Having trouble with my 6-speed

[Vrbas]

I recently got a 1999 WS-6 Trans Am with only 48k miles with a 6 speed transmission. It has always been my dream to get one of these cars. I haven't driven it much lately though b\c i would like to practice shifting in another car since i am new to this transmission. I just drove it today to test out the gears and clutch. I had a few problems. 1.... whenever i come to a complete stop, put it in gear, then slowly let off the clutch and slowly let down on the gas at the same time, it jerks on me.........alot. I don't know if i'm not giving it enough gas or if im letting off the clutch to quickly or slowly or any other reason. Also, when you race a 6-speed, how do you go about getting a good start? I know you don't go from dropping the clutch all the way and THEN slamming the gas (that nearly put the back bucket seats in my front windshield). I've heard about "power revving" but i'm not sure what that is. I just want a nice smooth, and fast acceleration that i know the LS1 is capable of. I just don't know if the driver is. thank you for your help.

[Ilovefirebirds]

In other words........... What am i doing wrong on the starts?...........and........ how do i get i nice smooth, fast acceleration w/o jerking (if possible)?

[FormulaLT1]

Don't be scared to drive your car, The only way your going to get better is by screwing up at first. I thought the same thing when I bought my first stick car years ago about wanting to learn on another car first but even if you practise on another car your going to get use to the feeling of that clutch and then your clutch to going to feel weird to you. Also I would master 1st Gear and reverse before you worry about power shifting as that will all come in time. Its not as hard as your letting yourself think it is. One pointer though its not about you letting out the clutch so much and hitting the gas as it is that spot on the clutch that grabs you want to know where that spot is because if its low then you might not be giving it enough gas and if its high you might be revving too high by the time you get there also don't pull your foot off the gas real fast when it finally connects cause that will cause the car to jerk as well

[Ilovefirebirds]

Yeah, I used to do the same thing. I test drove a Trans Am recently, a screwed up one. But i know what you're saying dude. It's not that your not doing it right, it's just not smooth. It's your first time, it's going to happen. The thing that you are probably doing wrong is you are taking your foot all the way off the clutch when you are ready to start get going. Don't do that unless you enjoy the "vwoomp vwoomp vwoomp" of the car shaking every time. What i do is not take my foot all the way off the clutch when i am trying to get going, but ride the clutch just a bit till i'm comfortable to let off it. I don't recommend doing that all the time but until it becomes 2nd nature, i recommend riding the clutch just a bit when you are accelerating in 1st gear. And power revving, i recently did a successful and smooth power revv. The only problem was, when i peeled out, yeah, i couldn't stop. If you are ever racing and you power revv, don't slam all the way down on the gas until you know your tires have got the grip, or else you will lose alot of time. Like what you see on the Fast and the Furios is sometimes a load of crap. Like when they are peeling out and moving at the same time. I'm sure if you give it just the right amount of gas that you can do that too, but there is no way you can do it full throttle. Trans Am's wheels are usually too slow to catch up with the engine at open throttle. Trust me, you will do nothing but sit in one spot, make a lot of smoke, burn your tires up, and probably revv your engine past it's limit, putting it in danger of detonation. Hope this helps.

[burnM]

If you want get used to the 'sweet spot' on your clutch, you might want to try this.
Sit in the car in your driveway(or parking lot). From a dead stop in 1st gear, don't push the gas. Just let out the clutch very slowly. The car will inch forward. When you feel the clutch grab, that should be your cue to push the gas down slowly, and release the clutch completely. It's hard to describe over the net, but try it. It might work for you.
The first stick I ever drove was a ten wheel tow truck(the kind used to tow transports)that my dad used for work. I was 14 at the time, and that's what he taught me.

[roper2000]

yeah, all you really have to do when learning to drive a standard, is to relax. if you get worked up about it, then you will do poorly. if you stall the car, or make it jump, then dont' worry. dont' get nervous. just start over. practicing in a parking lot, or an empty street is a good idea. try to stay away from starting from a dead stop on a steep incline though, you will get severe rollback until you are used to the feel of your clutch, and will likely stall it a bunch of times. all i did to learn, was relax, and not even really think about it. the more you concentrate on not messing up, the more you will mess up. so, when you are letting ou tthe clutch, just go slowly, and smooth. and when the car starts to gently shake, and creep foreward, that's when you gently press on the gas. don't worry about powershifting, or racing or any of that right now. you just want to get used to the clutch, so that you feel comfortable driving the car. all that racing stuff will come later. i hope i've been at least some help, and good luck learning. the car will be a lot of fun once you get used to it. my father has a 2002 trans-am WS6, and it is quite a ride, and i imagine you will have a lot of fun in yours as well.