I first truly learned to drive stick-shift 4 years ago when I bought my Protege5. I had a few friends that took me out once or twice but the whole gas/clutch thing never really set in. When I took delivery of my new car, the sales rep took me out back and gave me some pointers so I could be on my way. He said one thing, which I didnt understand right away: "Feather it". After a few days it clicked and I knew exactly what he meant.
For the past week, I have been teaching my wife how to drive stick-shift and I have said "feather it" numerous times to her and described in many words what I meant but it wasn't clicking. Then I just let her go on her own. After a day of practice she called me up on the phone and simply said "I know what you mean by feathering the clutch now!" Perhaps it is the approach I was taking with her or perhaps it is the fact that when people get into the car the first thing they want to do is drive. Fundamentals go out the door and then they come back crying that they cant figure out why they are stalling. So I have written up an extended tutorial on driving stick. At the moment it is un-proven but I would like feed back from stick-shift drivers and hopefully this technique will help some beginners.
Contrary to many teaching techniques I believe the first task of learning stick is NOT learning how to use the clutch, it is learning how to use the gas pedal. Old habits die hard but the sooner you forget about mashing the gas pedal to the floor the better position you will be in for driving stick-shift. It is all about finesse and it starts with learning to set a desired RPM with your right foot. Read on to find out how learning to use the gas pedal can simplify stick-shift driving and how "feathering" can making parking and rush-hour driving a breeze.
Step 1 -- The gas pedal
Put the car in neutral and practice putting your foot on the gas and immediately getting it to a steady RPM above idle without over revving the engine. I will use 1500 RPM as an example but it may be more depending on the car you are driving. Do this over and over again until you are comfortable with it. Now try it first starting with your foot on the brake and moving to the gas pedal. Brake, gas to 1500 RPM, brake, ... Continue this practice for at least 5 minutes or until you can quickly set the gas at 1500 RPM without exceeding 2000 RPM.
Step 2 -- The clutch pedal
Now its time to play with the clutch. Get the engine RPM to the desired level as in step 1 and then slowly let out the clutch. Do not change the amount of gas you are giving. When the clutch begins to grab and the car starts to roll forward keep the clutch in the same position for a moment and then slowly let it out some more until your foot is off the clutch. If the engine RPM drops below 750 you are letting the clutch out too fast. Usually the RPM will drop a little but as the car starts to roll forward it will slowly increase back to 1500 at which point you should be able to fully release the clutch without any bucking. Now push the clutch back in and come to a complete stop. Do not bother shifting or accelerating...you must learn the start first. Practice removing your foot from the brake, setting the gas, and letting out the clutch until it grabs allowing the car to start rolling, and then let the clutch out completely. Remember you must pause at the point where the clutch begins to catch. If you just let it out in one swoop you will stall or cause the car to buck. Pay attention to where in your leg movement the clutch grabs. Each time you perform this step you should be able to move your clutch foot directly to that position to reduce the time the whole procedure takes. When you stop, remember to always push the clutch in at the same time you press the brake (for nowmore on this later). Think both feet down when braking.
Step 3 - Feathering
Now we get to feathering. Repeat step 2 except when the clutch starts to grab and the car begins to roll forward instead of releasing the clutch further, push it back in to the point where it stops grabbing. For the time being keep your gas at 1500 RPM. The car should continue to roll a little. Now repeat this motion to get the car to accelerate a little more and then push the clutch back in. Always keep the gas steady. You should be using the clutch as a pseudo gas pedalonly the motion is reverse. This is what I call feathering. Now do a series of them, each one a little faster than the next and setting the gas at a higher RPM each time. The steps are set the gas, release the clutch until it grabs and causes the car to start rolling, push the clutch back in, and repeat. Once you are confident with that try removing your foot from the gas pedal in between each "feather" and then setting the gas to the appropriate level before performing the next "feather".
