Help, learner driver =/

[Meglomaniac]

Im just worried im going to stall the thing
i just wish i knew all the answers to all the problems, of the road
i am kinda prone to panic, so when i stall, i truly hate it. To avoid stalling, always keep the Revs high, yes?

meglo

 

[blargonator]

you seem like you are just over zealous but anyways just stay calm when you are driving. i had to learn with my brother's 91 mitsubishi eclipse. some of you might know that car is infamous for its AWFUL gearbox. just about anyone will grind gears in that thing. i have gotten used to it. stalling sucks but you just have to get used to easing off the clutch really slow when you first drive a car to find the point where its really used. 💡 lol and one thing is dont rev it way up and dump the clutch. good luck with driving. my car is not running yet (1977 924) and its a 4 speed so i plan on having some fun with it after restoring it.

 

[Ev0]

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is heel toe, and how do you do it? I'm pretty sure I saw it in Initial D once (yes, I do watch Initial D ).

Informative thread btw, very useful info for those of us who don't know and/or don't have the privilege of driving a car with a manual transmission.

 

[PSG]

Heel-Toe downshifting:
-Left foot on clutch, right foot on the right side of the brake pedal hanging a bit onto the accelerator.
-Firm pressure on brake, depress clutch. With firm pressure on brake, roll the heel of your foot so that your right side of your right foot gives it a bit of throttle and keep the revs up (should bump it up a good 1k-2k rpm), then shift down. Release clutch, and you should be all slowed up, a gear lower, and ready to put the power down for the next corner.

A lot trickier than it sounds, but practice makes perfect.

Edit: to clear up the heel-rolling part

 

[Freddie]

Im just worried im going to stall the thing
i just wish i knew all the answers to all the problems, of the road
i am kinda prone to panic, so when i stall, i truly hate it. To avoid stalling, always keep the Revs high, yes?

meglo

No. Ease of the clutch carefully, with the engine doing 1500-3000rpm. When the the car gains speed, keep the clutch at that point. When the finally engine bogs down and synchronises (a sudden drop in revs), you can let go of the clutch completely.

If you're doing a hill-start:
With the brake pressed in, slowly release the clutch until you hear the engine bogging down. At that point, release the brake, but do not release the clutch completely.

As for the start procedures:
1. Adjust the seat and steering wheel properly, you should be able to depress the clutch-pedal completely, but still sit with relatively straight arms while driving. Gauges must be visible, and you have to be able to turn the wheel properly. Good visiibility (like seeing the car's four corners) is a bonus.
Since you're a rookie, try different configurations, until you find one you like.

2. Adjust mirrors. The central mirror should be adjusted (if possible) so you can see the entire rear window in the mirror. The side-mirrors should be adjusted so you see along the sides of the car. I like to have the passenger-side mirror adjusted slightly downwards, so I can also see the side of the road. It helps me to determine where on the road the car is, as well as aiding in parking. Don't get to eager to watch in it, though. Keep the eyes on the road and obstacles ahead.

3. Seatbelts on.

There, that's the three most important steps before even starting to start the car. I then use this procedure (cont. from above)

4. Brakes on
5. Gear in neutral
6. Handbrake off
7. Clutch in
8. Start engine
9. Check and decide on next procedure (i.e wait, start procedure, etc.)

I know this, since I'm having my final driver's license exam Friday 17/12-04, and I have no intention to fail it.

As for the rest of the discussion above. I always leave the car in a gear that forces the engine to rev backwards should it roll. Also, along with the handbrake, I make sure that the front wheels are turned so that the car will rest on the curb (if any) if it should start to roll. (i.e. uphill, sidewalk on right, front wheels turned left, gearbox in first plus handbrake on).

 

[Ev0]

Thanks for the description PSG, it sounds a bit strange to me right now, but it will probably make more sense when I start driving a manual car.

And good luck on the test Freddie! 👍

 

[skip0110]

If you're doing a hill-start:
With the brake pressed in, slowly release the clutch until you hear the engine bogging down. At that point, release the brake, but do not release the clutch completely.

