how long did i take u to learn to drive 6spd?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: NY
how long did i take u to learn to drive 6spd?
I've been driving an auto for the last 5 years and have no clue on how to drive a 6mt. i kno how to drive an smg, but that doesn't have clutch. how many hours did it take u to learn???
thx!
thx!
The issue for most folks is getting going in first.
Probably take you an hour or so on first gear to get the hang of it; a week or two to become a "pro". Find a long open, flat, area to practice.........like a mall parking lot when mall is closed.
2nd thru 6th is pretty easy.
Ignor the threads on here about how tough it is to learn to use a Z manny tranny; just ain't the case.
By the way, I taught my son how to use a manual on my Z with no damage to his psyche or the Zzz clutch or tranny.
Probably take you an hour or so on first gear to get the hang of it; a week or two to become a "pro". Find a long open, flat, area to practice.........like a mall parking lot when mall is closed.
2nd thru 6th is pretty easy.
Ignor the threads on here about how tough it is to learn to use a Z manny tranny; just ain't the case.
By the way, I taught my son how to use a manual on my Z with no damage to his psyche or the Zzz clutch or tranny.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
I didn't learn to drive a manual on the Z. Back in college when I was buying my first car without help from parents, one of my roomates taught me how to drive a stick on a VW Rabbit at night in an industrial park. It took me about 45 minutes to get confident enough to get it into 1st without always stalling. Went to the dealer and drove off with a new Toyota Corolla the next morning. It took a few weeks to get really proficient at driving a manual. Learning to get it into 1st gear and stopping without stalling is the hardest part.
Good luck and have fun learning.
Just make sure you're far away from me while you're learning.
Good luck and have fun learning.
Just make sure you're far away from me while you're learning.
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From: Southern California
Originally posted by Aggro_Al
I didn't learn to drive a manual on the Z. Back in college when I was buying my first car without help from parents, one of my roomates taught me how to drive a stick on a VW Rabbit at night in an industrial park. It took me about 45 minutes to get confident enough to get it into 1st without always stalling. Went to the dealer and drove off with a new Toyota Corolla the next morning. It took a few weeks to get really proficient at driving a manual. Learning to get it into 1st gear and stopping without stalling is the hardest part.
Good luck and have fun learning.
Just make sure you're far away from me while you're learning.
I didn't learn to drive a manual on the Z. Back in college when I was buying my first car without help from parents, one of my roomates taught me how to drive a stick on a VW Rabbit at night in an industrial park. It took me about 45 minutes to get confident enough to get it into 1st without always stalling. Went to the dealer and drove off with a new Toyota Corolla the next morning. It took a few weeks to get really proficient at driving a manual. Learning to get it into 1st gear and stopping without stalling is the hardest part.
Good luck and have fun learning.
Just make sure you're far away from me while you're learning.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Seattle
Not to discourage you or anything, but make sure you practice on the hill from a complete stop. It's not a problem to learn on the flat when the car is not rolling backwards but once you're in traffic and this baby doesn't want to go forward it could be pretty embaracing. There was a member couple of month ago who was really pissed because he got in this kind of situation. Good luck, though!
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Dallas
I learned when I was 14 on a video game at putt putt golf. The car actually had a clutch, you could stall it, drop the clutch.. etc. Made learning really easy. There are sill a few games out there actually. I knew when I turned 14 my first car would be a manual and having a sister that was 2 years older I got to watch how long it took her to learn. She was getting so frustated and so was my dad. It was great, when I got my first car (truck, POS) it had a 5 spd. My dad was trying to tell me before I ever drove it that it would take me a few days to figure it out. Me being a cocky 16yr old, I decided to bet him I wouldn't stall even once on my first trip out. I made 20$ off the deal, and surprised thhe hell out of my dad. All thanks to the video game at putt putt. That said, it really isn't hard, just imagine your feet are connected by a hydraulic system, one goes down, the other goes up. nice and easy, no need to rev over 2k RPM.
Originally posted by MadMax76
Not to discourage you or anything, but make sure you practice on the hill from a complete stop. It's not a problem to learn on the flat when the car is not rolling backwards but once you're in traffic and this baby doesn't want to go forward it could be pretty embaracing. There was a member couple of month ago who was really pissed because he got in this kind of situation. Good luck, though!
Not to discourage you or anything, but make sure you practice on the hill from a complete stop. It's not a problem to learn on the flat when the car is not rolling backwards but once you're in traffic and this baby doesn't want to go forward it could be pretty embaracing. There was a member couple of month ago who was really pissed because he got in this kind of situation. Good luck, though!
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From: Mississippi Gulf Coast
Just remember that you can engage the handbrake on a hill, and then let it down once you feel the car pulling forward.
This can help in the beginning if you get in a tight spot, but soon enough you wont need it....
This can help in the beginning if you get in a tight spot, but soon enough you wont need it....
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From: NY
wow, great useful info from all of u. i actually got off work a bit earlier than expected and practiced in my friend's car. The hardest part is def getting out of 1st. After that, the car tells you when to shift. Another problem that I can see myself getting into is being in 6th gear and noticing traffic up ahead and haveing to downshift quickly...but the consensus is practice practice practice...
thx guys for all the useful info!
thx guys for all the useful info!
