how bad is the clutch?

[BLKFRS]

just blew the clutch up 2 days ago and the car has 5000 miles on it.it has a good feel but looks pretty cheap to me!

[Hanni_0176]

Heh, I opened this thinking it was going to be a discussion about the performance of the clutch. In that regard, I'd say pretty bad. I won't be replacing it with another OEM clutch when it wears out, that's for sure.

As far as the feel of the pedal goes, I personally like it. Very easy to push down, no fuss, makes for easy footwork IMO. Definitely less painful to use in rush hour traffic than my previous cars.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by BLKFRS

just blew the clutch up 2 days ago and the car has 5000 miles on it.it has a good feel but looks pretty cheap to me!

Details? please.

[Speedoponic]

I disagree with the comments about Japanese cars having a light clutch.

Owed a Subaru wrx and a Mitsubishi and the clutch was much stiffer than the FRS !
It's just Toyota having light clutches

[Braces]

I've driven many manual Toyotas in my life. Many of the cars and trucks were modified. Many were driven close to 80,000 miles. I've never had to replace a clutch. A Toyota clutch is strong and will last a long time as long as you use the clutch properly.

[dave77]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet here, but the clutch is pretty much perfect if you do the clutch adjustment and lower the pedal down just past the brake pedal. It's way better, and you kinda have to get used to a new clutch for a few days, wayy better. Engagement point is low and short.

[tbertran]

Originally Posted by dave77

Engagement point is low and short.

I set it a "bit" too low on my 1st trial and, one particularly cold morning, when I tried to back out from my garage, I wasn't able to disengage the clutch enough to kick it in reverse... That knob would just not go all the way. I'm sure if I'd rolled the car a little, it would have probably worked but I was just glad that it happened at home, close to my tools...

[dave77]

Yea I think there is a point that you can't go past otherwise the clutch doesn't function all the way.

First time I adjusted it I did it even with the brake. I loved it but felt it could be a bit better, then lowered it as far as I could bear, and it has been excellent ever since.

The clutch adjustment thread had stuff on how to test it out, as you prob know.

Originally Posted by tbertran

I set it a "bit" too low on my 1st trial and, one particularly cold morning, when I tried to back out from my garage, I wasn't able to disengage the clutch enough to kick it in reverse... That knob would just not go all the way. I'm sure if I'd rolled the car a little, it would have probably worked but I was just glad that it happened at home, close to my tools...

[tbertran]

Originally Posted by dave77

The clutch adjustment thread had stuff on how to test it out, as you prob know.

Yeah, I definitely followed those instructions but I must have been so close to the limit that it worked fine for a few days until that morning.

About that, does your clutch pedal height seem to "vary" depending on how warm is the car (I suppose)? It seems to kick back higher after driving for a while, like the friction in the assembly becomes less so that the spring works better...

[dave77]

Originally Posted by tbertran

Yeah, I definitely followed those instructions but I must have been so close to the limit that it worked fine for a few days until that morning.

About that, does your clutch pedal height seem to "vary" depending on how warm is the car (I suppose)? It seems to kick back higher after driving for a while, like the friction in the assembly becomes less so that the spring works better...

I haven't noticed any differences. But I haven't really been driving in too much cold lately or snow or anything.

But it makes sense, for things to warm up and move easier.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by pr086

is there any advantage to a light clutch pedal? with the purpose of this car in mind i can't see the engineers arbitrarily making the clutch feel the way it does. they have to have tested it and said yes, this is what we want it to feel like.

Doubt it, although it does make it seem more docile to a broader range of drivers that way

[SC David]

I've gotten used to it being light, but I really am not a fan of the lack of feel as far as engagement point. I have to relearn the clutch with every new pair of shoes I wear if I want to be perfectly smooth. And it sucks going from a car with a light clutch to a heavy clutch. My muscle memory is totally out of whack and I have trouble at first when transitioning to other cars.

[dave77]

That's something you get used to. Once you get used to switching between two different manual cars, then it's not a big deal anymore.

Originally Posted by SC David

I've gotten used to it being light, but I really am not a fan of the lack of feel as far as engagement point. I have to relearn the clutch with every new pair of shoes I wear if I want to be perfectly smooth. And it sucks going from a car with a light clutch to a heavy clutch. My muscle memory is totally out of whack and I have trouble at first when transitioning to other cars.