rot8n

first of all it maybe a combination of two things u being a newbie and these cars have weak clutches! Mazda was having trouble with service work on the clutches they weren't being bolted down! and the friction plate and pressure plates are weak as hell. i have 4500 miles on my 8 and i've already had a new clutch and tranny i just got it back to day! and i know how to drive a standard!

8_wannabe

same here, at 10,000 miles I got new clutch and pressure plate.

RX8by

When I learned to drive a clutch it was on a VW beetle. When on a hill you can put on the emergency brake. As you release the clutch you release the brake. It keeps you from rolling backward. This will help on those steep hills.

241Commuter

Maybe to learn, but not once you've got the hang of it. Most experienced stick drivers will start at idle and give it gas and engage the clutch at the same time - without stalling too. It's not that hard. You don't need to rev the engine unless you have a reason to get off to a fast start. I admit that the joy of putting the 8 through it's paces might be reason enough, though.

The discussion on hill starting brings back fond memories years ago. I used to have a '65 Mustang. We never could get the handbrake adjusted so that it would hold securely, and further (warning, sexist remark coming), since my wife drove it when I wasn't looking, the clutch was generally in a glazed over condition. We made frequent trips across the bay into Frisco and I gotta tell you, my hill starts were a thing of beauty. It usually involved turning the wheels and backing down to t-bone the curb, revving the engine and engaging the clutch, all the while frantically waving the cars behind me to back down to give me room. For some reason, they didn't like that. You could smell the clutch for miles. Maybe you have to have driven Frisco to understand.

Rotary Titus

so how can you tell if you need a replacement clutch? and so was it under warranty? what did you tell the service guys?
I remember when I picked mine up, a certain someone (in case NA Mazda reads this and craps at that person) at my dealership told me since I'm a newbie I'll probably wear out the clutch, but just bring it in and complain of weird noises and they'll just replace it under extended warrenty. Is this legit?
and yea I tried my friend's WRX today and his clutch's travel was like 2/3rds of the rx8 and probably 35% harder (harder to push clutch = stronger clutch?)
and ohyea thanks for the handbrake tip! tried it out today and got some getting used to moving my hands and legs all over the place with the shift lever, hand brake, clutch, brake, gas LOL (manual is SO much more involoving )

241Commuter

Man, you KNOW. You pop the clutch and the car doesn't go anywhere. Sometimes it smells like some prankster left a skunk in the engine compartment (that would be your clutch plate vaporizing behind you).

8_wannabe

I didn't tell 'em nuttin. they changed it out under warranty without even asking or telling me. Read my whole story here; it was very odd but worked out OK.

TheDosDog

bernieunger is right. Once you have mastered the clutch and have it down, the clutch engages near idle. I suggested bringing up the RPM slightly to get a visual queue for when the clutch begins to engage.