Stopping for stop signs

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Spaceboy

i thought you should never go into first

On older cars without synchros in first gear, this is valid. Otherwise you're fine.

[a2cpc]

I have been driving since(god, I sound like my dad) 1968. We have always had at least 1 vehicle in the family with a stick. The only clutch problem I ever had was a cable on a Datsun 2nd Gen 510. When approaching a stop sign I have always fully depressed the clutch, applied the brakes and when close to fully stopped shifted into 1st. It is not that hard.

[Morg]

Coasting in neutral is easier, and might make you feel less guilty about clutch wear but is kind of an amateur and/or lazy habit.

"Best" depends on who you ask I suppose...

Out here, you would likely fail your drivers license exam if you pulled that. And any instructor at any of the schools for both manual cars and motorcycles... will give you hell for it. Generally, "safety" is higher on the priority list than clutch wear, and if you are downshifting and braking properly it really isn't going to hurt your clutch significantly.

Perhaps these standards are different elsewhere? But out here you're basically told that the reason NOT to coast in neutral is because if there is any last second emergency or whatever and you need to react IMMEDIATELY you will already be in gear and that power is then accessible to you right away. That 1-3 seconds it takes you to get into gear when you realize you are about to get hit by someone (assuming you are paying attention) and are in a state of panic... can make the difference between getting hit or getting out of the way.

Anyone who's been rear ended or experienced permanent neck/back damage can probably vouch for how unpleasant those kinds of injuries are.

Granted there is the argument, that "well I'm thuper awethum at shifting pro because race car!" but when the shit hits the fan, do you want to gamble on your nerves being what they need to be? Most people who panic in a moment like that, didn't expect to react that way. And if you're watchin a car come barrelling towards you while you're sipping a latte in neutral and texting.... you'll wish you had an automatic.

FWIW, the day I was in an accident as a rear seat passenger in a manual at a stop light. I wish my buddy had it in gear. Could have been avoided if he had any power to the wheels to gtfo.

Life changing and not in a good way. Barely survived. And life's not the same due to the aftermath.

Anyway, not to be "that guy" and pitch the safety first rant... To be honest, I find that I habitually tend to neutral coast.... so I have to really consciously decide to not do that.

[Ganthrithor]

Downshifting: it could save your neck and it sounds cooler too!

[a2cpc]

Originally Posted by Morg

Coasting in neutral is easier, and might make you feel less guilty about clutch wear but is kind of an amateur and/or lazy habit.

"Best" depends on who you ask I suppose...

Out here, you would likely fail your drivers license exam if you pulled that. And any instructor at any of the schools for both manual cars and motorcycles... will give you hell for it. Generally, "safety" is higher on the priority list than clutch wear, and if you are downshifting and braking properly it really isn't going to hurt your clutch significantly.

Perhaps these standards are different elsewhere? But out here you're basically told that the reason NOT to coast in neutral is because if there is any last second emergency or whatever and you need to react IMMEDIATELY you will already be in gear and that power is then accessible to you right away. That 1-3 seconds it takes you to get into gear when you realize you are about to get hit by someone (assuming you are paying attention) and are in a state of panic... can make the difference between getting hit or getting out of the way.

Anyone who's been rear ended or experienced permanent neck/back damage can probably vouch for how unpleasant those kinds of injuries are.

Granted there is the argument, that "well I'm thuper awethum at shifting pro because race car!" but when the shit hits the fan, do you want to gamble on your nerves being what they need to be? Most people who panic in a moment like that, didn't expect to react that way. And if you're watchin a car come barrelling towards you while you're sipping a latte in neutral and texting.... you'll wish you had an automatic.

FWIW, the day I was in an accident as a rear seat passenger in a manual at a stop light. I wish my buddy had it in gear. Could have been avoided if he had any power to the wheels to gtfo.

Life changing and not in a good way. Barely survived. And life's not the same due to the aftermath.

Anyway, not to be "that guy" and pitch the safety first rant... To be honest, I find that I habitually tend to neutral coast.... so I have to really consciously decide to not do that.

If you were talking to me, I never said I was in neutral, just had the clutch in as I came to a stop. True, I might be technically "coasting", I maintain the proper gear and can remove my foot from the clutch as fast as I can move my other foot from the brake. I also haven't had an accident in over 20 years.

[Mollusk]

Bury your foot in the throttle until it redlines in whatever gear you happen to be using. Then shift from that gear directly into first without using the clutch pedal. Then do a couple of donuts around the stop sign. That is how the pros do it.

[speedracer38]

Originally Posted by Mollusk

Bury your foot in the throttle until it redlines in whatever gear you happen to be using. Then shift from that gear directly into first without using the clutch pedal. Then do a couple of donuts around the stop sign. That is how the pros do it.

Pros or Honda drivers?

[brz7400]

too many approach & go situations to say...

- i may coast to stop sign in neutral if i am the only one coming up to it & no one behind me and feeling leisurely.
- i may stay in gear if cars in front of me, but they are moving along quickly after stop. or if there is someone behind me while things are moving along quickly at the intersection.

- if i know i will just stop and go without waiting, i stay in gear.
- if there are other cars waiting at the intersection, i put in neutral since it will take some time for your turn.

[GNS]

Originally Posted by kchkwan

Hey guys
General question on manuals and stoping for a stop sign then lift off again.
Whats the best procedure?

Usually this is what I do, clutch, shift to neutral, brake till full stop, clutch, shift to 1st gear and go

Or on the other hand does anyone do this?
Break to nearly full stop, clutch for full stop, leave in 1st gear, and depress the clutch to lift off.

I know it adds wear and the if the clutch is pressed for too long, but if for method 2, which only lasts 3secs. Is that a big deal?
However, the main idea is, which method is better or is there another?

Just be careful if there are people behind you. I have avoided at least one accident by judging how fast someone is coming up behind me and moving my car out of the way before said retard could ram into me. This split second decision was helped by the car already being in gear as I was slowing to a stop.

Don't take it as a hard and fast rule to always slow to a stop in gear, sometimes its just not needed (nobody behind you, clear roads, slow speeds, etc).

[Mollusk]

Originally Posted by speedracer38

Pros or Honda drivers?

Oh snap! lol I guess I deserved that.

(Disclaimer: my advice is for entertainment purposes only. I have only driven a manual car once.)

[speedracer38]

Originally Posted by Mollusk

Oh snap! lol I guess I deserved that.

(Disclaimer: my advice is for entertainment purposes only. I have only driven a manual car once.)

All in good spirit just giving you a nice welcome for your first post :happy0180:

[Khazzy]

I usually downshift to second by rev matching, engine brake, slowly press brake pedal if needed, push clutch and brake, put in first (I am stopped at this point), look all around including rear view mirror, let off brake, depress clutch and give gas, continue driving. I always do this as I have no need for a SUDDEN stop at a stop sign. If for some reason I almost miss the sign, its foot push clutch and full braking, put car in first, repeat previous steps when stopped.

[BRZfan]

I just stop or do the rolling stop, look both ways to see if any cops (as was mentioned earlier), and really don't count the friggin steps. I've got things to do, places to go, people to see.

[Khazzy]

I do not go through any steps either, this is all second nature to me and just happens to be the way it takes place. I actually had to think about how I stopped for a min to type it out.