Driving stick: A short(ish) guide

[swpbrz]

For smooth shifts once you understand the mechanical idea...


Imagine throwing a ball up in the air and catching it by matching the speed of you're hand to the ball before it lands. that's a similar feeling to trying to catch the engine at the right speed for very smooth shifts

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Ursam

Well, this post has one major benefit: I'll send the link to my daughter who currently lives in the UK, where the driving test is a real witch to pass. She says they will fail you if you put the gear in neutral and coast, so I'm sure these hints will be helpful (at least in the UK).

I won't argue with any of these points, but there's one point I just can't buy:



I've been driving stick for 40 years, and while I don't claim to be a professional driver, it's just hard to believe that resting your hand on the gear shift will have any effect on the syncros.

Wears out the shift fork and the transmission hub sleeve. Eventually it will become impossible to fully engage the desired gear in the direction you've been resting your hand.

Well known tranny killer. Stop doing it.

[pinski]

Originally Posted by gravitylover

In this car with the fully electric steering you will have control there but in most cars where the steering boost is due to hydraulic pressure gained from engine revs the steering is less accurate and you need to use more strength to steer. This equates to a lower level of control. Most of us have adapted to it and don't consider it a problem but technically it is the wrong thing to do. Same with the brakes, hydraulic pressure falls off with lower rpm's.

He's right about the fuel consumption, minor issue but it's there.

I often pull the brake at a light just so I don't zone out and roll a bit. I did that once in my old Willys Jeep and rolled into the truck behind me. That cost $600 for a grill and headlight

Congrats! You're a pro

LOL - hardly a pro!

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on the coasting - while you're correct mechanically regarding hydraulic pressure, cars are designed to function adequately at idle. Consider an automatic - as you're slowing to a stoplight in a slushbox, what is the engine speed? Chances are, it's right around idle. I don't have much experience with a DSG box, but would imagine that the clutch would disengage when coasting. Additionally, some new hybrids now have a "sailing" mode that turns everything off at highway speeds to maximize MPG.

However, there is a fuel economy argument for leaving it in gear - I imagine the difference is rather minimal, but this is a good reason for remaining in gear:

Popular Mechanics - Coasting in Neutral Does Not Save Gas: Claim Check

[spicyricecake]

I find it odd that there are several arguments about a method for stick shift driving which has been around for such a long time.

How is there not enough scientific evidence for some of these things?

[boogle]

Originally Posted by spicyricecake

I find it odd that there are several arguments about a method for stick shift driving which has been around for such a long time.

How is there not enough scientific evidence for some of these things?

That is a fantastic question! Always always ask for a source.

I'm afraid I'm lazy so I'm not going to look up the actual studies like Engineering Explained does, partly because I actually am lazy and partly because it won't make a difference. People are super defensive about their driving, so anything I say that's contrary will be 'wrong' and anything I say that's affirmative will be 'correct, great advice'.

The points made in my OP all come from the official UK guidance, and all must be followed to pass the driving test. The methods outlined are the product of government studies, and are reviewed annually. Guidance can and does change as time goes on, and technology advances. For example 'Cadence Braking' was a required part of the test, but is no longer taught due to ABS. The method for slowing down to a stop has changed from shifting down gears (with clutch depressed) to leaving the gears alone until you're stopped or ready to accelerate again. In short there are studies and I'm lazy. If you do find a recent study that outlines a different, more effective method - I'd be really happy to see it. There's always room for improvement, and there's nothing better than improving one's self.

I suspect in 20yrs time hill starts themselves will no longer be on the test due to hill start assist being a legal requirement (it isn't now, but I'm sure it will be) meaning a hill start will be the same as just setting off on the flat. I suspect 20yrs after that, everyone in the UK will also consider using the handbrake to start on a hill as 'wrong'. Why? Because the very few young people that need to do a proper hill start will have watched the experienced drivers who just balance the clutch because they're lazy. Those experienced drivers must be doing it right, because they're experienced... so you as a new driver consider that the 'correct way'. I imagine this is what has happened in the US, since everyone I've seen (in YT vids) who is professionally taught does it the same way we do in the UK, but all the younger people showing off their 'skills' are sloppy to varying degrees. The thing that worries me is some (not many) 'professional' instructors in the US seem to be self-taught and there doesn't seem to be a gov-sanctioned qualification that has to be passed to teach stick?

[spicyricecake]

Originally Posted by boogle

That is a fantastic question! Always always ask for a source.