On a less powerful car (ie mine), this will stall the engine. I was taught to hold the car with the ebrake, but I find this doesn't work too well. You just have to know the pickup point of the clutch, and the sensitivity of your throttle. Once you know this, you will find the you will be able to hold the car steady on any grade by just feathering the throttle/chutch, and no brakes. Then you really can't mess up a hill start.

Remember, stalling is OK
And keep the radio off so you can hear what the engine is telling you

 

[PublicSecrecy]

Your joking right.

Racers and Drifters are VERY talented. i once saw on a site, a guy drift round a U bend on a hill at around 5mph, Vid is somewhere in the Videos and Exports forum.

Well yah...except for once. But we were all having fun and she was throwing it back @ us and none of us cared but the teacher was watching us and told the VP and then i got suspended for 3 days for "sexual harrassment". She said she didnt care but I got suspended anyway. ****ing no tolerancy bull****.

 

[ND4SPD]

Well yah...except for once. But we were all having fun and she was throwing it back @ us and none of us cared but the teacher was watching us and told the VP and then i got suspended for 3 days for "sexual harrassment". She said she didnt care but I got suspended anyway. ****ing no tolerancy bull****.

I was there and doing the same thing, along with like 2 other people, and you were the only one who got into trouble. Ahhh, the memories.

Also, this thread is very helpful for us soon to be learners. Keep up on the good tips!

 

[Emohawk]

1. Adjust the seat and steering wheel properly, you should be able to depress the clutch-pedal completely, but still sit with relatively straight arms while driving.

I was reading some race driver's personal page which had some driving tips on it. He said most people sit way to far back, you should be able to put both hands together at the top of the wheel and rest your elbows on the bottom of it without taking your back off the seat. This frees up your arms to move the wheel around better then you could if they were straight.
Good site, I can't remember who it was though.

 

[PublicSecrecy]

I was there and doing the same thing, along with like 2 other people, and you were the only one who got into trouble. Ahhh, the memories.

Also, this thread is very helpful for us soon to be learners. Keep up on the good tips!

It was you, me, mitchel, Nick Tatryn, Sean Downns, and like one other. And Kelli of course. Stupid Mr. Doucette. Damn him and his moraly correct classroom. oh well. not like i haven't been suspended for something like that before. jk!

 

[skip0110]

I was reading some race driver's personal page which had some driving tips on it. He said most people sit way to far back, you should be able to put both hands together at the top of the wheel and rest your elbows on the bottom of it without taking your back off the seat. This frees up your arms to move the wheel around better then you could if they were straight.
Good site, I can't remember who it was though.

Great advice--if you drive a race car. In a car with airbags, think what happens if your chest is 1 foot from the steering wheel when it goes off.

 

[dkstz]

Its like when your playing GT3 and you go into a day dream or a trance and you pull off record laps and your like what the hell?

You bet! It's an awesome feeling!

I'm also learning to drive, but i'm still on the class lessons. Great topic btw, will help alot of people!!

Just info, here in Brazil, 90% of the cars are manual transmission. Only the expensive cars comes with auto, but even so they don't sell very well... maybe we like to drive controlling everything

 

[Ev0]

I guess Brazilians aren't lazy then! It is the other way around in Canada, 90% auto, 10% manual I only know one person who drives a manual transmission.

That, and Brazilians probably aren't inept motorists. I know Canadians are for the most part!

 

[Freddie]

And good luck on the test Freddie! 👍

Thanks! Any kind of such would help, since I'm feeling that my nerves are starting to kick in since it's only, *gasp*, five days left. Nah, I do have a practical lesson on Wednesday - 1,5 hours of driving - in that horrible '04 Volvo S40 2.0D that I'm going to have my exam in. The visibility is horrible, and the gearbox has to be worked on constantly. Grr.

I'll be relieved once I have my national driving permit in my hand, knowing that the internationally approved license is dropping into my mailbox a couple of days later. I might even get it for christmas, hah!

 

[Emohawk]

Great advice--if you drive a race car. In a car with airbags, think what happens if your chest is 1 foot from the steering wheel when it goes off.

