afguy

Im sure y'all get these dumb questions from time to time so I appoligize if it's annoying but I'd appreciate help.

I just bought a 05 rx8 6 speed with 47k on it. I've only driven stick a handfull of times before and it's been at least 5 years I'd guess. Needless to say I'm finding out this may not be the easiest car to learn on but what's done is done. My main issue is 1st gear. I only stalled a few times but it's like the cars having a seizure when I start going. I've down shifted into 1st a few times pretty smoothly, it's just when I go from a stop. Any other gear I'm decent at and feel I'll be good at soon enough. Except reverse which I've only done once in the car. Didn't go too well lol but I'll see how that improves. Another gear from a stop so I obviously don't have a clue where that sweet spot is.

Ive read about the no gas method for beginners but haven't tried it yet. Probably will tomorrow. My guess is I let off the clutch too quick but I'm hoping someone might know. Also is the rx8 clutch tricky or different then other (less powerful) cars in any sort of way?



Side note: I bought the car a about 350 miles from my house and drove it back with a friend (also new to stick). Anyway it was mostly smooth highway driving but no doubt the clutch got a good workout between us. Many unsmooth shifts and ~10-15 stalls probly. My friend also tried downshifting to 3rd from 4th but went into 1st. Not sure how fast exactly we were going but the car came to an abrupt halt. It's run just fine since then but is it important I go get it checked or as long as no odd noises occur it's ok?

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Your car is fine.

The RX-8 is actually a nice easy car to learn on.

Try keeping the clutch halfway in or so and feel the gas pedal out. By halfway I mean the tension not actual distance.

So you have some gas, feel it out and you have your foot with the clutch semi depressed. While in first give it a few revs on and off while you feel the clutch out. Basically move the clutch in and out slowly as you rev it between 1 and 4 k rpms to get a feeling for what will make you move and what isn't enough and you stall.


Just don't drive with the clutch half in and out all the time.

Patience grasshopper.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

As a side tip:

Do not think of the clutch as an "on" or "off" switch.

There is a range where it will provide you with power and movement.

Think of it as a dimmer switch or a 0-100% switch.

As you give it some gas in gear let off the clutch slowly to say 60-70% off of it and slowly and smoothly move it to 100% off the clutch as you smoothly give it more gas.


Hope that helps.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

^Patience is the key

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

The above advice is very good.

To elaborate on the comment that it's not an on-off switch:

One of the biggest mistakes people make is letting off the clutch pedal immediately as they feel it partially engaged, not realizing there's more left. I know that was one of the biggest problems I had when I was first learning. Just be sure to continuously come off the clutch slowly, even after you think it's engaged. Don't assume it's completely engaged and completely release from the pedal. If you slowly let it out until you're no longer applying any pressure, that should keep it fairly smooth until you learn exactly where the range for engagement is.

jasonrxeight

you need to let the clutch to grab before letting off the pedal. the speed of grabbing depends on how much engine torque you sending to the clutch pedal.
say if you using idle torque to move the car, you need to really slip the clutch just to get moving.
if you say at 3000-4000 rpm, you can release the clutch a bit faster because the engine is working harder.
just to get the feel and you will be alright.

zoom44

the seizure means you didnt give it enough gas when you let the clutch go. not enough rpm- give it more

YaXMaN

afguy, find somebody that really knows how to drive a standard, and understands mechanically how the clutch, engine and transmission work in concert. I'm not saying you have to find Mario Andretti or your local autocross champion, but find somebody that's able to articulate how those systems interact, and is able to explain the "why" beyond "don't do that" or "that's bad."

Have him drive your car with you in the passenger seat, and find a variety of situations that represent day-to-day scenarios that challenge someone who's just learning how to drive a manual. An a example would be the classic "take off from a stop on a steep incline," but there are many others that anyone experienced could show you. You'll be in your car, so you'll see exactly how it reacts. If he's worth his salt, he'll be able to drive you RX8 with zero learning curve. Be extremely wary of someone who stalls it the first time but says he knows what he's doing. You don't want that guy.

