Im learning how to drive a manual trans
Title.
I've been driving for a total of about an hour and 15 minutes.
And I've stalled a great number of times. Mostly when starting from stop signs, and when parking. First gear, of course.
My shifts from gear to gear (other than downshifts) are jittery, as well (I expect this to get better with experience).
Is there anything I should remember when moving from a stop?
And how long did it take you guys to get comfortable with it?
October 31, 2012
1 Comment • Newest first
It's just a matter of practice.
You have to learn where the "friction point" is for the specific vehicle (it can be different for different cars/clutches/transmissions), and be sure to give it enough gas as you're reaching the friction point so it'll move the car and not stall, all of course at the same time not giving it too much gas and burning rubber.
It becomes "second nature" after a while though and you won't even be thinking about it.
As far as changing gears to higher ranges, it's sort of the same thing... you have to keep the revs up as you release the clutch so it doesn't suddenly act as a "brake" on the car and make it jerk when you release the clutch fully. It's not as big a problem if you have too much gas while shifting, the problem is letting off the gas too much while shifting. Again, that will become "automatic" with more practice.
Lol.. it's good that you're learning to drive a manual transmission- my Dad was Business Manager at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, and one day the Bishop visited, leaving his little Italian sports car parked in the front drive. My Dad went down to move it for him, and discovered it was a manual transmission, which he never learned how to operate. He had to go get one of the kids from the seminary to move the Bishop's sports car.