I'm afraid I'm lazy so I'm not going to look up the actual studies like Engineering Explained does, partly because I actually am lazy and partly because it won't make a difference. People are super defensive about their driving, so anything I say that's contrary will be 'wrong' and anything I say that's affirmative will be 'correct, great advice'.

The points made in my OP all come from the official UK guidance, and all must be followed to pass the driving test. The methods outlined are the product of government studies, and are reviewed annually. Guidance can and does change as time goes on, and technology advances. For example 'Cadence Braking' was a required part of the test, but is no longer taught due to ABS. The method for slowing down to a stop has changed from shifting down gears (with clutch depressed) to leaving the gears alone until you're stopped or ready to accelerate again. In short there are studies and I'm lazy. If you do find a recent study that outlines a different, more effective method - I'd be really happy to see it. There's always room for improvement, and there's nothing better than improving one's self.

I suspect in 20yrs time hill starts themselves will no longer be on the test due to hill start assist being a legal requirement (it isn't now, but I'm sure it will be) meaning a hill start will be the same as just setting off on the flat. I suspect 20yrs after that, everyone in the UK will also consider using the handbrake to start on a hill as 'wrong'. Why? Because the very few young people that need to do a proper hill start will have watched the experienced drivers who just balance the clutch because they're lazy. Those experienced drivers must be doing it right, because they're experienced... so you as a new driver consider that the 'correct way'. I imagine this is what has happened in the US, since everyone I've seen (in YT vids) who is professionally taught does it the same way we do in the UK, but all the younger people showing off their 'skills' are sloppy to varying degrees. The thing that worries me is some (not many) 'professional' instructors in the US seem to be self-taught and there doesn't seem to be a gov-sanctioned qualification that has to be passed to teach stick?

I was more or less referring to the fact that so many people have varying opinions on a method that should have been studied for such a long time...

it's like the time before we knew the earth was round. Some thought if you sailed in a straight line, you'd fall. Some thought the earth was different shapes, and etc. But then we learned that the earth was round, and no one really questions it.

My point is, why is there not a single method that everyone agrees upon? Why is it that no one is aware of the scientific studies that prove which method is the most effective (hill start = e brake vs. feathering the clutch), or whether or not downshifting is neccessary to conserve gas?

It's mind boggling especially as someone who has not owned a MT but plan on buying a MT BRZ to learn how to use MT.
I just want a straightforward, "THIS IS THE TRUTH" kind of guide that tells me what is the best way of doing it, not some "I've done it for the past xx years and it always worked" BS. Personal experience has too much variance for it to be a useful evidence in what is the right method.


Just my 2 cents.

[Koa]

Originally Posted by spicyricecake

I was more or less referring to the fact that so many people have varying opinions on a method that should have been studied for such a long time...


My point is, why is there not a single method that everyone agrees upon? Why is it that no one is aware of the scientific studies that prove which method is the most effective (hill start = e brake vs. feathering the clutch), or whether or not downshifting is neccessary to conserve gas?


Just my 2 cents.

Because there's a certain amount of personality and art that goes into the pedal dance known as driving a manual car.

The OPs methods by and large aren't wrong or right to everyone. It's funny he calls a lot of them 'best practices' and continues to underline UK driving tests.

But at the end of the day he chooses to rely on a handbrake in situations where more experienced drivers don't need one.

[boogle]

Originally Posted by Koa

But at the end of the day he chooses to rely on a handbrake in situations where more experienced drivers don't need one.

I'm afraid not. As I mentioned most people, myself included, get lazy and just do your method on anything but very steep hills. However, for someone learning it is not the best way since if you get it wrong you roll back. Same reason you wouldn't tell a new driver to only use one hand on the wheel, yet we all do it sometimes.

[Koa]

Originally Posted by boogle

I'm afraid not. As I mentioned most people, myself included, get lazy and just do your method on anything but very steep hills. However, for someone learning it is not the best way since if you get it wrong you roll back. Same reason you wouldn't tell a new driver to only use one hand on the wheel, yet we all do it sometimes.

There's nothing lazy or unsafe about using the clutch friction method

[Stang70Fastback]

[Fastbrew]

I love how this started as a "How to shift guide" and immediately turned into a few people queefing about rubbish. Everyone is going to learn differently. There is no best way. For me, it was getting tossed a set of keys at the age of 12 and being told to move the truck to the wood pile.