Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by patrick- September 10, 2008 To everyone ... thanks for the spirited conversation... I have never used to parking brake at all. I have never found it particularly useful. Clutch+Gas Pedal = 2 things to operate (1 per foot). Brake+Parking Brake+Clutch+Gas Pedal = way too many things to coordinate (especially as a beginner driver) Now If I am stopped at a red light yes I do use the brake and do not feather the clutch. But when navigating the hills of San Francisco. you are paused so briefly that using the parking brake is.http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1622... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by S Dub- September 9, 2008 Marshall is an idiot - first, downshifting through all your gears will burn clutch at a much faster rate, since each time you engage or disengage the clutch you burn it slightly. Second, when the light changes and you're coasting, is it really that hard to put the car in 2nd and continue No. There's no difference. Furthermore, if people have problems with you slowing down to a red light, that's their problem - we're not NYC cab drivers. If they want to accelerate to the red light, they can..http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1622... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by Omar- September 9, 2008 Have driven stick shifts on & off for around 30 years, and found that it helps if the engine is well tuned, and the clutch and shift linkages properly adjusted. Also, the peculiar characteristics of how a car feels & responds can vary. Once one gets to know the car, it will become second nature. Would also help to get some coaching from an experienced driver to check your habits. However, even some brand new, well-tuned late-model cars can prove awkward to drive, as is sometimes found by...http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1621... Comment on How to learn to drive a manual transmission in 45 minutes by PETER- September 9, 2008 NOT TOO SURE IF YOU ARE ENDORSING CLUTCH SLIPPING AS A MEANS OF HOLDING YOURSELF ON HILL IN REAL WORLD CONDITIONS. YOUR SPEED BUMP METHOD IS GOOD FOR GETTING THE FEEL BUT NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. PERHAPS AN ABBREVIATED EXPLAINATION OF FLYWHEEL AND FRICTION PLATE WOULD MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING WHEN YOU FEATHER THE CLUTCH.http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-learn-to-drive-a-manual-transmission-in-4... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by John C.- September 9, 2008 Andy is right, but it's not just a trick, it's the correct way. Use the hand brake if you have to keep the car still for more than a few seconds while going up a hill, eg. when traffic is stop & go, or if you are making a left turn and have to wait for traffic to pass from the opposite direction. If the car stalls, then it's foot brake, hand brake, clutch in, start engine, engage first gear, gas pedal & ease clutch out until car tries to move, release hand brake while controlling gas & clutch...http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1621... Comment on How to learn to drive a manual transmission in 45 minutes by LC- September 8, 2008 Thank you for posting this. I thought I drove a stick well, but your method makes it clear that I get on the gas too much. Next time I get a stick, I'll use your method to hone my skills.http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-learn-to-drive-a-manual-transmission-in-4... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by John Doe- September 7, 2008 I've found in my 5 years driving a manual transmission, that if you engage the clutch just far enough the car won't roll back. Keeping one foot on the clutch and the other feathering the gas pedal should work just fine on uphill roads.http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1621... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by patrick- September 6, 2008 A number of people have commented about using the emergency parking brake. It may be in general a good idea but ... a few things colored my experience: First, driving a car with a broken emergency brake cable that wasn't getting fixed (i.e. NO parking brake!) Second, the parking brake doesn't work when you are in a situation that is stop and go. For example, going through San Francisco when you get (almost) to the top of a hill and are waiting your turn at a stop sign. You need to inch...http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1621... Comment on How to drive a manual transmission by Pete H- September 6, 2008 Hey Pat.....I really like you simple no bull way of teaching to drive standard transmissions....step by step....but one the hills section i tend to disagree with you...when i learned to drive back in the seventies....it was only on standard,my choice,and we were taught to hold the vehicle with the hand brake,to allow proper control of gasclutch....once the clutch was at friction point you released the hand brake and off you went smoothly without bunny hopping or stalling....having drivin...http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-drive-a-manual-transmission/#comment-1621... Comment on How to learn to drive a manual transmission in 45 minutes by Kevyn- September 6, 2008 I used this method starting 15 years ago to teach my 5 kids to drive a stick shift only for hill starts we moved from the parking lot to a quite subdivision with real hills. At first they didn't think it was possible to start out going up a hill with only the clutch, no gas. It's all about feel. Two recommendations, there is nothing wrong with using a hand brake when starting on a hill and when jump starting a car I would recommend 2 gear not first.http://www.sworddance.com/blog/2008/04/06/how-to-learn-to-drive-a-manual-transmission-in-4... |