Im trying to practice practice practice learning my MT, and since I have a steep driveway, I've been trying to practice not rolling back and its NOT working, I felt like I was ruining my 8 and I got frustrated so I stopped

 

You won't learn if you don't drive.

But some advise. Practicing not rolling back is good, but I'd stop doing that over and over until you have mastered starting on a flast surface. I understand from your posts that this is your first manual transmission. So keep practicing starting from a flat surface until you barely slip the clutch at all to get going. Once you master that, starting from a slant is no big deal.

But if you HAVE to practice starting on a slant, find something other than a steep driveway. Start with a small slope and work from there.

 

While the RX-8 has a very nice, smooth, short shifter, the clutch is so very "sensitive" or jumpy. I just picked up my RX-8 last week and have put a little more than 300 miles on the car, but I'm still trying to learn where the friction point is. The car I traded in for my current RX-8 was a manual '97 Eclipse GS-T, which I had for 9 years. So, even though I've driven a manual car all these years, I still find it hard to modulate the clutch on the RX-8.

I've driven manual Hondas and Acuras and noticed that their clutches are pretty light (compared to my Eclipse GS-T). The RX-8's clutch feels just as light, but it's not as easy to drive. I don't know whether the lack of torque has anything to do with it, but the Hondas and Acuras I drove weren't torque monsters, either. My Eclipse GS-T had plenty of torque around 2,500-3,000 rpm.

I think it's much easier to learn how to drive stick on a heavier clutch.

 

When I first bought the car, starting on an incline lead to a couple stalls. The car doesn't have much oomph at low rpms so it's a little tricky. One particular stop light in my neighborhood has a fairly steep incline. I e-brake started a couple times, but later decided I'd rather just not go that way. You can't really hold the car still on an incline using the clutch so I hope that's not what you are doing in your driveway. That's just rubbing the snot out of it. I still don't like people who pull up close behind me on an inclined stop.

 

Way back when I started using a manuals on slopes I used to 'cheat' a bit by using the hand brake to hold the car while I found the friction point. Obviously you have to keep your thumb on the release button. Motorcycles are so much easier.
The RX8 has a hydraulic clutch so it lacks the feel of a cable clutch and it has a fairly quick engagement which makes it hard to be smooth at first. It doesn't help that there's enough rubber in the driveline to ensure that your passengers will notice every mistake.
With practice you can take off on a slope with virtually no roll back but I wouldn't specifically practice this until you feel comfortable with the clutch in general driving.

 

A decent way to practice is at a stop light where you will slight roll back. Just keep slowly pressing and releasing the clutch causing a rocking effect. It is a very easy way to learn how to hold steady on heels and not roll back.

When I was first learning to drive a manual, I went to a mall and was leaving. Well the exit was this huge steep grade and I managed to get stuck in traffic in the middle of it with a Mercedes behind me. I nearly rolled back into it and did a serious burn out right there.

 

Sounds like you might be trying too hard. A slight roll back on a slope is not a problem, and not really something you need to worry about.

If you're having some trouble w/slopes (stalling) and need to practice for that reason that's fine. If you're just looking to start on slopes w/ZERO roll back don't bother worrying about it.

Like maxx said, you shouldn't hold the car in place w/the clutch. Use the brake, then when it's time to move a little roll back is normal on inclines. MT for me for 15 years now, and if it is a "steep" incline there's always a slight roll back.

 

Yeah, stalling isnt what I'm worried about. Even a slight rollback isnt what i'm worried about, Im just not quick enough yet, I roll back lotsssss heh. I guess I should just go back to mastering on flat surfaces first, then take on the hills and slopes. Thanks for all the replies.

 

Don't forget about that handle next to the gear shifter...the emergency brake. Use it to hold the car in place while you get the engine RPM where you want it (need it) and as you are engaging the clutch you can release the e-brake handle.

Using the e-brake gives you time to work the gas/clutch issues without having to worry about the car rolling back on you.

 

Handbreak while you're a novice. Soon enough it'll be easy as notears desert.

