with about 34 hp all you did was pop the clutch and slam the gas, you were off.

I went out to make sure I could drive the truck with 3 on the tree. I has doing fine but the ultimate test in Bluefield VA/WV was Baker's Hill. A stop light at the crest of what seemed like a 45% hill. So I slowly went up the hill making sure to catch the light red. Check. Then up comes a 68 to 72 corvette (this was 1976) 100 % fiberglass front end. My girlfriend is with me because I'm showing off how manly I am driving a truck. My bowels still get loose just thinking about it. Anyway, flawless take off and never worried about a clutch after that.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:38 am

Have someone else teach her.

Roger McDaniels · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:15 pm

I taught my children on the sim setup at the office. I used rFactor since the Golf on rFactor has a touchy clutch and is easy to stall. I basically had them drive around the paddock area at CMP and do 3-point turns over and over again until they could do it smoothly.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:23 pm

I learned on my dads,then miata 1600.No torque whatsoever.THen he let me loose on the 280z.And forgot everything he taught me,great torque in the 6 cyl.My wrx , is a jekyll and hyde.No boost,no power..Boost,hang on tight.Not easy,for beginners.try double clutching and rev matching.Had to do that for big rigs,and the 280z.When the tranny was cold,had to double clutch.Up and down.Would not come out of gear otherwise.

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