I need help learning to drive our 6spd Manual WS6...

[kahuna7]

My dad is very busy at work and has very little time to teach me how to drive a stick shift (I wish we had gotten an auto). Is there a manual or FAQ I can look up that might help me. My biggest problem is starting the car out, I haven't got that clutch, gas, shift thing right yet.

[Philo]

It seems difficult at first, but don't give up. If you can drive, but it is jerky, I would suggest you find a large (empty) parking lot and practice there so you aren't pressured with traffic. Put the car in neutral, and watching the tach, bring the engine up to 1000rpm. Listen to the engine, and then practice bringing it up to 1000rpm by listening to the engine, not looking at the tach. Then (after looking all around you for other cars) put it in first, bring the engine up to 1000rpm and slowly bring the clutch up until you feel it start to engage. Then bring the clutch pedal the rest of the way up over a period of about one second. This would be the time it takes you to say "1-1000".

When you get this going smoothly, you can try shifting to second. To do this, release the throttle, and press the clutch, shift to second while bringing the engine back up to 1000rpm and release the clutch pedal while saying "1-1000".

When you can do this smoothly, you have mastered all you need to know about a clutch. It will take some time and practice to be really good, but remember, you can have fun driving the car while you learn.

The other thing - The six speed is just a four speed with two overdrives. Around town or local roads you would not want to lug the engine down in 6th gear. I would think that when you are driving along, you would not want the engine to be below 1500 rpm in what ever gear you are in. So if you were in say fifth gear and the engine is at 1200rpm or so, I would shift back to fourth.

[doodad]

well most people who dont know how to drive stick shift have problem with taking off.

well, actually it is not that hard. your feet should get used to them first. do not drive in the city man, otherwise people will horn u, etc. and u will get excited and u will never be able to launch the car and stuck there.

on an empty place, like in fron of your house or something. get on the car and try it. many many times try it. u will learn it. lift up your foot from the clutch not too slow not too fast. just normal and let it come up half, at the same time, touch the gas a little bit. and when u shift to second, third and others, do not let go the cluch so fast, it would shake the car. just normal.

just try it nonestop till u get used to the pedals. l guess u will be able to drive it, in a week.

when l was 10 my dad brother let me drive. the first time l got in the car, l moved it with no problem l swear. cuz l remember l had always watched my dads feet and l did the same thing he was doing and it worked perfectly.


P.S. because of my english l couldnt explain it clearly l guess. l am sure other members will try to help u better.

good luck.

ERDAL

[kahuna7]

Please describe to me in detail how to powershift or how to shift without reducing my speed between shifts...I know I don't have enough experience yet but please tell me.

Also, you might want to tell me some things that are common sense for you but I probably don't know. You might want to describe how to go in reverse (haven't had the oppurtunity yet), downshift, powershift, clutch usage, how to do a donut etc...

Thanks guys...

By the way...if you had your choice, which would you rather have? A 6 speed Manual or a 4 speed Automatic?

[ikeyballz]

6 spd, hands down. u dont know how lucky you are to drive that baby.

its bad for the tranny but you can shift really fast by not even clutching it! getting it to ~near redline, you can pull it out of gear without anything happening, and you let the engine wind down a little before you pop it to the next gear. you want the engine to wind down to about the speed it will be at that speed the car is moving, so the gears will mesh properly. thats the craziest way to shift...

when im shifting as fast as i can, (this was on a beater, mind you) i would pull it out of gear just before i clutch it and pulling + clutching = same time, once it falls into gear, i just let the clutch go. it would work pretty good, since i needed all the power i could get...it was a 4banging 87 corolla -_- had a hard time going up hils.. -__-

[driftinggrifter2]

Before you worry bout power shifting and all that get used to driving the stick first. I think not sure but the RPM to change gears is around 2 1/2- 3. Get used to the sound of the engine and you'll be able to shift properly without looking at the tach.
My bird is a auto this is the first wuto ive ever had and i would rather have the stick.

[Mr. Luos]

Rev to 4500 RPM's. Dump clutch in first gear.

Want problems learning how to drive a manual car??? Try my T/A. SPEC Stage 5.

If you can get the car moving...all you need is more practice. You will learn the spots naturally. It does take time.

Originally Posted by driftinggrifter2

Before you worry bout power shifting and all that get used to driving the stick first. I think not sure but the RPM to change gears is around 2 1/2- 3. Get used to the sound of the engine and you'll be able to shift properly without looking at the tach.
My bird is a auto this is the first wuto ive ever had and i would rather have the stick.

I normally would shift my T/A at around 2K RPM's in normal traffic.

[DragonofBC]

What I've found helpful in both learning/teaching stick driving is this: Make sure you are on a flat terrain and hold down the clutch (to the floor) and the brake. Put the car in first but don't let up the pedals. Now slowly let up the clutch (and I mean SLOWLY without letting off the brake) and watch the tach. When the clutch starts to engage, the tach will start to drop. When you see the tach start to drop, push the clutch back in and repeat.

The takeaway is that the distance that the clutch travels before it starts to engage is completely meaningless. If you can practice quickly getting your foot to the position where the clutch starts to engage and stopping, you'll be in a much better position to get the car going.

After you feel comfortable with that exercise, take your foot off the brake and try it again. Make sure you have room in front of you. When you get to the grab point, the car will start to move forward a bit. This is the point where you want to gently (its a WS6 after all) give it some gas. I've never driven a TA but on my GSX it takes about 2" of clutch movement for the clutch to engage. You want to go real slow on the clutch through the engagement process while gently adding more gas. If the car starts to buck, you're letting off the clutch too quickly. If the car doesn't start to buck, you might be letting off too slowly and on your next start try going a LITTLE quicker on the clutch. Sorry to say but getting into gear is a "feeling it" sort of thing.

