Is the clutch easy, or at least predictable? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

squelchy451 · 08-16-2018, 06:29 PM

Hi. Selling my Mazda3 soon, and one of the gripes I had about the car was that the clutch was numb, unpredictable, and hence very difficult to drive smoothly.
I don't want to put up with that in a slow FWD car. However, I am willing to put up with a bit of discomfort for a car like BRZ. It's hard to get a feel for the clutch through a short test drive, and many users on the Mazda3 forums had similar complaints while major reviews did not.

Which is why I ask you here--is the clutch on the BRZ easy to drive with, or at least predictable enough for you to drive smoothly?

Mr.ac · 08-16-2018, 06:32 PM

Yes.
Just take a test drive. Better than me trying to explain to you.

BigFatFlip · 08-16-2018, 06:39 PM

It's a very light clutch imho, at least compared to other vehicles I've owned. It's relatively communicative, which makes it easy to drive smooth. My only gripe is the weirdly high engagement point (feels to me almost at the very top) but you very quickly get used to it.

D-rek07 · 08-16-2018, 06:58 PM

As long as you learn where the engagement point is, as BigFatLip discussed, it's easy.

Snake · 08-16-2018, 06:58 PM

Compared to my previous car (s) it is light, numb and difficult to drive smoothly. It also doesn't help that if you breathe on the throttle it's bouncing off the limiter.

Even after owning this car since 2012 every now and then I'll accidentally rev it up to 3k and slip the clutch too much.

I find it's more the throttle and clutch relationship that makes it difficult more than the clutch itself though.

Sent from my RNE-L02 using Tapatalk

churchx · 08-16-2018, 06:59 PM

Clutch bite point is adjustable. Lightness .. as it partially comes from spring in pedal assembly, has cons aswell, as harder to feel bite point. Then again, that's modable aswell.
Regarding pedals in twins i'd do: replace with mtec's or remove completely clutch assist spring, adjust dead travel a bit less (but not overdoing it, as it's easy to miss very slight clutch drag), and add Velox's/Verus's accelerator pedal spacer, to ease heal & toe (from what i've heard, might be less needed on RHD).

Ultramaroon · 08-16-2018, 07:35 PM

Stock clutch is like driving with a condom. Can't feel shit. Easily fixed. Leave the assist spring installed. If you care enough to ask, this mod will be your first.

Trueweltall · 08-16-2018, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squelchy451

Hi. Selling my Mazda3 soon, and one of the gripes I had about the car was that the clutch was numb, unpredictable, and hence very difficult to drive smoothly.
I don't want to put up with that in a slow FWD car. However, I am willing to put up with a bit of discomfort for a car like BRZ. It's hard to get a feel for the clutch through a short test drive, and many users on the Mazda3 forums had similar complaints while major reviews did not.

Which is why I ask you here--is the clutch on the BRZ easy to drive with, or at least predictable enough for you to drive smoothly?

I happen to own a 2018 Mazda 3 so I can give you some direct experience. The clutch in the BRZ has a lot more feeling compared to the Mazda 3, it also has a shorter travel too. Pushing the clutch all the way in on the Mazda 3 just feels like it goes forever. The shifter is also more direct feeling than the Mazda 3, probably because its RWD and not FWD, so you don't have 8 feet of clutch cable to manipulate the gears. The steering in my Mazda 3 is a lot more vague than the BRZ, even more so after installing stiffer steering rack bushings.

My advice is to drive in your bare feet to get a good feeling for the clutch engagement and then add shoes in the mix. I live in Florida so it's easy to kick the flipflops off and then drive around.

StraightOuttaCanadaEh · 08-16-2018, 08:14 PM

Nope. Still can't shift smoothly after 35k km.

humfrz · 08-16-2018, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

Nope. Still can't shift smoothly after 35k km.

You know the old saying - if you keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results -

humfrz

humfrz · 08-16-2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-rek07

As long as you learn where the engagement point is, as BigFatLip discussed, it's easy.

Yep, I second (or third) that ..

humfrz

StraightOuttaCanadaEh · 08-16-2018, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

You know the old saying - if you keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results -

humfrz

I just gave up at some point. I have no idea where it engages or where to get back on the throttle. There is no feel and no communication through the pedal. Sometimes it works, but I don't know why or how. It's accidental. I have found no consistent way.

humfrz · 08-16-2018, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Stock clutch is like driving with a condom. Can't feel shit. Easily fixed. Leave the assist spring installed. If you care enough to ask, this mod will be your first.

Of course you can't "feel shit", when you put a size 16 foot, hooked to a 75 pound leg, down on the poor little clutch -

humfrz

Ultramaroon · 08-16-2018, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightOuttaCanadaEh

I just gave up at some point. I have no idea where it engages or where to get back on the throttle. There is no feel and no communication through the pedal. Sometimes it works, but I don't know why or how. It's accidental. I have found no consistent way.

I'm telling you. Do my clutch mod. You will fall in love with your car all over again.

08-16-2018, 06:29 PM	#1
squelchy451 Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Drives: Pending Location: Los Angeles Posts: 36 Thanks: 2 Thanked 23 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s)	Is the clutch easy, or at least predictable? Hi. Selling my Mazda3 soon, and one of the gripes I had about the car was that the clutch was numb, unpredictable, and hence very difficult to drive smoothly. I don't want to put up with that in a slow FWD car. However, I am willing to put up with a bit of discomfort for a car like BRZ. It's hard to get a feel for the clutch through a short test drive, and many users on the Mazda3 forums had similar complaints while major reviews did not. Which is why I ask you here--is the clutch on the BRZ easy to drive with, or at least predictable enough for you to drive smoothly?

08-16-2018, 06:32 PM	#2
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,368 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,559 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s)	Yes. Just take a test drive. Better than me trying to explain to you. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

08-16-2018, 07:35 PM	#7
Ultramaroon not playing cards Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 32,394 Thanks: 53,054 Thanked 37,230 Times in 19,309 Posts Mentioned: 1118 Post(s)	Stock clutch is like driving with a condom. Can't feel shit. Easily fixed. Leave the assist spring installed. If you care enough to ask, this mod will be your first. __________________ service manuals

08-16-2018, 08:14 PM	#9
StraightOuttaCanadaEh Wes Join Date: Feb 2017 Drives: Artisan Spirits '17 86 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,874 Thanks: 1,259 Thanked 1,737 Times in 1,028 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s)	Nope. Still can't shift smoothly after 35k km. __________________ Instagram: @gt86ws

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08-16-2018, 06:39 PM	#3
BigFatFlip sleep, drive, eat, repeat Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: '13 BRZ, '12 Outback Location: Sack of Potatoes Posts: 4,431 Thanks: 2,630 Thanked 3,797 Times in 1,981 Posts Mentioned: 188 Post(s)	It's a very light clutch imho, at least compared to other vehicles I've owned. It's relatively communicative, which makes it easy to drive smooth. My only gripe is the weirdly high engagement point (feels to me almost at the very top) but you very quickly get used to it.

08-16-2018, 06:58 PM	#4
D-rek07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Drives: 2013 BRZ Location: Orange County Posts: 146 Thanks: 10 Thanked 48 Times in 34 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s)	As long as you learn where the engagement point is, as BigFatLip discussed, it's easy.

08-16-2018, 06:58 PM	#5
Snake Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: ADM Toyota 86 GT Location: Australia Posts: 117 Thanks: 32 Thanked 63 Times in 37 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s)	Compared to my previous car (s) it is light, numb and difficult to drive smoothly. It also doesn't help that if you breathe on the throttle it's bouncing off the limiter. Even after owning this car since 2012 every now and then I'll accidentally rev it up to 3k and slip the clutch too much. I find it's more the throttle and clutch relationship that makes it difficult more than the clutch itself though. Sent from my RNE-L02 using Tapatalk

08-16-2018, 06:59 PM	#6
churchx Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Drives: 2014 GT86 Location: Latvia, Riga Posts: 4,336 Thanks: 698 Thanked 2,091 Times in 1,437 Posts Mentioned: 53 Post(s)	Clutch bite point is adjustable. Lightness .. as it partially comes from spring in pedal assembly, has cons aswell, as harder to feel bite point. Then again, that's modable aswell. Regarding pedals in twins i'd do: replace with mtec's or remove completely clutch assist spring, adjust dead travel a bit less (but not overdoing it, as it's easy to miss very slight clutch drag), and add Velox's/Verus's accelerator pedal spacer, to ease heal & toe (from what i've heard, might be less needed on RHD).

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