Good point. My car's 20 years old, so I don't really have to worry about that.
Also, I drive with the seat all the way back and I can still touch the wheel with my elbows .

 

[puricele7e]

I wonder why Americans and Canadians prefer ATs....even on small, cheap cars.....only because of traffic jams and stop and go driving ?

Or because they developed the AT first and never thought why would they even try to drive MT.....It's pretty concerning ......

 

[Blake]

I'm a learner driver. Before I officially started learning, my dad gave me a few lesson on how to drive a munual in a car park in Europe, which helped me alot. In my first 6 lessons (I can only get lessons from licenced instructors, my dad's in europe and my mums car doesn't have insurance) I never stalled it, then in the next few lessons I stalled about 10 times . The driving instructor was like: what happened, you had it going so well, now you're just f'ing up. (He is very liberal in his speach).

Speaking of which I;ve got another lesson tomorrow, yay!

Blake

 

[DQuaN]

One thing I am noticing on all of your descriptions is that you take the hand brake off before you put the car in gear. I was always taught never to do this.

Seat belt on
Start Car
Foot on clutch
Engage 1st Gear
Check mirrors
hand brake off
easy off clutch until biting point
onto accelarator

Vice versa when you come to a stop:

Brake until the car stops,
put the hand brake on,
then take the car out of gear.

 

[T5-R]

I'm a learner driver. Before I officially started learning, my dad gave me a few lesson on how to drive a munual in a car park in Europe, which helped me alot. In my first 6 lessons (I can only get lessons from licenced instructors, my dad's in europe and my mums car doesn't have insurance) I never stalled it, then in the next few lessons I stalled about 10 times . The driving instructor was like: what happened, you had it going so well, now you're just f'ing up. (He is very liberal in his speach).

Speaking of which I;ve got another lesson tomorrow, yay!

Blake

Hehe sounds similar to what I did in a short phase when I was learning, I was perfectly fine using the clutch before & after but for about a month anytime I wanted to set off quick I kept releasing the clutch & not pressing the accelerator hard enough. Don't know why I did it but it really wound the instructor up Only stalled it a few times during that phase but I was oooh so close sooo many times It was a diesel which is probably why, but christ it was slow & as soon as you put your foot down the good old diesel engine noise reared its ugly head.

 

[PublicSecrecy]

Does the gearbox or tranny take any particular damage if you release the clutch too fast or anything like that?

 

[Blake]

One thing I am noticing on all of your descriptions is that you take the hand brake off before you put the car in gear. I was always taught never to do this.

Seat belt on
Start Car
Foot on clutch
Engage 1st Gear
Check mirrors
hand brake off
easy off clutch until biting point
onto accelarator

Vice versa when you come to a stop:

Brake until the car stops,
put the hand brake on,
then take the car out of gear.

Same.

Blake

 

[T5-R]

Does the gearbox or tranny take any particular damage if you release the clutch too fast or anything like that?

Well it you release the clutch too quickly without pressing the accelerator down to compensate you can hear the engine get 'fidgety' & the car may start to 'wobble' then if you don't do anything it stalls (of course it depends what car it is too). Whether that damages anything I'm not sure, but if it was anything significant I'm sure it would be well known. However if you stalled a car too often I think it 'floods' (although that might only be for carb cars) the engine & you may have trouble starting it, but I've never had that so I wouldn't know. I'm sure someone on these boards knows all the facts on this.

However sticking the car accidently into 3rd gear when you intended to put it into 5th at 70mph gives a good chance of damaging the car thankfully I only did that in the 'namby pamby' learner diesel clio with its vague gear change (or so I think). Haven't done it with my car & I much prefer the gearchange in that even though it feels like I'm driving a bus...

 

[PublicSecrecy]

hehehehe, you don't have to worry about trecherous downshifts in a rotary. It's weird, because in their prime, the engine is practically indestructable but when it reaches so many miles/km's it explodes! I think someone redlined one for half an hour before it finally blew.

 

[DQuaN]

Does the gearbox or tranny take any particular damage if you release the clutch too fast or anything like that?

It shouldn't stress the gearbox too much, but it will wear out the clutch quicker.