Can hardly drive my new EM2.

[Mike's-EM2]

So here's the story: Before my EM2 I owned and automatic 91 integra. I wrecked the car earlier this month and I had to get a new one. So I bought a 2001 lx. I picked up my EM2 2 days ago and I had to drive it home by myself. The drive home was only my 2nd time driving stick so I chirped the tires a couple of times. Yesterday, I had to drive to school in the morning. I drove to school pretty much flawlessly. After school was a different story. I stalled at least 6 times, most of them in my girlfriend's driveway. Then today, I had to drive home and I wasn't doing too bad, but I stalled going out of the school's parking lot and of course just when I'm almost home, I get stuck behind a damn school bus. I stalled once and after that, I chirped the tires almost every time the stupid bus had to stop. I can't afford to burn out the clutch or buy new tires right now because I have to pay the car off and put gas in it. I've had very few times driving where I didn't screw up. What suggestions and tips do you guys have for me to get driving my car down perfectly?


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[ReedMann]

Practice makes perfect.

 

[young_]

I learned how to drive stick by buying a manual shift car. I drove home three hours after buying the car with hardly any experience, so it can be done! Watch the tachometer. Don't let your revs get below idle (800 rpm), dont rev over 2000 when starting. Come out of the clutch slowly as you apply gas. As you let the clutch out your rpm's will start to drop. Apply more gas to keep the rpm's above idle.

Try practicing on a flat surface to get a feel for the clutch. With the car on and in first gear, press in the clutch and hold the brake. Make sure your emergency brake is down just like if you were about to take off from a stop. Take your foot off the break and then slowly let out the clutch until the car starts to roll, then press the clutch in. Do this a few times to get a feel for where they clutch grabs at. This is called the "friction point"

You'll get the hang of it with practice. Keep at it! Instructional videos on YouTube helped me a lot.

 

[CivilCivic05]

I think most people just get it in and go and within a few drives you'll get it. Try sitting in it with the car on and push the clutch in and go through the gears a whole bunch of time so you're familiar with the pattern (don't take your foot off the clutch doing this).

Here's a tip though, I JUST now figured out (because someone else told me!). If your car dies and your on a hill or other incline PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE to keep from rolling while you're starting, that always freaked me out.

Here's other tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gmGoQ1dI2E

 

[Kali Hissle]

One thing i learned is when you first take off in 1st dont touch the gas just slowly let of the clutch and the Car Will move and give it a lil gas and go .do this in a parking lot or side street where you live.keep doing it and youll have smooth take offs everytime.and like the others say rev it at 1500 or befor 2rpm's and when you do it let off the clutch enough to roll the Car at a light while on the brake so when it turns green you can ease on the gas and go.i believe your gonna be a pro at this this week.keep the updates coming.

Trick on hills to you can use the e-brake or be on the brake and have your foot half way on the clutch to where the Car isnt cutting off and then hit the gas softly and roll forward and left off the clutch it wont be a big scared of you rolling backwards then specialy if someone rides your bumper.

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[lethal6]

My dad gave me his truck when I turned 16. He threw me the keys and said good luck when I came home from passing the driving test. It was a manual. Had to learn on my own. Practice is the only thing that will get you through and explaining isn't going to work. It's different for everyone.

 

[lethal6]

Moved thread to off topic as there isn't really a technical question here.

 

[Mike's-EM2]

Well guys I listened to all your suggestions, and after driving up and down my road for a while, starting and stopping to simulate traffic, and using my driveway as a hill to practice hill starts, I think I've gotten a lot better. I almost have mastered learning the perfect spot for the clutch and the right amount of gas to give when starting on a hill. With a little bit more practice, I think I'll have this down.

 

[Mike's-EM2]

Moved thread to off topic as there isn't really a technical question here.

Thanks. Wasn't sure if it was considered off topic so I posted it in tech.

 

[TokyoSkies]

Glad to hear you're doing better! As everyone has said, it's just a matter of practice and muscle memory. You'll learn your car the more you drive it. Every car is different, but once you can drive one, you can pretty much drive them all.

 

[Osiris19]

It took me awhile to get it. I didn't have a car to practice on. My ex-girlfriend's dad took me out in his car. I stalled it quite a few times, but eventually got better after the third or fourth time driving it. It's all about finding the catch point on the clutch. Most cars, if the clutch is good, will grab within the bottom third of pedal traval (actual is bottom half). I did really well my first time doing hills. didn't need the ebrake, just put more gas than normal, and pull off the clutch gradually and if you feel it buckling, apply more gas or step on the brake and start over.

 

[Kali Hissle]

Your right osiris,i wish when i was learning people took more time Out but i had to do my own research and discover this whole catch point thing because no one explained anything right.it was pretty much go in first and get on the gas and left off the clutch at the same time.and it was stall stall jerk jerk.burn clutch burn.and their getting.mad.well if one was told about the catch point i wouldve been pro day one.so now i know how to teach someone when the time comes.

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[Failsafe88]

Depending on hill can hold still with just letting clutch out some. I still hate tall hills with a deep burning passion it's better to give it more gas than not enough. The more you drive the car the more in touch with it you will be. When I try to teach someone I have them learn gear shifting positions and the friction point first thing. Have them stop and go in first multiple times. If you can get first gear the rest is a breeze.

 

[treeafodo]

Practice makes perfect. Don't worry about the car behind you if you're in traffic. Just take your time letting the clutch out slowly and giving it a little bit of gas.

 

[XpL0d3r]

I first learned on my ex's EM2 actually lol. She was a b**** and yelled at me every time I stalled it. Notice I said ex

Soooo, Szady and I converted my civic from auto to manual, and I learned to drive it on the 2.5 hour drive home from his place to mine. Did great without stalling... until my driveway (oops). so I said f*** it, good enough, and left the car there.

For realsies though, just practice, you'll get better quicker than you think..! Goodluck, sir!

 

[R3dline]

Try learning in a 77 volkswagon beetle. Ahh the good ol days.

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

Learned in my '89 Shelby CSX, took like an hour . Best first car for a 16yo street racer like I was, THOSE were the good old days

 

[Kali Hissle]

I drove a 67 beetle stick and it was fun and easy as hell on top of that i threw $5 in the tank while gas was $3.30 and i was riding all day.

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[treeafodo]

I first learned on my ex's EM2 actually lol. She was a b**** and yelled at me every time I stalled it. Notice I said ex

My dad was hard on me when I drove with him. I only drove with him once and then decided to teach myself.