How do you drive?

[krstofer]

Being that I haven't had a manual (stick or standard for some folks ;) ) in a LOONG time, I feel I don't drive correctly. I also think I am wasting more gas than I did in my AT civic because of my zoom zoom habits.

I usually don't change gears until 4krpm or so and don't go into 5th gear until 70mph. I use the clutch almost every time I brake and I don't downshift when stopping for fear of grinding gears. I usually put it in the gear I think I am going to need and stay on the clutch till I get there.

Any advice?

Krs

[MazdaDryvr]

You use the clutch when you brake yet you don't down shift? So you just put the clutch in and apply brakes? If so ... wrong, WRONG!!! You should downshift man. The acceleration part of your driving seems ok, I like to shift around the same RPM. And I only use fifth gear at highway speeds, maybe at 60mph and up.

[krstofer]

I brake and clutch because I am afraid to stall out. I don't know why...

[blizz81]

Being that I haven't had a manual (stick or standard for some folks ;) ) in a LOONG time, I feel I don't drive correctly. I also think I am wasting more gas than I did in my AT civic because of my zoom zoom habits.

I usually don't change gears until 4krpm or so and don't go into 5th gear until 70mph. I use the clutch almost every time I brake and I don't downshift when stopping for fear of grinding gears. I usually put it in the gear I think I am going to need and stay on the clutch till I get there.

Any advice?

Krs


The 4k might be wasting a tad bit of gas....but who cares. There's a balance between having a good time driving and optimal fuel efficiency that you'll just have to kick around for a while :)

The braking behavior isn't entirely bad. Staying on your clutch the whole time will put some wear on it, most notably the throwout bearing...but it's not like you're slipping it/applying gas at the time.

I mix between neutral drop + rev-match back into gear when needed and downshifting + engine braking depending on the situation. I don't think you should be that worried about scratching on downshifting - no indications of iffy synchros that I've seen yet, and the clutch & stick action is smooth. I'm sure you'll be more confident once you get more used to driving a stick again.

[pinoyata2]

Don't feel bad. I myself have not driven a stick for a long time, so I have to learn all over again. I already replaced my rotors on the front from excessive braking, I guess... that's one of the explaination from the tech at the dealership. It's under warranty anyway, so rev up and just enjoy the ride.(drive)

[Loose]

Like a Madman!

[SpicyMchaggis]

yeah dude, you gotta use your gears to slow down..engine braking saves on brakes big time..hell i barely use mine..but yeah, i drive like its laguna seca..ultimately, that cost me a motor.

[goldwing2000]

yeah dude, you gotta use your gears to slow down..engine braking saves on brakes big time...

Sure... and wears everything else instead.

[Replica]

I'm heavy on the brakes, they cost less than the motor.

[cbcbd]

Slowly breaking to a stop, like a red light, I usually just leave it in whatever gear I'm in and put it in neutral when I hit 1K rpms.

Fast breaks to a stop, like in emergency, clutch and brake all the way (just like in Back to the Future :D )

Breaking with knowledge that I will keep going, like slowly traffic, I just downshift, usually do heel-toeing if I'm in the mood - if not then I just blip the gas, downshift and then go to the brake.

[simdrew]

Being that I haven't had a manual (stick or standard for some folks ;) ) in a LOONG time, I feel I don't drive correctly. I also think I am wasting more gas than I did in my AT civic because of my zoom zoom habits.

I usually don't change gears until 4krpm or so and don't go into 5th gear until 70mph. I use the clutch almost every time I brake and I don't downshift when stopping for fear of grinding gears. I usually put it in the gear I think I am going to need and stay on the clutch till I get there.

Any advice?

Krs
If there's nobody in front of me, I tend to bring it to redline for each gear (I make the most out of my NA car). But then, ironically, to save gas I put it in an extra low gear to save gas (as long as the engine isn't laboring). I toss it into neutral and let go of the clutch whenever I see a red light coming up. I try to double-clutch whenever I downshift.

[Replica]

Why double clutch? Rev matching is alot easier.

[cbcbd]

you are double-clutching when you down shift? that's so time consuming, especially if you need a quick downshift

[simdrew]

Why double clutch? Rev matching is alot easier.
Double-clutching is easier on your transmission, sometimes the synchros don't even let you shift into certain gears if you are trying to enter them at high RPMs... Have you tried shifting into first gear at 25 MPH with upgraded engine mounts?

[simdrew]

you are double-clutching when you down shift? that's so time consuming, especially if you need a quick downshift
If you are going around a corner or waiting to pass someone, you have plenty of time to spend an extra second or two double-clutching and still be in the right gear with plenty of time to spare.

[cbcbd]

Double-clutching is easier on your transmission, sometimes the synchros don't even let you shift into certain gears if you are trying to enter them at high RPMs... Have you tried shifting into first gear at 25 MPH with upgraded engine mounts? Why would you shit into first gear going 25mph? Do you do this a lot and when? At 20mph, 2nd gear already sits nicely around 2k rpm

[simdrew]

Why would you shit into first gear going 25mph? Do you do this a lot and when? At 20mph, 2nd gear already sits nicely around 2k rpm
Mechanical advantage at lower gears and powerband begins around 3.5k-4k. With upgraded intake, cam, and exhaust, my powerband extends farther into the red. It's good for launching out of tight corners.

[Replica]

Double-clutching is easier on your transmission, sometimes the synchros don't even let you shift into certain gears if you are trying to enter them at high RPMs... Have you tried shifting into first gear at 25 MPH with upgraded engine mounts?I'm glad it doesn't let me. The rpm at 25mph doesn't have much power left in it and dropping the motor to such a high rpm seems totally unnecessary.

[simdrew]

I'm glad it doesn't let me. The rpm at 25mph doesn't have much power left in it and dropping the motor to such a high rpm seems totally unnecessary.
On my vehicle, I can travel from 25 - 35 faster in first than second... I also don't drive stock though. I have power through 7k.

[krstofer]

what is double clutching?

[cbcbd]

what is double clutching?
let's say you're in 3rd and want to go to 2nd:

-depress clutch
-put in neutral
-release clutch
-rev to matching rpm for 2nd at current speed
-depress clutch
-put it into 2nd
-release clutch

[krstofer]

Oh, that's weird....

[simdrew]

The reason for double clutching is that the transmission operates at two different speeds when you are inbetween gears, and they need to be at roughly the same speed in order to mesh into gear.

(Transmission connected to wheels)(gear)--(synchro)--(gear)(transmission connected to pressure plate)--(flywheel and engine)

The synchros use friction to helps the half of the transmission connected to the wheels, speed up or slow down the other half of the transmission enough to slide it into gear. Sometimes the difference is too great though and that's where double-clutching comes in. You're using the engine to speed up the other half of the transmission instead of just waiting for friction to do it's part. You still need to make sure the engine and tranny are rev matched after the trans is in gear though.



let's say you're in 3rd and want to go to 2nd:

-depress clutch
-put in neutral
-release clutch
-rev to matching rpm for 2nd at current speed
-depress clutch
-put it into 2nd
-release clutch

[cbcbd]

haha, yeah, usually it's just more common to just rev match when you downshift:

from 3rd to 2nd:

-depress clutch
-blip(tap) the throttle to bring up rpms to where it would match with current speed and 2nd
-put it into 2nd
-release clutch