New to manual transmission, have some concerns (clunking, etc)

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by tts266

When I accelerate to high rpm on 2nd gear and let go of gas, my car does a back and fourth motion. Is this normal?

No. It should do a back and third motion.

[spicyricecake]

pretty useful information here! I've noticed that I have to be quick about 2nd gear once I got used to shifting and stopped babying the process with some pre-revs each shift. I still hate 2nd gear

[ajcarson11]

I'm 100% with everyone who says adjust the height of the clutch. As a new manual driver this made the world of difference for me. Stock clutch height is just awkward.

[220volt]

I think people overthink the whole manual driving with the whole “baby” the clutch, downshift, rev match etc… It just putting a whole lot of pressure on novice drivers in my opinion. I am originally from Europe and that is where I learned how to drive and where I got my license. Been living and driving in Europe for the first part of my life, and now in States for second part of my life (over 20 years).
So first of all, there is no one size fits all driving styles or proper driving style. Every city, every road, and country is different and so the driving styles will also be different. Europe has lot more hills, tight spaces, curvy roads, stop-go traffic, weird intersections and roundabouts, a lot smaller roads in general, you name it. It;s a true chaos for novice drivers. So over there you will HAVE to master a clutch control. Which means NOT babying your lutch. No instructors that I know or heard in Europe will tell you, baby your clutch or you will have to replace it pretty soon, or you HAVE to rev match or your transmission will go out sooner. Never heard of that. So here are some points:

• Do not overthink this, enjoy and relax.
• Forget about heel-toe, rev match etc… 99% of cars in Europe are manuals and everyone from 18 year old to 70 year old is driving it. My whole family is driving manuals. My grandma and grandpa drove it too, well into their 70’s. You really think that 70 year old grandma is going to heel and toe or rev match? You can learn those techniques later on when you get more comfortable, but 99% of people don’t do it in daily driving. You will find Americans do it a lot more, because population of manual drivers here is tiny compared to Europe, so manual drivers here tend to be more car enthusiasts anyway, so they learn those techniques.
• Forget about babying your clutch. I mean, don't ride it, but for god’s sake don't treat it like a snowflake. It is not going to melt.Learn great clutch control, so you can be very smooth at any speed in ANY situation and that requires using your clutch more. Period. I treat it as a wearable item like: a timing belt, breaks or tires. Yes, your clutch might wear in 80,000 miles instead of 100,000, but I’d rather have a smooth relaxed 80,000 than 100,000 miles of constant worrying if my clutch will go out. You really think that Europeans replace their clutches every 10,000 miles?
• Remember: there is no proper “style” or way for daily manual driving. There are certain techniques you can use, but it really depends on where you live. Some of us are harder on brakes, some on clutches, some on shifters. No instructor will tell you “ease up on brakes or you will have to replace them sooner.” Same thing with clutch. All wearable items.
• See number 1 again

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 220volt

I think people overthink the whole manual driving with the whole “baby” the clutch, downshift, rev match etc… It just putting a whole lot of pressure on novice drivers in my opinion. I am originally from Europe and that is where I learned how to drive and where I got my license. Been living and driving in Europe for the first part of my life, and now in States for second part of my life (over 20 years).
So first of all, there is no one size fits all driving styles or proper driving style. Every city, every road, and country is different and so the driving styles will also be different. Europe has lot more hills, tight spaces, curvy roads, stop-go traffic, weird intersections and roundabouts, a lot smaller roads in general, you name it. It;s a true chaos for novice drivers. So over there you will HAVE to master a clutch control. Which means NOT babying your lutch. No instructors that I know or heard in Europe will tell you, baby your clutch or you will have to replace it pretty soon, or you HAVE to rev match or your transmission will go out sooner. Never heard of that. So here are some points:

• Do not overthink this, enjoy and relax.
• Forget about heel-toe, rev match etc… 99% of cars in Europe are manuals and everyone from 18 year old to 70 year old is driving it. My whole family is driving manuals. My grandma and grandpa drove it too, well into their 70’s. You really think that 70 year old grandma is going to heel and toe or rev match? You can learn those techniques later on when you get more comfortable, but 99% of people don’t do it in daily driving. You will find Americans do it a lot more, because population of manual drivers here is tiny compared to Europe, so manual drivers here tend to be more car enthusiasts anyway, so they learn those techniques.
• Forget about babying your clutch. I mean, don't ride it, but for god’s sake don't treat it like a snowflake. It is not going to melt.Learn great clutch control, so you can be very smooth at any speed in ANY situation and that requires using your clutch more. Period. I treat it as a wearable item like: a timing belt, breaks or tires. Yes, your clutch might wear in 80,000 miles instead of 100,000, but I’d rather have a smooth relaxed 80,000 than 100,000 miles of constant worrying if my clutch will go out. You really think that Europeans replace their clutches every 10,000 miles?
• Remember: there is no proper “style” or way for daily manual driving. There are certain techniques you can use, but it really depends on where you live. Some of us are harder on brakes, some on clutches, some on shifters. No instructor will tell you “ease up on brakes or you will have to replace them sooner.” Same thing with clutch. All wearable items.
• See number 1 again

This^^^^
I have given up trying to tell people how to drive MT in print because it is much more a show me type exercise but always feel the hardest part of learning to drive them is the fear of learning to drive them. Get over that and all will fall into place.

[220volt]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

This^^^^
I have given up trying to tell people how to drive MT in print because it is much more a show me type exercise but always feel the hardest part of learning to drive them is the fear of learning to drive them. Get over that and all will fall into place.

I agree. Fear of hills, fear of burning up the clutch etc... No worries. Relax. You'll also learn lot quicker if your manual is also your daily driver instead of a weekend car. Because you don't necessarily experience tight spaces, stop-go traffic or hills with your weekend car. Not a lot of chances for clutch feathering.

When I was in army I had to do driving test, and they had us do bay parking on a steep hill under load. They loaded up a tiny jeep with sand bags + two instructors and myself and no emergency brake; clutch and gas only. If you moved even one inch forward (because we were parking backwards) you failed. I thought "ohh I got this. Shouldn't be bad" I failed 4 times.

[ajcarson11]

I agree with the above statements. The one thing I'd add: even if you do wear out your clutch prematurely (you're GOING to get 50,000+ miles out even if you aren't that nice to it) it is only a $250 part, and can be replaced if you are willing to put in the time.

The point here is, that it isn't the end of the world if the stock clutch takes a beating. But the only sort of people who are going to beat it up are those who are doing burnouts, dropping it often, or riding it. For the rest of who have concern, it'll all be fine!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 220volt

I agree. Fear of hills, fear of burning up the clutch etc... No worries. Relax. You'll also learn lot quicker if your manual is also your daily driver instead of a weekend car. Because you don't necessarily experience tight spaces, stop-go traffic or hills with your weekend car. Not a lot of chances for clutch feathering.

When I was in army I had to do driving test, and they had us do bay parking on a steep hill under load. They loaded up a tiny jeep with sand bags + two instructors and myself and no emergency brake; clutch and gas only. If you moved even one inch forward (because we were parking backwards) you failed. I thought "ohh I got this. Shouldn't be bad" I failed 4 times.

Somewhere on here is my long rambling story of what my Army instructor had to say about a time when I coasted about 100 yards down a hill with the clutch in. I didn't know there were so many words for moron and every one of them started and ended with some version of fuck. To this day unless I am right at the end of a stop and barely moving the car is in gear and the clutch is out.