New Manual FRS owner

[OctaneFRS]

Originally Posted by STV3

I agree that the actual transmission our cars feels great. One of the best shifting transmissions I've ever felt. Very accurate, feel no need for a short shifter, has that nice notchy feeling with that satisfying metallic clank sound when you switch gears.

But the clutch pedal on this car feels like a toy. Then again, I am used to a much stiffer clutch pedal...

My dad did mention that too. He was like "wow, this clutch goes to the floor with no resistance at all".

[kthxbai]

Originally Posted by Hachiroku Rose

On an end note, to make those of us who have struggled a bit feel better - the day I test drove it, the salesman said he wanted to drive it to a separate lot first and then would let me drive (ok...?). He proceeded to stall it three times before saying "Screw it. You drive. But I CAN drive a manual!!"!

I experienced a similar scenario with my salesman. Said he has been driving MT all his life and his DD is a MT 240sx. He couldn't put the car in reverse, stalled twice, and kept going into first (almost drove through the building window). Being a girl, I didn't want to embarrass him so I asked my husband to remind him to lift the lockout to get into reverse.

My brave husband taught me how to drive a MT car in his '05 tC. Compared to the tC (which is much for forgiving), the FRS can be a bit finicky in comparison. It takes time, but once you get accustomed to the clutch grab and can make use of rev matching when downshifting, the smile on your face will erase all the frustrations of the early days of ownership on your MT FRS. Welcome to the community OP!

[STV3]

Originally Posted by OctaneFRS

My dad did mention that too. He was like "wow, this clutch goes to the floor with no resistance at all".

Yeah, they're are two springs connected to the pedal that make it feel so "soft". A lot of people have taken the springs out and said its makes it feel like a "normal" clutch pedal.

I've thought about doing it but I am too lazy lol.

[3nl]

The ratio between first and second is pretty damn big, if you pause for just a few milliseconds after your shift to second before letting off the clutch quickly to let the RPM drop to rev-match, it'll be much more smooth (If you're too slow, stay on the gas longer or shift faster!). 2nd to 3rd I pause about half as long and above third the ratios get closer and you don't have to pause.

[OctaneFRS]

Originally Posted by 3nl

The ratio between first and second is pretty damn big, if you pause for just a few milliseconds after your shift to second before letting off the clutch quickly to let the RPM drop to rev-match, it'll be much more smooth (If you're too slow, stay on the gas longer or shift faster!). 2nd to 3rd I pause about half as long and above third the ratios get closer and you don't have to pause.

I'm going to try that. A lot of people have said that I am shifting too slowly. I pulled a couple of flawless shifts last night and today by shifting quickly without much hesitation in releasing the clutch. That 1st to 2nd is what gets me still though.

I really appreciate everyone's help. I've been on a lot of auto enthusiast boards prior and this board seems to be, by far, the most helpful.

[HerrFunf]

Originally Posted by OctaneFRS

I really appreciate everyone's help. I've been on a lot of auto enthusiast boards prior and this board seems to be, by far, the most helpful.

Yeah, people love these cars and just want to talk about them all day. Well, except my wife, she's not too fond of it at all. Great throttle response combined with a truck transmission in an 2700 lb car makes for a jerky ride if you're used to driving auto, like her. Mines at 15k but I still have rough shifts from time to time.

[WhiteFRS69]

Originally Posted by STV3

Yeah, they're are two springs connected to the pedal that make it feel so "soft". A lot of people have taken the springs out and said its makes it feel like a "normal" clutch pedal.

I've thought about doing it but I am too lazy lol.

at least im not the only lazy mofo out there

[STV3]

Originally Posted by WhiteFRS69

at least im not the only lazy mofo out there

We shall have a non lazy day and take care of all the crap on our cars that we need to lol

[3nl]

Originally Posted by HerrFunf

Yeah, people love these cars and just want to talk about them all day. Well, except my wife, she's not too fond of it at all. Great throttle response combined with a truck transmission in an 2700 lb car makes for a jerky ride if you're used to driving auto, like her. Mines at 15k but I still have rough shifts from time to time.

At least she doesn't have a CVT like my wife does! Get her driving your MT and she will appreciate when you shift decently. You can shift slowly as long as you use the gas to offset how far the RPMs drop between shifts.

Practice shifting by yourself at high RPMs where differences in revs are going to be much more noticeable and when your wife is in the car shift at 2500rpm and it'll be much smoother (if your wife is like most of hte other people's spouses here, shifting above 2500rpm without getting in trouble isn't even an option!)

Originally Posted by OctaneFRS

I'm going to try that. A lot of people have said that I am shifting too slowly. I pulled a couple of flawless shifts last night and today by shifting quickly without much hesitation in releasing the clutch. That 1st to 2nd is what gets me still though.

I really appreciate everyone's help. I've been on a lot of auto enthusiast boards prior and this board seems to be, by far, the most helpful.

Timing is everything! You'll likely have the muscle memory down in a week or two if you used to drive MT even if you haven't done it in a long time - just getting the timing down with the 86 will fix all the problems.

If you hammer on it and take up to 7k before shifting, you will know for sure whether you are too slow or too fast when the wheels lock. If the tach quickly drops a few hundred RPM, you were too quick or didn't get off the gas fast enough and need to pause before letting off the clutch or practice getting off the gas more quickly.

