Newbie Manual Driving Help Needed

[Jaywest717]

This is my first car with a manual transmission and I've been driving it everyday for almost a month now. I've been researching on various websites and practicing various techniques, but I have some questions (and comments) which are specific to this car and I feel you guys could best help answer them (I'm still new at this, so I hope this makes sense.):

I still feel like I am starting way too slow from a stop light or a stop sign. The first couple of seconds, I'm moving like a turtle and then suddenly I'm accelerating quickly, but those first seconds are too slow. I'm not asking this because I want to race someone, but because of something much more important. In locations where I have to turn into a lane with a lot of fast-moving traffic, I am waiting for quite some time for a wide opening before pulling into said traffic (something I didn't have to do with an automatic), because I am too slow at launch and don't want to get rear-ended. How high can I rev the engine before engaging first gear to ensure a smooth, but faster launch with this car?

Also, does going in reverse feel too sensitive to anyone else? It's the only gear in which I'm still either stalling or suddenly flying in reverse. I actually scuffed up the bottom (underbar?) part of my car on a curb from trying to reverse while on a incline. ...I've avoided parallel parking on an incline going downhill for this very reason...but it would be nice if I could master this as well.

Thanks.

[hotpanda1]

just rev to 2000 and release the clutch pedal a little faster, sounds like you are riding the clutch

[hotpanda1]

or 4000 and slip the clutch, that will get you going in a hurry

[kALMIGHTY]

It does take some time getting used to. This car was my first manual car as well, and I've gotten really good at it over the last 5 months (well 5 months minus 1 day lol).
What I suggest is finding an empty parking lot, or just your street that's not too busy and try accelerating quickly and experiment with different RPM's from a stand still.
My guess is you're currently fully engaging the clutch at around 1500 RPM's and it takes the car until about 3000 RPM's before it really starts to get going. I suggest maybe starting the car at about 2000 RPM's instead so you have a less of a gap to 3000 when it actually starts to get into the power.
Monitor those RPMs as you're starting to move and try not to let them fall below 2000. I wouldn't suggesting revving up to 4000 and dropping the clutch to get a launch every time lol, even though that is fun too.
As far as the reverse gear is, you are right. It's the only gear I've stalled in recently (about a month ago was my last stall). The only thing you can do though is to modulate the gas at the same time so you don't stall, and reverse slowly. It's not particularly a good thing, but usually reversing is a slow manoeuvre and generally there's nothing you can do but ride the clutch a little bit. Don't let go of the clutch fully in reverse, I've never done this and I only partially engage with a little bit of gas whenever it's about to stall. The other thing you can do is just push in the clutch a little more whenever it's getting close to stalling.

[humfrz]

Well, back in the day, first and reverse were usually the same sized gear ... not sure about the FR-S.

Your launch technique will come with practice. Meanwhile I suggest you slip the clutch a bit on starting out in both first and reverse. No, it's not going to burn up your clutch unless you over do it.

With an engine that has relatively low torque and a relatively light flywheel, sometimes they need a bit of RPMs to get them moving.....

I know that when I back out of my steep driveway (uphill), I have to ease over the apex (at an angle) where the driveway meets the sidewalk (so I don't scrape) and (of course) the blind spot is just where the traffic could be coming from. So, I have to slip the clutch quite a bit to get out. Been doing it for about 9 months now ... clutch has held up just fine ....

And yes, I've been driving clutched vehicles for over 65 years now and never burnt up a clutch.

humfrz

[ChiefG]

Get some training from an experienced manual trans driver. There are a lot of nuances to driving a stick that are not obvious. You also need to just ride along and observe. It sounds like you need some work on your clutch friction control too. It will come with practice.

[Wolfking]

We motorcyclist call learning proper clutch manipulation "the friction zone." it takes practice. If you can't shift and "rocket" in 1st gear then you're in trouble!!

Find an incline...NOT a hill! Learn to sit in stasis while heading up the incline but not moving up or rolling back. You can pull the e-brake if you mess it up! Option (2. Is drive up an incline, engage the e-brake and break pedal. Now apply the clutch and throttle while disengaging the e-brake. You're set! Once you've mastered this you should be ready! God speed!