Reverse is the exact same as first.

I don't know the RPM ranges for a TA so its hard for me to tell you about when to shift. The process is, however, you let off of the gas and depress the clutch at about the same time. Move the shifter to second. Then quickly bring your clutch foot back to the "grabbing point" that you now know and should love. Then get on the throttle while bringing up the clutch. You don't have to let off the clutch as gently going to 2-6 gear. If you let off too fast though, you will probably feel the transmission "thunk."

Learn to drive. Then learn to drive well. Then ask about powershifting/launching.

[1FASTws6]

Well i had an old shitty $400 honda 5spd for my first car. Luckly it was a 5spd. like its mentioned go to a big empty parking lot and practice. Then when ur confident go on the street. When ur almost perfect practice on a hill (the hardest part.) Im glad i got the honda. I would have killed myself in the trans am. If thats an option for u dont let it pass by.

[79Bandit]

its not a bad idea either to find a hill close around that no one drives on and learn how to idle the car so you dont move on the hill without using the breaks this will help at red lights on hills so you dont have to hold the breaks in and then floor it so you dont roll into the car behind you. another way to avoid that is setting the parking break at a red light (on a hill) and then start giving your gas and clutch when you feel the car starting to try to move you can disingage the break and walla you didnt roll back. but be carefull i belive its not great for the car if you idle on a hill. sorry if this seems confusing or doesnt make since.

[driftinggrifter2]

Originally Posted by Mr. Luos

I normally would shift my T/A at around 2K RPM's in normal traffic.

My first car was a Celica 5 speed. Learning to drive a stick wasn't anywhere near as hard as i thought it would be. Once i got used to everything in traffic i alwys shift bout 2 1/2 but every car is diffrent.
Should of seen me going from my celica to my firends 88 bird it was almost like trying to relearn again cuz of the diffrence in clutch play.

[importeater38]

i learned how to drive stick on my trans am. Only stalled it once. Well i mean after i figured out how to get it rollin in first anyway.

[giddyup50]

Originally Posted by 79Bandit

its not a bad idea either to find a hill close around that no one drives on and learn how to idle the car so you dont move on the hill without using the breaks this will help at red lights on hills so you dont have to hold the breaks in and then floor it so you dont roll into the car behind you. another way to avoid that is setting the parking break at a red light (on a hill) and then start giving your gas and clutch when you feel the car starting to try to move you can disingage the break and walla you didnt roll back. but be carefull i belive its not great for the car if you idle on a hill. sorry if this seems confusing or doesnt make since.

DO NOT USE YOUR PARKING BRAKE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A "PARKING BRAKE". You'll have TOO MUCH to think about on a hill to use your parking brake! To avoid rolling back on a hill use your brake pedal and keep the clutch in, when it's time to go give it alittle more gas and let the clutch out alittle faster than normal (bigger hill give it more gas and clutch out faster but smooth at the same time). YOU DO NOT WANT TO SIT AT A LIGHT WITH THE CLUTCH IN, BUT SINCE YOU ARE LEARNING YOU WON'T BE DOING IT TOO LONG.

Once you get the above you should learn how to sit at a light on a hill without using the brake pedal. This is when you can have the clutch out ABOUT halfway at the same time you are holding the gas down alittle also. TRY ALL OF THE HILL STUFF ON A DEAD STREET OR LOT FIRST. I taught myself to do hills. At first I just had to give it alot of gas and dump the clutch. Ofcourse I squeeled the tires alot (and this was in a 88 Escort) but it was fun. IF ALL ELSE FAILS....JUST AVOID HILLS! Good Luck!

[97cavalier]

Originally Posted by giddyup50

DO NOT USE YOUR PARKING BRAKE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A "PARKING BRAKE". You'll have TOO MUCH to think about on a hill to use your parking brake! To avoid rolling back on a hill use your brake pedal and keep the clutch in, when it's time to go give it alittle more gas and let the clutch out alittle faster than normal (bigger hill give it more gas and clutch out faster but smooth at the same time). YOU DO NOT WANT TO SIT AT A LIGHT WITH THE CLUTCH IN, BUT SINCE YOU ARE LEARNING YOU WON'T BE DOING IT TOO LONG.

Once you get the above you should learn how to sit at a light on a hill without using the brake pedal. This is when you can have the clutch out ABOUT halfway at the same time you are holding the gas down alittle also. TRY ALL OF THE HILL STUFF ON A DEAD STREET OR LOT FIRST. I taught myself to do hills. At first I just had to give it alot of gas and dump the clutch. Ofcourse I squeeled the tires alot (and this was in a 88 Escort) but it was fun. IF ALL ELSE FAILS....JUST AVOID HILLS! Good Luck!

sticks just kinda came to me, befor i was driving i always drive atv and dirt bikes and they were clutch so no one ever tought me, i just kinda came to me. i tought well motor is about to die when i let out clutch so better give it gas, when i frist learned on dirt bike i only killed it once and that was the frist try after that never killed it, well there was that one time when i fliped it and it killed it's self and almost killed me, lol. Don't worrie you will get the hang of it in no time. And if any of your friends have like 4 cyleder cars that are stick, you might want to try learning on one of thoes, a t/a is not the car to be learning on, lol. And you rather burn up there clutch insted of yours. good luck.

[driftinggrifter2]

the only time i stalled out was at a mcdonalds drive thru which was on a small ramp deal right at the order screen which sucked cuz it was during lunch rush. the area i lived at at the time that was about the closest thing i had to a hill. never the less i didnt go through there for awhile