Originally Posted by enjoi23 (Post 495985)

you're right there aren't hills. but there are highway ramps to get onto other highways that go pretty high and inclined. AND they have traffic at times. I wouldn't need to use it all the time, but I just want to be prepared for when I do.

Originally Posted by Gen (Post 494955)

Just practice on this.


http://jenkrause.com/blog/wp-content/steep-road.jpg

Originally Posted by einzlr (Post 496175)

Very smart! :thumbsup:

Use the handbrake to hold the car. Carefully let out the clutch and get on the gas til just past the engagement point and you can feel the car fighting the handbrake. Then start slowly easing off the handbrake. So you're balancing three things at once: clutch, gas, handbrake.

Originally Posted by enjoi23 (Post 494443)

I'm pretty good at driving standard, but the slopes still are nervewrecking for me. I was wondering how you guys go about driving up slopes.. and slopes in traffic. I get the whole parking break thing, but I feel like that would burn either my clutch or break if I keep doing that up a slope during traffic. . .

Originally Posted by Vladror (Post 494515)

find yourself a quiet uphill road and practice till you get it, that's how my dad taught me 20 years ago...
the concept is quite easy but it really does take a lot of practice: you need to find the spot where the engine 'holds' the car, with the clutch fully engaged.
if your RPMs are too low, the car will stall, if too high, it will lunge forward.
the mistake that most people make is that they try to prevent either by using the clutch to compensate, and that's what will burn it in the long run.
the amount of RPM you need will vary on the steepness of the slope, so that's a matter of experience but in this car 2500 RPM should be more or less all you need in most situations. Once you get the right revs, you can release break and clutch at more of less the same time as the clutch will grip when the handbrakes stops gripping.
So remember, use your throttle to control the car, not the clutch. When done well a hill start requires as much clutch engagement as a normal gear shift.

Originally Posted by frosty86 (Post 494560)

i'd rather burn the clutch a little bit instead of backing up into someone's car... so i always use the e-brake to be 100% sure. But that's just me.

Originally Posted by dori. (Post 496540)

I just 'catch' the car with the clutch (after letting go of the brake) then add RPMs. usually the amount you slip the clutch isn't any more than a normal start on level ground.

Originally Posted by ML (Post 494583)

The absolute first attempt I ever had in a manual at 14 was up a hill in reverse in the grass....sideways....with no shoes on....in the snow....and there was a cougar in the car with me.

Originally Posted by jmaryt (Post 497048)

no need to "slip" the clutch at all!

Originally Posted by dori. (Post 496540)

I just 'catch' the car with the clutch (after letting go of the brake) then add RPMs. usually the amount you slip the clutch isn't any more than a normal start on level ground.

Originally Posted by themadpants (Post 496302)

This is actually the technically correct way to hill start. The best kind of correct :bellyroll:

I used to instruct drivers in South Africa, where most people drive manuals, and a hill start is actually part of your test (along with alleyway and parallel parking) on a controlled course at the DMV.

ANY rollback is an automatic fail, as it is unsafe and you are not in control of your car.

Oh, and people talking about burning out your clutch? :bellyroll: If you are concerned about that on a hill start, your revs are far too high!

Practice makes perfect, and the above method is definitely the textbook method.

Flame suit on!

Originally Posted by be6sti (Post 494546)

One last thing in my state anyway if while driving a manual car if you roll back into someone it's actually the other persons fault for not keeping a safe distance. Check into that

Originally Posted by enjoi23 (Post 494443)

I'm pretty good at driving standard, but the slopes still are nervewrecking for me. I was wondering how you guys go about driving up slopes.. and slopes in traffic. I get the whole parking break thing, but I feel like that would burn either my clutch or break if I keep doing that up a slope during traffic. . .