Driving a manual transmission car...

[BUCASmoker]

So I just recently (late April) purchased my first car with a manual transmission - an '05 Acura TSX. Basically, I bought it without knowing how to drive stick (I had driven a MT maybe a few times before).

It's been 2 months now and I still can't seem to smooth out my shifts in the lower gears (starting out and shifting into 2nd.. 3rd through 6th gear is fine, however). I drove my friend's Jetta this weekend, and all the shifts were smooth. Is there something that I could be doing wrong that is specific to the TSX, or is it one of those things that will come with more practice (2 months seems like it is long enough though...right?)

Any thoughts?

[GreekGodX]

I say more practice!! Luckily for me my dad had a company car that I got to learn how to drive a stick on. I'm sure you've heard it all already...

Let the clutch go until you feel the car moving forward give some gas and slowly release the clutch. Keep playing to find out the right amount of clutch release and how much gas to give. From there you should be golden.

[PeteSB75]

First suggestion: The friction point is key. That's the spot on the clutch where the engine begins to engage. My best suggestion for you would be to go find a fairly steep, but seldom used road, preferably with a light/stop sign at the top. Sit at that light, and for a full red cycle at least, do not use your brakes. Ride the friction point on the clutch and the gas just enough to keep the car from rolling backwards, but not so much that you start going forward.

Second suggestion: Watch the speed with which you engage/disengage both the clutch and the gas when shifting. Both should be VERY smooth and simultaneous. You want the clutch to only be fully engaging as you are coming off the gas. You want the clutch disengaging as you are coming back on the gas. The way it was explained to me was to pretend I was driving a limo. A little practice and you'll be fine.

Third suggestion: Learn how to power shift and tell any passengers that you are just working for maximum acceleration

[BUCASmoker]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

I say more practice!! Luckily for me my dad had a company car that I got to learn how to drive a stick on. I'm sure you've heard it all already...

Let the clutch go until you feel the car moving forward give some gas and slowly release the clutch. Keep playing to find out the right amount of clutch release and how much gas to give. From there you should be golden.

Yeah... it's not that I can't start... its just that I can't start smoothly. I think I need better work on letting the clutch out smoothly.

It just seems weird that I can drive the Jetta perfectly smooth, but my TSX is still all jumpy.

[mithrilG60]

Originally Posted by BUCASmoker

Yeah... it's not that I can't start... its just that I can't start smoothly. I think I need better work on letting the clutch out smoothly.

It just seems weird that I can drive the Jetta perfectly smooth, but my TSX is still all jumpy.

It's just the difference in clutches. VW uses a short clutch with smooth syncro's and a long friction point. My parents used to have a manual Dodge Neon and the transition from driving my Corrado or Passat to that when I went to visit them was hard to get used to. By the time I'd be fully off the clutch pedal in the VW's the Neon's clutch would still have engaged. The first couple start attempts would always result in either over-reving or a stall until I got used to the Neon again.

My guess is that the TSX has a very short friction point and that is what's giving you the jerky engages in low gear compared to you buddy's Jetta. It's just a matter of practice before you're fully used to the TSX.

[BUCASmoker]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

It's just the difference in clutches. VW uses a short clutch with smooth syncro's and a long friction point. My parents used to have a manual Dodge Neon and the transition from driving my Corrado or Passat to that when I went to visit them was hard to get used to. By the time I'd be fully off the clutch pedal in the VW's the Neon's clutch would still have engaged. The first couple start attempts would always result in either over-reving or a stall until I got used to the Neon again.

My guess is that the TSX has a very short friction point and that is what's giving you the jerky engages in low gear compared to you buddy's Jetta. It's just a matter of practice before you're fully used to the TSX.

That was what my friend said (the guy who owns the jetta) - that the TSX has a shorter throw and a shorter span for the clutch.

So what's a good way to compensate for the short friction point? Go slower through it?

[DMK]

practice, practice, practice..... then practice on grades....

[MedicCook]

It was a lot of practice when I was a teenage. I also lived on a dead end road and had to go from a stopped position on a steep hill every time I wanted to go anywhere.

[mmblz]

for 1st gear, someone once told me - practice letting the clutch out without touching the gas. you have to do it very smoothly in order not to stall.

[RGD.]

My days of shifting are long over - too much bumper to bumper driving and I can't hold my cell phone, cigar, coffee, steering wheel and shift at the same time -

But - in addition to the other suggestions given: some cars have longer and others a shorter throw in the clutch. Most new stick drivers tend to depress the clutch all the way down - when it's not needed. In a longer throw this could give you a little rougher shift as the engine revs a tad higher in between the shift. If you are depressing all the way - try not so much and see what happens. Most VW's I have driven had a pretty short throw - but that was a long time ago -

Goes along with Pete's post and the friction deal.


Good luck!


Ron

[BUCASmoker]

Originally Posted by RGD.

My days of shifting are long over - too much bumper to bumper driving and I can't hold my cell phone, cigar, coffee, steering wheel and shift at the same time -

But - in addition to the other suggestions given: some cars have longer and others a shorter throw in the clutch. Most new stick drivers tend to depress the clutch all the way down - when it's not needed. In a longer throw this could give you a little rougher shift as the engine revs a tad higher in between the shift. If you are depressing all the way - try not so much and see what happens. Most VW's I have driven had a pretty short throw - but that was a long time ago -

Goes along with Pete's post and the friction deal.


Good luck!


Ron

the TSX definately has a much longer throw than the jetta.... I'll give that a try on my way to work tomorrow.

[vankleekkw]

If the jetta is an older car, it is probably because the friction plates are worn out making the start/transitions easier as they are slipping during that transition. My suggestion is to learn the way I learned.

Take the car to a parking lot and just go forward and backwards by NOT using the gas pedal. This will make you learn the friction zones of the car. After you go back onto the street, do not try to hold the clutch too long. Once it bites, let it go.

[BUCASmoker]

Originally Posted by vankleekkw

If the jetta is an older car, it is probably because the friction plates are worn out making the start/transitions easier as they are slipping during that transition. My suggestion is to learn the way I learned.

Take the car to a parking lot and just go forward and backwards by NOT using the gas pedal. This will make you learn the friction zones of the car. After you go back onto the street, do not try to hold the clutch too long. Once it bites, let it go.

jetta I think is an 03... not old enough to need a new clutch yet.

[kelmac07]

Practice, practice, and some more practice...both in an empty parking lot and on hills.

[BUCASmoker]

I tried driving up my girlfriend's driveway... which happens to be a 45 degree long incline.

That was disastrous

[Flatsix]

Relax, listen to the car and let it happen. I seriously think you're over thinking it.

[RBOrrell]

Originally Posted by BUCASmoker

I tried driving up my girlfriend's driveway... which happens to be a 45 degree long incline.

That was disastrous

Learn to do heel-toe on the right foot for inclines.

Originally Posted by BUCASmoker

I tried driving up my girlfriend's driveway... which happens to be a 45 degree long incline.

That was disastrous

My parents version of Driver's Ed for me....

Our driveway....then San Francisco.

I can drive a manual xmsn in ANY car nowadays.

And, isn't it a REQUIREMENT for a Man to be able to drive a stick???

[rizzle]

Can you bring it to my neighborhood while you are practicing? I love the entertainment value of watching someone learn to drive a stick.

I learned it with three-on-a-tree in my grandfather's old truck on the farm. Those were the days, man.

oh man Riz...

A 71 Ford 300 with three on the tree...Now THAT brings back memories!