New Stick Driver, looking for advice.

[PMok]

haha this talk of driving in SF reminds me of a very old Bill Cosby routine:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOmayx2JBs8"]Bill Cosby - Driving in San Fransisco - YouTube[/ame]

COME AROUND IDIOT, COME AROUND!

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by Sythellri

I've been driving automatics for about 6 years now and this is my first manual.

Its definitely difficult but I'm getting the hang of it now. I'm hoping for some help though. The first day that I drove it...I smelled the clutch from fifteen feet away >.> and now, about 60 miles later, I'm not burning it at all so I'm making some progress.

I'm mainly here for advice on maintenance, techniques and other things that would enhance my enjoyment of this amazing vehicle. I realize that there are many guides/tutorials out there but none of them seem to deal specifically with Subaru BRZ's.

I'm also new to modding vehicles so I would appreciate any advice on what to do with this car.

I am definitely getting the clunking noises (saw the thread) from shifting into 1st/2nd after a full stop and it sounds like something is wrong but I don't think anyone has really addressed the issue...how do I fix it? Is it even a problem? Possible future problems?

A few questions that I've thought of so far:

1. What speed/revs are you guys normally shifting gears?
I've mainly been upshifting around 3k RPM but haven't really had to "downshift" yet since I haven't been brave enough to enter rush hour traffic yet.

2. When do you guys normally downshift?

3. What revs are you guys using to revmatch?

4. Anything I didn't mention that I should know?
I've been reading the manual but am only about 80 pages deep so far due to hw/distractions.

P.S. I live in San Francisco and it is very difficult to find "flat ground" to practice on >.<

First of all--I'd like to congratulate you for purchasing a BRZ! Second, grats on learning manual!

1. I normally shift around... 3kish sometimes a little lower depending on the sound of the engine and how fast I want to go to pass another car; however, if you want to be "effecent" with your car I'd just say roughly around 3k RPM.

2. I downshift according to the light situation and braking. So for example you're in 4th and you see cars starting to pile up at the light--start downshifting. If you're rolling to a bunch of cars (Or in some cases a couple cars) that are stopped and you can somewhat feel like the light will turn green drop the gear to second.

As for breaking for right turns... If I want to take the turn easy I'd stay in 3rd. If I want to quickly accelerate I'd drop to 2. I consider 3rd gear to be my 'savior' gear as its range of safety-ness is pretty good for me. It could be nearly 10-30mph you can stay in 3rd. Some people would say otherwise.

3. Revmatch for me is only when you want to speed up. Again, I will reiterate how fking amazing 3rd gear is. Say you're going 40ish and some punk is driving mega slow. Disengage clutch, pop to 3rd, gas, engage clutch and gas some more. I can't really tell you what RPM to revmatch to as it varies from situation to situation but if I were to tell you in 'general' where to match it too... I'd probably say... 5k-6k RPM.

4. In traffic conditions... (FOR ME.) I'd start in 2nd gear and alternate between 2nd and 3rd. Otherwise, if you're starting in 1st get out of that gear as soon as it's grabbed. I've started in 2nd a number of times and haven't had a problem--some other members would say other wise but I haven't burned my clutch yet. :P I also feel like sometimes you can't just start in 1st in SoCal. Just... not possible sometimes. Lol

[lavisxice]

yes try the no gas method and learn for the clutch feel AKA the spot where it engages

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Giccin

...

As for breaking for right turns... If I want to take the turn easy I'd stay in 3rd. If I want to quickly accelerate I'd drop to 2. I consider 3rd gear to be my 'savior' gear as its range of safety-ness is pretty good for me. It could be nearly 10-30mph you can stay in 3rd. Some people would say otherwise.
Damn, those are some fast right turns. I roll through at a maximum of 5mph because I saw a news report about traffic cameras fining people who go through right turns without 'stopping'. You get fined for a red light violation, so big big money. Whenever I see the cameras, I get scared shitless.

...I can't really tell you what RPM to revmatch to as it varies from situation to situation but if I were to tell you in 'general' where to match it too... I'd probably say... 5k-6k RPM.
Shiiiiiet you cruise at high rpm. Okay I guess you have a Yaris, which has short gears.

... I've started in 2nd a number of times and haven't had a problem--some other members would say other wise but I haven't burned my clutch yet. :P I also feel like sometimes you can't just start in 1st in SoCal. Just... not possible sometimes. Lol
Dang really? I'm super scared of burning the clutch being a noob, so I always start in 1st. At this point at least, clutch life >>> anything else for me.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by ill86

I know, kind sir - as this is my profession.. It was an inside joke referring to another thread here.. not directed at you.
:happy0180:

No I remeber that thread back in may now... Lol

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by Sythellri

Man, I was practicing in CCSF's parking lot. BIG EMPTY AREA but there is a police station like three blocks from it haha, they came instantly and pulled me over. I told them that I was trying to learn how to drive stick and the officer just laughed while telling me to leave because it was private property >.>

I've been practicing down near the beach in the sunset district. The great highway is a good long stretch to sorta "chill" after trying all those flats/stop signs and stuff.

