OK, I want to perfect my shifting, so I can have a smooth ride not hard on my tranny.

For first gear (daily driving), I let out the clutch while applying some gas, and add more gas the clutch is let out, I guess this is slipping? Anyway, sometimes when I do that, sometime in the beginning, as the clutch is almost out, it feels almost like I hit my brake, then it picks up some speed. Is the problem too much clutch, or too much gas? Also, I think I just figured out today how to do smooth shifts. Before I just had my foot resting on the dead pedal until I NEEDED to shift, then I quickly pushed in the clutch. Now, I have my foot ready to push the clutch in (not resting on it tho), and as soon as the clutch is in, I put it in gear and let the clutch out. Should I be adding gas during that? Thanks, and any tips will help me out!!!

 

are you feathering (giving it alittle gas as you let the clutch out)

 

when SHIFTING, dont add gas until the clutch is all the way out.
well it should be simontaneous. GAS... no gas as you sink clutch... [shift]... no clutch as you go back into gas.

quickshifting is the same but just as fast as you can without grinding the gear

1. for 1st you can look at this way. clutch in, rev to 1.5k start slowly letting go off clutch as you add more gas. [this method is the least prone for stalling out]

it's kinda like peeling out, except in peeling out, the gas is floored, and quick get off the clutch at the higher rpm's]

as you get the start gettin the feel for clutch you won't have to let go as slowly.

2. or can just try to do everything evenly... as much as you let go off clutch is as much gas you put... etc. [more prone to stall out]

3. engagement point. i presume you've driven an automatic car before. you know how when you let go off the brake in an automatic car, the car starts rolling by itself? well when you blend the clutch and the gas you are tryin to manipulate that concept.

now with the engagement point on your clutch you will get to that rolling point by just using the clutch.
THIS METHOD IS THE MOST PRONE FOR STALLING OUT AND YOU WILL STALL OUT MANY TIMES UNTIL YOU FIND IT.
come off the clutch very very slowly, and keep coming off until the car starts to roll. this point was very hard to stay with on my dads car... if i came off the clutch 1 more milimeter, i would stall out. and if i was 1 mm below the engagement point, i wouldn't go anywhere.
but the beauty of this is, once you find it, you can just add gas as you would for an automatic car.

the car i did this all with was a 1989 honda civic dx.
this was a almost a year ago. my dad does not live with me, so i haven't driven stick in a while. but i get my gsr [and license] in 2 months.

PS: that was the first [and only] time i drove stick... and i didn't stall out until i tried finding the engagement point, so this should be a good tutorial for you
AND YES THAT MEANS I'M 15
DONT HATE

i could explain how i brake and downshift too, but thats another topic.

 

and more practice

 

Watch the RPM's as you learn to drive. After you get the hang of it you should just be able to listen to the engine and decide when to shift. If it feels like your car brakes and then sort of shoots forward in 1st gear, you need to feather the clutch...so add more gas and let out the clutch a little slower. And if you shift roughly in 2nd gear, just wait until atleast 3 k to shift.

 

dont listen to them. you just need to trade your car for an automatic. :fawk:

 

nah dude, I got it down ok now. The problem was I was adding gas while the clutch wasn't all they way out. As for getting started, I think I have first down pretty well. Thanks guys! Also, I was just wondering if during a downshift (for like a going around a curve), what is too high of an RPM to shift into? Thanks!

 

this is how i downshift into corners.
let's say car will be in third...
as i approach the turn i:
1. start braking
2. sink clutch
3. downshift to 2nd as i start the turn
4. coast/accelerate through the turn in 2nd

*coast means no gas [gran turismo 3, lol]

for smooth driving don't take the rpm's above 4k when downshifting, it might be a little jerky... [4k is little high though]

but if you in a high speed chase... you want to be in the powerband when you downshift. [5750-redline]

WHEN YOUR GOOD YOU CAN DOUBLE CLUTCH/HEEL-TOE THRU THE CORNERS.

 

No, you heel-toe through turns, man. But for people just learning shifting, that's a bit deep. When you get a perfect hang of things, though, look this up. It's not always the best method, but it kind of fun and rewarding when you get a perfect heel-toe brake though a turn...

 

I think all the detailed steps and advice above may be a bit daunting for you at this point (I'm assuming you just started to learn stick?). The best advice is to practice...in a couple of days you'll figure out on your own how to drive relatively smootly, and after a couple of weeks you'll be able to drive _almost_ as smoothly as an automatic equipped car.

I'm surprised no one has started to lecture you on rev matching, double clutching, ideal shiftpoints, heel-and-toe, engine braking etc

Edit: oh wait, they have