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From: West Coast
Tip for 1st gear starts up a hill. Rev the engine real quick and let the clutch out, you might get a quick burnout but its better then rolling into the guy behind you 
My biggest problem when I first drove a 6 speed was that the manager threw me the keys to test drive it and didnt tell me I had to push down on the shifter in order to get it into reverse (I was used to 5 speeds). I was sitting there like 5 mins trying to figure it out..
My biggest problem when I first drove a 6 speed was that the manager threw me the keys to test drive it and didnt tell me I had to push down on the shifter in order to get it into reverse (I was used to 5 speeds). I was sitting there like 5 mins trying to figure it out..
Nothing can be worse then drving Straight-Jobs in East Boston, doing Air Freight runs to Logan Airport during Feb. Snow... That's the best place to learn clutch/shift...
It shouldn't take u long at all, BUT, the Z clutch is very stiff compared to other manauls, works your leg a bit..otherwise, brand new Z have a tight gear box, but after you break it in a bit, things become smoother.
I've still not been able to master a smooth transition between 1-2 100% of the time, and ive been driving stick for going on 8 yrs. One reason, is the Z tach's VERY quickly, i mean maybe 2 seconds in 1st then right into 2. Half the time, i start out of 2nd..
Good Luck!
Sully
It shouldn't take u long at all, BUT, the Z clutch is very stiff compared to other manauls, works your leg a bit..otherwise, brand new Z have a tight gear box, but after you break it in a bit, things become smoother.
I've still not been able to master a smooth transition between 1-2 100% of the time, and ive been driving stick for going on 8 yrs. One reason, is the Z tach's VERY quickly, i mean maybe 2 seconds in 1st then right into 2. Half the time, i start out of 2nd..
Good Luck!
Sully
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
Here are some techniques on starting on a hill with a manual clutch.
Driving an MT in San Francisco you learn to drive the hills quickly or die trying. I got tired of driving a clutch in The City so I got the AT. There are basically four different ways to get started going uphill with an MT.
1) Quick Transfer Shift: This basically your regular type shifting. You just do it faster. If the hill isn't too steep this will be the most common method of getting started. The downside is you will get some rollback even when done correctly.
2) Clutch Technique: Keep your foot on the brake and start to release the clutch. As soon as you feel the friction point give it gas immediately. If timed right there will be no or little rollback and you might even roll forward a little bit. The downside is excessive clutch wear especially if done wrong. If you totally screw it up you will stall. Good method when rollback is not an option and you need to move right away.
3) E-Brake Method: Apply parking brake instead of foot brake, give it gas and release the parking brake when clutch is engaged. More confidence on steep hills because there will be no rollback. Not as quick as the other methods. Sometime necessary if the car behind is very close and left no rollback room. A necessity when you are parking on a hill.
4) Heel-Toe: When stopped or slowing down, use your right heel on the brake and your right toe on the throttle. Apply enough brake to keep the car from rolling back and apply enough throttle to keep the RPMs up. It's a little bit of a balancing act This is similar to powerbraking on an AT, brake and throttle at the same time. When it is time to go, release clutch as normal and take your heel off the brake at the friction point. The car will move right away, no rollback. This method is the hardest to do and requires practice. Preferably not in your Z. When done right there is no drivable hill you can't conquer. The heel-toe will work in almost all situations except parking.
Hope this helps. Have fun and drive safe.
Last edited by Aggro_Al on 05-17-2004 at 12:09 PM
1) Quick Transfer Shift: This basically your regular type shifting. You just do it faster. If the hill isn't too steep this will be the most common method of getting started. The downside is you will get some rollback even when done correctly.
2) Clutch Technique: Keep your foot on the brake and start to release the clutch. As soon as you feel the friction point give it gas immediately. If timed right there will be no or little rollback and you might even roll forward a little bit. The downside is excessive clutch wear especially if done wrong. If you totally screw it up you will stall. Good method when rollback is not an option and you need to move right away.
3) E-Brake Method: Apply parking brake instead of foot brake, give it gas and release the parking brake when clutch is engaged. More confidence on steep hills because there will be no rollback. Not as quick as the other methods. Sometime necessary if the car behind is very close and left no rollback room. A necessity when you are parking on a hill.
4) Heel-Toe: When stopped or slowing down, use your right heel on the brake and your right toe on the throttle. Apply enough brake to keep the car from rolling back and apply enough throttle to keep the RPMs up. It's a little bit of a balancing act This is similar to powerbraking on an AT, brake and throttle at the same time. When it is time to go, release clutch as normal and take your heel off the brake at the friction point. The car will move right away, no rollback. This method is the hardest to do and requires practice. Preferably not in your Z. When done right there is no drivable hill you can't conquer. The heel-toe will work in almost all situations except parking.
Hope this helps. Have fun and drive safe.
Last edited by Aggro_Al on 05-17-2004 at 12:09 PM