For clarification, everyone tells me to get the car moving using ONLY the clutch...How?

Here's what I've been doing from full stop:

1. Push in clutch all the way and shift to 1st.

2. Slowly let off clutch until about 1-2cm before the friction point.

3. Tiny bit of gas.

4. Slow release of clutch balanced with slow pressure on gas.

How do I get faster at this if it is the right technique?

My friends aren't very helpful...
"Alex, it is best if you watch me drive and just learn from that."

*ten minutes later while going around lake merced at 80 mph*

"WOWWWW, THIS THING IS PLANTED! NO BODY ROLL! HOLY CRAP! DUDE THIS SHIT GRIPS!!!!"

....yeah hahahah

Sounds like your "friends" had no intention of teaching you... They just wanted to have a go at your baby...

I would say learning to use only the clutch is the best method - once you have that, you can add the gas pedal to make things quicker (i.e. if the light turns green while you're not paying attention).

[Giccin]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Damn, those are some fast right turns. I roll through at a maximum of 5mph because I saw a news report about traffic cameras fining people who go through right turns without 'stopping'. You get fined for a red light violation, so big big money. Whenever I see the cameras, I get scared shitless.

I could drop to 2nd if I go 5mph. Lol If iirc the camera lights aren't suppose to be functional in California anymore as the company that does them in Nevada went bankrupt. Don't take my word for it. haha. At a red light of course I'll stop--put it in 1st and go. :P

Shiiiiiet you cruise at high rpm. Okay I guess you have a Yaris, which has short gears.

Yea. If anything just drop to the next lowest gear and go for it. :x I have to haul ass on my Yaris as... Not E-nuff powr. Lol

Dang really? I'm super scared of burning the clutch being a noob, so I always start in 1st. At this point at least, clutch life >>> anything else for me.

I end up just gassing a little more. I feel like its a lot smoother. @ayau and @Guff would say otherwise. haha

[neutral]

Is double clutching in day-to-day driving a lost art these days? I find it hard to do downshifts the "normal" way now... The feeling of the shifter just gliding into the desired gear is so addicting. Makes me feel like a BAMF and I'm sure my synchros appreciate it too.

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by neutral

Is double clutching in day-to-day driving a lost art these days? I find it hard to do downshifts the "normal" way now... The feeling of the shifter just gliding into the desired gear is so addicting. Makes me feel like a BAMF and I'm sure my synchros appreciate it too.

Not to mention a rev-matched downshift is always far smoother than one without it....
Your passengers and your car will thank you

[wallace03]

anyone have advice for accelerating on an incline? i hold down the brake and slowly let off the clutch until i feel it engage and then let off the brake and apply gas. seems to work but i need to do it a little faster or it stalls. is it bad to apply brake and gas at the same time? almost like a heel toe technique i suppose?

[ill86]

Originally Posted by wallace03

almost like a heel toe technique i suppose?

Yes. Very similar. Keep practicing; you'll get it.

[neutral]

Originally Posted by wallace03

anyone have advice for accelerating on an incline? i hold down the brake and slowly let off the clutch until i feel it engage and then let off the brake and apply gas. seems to work but i need to do it a little faster or it stalls. is it bad to apply brake and gas at the same time? almost like a heel toe technique i suppose?

You'll eventually get to the point where you instinctively know where the clutch engagement point is. When that happens, you'll be able to let off the brake completely, then quickly engage the clutch to the engagement point and modulate the throttle just the right amount to prevent rolling backwards and start moving forward.

[schtebie]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

Rev matching is when you rev the engine after downshifting before releasing the clutch at the lower gear right?

Cuz I know before when I was going too fast, down shift and BOOM! the car just rocks back and forth. Maybe cuz I didnt match the revs.


But I mean in general.

Say I was cruishing at 2k RPM in 5th gear. Then decide that I want to accelerate, can I go back to 3rd gear then accelerate, then to 4th then 5th gear when I get to my desired speed?

Or should I drop down to 4th first, accelerate then drop to 3rd to accelerate even more? That just doesnt make any sense.

You want to rev match as you're moving the shifter into the desired gear.

If you're cruising in 5th @ 2000 RPM, you just have to blip the throttle to match the revs for the shift into 3rd gear.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[trifenix]

Practice balancing on a hill using the clutch and gas only