Can't stop riding my clutch when reversing

[PandaSPUR]

I ride the clutch a bit too when reversing, especially uphill as some have said, but the more common issue ive run into is bumps or bumpy parking spaces. Especially in the city, even in some older self-park garages around here.

Pain in the ass trying to maneuver my car between two other cars and not stall.

[ajcarson11]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

My car is at 62k miles over 4.5 years, I almost always ride the clutch to reverse (quite similarly to @Alltezza in fact), it's rare that I'm moving enough distance backwards to let it out fully and I have no signs of slippage despite hundreds of autox launches on top of me being a knucklehead that's slow to learn. I've stalled it at least dozens of times (don't think I'm at 100+ though) and I've smelled my burning clutch a handful of times as well.

Clutches are tough, the fact that you care and are cognizant of what you're doing means you're probably not doing anything terribly wrong. Yeah, try to be better, but don't sweat it, as long as you can't smell it you're probably not doing any noticeable damage to it.

This. I beat the hell out of my clutch (although no hard launches on a regular basis) and i'm even supercharged -- No issues at all. Clutches are strong... the guys who are destroying them are REALLY beating on them.

[Capt Spaulding]

Riding it a little is perfectly fine. The important thing is not to F up and hit something. Avoid that and you're gtg.

[JD001]

What's with the paranoia associated with using the clutch? It's designed to allow smooth running at very, very slow pace. The danger time for the clutch is sitting at the biting point for a long period or riding the clutch at normal speeds and/or doing lots of standing starts to show your friends that the Twin really isn't a slow car.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by JD001

What's with the paranoia associated with using the clutch? It's designed to allow smooth running at very, very slow pace. The danger time for the clutch is sitting at the biting point for a long period or riding the clutch at normal speeds and/or doing lots of standing starts to show your friends that the Twin really isn't a slow car.

imho because at this point everyone knows someone who had to pay >$1k to replace a clutch or got stranded when it failed spectacularly and swears off them for life 'never had a bill like that with an automatic'

(unless you've had a Chevy or Honda AT shit the bed)

So there's this big stigma about MT maintenance that people think they're more expensive in the long run than AT's, x fluid flushes vs. x clutch replacements, not taking into account all the factors. Therefore for those less experienced it seems like they're taking a big gamble by buying a MT with the looming threat of a >$1k repair bill (remember, 60% of Americans don't have >$500 in the bank, but a lot of those people can afford a modest car payment, but could be stuck unable to fix a large problem and face serious repurcussions). Gen Y has grown up with Baby Boomers whispering in our ears 'don't make my mistakes' and we're fucking terrified of all the little things that could end in disaster like losing a job when you're paycheck to paycheck because you smoked your clutch last weekend and can't make it to work on time to file your TPS reports.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

imho because at this point everyone knows someone who had to pay >$1k to replace a clutch or got stranded when it failed spectacularly and swears off them for life 'never had a bill like that with an automatic'

(unless you've had a Chevy or Honda AT shit the bed)

So there's this big stigma about MT maintenance that people think they're more expensive in the long run than AT's, x fluid flushes vs. x clutch replacements, not taking into account all the factors. Therefore for those less experienced it seems like they're taking a big gamble by buying a MT with the looming threat of a >$1k repair bill (remember, 60% of Americans don't have >$500 in the bank, but a lot of those people can afford a modest car payment, but could be stuck unable to fix a large problem and face serious repurcussions). Gen Y has grown up with Baby Boomers whispering in our ears 'don't make my mistakes' and we're fucking terrified of all the little things that could end in disaster like losing a job when you're paycheck to paycheck because you smoked your clutch last weekend and can't make it to work on time to file your TPS reports.

I think in the UK there was a similar stigma associated with ATs as we had more MTs in the "affordable" range with ATs occupying the luxury car market. Big bills with big luxury barges.. MTs a penny a dozen and a mechanic on every street corner who can deal with a "simple" MT car.


Its changing now as more and more "affordable" cars are getting ATs so I'm sure a time will come hen MTs will be occupying the car collectors domain with prices to match.


As for cash in the bank, I think the UK is heading/or is down the same slippery slope, 'hand to mouth'.

[alan.chalkley]

The best thing about MT here , is no one wants it , and the car yards are full of secondhand MT cars going out the door for a song.
I just picked up a MT zook grand vitara for only $3700 au , with a low range transfer case that has no problems reverse parking up steep hills.
Riding the clutch when reversing might cause a little wear and tear , but i get more than 100000kms between clutch replacements and that is a lot cheaper than fixing and servicing AT cars.