Driving under 3mph vs. slipping the clutch
 

Hello,

My apartment has a semi-steep ramp that I need to slowly creep in at an angle to avoid scraping. I usually up the ramp in 1st at <3mph which sometimes results in lurching and other unpleasant grainy noises (which I'm assuming to be normal). Recently though, I've been slipping the clutch on and off, as if I were in traffic, to avoid the lurching.

I know neither is likely causing more than normal wear, but I'm curious as to what other people would do and why.

Stop and go?

If your car isn't lowered I would consider complaining to the apartment complex. If that doesn't work I would look up the laws or guidelines on how steep an entrance or such can be. Depending on where you are you might be able to complain to the city to force them to fix it.

That or find another entrance, if there is one.

I also have to slip the clutch when getting in/out of my driveway.
The worst is when doing a reverse parallel park up a steep hill!
Just part of the fun of driving a manual car!
It might be easier with the slightly lower gear ratios on the 2017 model.

My understanding is that even though slipping the cluth isn't the best thing for it, doing so at low speeds isn't terrible.

That's a lot of thought process for this task. New to MT?

This car's 1st gear is pretty tall and very forgiving at low speeds, and I can go 1 or 2 mph and keep it from lunging. You can also engage and disengage the clutch as needed without running the clutch and slipping it like crazy... I'm sure you'll figure it out and get used to it with enough practice

Edit: wait wait wait, you have a my17 with that embarrassing hill assist, what's the problem exactly?

pic of said ramp please

Well, now there, @cat94, I have a similar situation.

My driveway is not only steep, it has a crown where the driveway meets the sidewalk.

In order to not scrape the underside, I have to hit the crown at a 45 degree angle, without a passenger (my car is stock height).

So, when backing out into the street, because of the crown and blind spot, I have to go very slowly, since it is up hill ......thus slipping the clutch quite a bit.

I have taken the car in and out every day, for the past 4 years and my car's clutch is just fine.

Not to worry.


humfrz

I'm guessing you have had limited experience dealing with municipalities, after the concrete or paving project has been approved and the job is finished......:D


humfrz

meh, I have 6 ridiculous speed bumps to get in and out of my complex everyday so this is a dilemma I face all the time -.- fucking hate speed bumps with a passion especially when I see people who don't give a crap about their cars jump over the bumps with no regard. Anyways, the bumps were a problem with my first FRS and even more so with my current FRS since they have the factory lowering springs..if I go faster than 6 MPH, after the front wheels go over and the car starts coming back down, the underbody hits the bump half the time (not to mention I get some squeeky noises coming from the suspension which I assume are due to the lowering springs since I never heard such things with my first FRS)..if I go slower than 5 MPH the engine starts lugging as it tries to go up each bump..so similarly I end up having to ride the clutch while engaged in 1st but I will also change it up half the time and leave it in 2nd gear which can ride the bumps at 5 MPH without stalling out or using the clutch but it does sometimes lug the car and make it slightly jerky..

my 2 cents, slipping the clutch at such a slow speed shouldn't be too detrimental

i dont mean this in a condescending way (since this is just typed out words), but it seems like you just need more practice driving manual. the FRS/BRZ is pretty easy to drive manual compared to a lot of sports cars out there.

^x2
Either learn some throttle control or just keep slipping the clutch.

? :sigh:

going under 5 MPH to avoid scraping/bottoming out has nothing to do with the car being an easy manual to drive..our twins can be clunky especially at low speeds

Yep, thats what I meant.

I should clarify - I'm not actually having trouble doing either. I was mostly wondering what people's preferences are when there's no other choice but move the car very slowly. But I am new and also curious :D

The brake assist was a lot worse than using the handbrake when I was first learning...

The ramp isn't terrible, but just after you get up there's a big dip in the middle for the gutter too. Also visibility going out of the driveway is bad and so going out slowly is necessary.