Step 4 - Reverse
Now that you have spent at least 15 minutes in 1st gear it is time to move on to the other gears. You may be itching for the open road but youve still got more to learn. Make sure you have a nice straight path behind you and place the car in reverse. Practice your feathering some more but with your hand on the passenger seat while you look backward. This isnt as easy as you might think because you cant look at your feet and your body is somewhat twisted. Unless you really practiced the previous steps you may find this difficult. Practice your "feathering" technique as you roll backwards. Now go back to 1st gear and pull into a parking spot and then try to back out as slowly as possible using your "feather" technique to get the car to just creep out of the spot. You dont want any soccer moms in their giant SUVs to take out the back of your car now do you.
Step 5 -- Accelerating to 2nd
Getting to 2nd is relatively easy now that you have mastered "feathering" to some extent. Set gas, release clutch until it grabs, and this time as you release the rest of the clutch start giving more gas and as the RPM passes your original setting the clutch should be fully out and you should be zipping up to speed for your shift into 2nd gear around 3000 RPM. When you reach 3000 RPM, take your foot off the gas and press the clutch in at the same time. With the clutch fully depressed, shift from 1st to 2nd by juts pulling down on the shifter. There is no need to hold the shifter like a joy stick. It just takes a smooth pulling back motion using the backside of your fingers. Next you need to set the RPMs again since the most likely dropped back to idle, and then release the clutch. Since you are moving you can release it faster than when you were starting out in 1st but if you release it to fast the car will buck a little. Getting the 1-2 shift smooth just takes practice but remember that if you are slow to shift from 1 to 2 you will have to set the RPM before releasing the clutch. This is often referred to as rev-matching, more on that later. Come to a complete stop and repeat your 1 to 2 shift several times so you are comfortable.
Step 6 -- Feathering in 2nd
Rush hour traffic can often travel at 10-15 mph which is too fast for 1st but not fast enough to stay in 2nd all the time. You can "feather" 2nd the same way you do it for 1st and reverse and you can even feather at higher speeds by setting the RPM higher before you release the clutch. Practice rolling around the parking lot at higher speeds. Put the clutch in as you go around corners and then smoothly re-engage the gear when you get to the straights.
For the past week, I have been teaching my wife how to drive stick-shift and I have said "feather it" numerous times to her and described in many words what I meant but it wasn't clicking. Then I just let her go on her own. After a day of practice she called me up on the phone and simply said "I know what you mean by feathering the clutch now!" Perhaps it is the approach I was taking with her or perhaps it is the fact that when people get into the car the first thing they want to do is drive. Fundamentals go out the door and then they come back crying that they cant figure out why they are stalling. So I have written up an extended tutorial on driving stick. At the moment it is un-proven but I would like feed back from stick-shift drivers and hopefully this technique will help some beginners.
Contrary to many teaching techniques I believe the first task of learning stick is NOT learning how to use the clutch, it is learning how to use the gas pedal. Old habits die hard but the sooner you forget about mashing the gas pedal to the floor the better position you will be in for driving stick-shift. It is all about finesse and it starts with learning to set a desired RPM with your right foot. Read on to find out how learning to use the gas pedal can simplify stick-shift driving and how "feathering" can making parking and rush-hour driving a breeze.
Step 1 -- The gas pedal
Put the car in neutral and practice putting your foot on the gas and immediately getting it to a steady RPM above idle without over revving the engine. I will use 1500 RPM as an example but it may be more depending on the car you are driving. Do this over and over again until you are comfortable with it. Now try it first starting with your foot on the brake and moving to the gas pedal. Brake, gas to 1500 RPM, brake, ... Continue this practice for at least 5 minutes or until you can quickly set the gas at 1500 RPM without exceeding 2000 RPM.
