rodneyc8063

I recently took an 8 out on a test drive and i found getting into 1st gear was giving me a lot of problems.

I used to drive a VW golf and with that i learned basically to use the clutch as the accelerator.

These are the 3 methods i have so far picked up on in these forums so far to get the 8 going smoothly.

1. I would be at a stop, and slowly bring the clutch up until i could feel the car move forward a bit. Then let go of the brake and the clutch evenly at the same time then start to put on the gas. Essentially using the friction point to accelerate forward and use the gas.

2. I was also told to apply some gas and rev the engine up to like 2500-3k then slowly release the clutch while still adding some gas to get the car going would help.

3. I also heard that as i slowly release the clutch, i would see the rpm slowly dipping, at which point i should start to add some gas and continue to release the clutch slowly

I was wondering which of these 3 methods is the "right" way to drive the 8 or is it a matter of preference??

ken-x8

None of those are really right. You step on the gas as you let the clutch up. Don't think of clutch and gas as separate entities. Just like when you walk, you don't think of using your right leg, then your left.

In normal driving, the clutch should start biting when you're not too much above idle. Your foot should be off the clutch well before the 2500-3000 rpm you say in #2.

Don't linger, slipping the clutch. That will wear it out prematurely.

Ken

mysql101

#3 is the best. #2 is the worse.

Practice. you'll eventually get it. Just don't rev the crap out of it then slowly let off the clutch. That's really bad.

rodneyc8063

I was just doing some more reading through the forums regarding how to handle MT better and wanted to clarify one thing.

On a flat surface, there is a "friction point" with the 8 right? Where i would just use the clutch to move the car forward without any gas?

On a hilly/slope surface (thats where i was pulling the car out of today), as i release the clutch, i need to add gas in order to maintain/increase the RPM so i move forward or dont roll back?

Otherwise if i dont add gas and just use the clutch, the RPM will drop and thus cause the car to stall right?

Does that make sense?

Im pretty new to driving manual...

Mazurfer

Listen to what Ken has already said.
You are most likely gonna give it a little gas as you let out the clutch, on a hill it will be just a little bit more. BTW.....as was also said............#3 while not exact was the best of the three you described and #2 was the worst, I would agree with mysql101

ken-x8

Yes - you need more gas. It's uphill, more power is needed.

Learning to start on a hill, witout rolling back, is probably the hardest thing about learning to drive stick. Taking your right foot off the brake to work the gas, while the left is working the clutch, is almost like cutting a life line but grabbing a handhold before you fall.

As a beginner, use the hand brake to hold the car when you're starting on a hill. Work the gas and clutch like you were on level ground. You'll need more gas because you're going uphill, but you're still doing the same balance/transition between gas and clutch. Release the hand brake as soon as you feel the clutch start to grab.

After you've got the hang of it, you won't need the hand brake.

Ken

refugeefrompistons

Honestly, this is something that should be learned in person. Who taught you how to drive stick shift? Ask them because this is not unique to the RX-8.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

^ what he said

think of it like dancing. its a fluid motion between both feet. as your gas foot goes down, your clutch goes up.

finding a hill and learning to go forward a few feet then back a few feet and forward a few feet, etc. was really helpful to me.

ProCharger GT

QFT

ashwins

Very True. You dont need to look at the RPM meter to engage the gears. As u learn to drive the manual better, you do it as a conditional reflex. Its 30 minutes job for somebody to show it to you in person, atleast a week/2 weeks job for you to master it.

Rems31

I use #3

mac11

iTrader: (1)

Think of the gas and the clutch as a teeter tauter. Clutch comes up, gas goes down.

Its largly feel, repetition, practice and driver preference.

dynamho

Simple solution:
You need to get comfortable using the clutch first.

Practice going back and forth 20 ft or so using only the clutch and idle (no throttle) on a flat surface. Do this about 50 times or until you can comfortably do it without stalling the engine.

Then repeat by using a bit of throttle to speed up the launch.

This is, from my experience, the fastest way to become comfortable with the clutch.

Razz1

Learn to feel the clutch and the car.

Don't look at RPM. Feel it. As dynamho said, his method will train you to feel.

Rems31

1 week of daily driving and you'll get the hang of it

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

1/plant your right foot to the floor
2/when RPM needle reaches 9000 - release clutch .

Works every time

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

remember to disengage TC first.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

quite right - missed that point

Spinning Sushi

iTrader: (21)

Don't forget to keep your steering turned all the way to the left or right.








JK! Just take out the car, drive for about three hours and you'll be set. That's how I learn how to drive a manual.

Rhawb

...And make sure to start off in reverse.

Anyway, on a serious note, you're making the whole manual transmission thing harder than it needs to be. Don't think about it so much, just do it, it's actually quite easy once it all "clicks."

Also, you're simply not going to be smooth until you get lots of seat time under your belt, it just comes with experience. You can't just say "how can I be smooth?" since there's no real concrete technique to it, it just happens. For now, just work on starting without stalling and you'll be driving flawlessly before you know it.

(oh, and if it makes you feel any better, I've been driving stick for seven years and I still have some days where I couldn't shift smoothly to save my life)

ashwins

All stick cars cannot be driven the exact same way. Some of them have tighter clutches etc. So even if you master driving stick in one car, that may not be the exact same way you drive another car. So there is always getting used to it.

Overall its not hard.

MrCairo

I accidentally did something close to that today

I really don't like to smell burning clutch. . .

Generally, I use #3.

Getting used to the feel of any MT is, of course, a learning experience. Its different for different cars but using method #3 is what I've used for the past 14 years.

Keep practicing and you'll get the hang of it. You'll learn to be able to use the clutch/gas fast enough where hills aren't a problem. When I first started driving, I always feared rolling backwards too much (and did it a couple of times so resorted to the e-brake method). Just keep practicing, don't give up and go AT and in a couple of months you'll be doing great. I used to be AT all the way but now will only drive MT because of the added control you have over the car in cornering and acceleration. I've been driving MT for 14 years and won't ever buy a personal car that's AT again.

Cheers!

climacus

There is a friction point, but it is very small. You can definitely move the car forward with nothing but the clutch, but you have to be very patient and keep the clutch right at the narrow friction point for seconds. Very hard to do in this car because of the springy clutch.

The clutch engagement is fussy because it has to withstand 9000 rpm shifts without mush.