 

I don't think the rolling up and down is very good for your clutch anyway. I would say if you want to do it for a few seconds, fine. Anything longer than that, shift into neutral, and engage the handbrake. There's nothing "novice" about using the handbrake on an incline. I would so it's more "novice" not to. Put the car in neutral, and use the handbrake .

When you're ready to get moving:

1) engage the clutch
2) put the car in first
3) slowly give some throttle and lift off of the clutch while disengaging the handbrake.

Rolling back and forth is not something that you should do in your car. While it's a probably good skill to have, it's unnecessary to actually do it unless you are totally sure that you're going to have to get moving soon.

 

Should just be a matter of learning the catch point a bit better, and not so much getting better at the roll back. Once you're a little more experienced w/the catch point, you'll find you're better at slopes as well. E-brake method is prlly best for you on anything steep enough to worry you.

You're not beating the crap out of it, either way. You may push the clutch replacement up a few k miles, but it's no big deal. 2 weeks worth of time w/the MT you'll have all the basic down, and a full month you should be set (w/the occasional "oops" thrown in over the next few months.)

 

I didn't mean on a large incline. I do this on very slight inclines all the time, and in several cars and have never had to replace a clutch.

 

once you get used to driving it on flat surface it will just come naturaly when you drive on a steep hill

 

Yes, definitely learn on a flat surface, and worry about starting on a hill later. Clear your head about hills, for now, and focus on simply starting smoothly on a level surface. (Starting on a hill—particularly a steep one—is perhaps the hardest thing to do with a MT. Even some "oldtimers" don't do it correctly. Why make learning to drive a stick harder than necessary?)

 

^^ good advice, us you get the hang of it on the flats the hills will be a piece of cake.

and also welcome to the forum fellow NJ owner, alot of meets are in the near future.

 

The hill holding thing is not the hot setup. It just puts alot of wear on your clutch without getting you anywhere. I never understand why people do this. Sure, maybe once to get comfortable with the friction point on the clutch, but after that its just alot of wear.

 

I am driving stick 14 years now and I can start on very steep inclines very easily without the slightest roll. The rx8 is easy on that department, although the torque is not enormous. It's really something you can master as years go by and you become experienced. Keep practicing!

 

This is also my first stick shift car. Continue practicing it will come to you. Again, the catch point is your best friend. USE IT. Is this the first car your learning on? Because I have to say, the Rx-8 is twice as difficult to use compared to the cavalier i learned on. I am also wondering why you did not practice more before buying the car... just so you know you would enjoy stick shift before you purchase (I loved it early, even when I was stalling at every other light.)

 

Yeah, this is my first stick car heh. Dont get me wrong, I love it too, Im actually getting it down pretty well if I may say so myself, I just need to practice a bit more thats all.

 

Don't worry about it, when I was learning how to drive stick hills got to me too. I think the easiest way is to just keep pressing the brake and slowly let off the clutch until you feel your car about to stall (starts shaking), and then let go of the brake. The car won't roll back because the clutch is acting like the e-brake and then just slowly press the gas and ease off the clutch. Hope that helps

 

There is a trick to not rolling back. My dad taught me it when I was learning.
If you don't want to roll back...pull your e-brake up a bit, slowly get on the clutch and gas as if you were driving on a flat surface, then after you start to go on the clutch and gas *slowly and steadily* release the e-brake.

Also, practice :D They should cover clutch problems under waranty for 12-20k unless they can prove abuse

 

Practice on inclines with the handbrake for sure.

 

don't worry bro... I too bought my 8 without knowing how to drive a M/T. Needless to say it took me forever to get home the first night. Also not to mention I was nearly in tears looking at the amount of beating the tranny was taking from me.
Not to mention I was thinking to myself if I just made a 30K mistake..

Also not to mention I live in a condo that has a very steep slope going upward to the main street. It is so bad that even Auto cars move back sometimes..

The trick is like someone said to first get a hang of the friction point of the clutch on a flat surface...in the meantime use the Hand brake to start from a slope. Don't worry about the ppl behind u...

 

I would always say that if you can have the back roll back and then start it up and let it go in first you can drive stick well causwe its probably one of the harder "tricks" about it

my 8 was my first car that was in stick, i knew how to drive stick but i wasnt really good withit until i got my 8 so ....... as they say .... PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE