How Many Of You Know How To Drive Stick?

[dave_p]

when you all can shift smooth with out using the clutch, split rear end to boot come talk to me. you must use the clutch for first, but after that if you understand the relationship between gear and ground speed and rpm you can shift smooth no clutch.
my first car was a 1981 ford fairmont wagon 3 speed on the floor, heavy duty clutch connected to a 300 ci straight 6 industrial commercial. a lot of fun to drive even for a station wagon. i dont know who speced it out but it was an odd car. it had no ashtray or lighter either for some reason. it was like a non smoking model or something.

[bigsarge72]

I've only ever owned two automatics in my life, and the first was 5 years after I learned to drive.

sarge

[Restola]

if you understand the relationship between gear and ground speed and rpm you can shift smooth no clutch.

You'll have to explain that a little more for me

I learned to drive stick when I bought a 98 Civic EX. Took a few hours to get it down, then about a month until I was really comfortable with it. Maybe 2 months until I never had any trouble on hills.

[subbeh]

Double clutching is useless on newer cars with synchros, right? I suck at cars.

[WickeDKlowN]

i learned driving my friends POS Chevette in his back yard.

[dio91]

I went driving again today with my dad, did a lot better with shifting....Still gotta learn on the feel when giving it gas and slowly letting off the clutch! AHH

dio

[ShooterJM]

Originally posted by dave_p
when you all can shift smooth with out using the clutch, split rear end to boot come talk to me. you must use the clutch for first, but after that if you understand the relationship between gear and ground speed and rpm you can shift smooth no clutch.

Yeah, still working on that. Haven't practiced in awhile though. Down to one car.

[dave_p]

someone asked

the relationship between speed, gear speed and rpm isnt that complicated. the synchros take care of the ground speed / gear speed thing pretty much and normally the clutch takes care of the rpm part by temporarily disconnecting you from the engine. you can shift with no clutch(except starting in first) if you can get the groundspeed/ rpm thing figured for the particular vehicle.
disclaimer: if you drop your gears all over rt 66 i am not responsible. always use your clutch cowboy.
while accelerating let off the gas and gently pull the stick out of gear. make note of the rpm/speed you are going. try to ease into the next gear. if it doesnt go rev a little, let off and ease the stick into the gear, at some point it should pop right in. note the speed/rpm this happens at. once you get used to doing it in all gears on a particular car(or truck)it becomes second nature. impress your friends and the ladies with your wheelmanship!
split axle is found on trucks. its a 2 gear rearend and a 5 speed tranny usually, giving you 10 gears total. you shift the rear with a button on the stick. you can shift 9 of the ten gears no clutch if you are slick.

[p8ntballa]

Sticks are cool. I cant drive an automatic anymore. The first time I tried to drive an automatic, I kept hitting the brake thinking it was the clutch

[psycoclown414]

dan has a car? your gonna play paintball with me and pick me up and stuff right?

[Tyril]

Haha, Blennidae! I did the same thing the other day driving my cousin's S-10. Turned the bloody thing off in "D", and couldn't get the damn key out of the ignition!

Two petals just aren't enough

-mike