Starting off in 1st gear

[Phantobe]

I'd still consider myself a noob manual user I've had the car for about 1500 miles and this is my first manual ever.

I feel as if I'm a fairly quick learner, I grew up on motorcycles and I already feel very comfortable in the car.

The only thing I feel like I need some work on is starting off in first gear. I usually get some pretty smooth starts, other times I may over Rev a Lil bit to about 1.5-2k rpms. My question is, is over revving a little bit when starting off in first bad for the clutch, is it considered bad practice? I try to avoid it but my muscle memory just isn't there yet, I also have a fear of stalling haha.

Any pointers would be appreciated. And yes I've already ready a bunch of the clutch noob threads.

Cheers.

[Jegan_V]

Relax, is mainly what I recommend. Basically take it slow you don't need to rev that much if at all for upshifts, you can actually set off in first gear using only the clutch as a FYI, not recommended on the street simply because its too slow. The only time I give a tiny bit of revs is for uphills as you got added load. You're not racing on the streets so just be gentle and the car will respond in kind. Or best yet, get up early when there's simply nobody on the roads and find a parking lot and just practice setting off smoothly. Once you get the timing right, you'll eventually be able to accelerate in a way where the moment you engage the clutch you're already pushing the accelerator hence no need to rev. You only really want to blip the throttle for rev matching on downshifts or heel and toe. Eventually driving a manual car become intuitive but it simply takes practice to get there.

As for stalling. It happens, especially with so many automatics around nearly all modern manuals are built strong enough to withstand stalls under the assumption people will stall like beginners.

[HeadBanger]

The rev don't really matter too much. Obviously don't rev to 7k, but it's more about the duration of the slip.

Revving at 3k and slipping the clutch for 5 seconds is bad.

[chaoskaze]

Gas in as u let the clutch out & be smooth that's all.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

[WhiteFRS69]

i used to be the same way when i first started driving manual

light turns green, was nervous the people behind me would honk if i didnt go right away, so i would rev up quick and go,

now i just dont care, take your time, dont let the people behind you get to you,

i was once at a light and went through 2 cycles of green and red lights because my car kept stalling (old car)

thought i was in first but i was really in third, fail..

sounds silly but i found myself a slight incline road and parked the car and practiced taking off in first, slight gas, maybe 1K rpm

you will get used to the car

[DeadStar7]

I've got respect for those of you who are driving the FR-S as their first manual transmission. I've been driving for 16 years on a manual now, I'm also a retired Formula car racer and a truck driver, and I find my FR-S to be tricky to drive. It's been advertised as a "driver's car", which means it's not easy. Definitely not for noobs. The fact that you guys haven't given up on it earns my respect. I'll still over rev it sometimes when started in 1st, and then I feel silly since I'm sure everyone around me heard it. What I like to do to correct the mistake is to then take off a bit quicker than usual. Then it makes sense that you were revving it a bit higher, and all is well! hehe

Mad respect guys. Keep it up!

[Cal3000]

This was my first manual car also. I was terrified of hills. After 60k miles of driving, I'm still sloppy at launching sometimes. I blame it on the very high clutch engagement. lol

[strat61caster]

Had a few years of MT under my belt before I got this car, I wasn't confident in my 1st gear starts in my FRS until about 10k miles in, just takes time and practice.

[N1rve]

Over reving is bad for the clutch. You could burn out the clutch easier that way. (You're pretty much launching the car every time)

The best way to learn for smooth engagement is to find the point of engagement. Just outside your house just release the clutch and find the point of engagement, when you start rolling, clutch back in.

Repeat until it becomes second nature to you. Do not use gas when doing this exercise.

[DeadStar7]

Originally Posted by Cal3000

After 60k miles of driving, I'm still sloppy at launching sometimes.

You put 60k miles on your car already?

Originally Posted by Cal3000

I was terrified of hills.

Always a big struggle for new manual drivers. Just find the friction point before touching the throttle. That way you won't roll back.

[mav1178]

Think of it this way: the clutch is a wear item.

Better to wear it out than to grind gears or rear end someone because you weren't doing it right.

In the grand scheme of things, a clutch is the best thing you can destroy when learning.

-alex

[Zed]

@Cal3000:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...63#post1580563

I eventually challenged the depths of purgatory and fixed my height slightly lower (~ even to slightly higher than brake pedal) and its been dreamy.
@Phantobe: you're doing well. just keep practicing. Take ~30 mins in an empty parking lot and just practice 1st gear launching without the accelerator. Once you understand where the sweet spot/engaging point is, you will be able to match that timing with your gas pedal. I still have days where I wear some new/not commonly worn shoes and it throws off my foot travel on the clutch. the car will be tough enough to absorb the couple of times when the shift is not ideal.

[Zelica]

Yeah this car is still awesome and fun to drive. It's my very first manual as well. I had practiced maybe three hours before three separate times over three years, lol, with an old crappy standard car.

Then I went to test drive an FR-S maybe a few months before I bought one.

The second time I test drove it I stalled like twice ;; but its still a blast, I'm at 2300~ miles atm.

Driving in ATL traffic still sucks and I really try not to over rev. Whats the ideal rev amount? 1K? I generally get between 1500-2000 as well before I hit first gear.

[Cal3000]

Originally Posted by DeadStar7

You put 60k miles on your car already?



Always a big struggle for new manual drivers. Just find the friction point before touching the throttle. That way you won't roll back.

Yeah. 60k miles already. Sucks living in the LA area where everything is spread out miles apart

I pretty used to the clutch engagement, but I do have my moments when I flub and jerk the car. lol