Watch the techniques closely, listen to the engine, and have him explain the thought patterns for what he is trying to get the car to do. Ask questions and remember the feeling of what the car is doing so you can replicate it later. You'll get far more out a half hour session of this than you will spending days asking questions on a car forum.

zoom44

one thing new drivers tend to do is stomp on the pedal with their whole foot. dont do this. keep your heel on the floor and lever the pedal in and out.

russ

I agree with all the advice above. This car doesn't have a lot of torque so if your experience is with V6 and V8 manual transmission cars/trucks you are in for something different. I never liked starting off in my wife's '90 RX7, I stalled it often and I drove manuals all the time! My '11 RX8, perhaps with slightly different gear ratios, eliminated that frustration for me. I've yet to stall it and it takes off almost like a a car with much more low end grunt.

I've not driven an RX8 (04-08) so I don't know if this holds true for them but I suspect they are MUCH improved from the '90 RX7 I was previously familiar with. Of course many years have passed since 1990 so perhaps I've learned a bit...

Enjoy, you made the right choice with a MT!

afguy

Thanks everyone for the tips. I drove a little today and my takeoffs were much smoother. Not good yet but much improved with your help. Letting off the clutch slow the whole way is key it seems. I think with practice and patience as most of you say I will get the hang of it.

I did incounter 2 things while driving today i have questions on. One is reversing. I tired to reverse the same way I take off and felt like I was going way to fast. Let off the gas and it boggs way down and feels like it's going to stall. I then tired giving it a little gas till it engaged and I started rolling back. Then with the clutch in still let off gas and rode the clutch/brake at the same time. It's smooth this way and I don't freak out cuz it's nice and slow but I've heard clutch riding is bad. Do you/is it good to ride the clutch while reversing?

Second is starting on a hill. This was fun lol. There was someone behind me and I was a little worried. As I let off the clutch I started rolling back which I knew would happen. I kinda panicked and gave it a lot of gas while letting the clutch out faster then normal. It resulted in tire screeching and a rough take off but at least I didn't stall or worse hit him. I've read about heel to toe and tried it on flat ground after but was confused. Probably need much more experience for that. If your not good at heel to toe then how do you take off uphill without rolling into the car behind you?

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Reverse: what your doing is fine. Ride the clutch a little and gas it's fine.

As for on a hill. One you get the hang of it you will be able to hold the clutch and the gas in the right position such that the car doesn't move forward backward or stall. It's different for every incline but it's easy once you get the hang of it.

Just keep practicing moving the clutch in and out as you feather the gas in and out.

As for heel and toe - wait a few more thousand miles.

zoom44

that hand brake is there for things other than just when your parked. on a hill pull that brake and keep your hand on it. when its time to go give 'er some gas and let the clutch out until you feel the car wanting to go. then let the brake down while you finish the foot action.

this is how its taught in the UK and you have to be proficient with it to get your license.

here's a video http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_2327203_...ick-shift.html

or two http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-...ect-hill-start

ARK

[edit: beat me to it ^^]

When someone is behind you on a hill you can hold the car with the hand brake to keep it from rolling backwards. Keep the button depressed and hold the brake up until you feel the clutch grabbing, then release the hand brake while applying more gas and go as normal. You'll start moving forward with zero roll-back if you do it right.

Also, it's not a great idea to hold the car on a hill by riding the clutch for very long unless you like replacing clutches. That said, I do it sometimes if the stop is less than a few seconds.

kiker14

patience and practice are your friends. I was taught how to drive using a manual transmission car, so it is really second nature for me. I have since taught some friends how to properly drive a manual transmission as well. Do yourself a favor and go to a large parking lot, preferably one that has tiers or levels, so you can practice starting going up hill (and don't be afraid to use the hand brake as others have suggested - I still use it on extreme hills / mountains when some a-hole has stopped way too close to me at a red light). good luck and thanks for helping us "save the manuals"!

J0WUD

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't downshift into 1st if i were you..

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

If he's just referring to a downshift as any shift into a lower gear, then it might not be a problem...

1st gear should be locked out above 10 mph, though I'd generally stick to second gear unless you're almost completely stopped (less than ~5 mph).