If the RPMs rise when you do this, you were too slow. Either keep practicing to get faster, or just hold on the gas a fraction of a second longer to ensure you will be rev-matched when you are off the clutch.

[kthxbai]

Originally Posted by 3nl

At least she doesn't have a CVT like my wife does! Get her driving your MT and she will appreciate when you shift decently. You can shift slowly as long as you use the gas to offset how far the RPMs drop between shifts.

Practice shifting by yourself at high RPMs where differences in revs are going to be much more noticeable and when your wife is in the car shift at 2500rpm and it'll be much smoother (if your wife is like most of hte other people's spouses here, shifting above 2500rpm without getting in trouble isn't even an option!)

This just made me laugh out loud, literally! As a wife, who is an FRS owner and car enthusiast, I hope that the gents of this forum take the time to include your gals on your twin. Maybe she doesn't know much about cars and doesn't want to feel embarrassed about it. Start with something simple that you can explain and maybe she will learn to appreciate the car and your car hobbies. Give her a little heads up, be it a sly smile or a "hold on to something" the next time you push your baby above 2500 rpm and maybe she won't be so shocked.

As for myself, I love seeing the "What just happened?" look in my rear view mirror on ocassion when I decided to shift above 2500rpm. My husband is pretty in sync with how I drive (as I am with him too), he can almost pin point when I'm gonna push my FRS WOT.

[3nl]

Originally Posted by kthxbai

This just made me laugh out loud, literally! As a wife, who is an FRS owner and car enthusiast, I hope that the gents of this forum take the time to include your gals on your twin. Maybe she doesn't know much about cars and doesn't want to feel embarrassed about it. Start with something simple that you can explain and maybe she will learn to appreciate the car and your car hobbies. Give her a little heads up, be it a sly smile or a "hold on to something" the next time you push your baby above 2500 rpm and maybe she won't be so shocked.

As for myself, I love seeing the "What just happened?" look in my rear view mirror on ocassion when I decided to shift above 2500rpm. My husband is pretty in sync with how I drive (as I am with him too), he can almost pin point when I'm gonna push my FRS WOT.

Don't get me wrong - I taught my wife to drive MT on my FR-S, complete with diagrams of how an MT works, and even though she isn't comfortable enough yet to hammer on it, she does love stepping on it in her own car - when she is driving. While I haven't been here too long, it seems quite a few of the other married guys are in a similar situation - there is absolutely no playing racecar with the wife...

If I step on it in any car, regardless of warning, I am at the very least getting a dirty look and some grump for the next few minutes. She even understands the intricacies of a heel-toe shift and can appreciate it in the abstract, but if I do one and she hears the blip while I am on the brakes...."What was the point of doing that? Can't you just turn like a normal person, like you taught me how to do?"

In short, she knows just enough about cars to know the purpose of any mods I want to do (and promptly shut them down) and understands enough about performance driving to get me in trouble if she is a passenger...

[kthxbai]

Originally Posted by 3nl

Don't get me wrong - I taught my wife to drive MT on my FR-S, complete with diagrams of how an MT works, and even though she isn't comfortable enough yet to hammer on it, she does love stepping on it in her own car - when she is driving. While I haven't been here too long, it seems quite a few of the other married guys are in a similar situation - there is absolutely no playing racecar with the wife...

If I step on it in any car, regardless of warning, I am at the very least getting a dirty look and some grump for the next few minutes. She even understands the intricacies of a heel-toe shift and can appreciate it in the abstract, but if I do one and she hears the blip while I am on the brakes...."What was the point of doing that? Can't you just turn like a normal person, like you taught me how to do?"

In short, she knows just enough about cars to know the purpose of any mods I want to do (and promptly shut them down) and understands enough about performance driving to get me in trouble if she is a passenger...

I applaud you for your efforts. Growing up I was a daddy's girl, I did whatever my dad did. He fixes appliances for a living but is a self taught car mechanic. So I guess not too many girls grew up that way, turning wrenches with their old man and still to this day. He marvels over the engine of the FRS; whenever I'm tinkering with the car he always finds a reason to lend a hand.

Perhaps one day all the gents with wives who don't quite understand the need to blip the rev limiter every once in a while can at least appreciate the love you have for your hobbie and car. Just got to find a way to meet in the middle and still be happy!

[OctaneFRS]

I have a really great girlfriend. We can talk about cars all day. I think she is just as eager for me to hit 1k miles as I am so we can spin the RPMs up.

[OctaneFRS]

Hey everyone. So I'm still trying to get the MT smooth. I've put only 600 miles on her so I'm it's still partly, if not all, inexperience. I wanted to throw out a question....speaking to the 1-2 shift, occasionally there seems to be a loud clanking noise in the tranny. My minimal knowledge is that the revs aren't matching and stuff is slamming together. I've tried multiple ways to troubleshoot the problem. The only way that I can get it smooth is to "very slowly release the clutch and not roll on the throttle. This results in a slight jerk engine braking jolt. What am I doing wrong? Most people that have driven my car do not make this mistake (however they almost stall on occasion) ..haha.

Btw I did the clutch pedal adjustment mod and it made a huge difference!!!! So easy and so worth it.

Thanks.


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