Manual at low speeds (<10 MPH)
 

Hi all,

I have a manual rx8, after driving automatic for almost 10 years, though I drove stick for many years before that.

I'm finding cruising at very low speeds (<10 MPH, parking lots for example) to be awkward. In first gear the car seems to be just barely holding on the gear (so I get a lot of bucking), and second feels too high.

I don't remember this being such an issue in my previous stick. Should I just keep the clutch slipped at super low speed, or just put up with the bucking?

Re: Manual at low speeds (<10 MPH)
 

Slip the clutch if you have to - theres always a cutoff point where you need to.

i experience the same thing and the only solution i've come up with is to ride the clutch...without riding the clutch the car does tend to buck (never used that term but i can figure that's what you mean by the car lunging back and forth)...

Same thing here; however I notices that in 1st gear you can do 10mph (more than plenty for a parking lot) at 2500 (maybe little higher rpms) without riding the clutch. It may be loud, but I hate the idea of wearing such a beatiful clutch too soon thanks to my bad habits.

Just as background, I used to drive a Rav4, and abuse the clutch and transmission; with the 8....I promised myself I would never do it (unless provoqued...if you know what I mean!)

let me butt in for a sec... what does "riding the clutch" mean?

dunno if other people have different definitions but to me riding the clutch means depressing the clutch simultaneously while giving it gas...it's bad for the car as it wears out the clutch prematurely but necessary at times when trying to drive smoothly...in first gear when driving slow, i have the clutch depressed while giving gas to avoid jerkiness

i'd say use 2nd gear and be ready to depress the clutch if the stalling point arrives.

I still have yet to drive an 8 but my guess would be to favor second. You probably have to have a real steady and careful right foot to modulate & hold the gas just right to keep it rolling smooth in first, esp with bumps. Second should be forgiving enough as long as you don't floor it - ie, if you want to accelerate at all, start the gas slowly.

There's always quick neutral drops to coast down small hills and whatnot :)

in my RX-7 i pretty much NEVER crawl (< 10mph) in 1st, I always shift to 2nd if I'll be crawling for an extended period of time.

you can crawl at < 10mph around 1500 in 2nd...

A few tips for you :)

- Below 10MPH (2500 rpms), just depress the clutch until traffic moves. That prevents bucking.
- Use the decelleration system. When coming to a gradule stop let the rpms drop to 1500 rpms before depressing the clutch & hitting the brake
- If traffic is BARELY moving (2-3 feet & stop), just wait until 3-4 car lenghts of space has opened up and fully engage the clutch. This avoid wear by "slipping" the clutch to move 2 feet.
- For maximum takeoff, slip the clutch @ 4500 rpms. Don't DUMP the clutch
- upshift to 5th/6th @ 55mph if your just cruising
- watch traffic & anticipate speeds. You can over-rev 3rd to 5000rpms (instead of up-shifting to 4th) for a few seconds if you're about to slow down. Let the engine do the breaking for gradule/slow stops before hitting the brake to fully stop.

- I like to skip gears as it helps with fuel economy & takeoff. From a stop over-rev 2nd to 5500-6500 rpms and then shift to 5th/6th @ 55MPH. No this won't hurt the transmission unless your slamming / forcing into gear.

umm... I can get down to 5mph in 1st gear before it starts bucking or about 8mph in 2nd gear

ever heard of riding the brakes?? same thing... just depressing it fully or partially while the car is moving.

Really, you just have to be smoother with the throttle in 1st gear. Quickly pushing or letting off the gas will result in bucking - you have to use VERY fine adjustments. When you need to slow down, just push in the clutch and coast.

Or, if you need to reduce speed a bit, slowly roll your foot off the throttle, don't just remove it from the throttle.

I think those years of driving an auto have re-programmed your right foot :).

Dale

Agreed... I have been driving a 4x4 in low ratio a lot recently while moving some heavy things around and you REALLY have to just be smooth or all the problems you describe here will bite you... It's good practice too for normal driving!

My problem is I have to drive through a parking lot, including speed bumps, everyday day at about 4-7MPH (walking speed). In first gear this causes severe bucking, even when its clear there is no actual danger of a stall. I have to ride the clutch in order to drive smooth. I have no problem with first otherwise such as actual acceleration, it is just when doing this creeping along.

Is there consensus that this issue is perfectly normal with this car? Ive driven a V6 stick and not had a similar issue. I guess the low torque at such a speed and low rotating mass would cause this? On the same stretch of pavement in an automatic this is a ride the brake section without using the gas at all to get by speed bumps. Being in second at this speed seems highly inappropriate, plus there are stop signs so must accelerate from zero. If I do this every single day am I killing the clutch/first gear? suggestions?

what you describe is normal till the ecu gets into closed loop..

the best thing to do is put the clutch it until you can accelerate..

beers :beer:

+1

Also, what's the record for oldest thread revival here? :uhh:

this is very close..

beers :beer:

I can't. In 1st with a feather on the throttle I'm doing 7 mph.

Many times I've been annoyed because traffic is moving at 5 mph and I can't do that. I usually just alternate between touching the gas in 1st and coasting in neutral.

The "bucking" in my experience is entirely driver caused. The sudden slowdown is physically moving your leg/foot forward through momentum, which pushes the pedal farther, causing sudden acceleration which is moving your foot/leg backwards which is causing sudden slowdown...repeat.

The trick is being able to lock your foot/ankle/leg/whatever in one place and keep it from moving under these conditions. From there on, move incredibly small and slow in pushing or letting off. I have no issues at all if the engine is above a stall, up to redline in 1st. Just takes practice and physical control.

And yeah, I could help noticing how old the original thread was. Kudos to "Star Mazda Atlantic" for using the search button!

Have the same problem. Yes it can be possible to smoothly accelerate and decellerate using super-delicate-featherly pedal movements, but this is a drive-by-wire car, so shouldn't the PCM/ECU take care of this for you and be smooth? Do all manual RX8s have this problem?

Cheers,
Jon

You can drive smoothly at low speeds in first, but you've got to be very smooth on the gas pedal. If it starts to buck, I'll just step on the clutch momentarily and re-engage to recover smoothness. I hate slipping the clutch any more than necessary, but letting the car buck just looks so dumb.

I remember the days when saying someone rides the clutch was pretty much a condemnation and a "They had it coming" when the clutch went.

Ken

You just have to be smooth with the throttle. You don't need to ride the clutch.

I had issues being smooth with the lower gears for a while. I now have heavy duty clutch and lightweight flywheel (which can exasperate the issue) but can drive it smoothly without any issues. There has been several guys at the shop and dyno machines who repeatedly stalled my car though :)

I ride my car in the school multi-story parking garage and slipping the clutch is the only way to prevent the bucking.
I do love setting of the other car's alarm when I take off in short straight in first gear... always makes my day.

No need to slip the clutch - just coast with the clutch in and let it out a little with a few extra revs every time you start slowing down .