[RojerLockless]

Just takes time to learn, I can start off like a turtle or a hare. Whichever I choose.

[Jaywest717]

Thanks for all of the feedback! I'm visiting a friend this weekend who's been driving manuals for 15+ years, so I'll get some actual feedback and observe how he drives as well.

I'm going to try that revving up to 4K and slipping the clutch, too (around little or no traffic, obviously). Sounds like fun...

[N_A]

You'll get used to it. I think right now you're thinking too much about it. You're thinking about how much to rev and when to let off the clutch. Practice driving smoothly and learn where the engagement point of the clutch is. Once you get used to it, you won't even think about it. It'll all come natural to you.

[Billylammerkins]

I've driven many different manuals before but this is the first one I've actually owned for myself and have gotten to drive everyday. I will give you this, the launch or "catch" point for the FR-S is a lot further back then most manuals, and that was what gave me the most trouble in the beginning.

I still have problems reversing and sometimes I feel like I'm riding my clutch, but only in reverse. I feel like if I full disengage the clutch I shoot off in reverse, does anybody else feel this?

[spralwers]

I started driving manual in august of last year after driving auto for 6 years. So I know exactly the issues you're having.

Originally Posted by Jaywest717

I still feel like I am starting way too slow from a stop light or a stop sign.

So the first thing you need to do if you haven't is understand the throttle control. It's very awkward with this car esp during break in period. Sometimes the throttle responds perfectly, other times it doesn't. Sometimes I prefer driving my corolla because the throttle response is way more predictable.

Get a general feel for how much throttle you need to apply to keep the RPMs between 2k-2.5k. Remember that.

When you launch from a stop, immediately put your foot on the gas and apply that same amount of pressure. Slowly let go of the clutch, slow enough that you can feel the point where the clutch catches the engine the most (aka "friction point") and you really start going.

Once you get the hang of those two steps, you can immediately launch from a stop light like you're driving an auto. Hit the gas with that same pressure, immediately let go of the clutch to the friction point. Once the car starts rolling, let go of the clutch all the way. When starting on steeper hills, you can feel free to rev up to 3-3.5k.

Also, does going in reverse feel too sensitive to anyone else? It's the only gear in which I'm still either stalling or suddenly flying in reverse. I actually scuffed up the bottom (underbar?) part of my car on a curb from trying to reverse while on a incline. ...I've avoided parallel parking on an incline going downhill for this very reason...but it would be nice if I could master this as well.

In general, reverse gear is much shorter than 1st gear, so you will get tons of power. I generally never release the clutch all the way when I'm going in reverse, unless the incline is so steep I really need the power. If it's a slight incline, I'll modulate the clutch to control my speed. Otherwise I'll give some gas with the clutch at or near the friction point. You'll have to get the feel for it obviously.

[Suberman]

On small engined cars at least, reverse has always been the lowest gear in the transmission. This is because you don't want to drive quickly in reverse.

These cars suffer from three faults that make learning to drive a manual version tricky: the clutch bite point (friction zone) is too high up in the pedal travel, the clutch pedal height is too high off the floor (half an inch or more higher than the brake pedal which is just weird) and the tip in or initial throttle travel is unnecessarily rapid.

The first two issues can be corrected by adjusting the pedal height and bite point about one half inch closer to the floor of the car.

The throttle travel issue cannot be fixed unless Subaru releases a software update for the electronic throttle which isn't going to happen.

North Americans like aggressive throttle tip in. It makes a car feel more powerful than it really is. Almost all American built cars suffer from this fault. Many imports also do in order to satisfy this market demand. It's weird but that's just the way it is.

Most experienced manual transmission drivers stall this car repeatedly until they get used to these faults. I had my dealership adjust the clutch pedal and it is better. However, it is still absurdly easy to stall this car, even for an expert.

[1Cor10:23]

It's always going to be tough since Auto can just let you lazily transition from break to gas quickly and effortlessly. When I started out, being more aware of the traffic and when the light will change - pre-empt your gate shift to first, kick in the clutch, and remove break last (slightly before light change) and feather the gas. Key is to find the sweet spot as you release the clutch where you can release immediately at the same time as adding considerably more gas without additional slip/rocking the transmission.