Step 2 -- The clutch pedal
Now its time to play with the clutch. Get the engine RPM to the desired level as in step 1 and then slowly let out the clutch. Do not change the amount of gas you are giving. When the clutch begins to grab and the car starts to roll forward keep the clutch in the same position for a moment and then slowly let it out some more until your foot is off the clutch. If the engine RPM drops below 750 you are letting the clutch out too fast. Usually the RPM will drop a little but as the car starts to roll forward it will slowly increase back to 1500 at which point you should be able to fully release the clutch without any bucking. Now push the clutch back in and come to a complete stop. Do not bother shifting or accelerating...you must learn the start first. Practice removing your foot from the brake, setting the gas, and letting out the clutch until it grabs allowing the car to start rolling, and then let the clutch out completely. Remember you must pause at the point where the clutch begins to catch. If you just let it out in one swoop you will stall or cause the car to buck. Pay attention to where in your leg movement the clutch grabs. Each time you perform this step you should be able to move your clutch foot directly to that position to reduce the time the whole procedure takes. When you stop, remember to always push the clutch in at the same time you press the brake (for nowmore on this later). Think both feet down when braking.
Step 3 - Feathering
Now we get to feathering. Repeat step 2 except when the clutch starts to grab and the car begins to roll forward instead of releasing the clutch further, push it back in to the point where it stops grabbing. For the time being keep your gas at 1500 RPM. The car should continue to roll a little. Now repeat this motion to get the car to accelerate a little more and then push the clutch back in. Always keep the gas steady. You should be using the clutch as a pseudo gas pedalonly the motion is reverse. This is what I call feathering. Now do a series of them, each one a little faster than the next and setting the gas at a higher RPM each time. The steps are set the gas, release the clutch until it grabs and causes the car to start rolling, push the clutch back in, and repeat. Once you are confident with that try removing your foot from the gas pedal in between each "feather" and then setting the gas to the appropriate level before performing the next "feather".
Step 4 - Reverse
Now that you have spent at least 15 minutes in 1st gear it is time to move on to the other gears. You may be itching for the open road but youve still got more to learn. Make sure you have a nice straight path behind you and place the car in reverse. Practice your feathering some more but with your hand on the passenger seat while you look backward. This isnt as easy as you might think because you cant look at your feet and your body is somewhat twisted. Unless you really practiced the previous steps you may find this difficult. Practice your "feathering" technique as you roll backwards. Now go back to 1st gear and pull into a parking spot and then try to back out as slowly as possible using your "feather" technique to get the car to just creep out of the spot. You dont want any soccer moms in their giant SUVs to take out the back of your car now do you.
Step 5 -- Accelerating to 2nd
Getting to 2nd is relatively easy now that you have mastered "feathering" to some extent. Set gas, release clutch until it grabs, and this time as you release the rest of the clutch start giving more gas and as the RPM passes your original setting the clutch should be fully out and you should be zipping up to speed for your shift into 2nd gear around 3000 RPM. When you reach 3000 RPM, take your foot off the gas and press the clutch in at the same time. With the clutch fully depressed, shift from 1st to 2nd by juts pulling down on the shifter. There is no need to hold the shifter like a joy stick. It just takes a smooth pulling back motion using the backside of your fingers. Next you need to set the RPMs again since the most likely dropped back to idle, and then release the clutch. Since you are moving you can release it faster than when you were starting out in 1st but if you release it to fast the car will buck a little. Getting the 1-2 shift smooth just takes practice but remember that if you are slow to shift from 1 to 2 you will have to set the RPM before releasing the clutch. This is often referred to as rev-matching, more on that later. Come to a complete stop and repeat your 1 to 2 shift several times so you are comfortable.
Step 6 -- Feathering in 2nd
Rush hour traffic can often travel at 10-15 mph which is too fast for 1st but not fast enough to stay in 2nd all the time. You can "feather" 2nd the same way you do it for 1st and reverse and you can even feather at higher speeds by setting the RPM higher before you release the clutch. Practice rolling around the parking lot at higher speeds. Put the clutch in as you go around corners and then smoothly re-engage the gear when you get to the straights.