R_J

Hey guys, Im sorta new to the manual trans. I use to drive one a long time ago. But with the rx8 i cant get it going smoothly when starting...I mean if i take my time and release very slowly off the clutch i can get it going NP. But you cant be doing that when cars are behind you...so any tips for a newbie like myself?? I love this car and just wanna get going :-)

thnx in advance!

staticlag

drive around at night more. Make it a point to put on about 100 miles or so between 1 and 3 am. Takes the stress off of traffic behind and around you.

Also, practice on hilly roads with lots of stop signs.

practice, practice, practice.

laythor

You should be applying gas while letting out the clutch. It might take you some time to get use to the balance and where exactly the "sweet spot" is, but you'll find it.

Remember, this isn't a VW bug, it's a sports car... so don't be afraid to put the spurs to her when starting from a stop.

Sage

This is the sixth car with manual transmission that I have owned, the others being VWs and Nissans.

I have found keeping the revs down during the break in period makes shifting a little less smooth. At 1400 miles I am now revving to 6000 rpm makes for much better shifting and the clutch action much more easy to predict. It alomost feels like the next gear is sucking in he gear shift lever automatically as I move hte lever to the next gear. The clutch take up is also very easy. The gear box clearly likes the high revs.

Shifting at slower RPMs (around 4k or so), I find that I have to be patient and slowly work the gear shift lever into the next gear. I move hte shifter a bit too fast, it feels a bit balky. Also at lower RPMs the clutch does not seem to release until right at the top of the clutch travel. Shifting at lower RPMs just seems to require a very slow process.

One day soon, I will stop by my Mazda and talk to the mechanic on my observations and see what he says.

Hope this helps. I'm sure once you hit 2,000 miles you will be having fun.

RexApex

The problem is that you don't have a feel for the friction point yet. The friction point is the small part of the clutch letout where things start to happen. So here's how to learn quickly.

Go to a big parking lot.
practice getting the car going from a stop USING NO GAS AT ALL.

The car will go fine idling in gear, but you have to be smooth on the clutch. You'll probably get the hang of this in like 15 minutes. Once you've got the hang of the gasless start, add a little gas to make the whole process go a little faster, but manual driving is all about the clutch foot, whether or not you add gas while you let out the clutch the feel and motion is the same for your left foot.

I've taught many folk to drive stick and practicing the gasless start is by far the fastest way to learn.
--R.

dynamho

I taught my kid brother to drive stick in one day by having him go back and forth next to a level sidewalk about 20 feet 20 sets using only the clutch and idle. This needs lots of patience but it trains sensitivity in the left foot. Then 30 sets using both throttle and clutch. One forth and back equals one set.

Once he got that down smoothly, I took him on the road and he had no problems driving uber smooth.

The key is to train your left foot to be sensitive to the clutch pickup, the first 20 sets are very helpful.

dynamho

Oops, I realized I repeated the basic message of RexApex's post. Sorry.

Galaxy Gray

I learned to drive stick on my dad's Boxster, so this car is easy for me.

PerformRX-8

maybe borrow a friends car thats manual, and drive around that for an hour or so and see if it comes back to you. then get in the 8 and drive around town, hills, highway and see how well you do. thats what i did at least....good luck be gentle with the clutch..

Streaks

I just learned clutch driving my new RX8 2 months ago...just dont be scared to give it gas. That was my biggest problem for the first couple of weeks. Dont be scared to burn the clutch a little bit, its still young

scoreo99

iTrader: (1)

keep your heel on the floor when releasing the clutch (pivot your foot) as opposed with using your whole leg. You have more clutch control this way.

Rhythmic

I think the lack of low end torque requires you to give more gas at take off than a lot of other cars...at least thats what I've found. For instance my buddy's G35 or my old taurus SHO, you can gently let the clutch out with no gas if your rolling even just slightly (~1 or 2 mph) and get a smooth take off, as opposed to the 8 where it would feel majorly bogged down if you do this.

Razz1

I like to rev mine to 6,800 before I let go of my clutch.


Whoa Nelly...... I say a Whoa

Keef

if the clutch engagement is an issue for you, than why not move it too where you can become easily accustomed too it? Follow the clutch pedal too the wires at top. You want too untighten the 2nd bolt from the wire. Then from what I remember turning the 1st bolt clock-wise moves the clutch engagement towards the driver.

R_J

Wow you can actually do that? I wish i could have done that earlier. Basically it is tuff because When I press down on the clutch, to where it engages is quite the distance, so im forced to have to move my whole foot which doesnt give me as much control as i would like...


but thanks for all your help guys. Imma try my best!

Mazurfer

Galaxy Gray

That's it?

My buzzer tells me when it's time to drop the clutch!

FotoBch

I took my 19-yr-old son out to teach him how to drive my 6spd. It was tough for about 5-10 minutes until I thought of this:

I told him to think of the clutch as a scared virgin - be verrrry gentle and smooth with her. The accelerator is the stud. Virgin. Stud. Virgin. Stud. My son (a self-proclaimed stud!) caught on, and found the sweet spot in the next 30 seconds. Now he's driving her like a pro. (Not doing badly with the car either )

PerformRX-8

^^ thats some funny ****.......