AquaMaiden
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I'm going to be learning how to drive a stick pretty soon so I was wondering if anyone got some great tips to make it easier, hmm? I will be driving a '95 Honda Civic HB tho.
Tips on driving a stick?
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AquaMaiden said:I'm going to be learning how to drive a stick pretty soon so I was wondering if anyone got some great tips to make it easier, hmm? I will be driving a '95 Honda Civic HB tho.
Actually, I have one request for you. Please call me when you begin driving the car so I can stay off the streets.
F
Freaky
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Banjo said:Actually, I have one request for you. Please call me when you begin driving the car so I can stay off the streets.
You're not helping at all, Banjo!!
sablescort
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Driving a stick is pretty simple if u know a few basic rules to it:
1) There's an additional pedal to the left of the brake pedal. It's for the clutch
2) When starting a stick shift car for the 1st time, push the clutch pedal FIRST before u start the car. (It's to prevent the car from going forward with the clutch engaged-u dont want to end up hitting anything if that ever happened!)
3) It takes COORDINATION between your left foot (clutch), right foot (gas), right hand (the shifter) to make a smooth, not jerky move. When u move the clutch, do it slowly at the same time u push the gas with ur right foot. That way u don't kill the motor if u pull the clutch without feeding it a bit of gas.
4) Stick shifts are a bitch to move when ur on top of a HILL. I have a much easier way to move a stick-shift when on a hill if u have a E-brake in the car. What I do is pull the E-brake after stopping on the top of the hill. then when its time to go, I move the E-brake down SLLLOOOWWLY at the same time I let the clutch out and feed the gas. It takes practice, but u will get used to it.
5) Watch your RPMS -I shift up on my ZX2 Escort between 3,500 to 5,000 RPM all the way to the 5th gear. There are other methods to knowing when to shift up or down: If ur motor vibrates thru the floor, then its time to shift up. Another is a "SHIFT" or up-arrow light that lights up on the dash to let u know when its time to change gears. When its time to down-shift for example 5th to 4th, I would usually shift when the RPM's drop way down to 2K.
6) At a stoplight, keep ur clutch-pedal pushed in or put the stick in "N" so the motor doesn't stall on you.
7) When parking a stick-shift, I like to keep the shifter locked in Reverse not Neutral because if I forget to pull the E-brake before getting out of the car, it may roll forward or backwards when its on N. Putting it on Reverse locks the trans and keeps the car from rolling and adds extra security to the E-brake.
8) Shifter patterns VARY between cars. What my ZX2 Escort's shift pattern would be like goes:
1 3 5
2 4 R
On some cars it may go like this: (That was from my '85 Dodge Daytona)
R(Pull ring at bottom of shifter to engage) 1 3 5
2 4
The pattern is usually on top of the shifter. Study it and get familiarized with the pattern until u can remember which gear it is supposed to go.
And I should add that stick shifts are great when it comes to either a dead battery or starter. U dont have to jump start the car if the battery went dead on you. What I usually do to start a stick shift goes like: 1) Turn the ignition switch on but DONT start the car yet. 2) Have someone push you while u have the clutch pedal pushed in and the sifter in 1st gear. When the car reaches about 5 to 10 mph, just let the clutch out quickly and the car should start by itself! Use that ONLY as a last resort if you dont have a jumper cable. I started my POS '85 Dodge Daytona that way for 5 months after its starter died and I couldn't afford a new one.
This comes from 14 years stick shift experience and 5 stick shift cars that I have owned and driven myself.
Hope this helps
1) There's an additional pedal to the left of the brake pedal. It's for the clutch
2) When starting a stick shift car for the 1st time, push the clutch pedal FIRST before u start the car. (It's to prevent the car from going forward with the clutch engaged-u dont want to end up hitting anything if that ever happened!)
3) It takes COORDINATION between your left foot (clutch), right foot (gas), right hand (the shifter) to make a smooth, not jerky move. When u move the clutch, do it slowly at the same time u push the gas with ur right foot. That way u don't kill the motor if u pull the clutch without feeding it a bit of gas.
4) Stick shifts are a bitch to move when ur on top of a HILL. I have a much easier way to move a stick-shift when on a hill if u have a E-brake in the car. What I do is pull the E-brake after stopping on the top of the hill. then when its time to go, I move the E-brake down SLLLOOOWWLY at the same time I let the clutch out and feed the gas. It takes practice, but u will get used to it.
5) Watch your RPMS -I shift up on my ZX2 Escort between 3,500 to 5,000 RPM all the way to the 5th gear. There are other methods to knowing when to shift up or down: If ur motor vibrates thru the floor, then its time to shift up. Another is a "SHIFT" or up-arrow light that lights up on the dash to let u know when its time to change gears. When its time to down-shift for example 5th to 4th, I would usually shift when the RPM's drop way down to 2K.
6) At a stoplight, keep ur clutch-pedal pushed in or put the stick in "N" so the motor doesn't stall on you.
7) When parking a stick-shift, I like to keep the shifter locked in Reverse not Neutral because if I forget to pull the E-brake before getting out of the car, it may roll forward or backwards when its on N. Putting it on Reverse locks the trans and keeps the car from rolling and adds extra security to the E-brake.
8) Shifter patterns VARY between cars. What my ZX2 Escort's shift pattern would be like goes:
1 3 5
2 4 R
On some cars it may go like this: (That was from my '85 Dodge Daytona)
R(Pull ring at bottom of shifter to engage) 1 3 5
2 4
The pattern is usually on top of the shifter. Study it and get familiarized with the pattern until u can remember which gear it is supposed to go.
And I should add that stick shifts are great when it comes to either a dead battery or starter. U dont have to jump start the car if the battery went dead on you. What I usually do to start a stick shift goes like: 1) Turn the ignition switch on but DONT start the car yet. 2) Have someone push you while u have the clutch pedal pushed in and the sifter in 1st gear. When the car reaches about 5 to 10 mph, just let the clutch out quickly and the car should start by itself! Use that ONLY as a last resort if you dont have a jumper cable. I started my POS '85 Dodge Daytona that way for 5 months after its starter died and I couldn't afford a new one.
This comes from 14 years stick shift experience and 5 stick shift cars that I have owned and driven myself.
Hope this helps
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AquaMaiden
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update
Finally drove a stick car few days ago for the first time - not bad as I thought it would be and whoever said it was the embrassing moment of your lifetime is pretty wrong, it's one of the greatest thing and many thanks to Shibby for it mwah!
Finally drove a stick car few days ago for the first time - not bad as I thought it would be and whoever said it was the embrassing moment of your lifetime is pretty wrong, it's one of the greatest thing and many thanks to Shibby for it mwah!
CatoCooper13
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I learnt stick shifting in my first car when I turned 18 --there's one other handy tip for those who have to drive up a very steep hill....be sure to shift down to a lower gear to ensure you have enough power to get up the hill. (Only in cases when the car is losing power going up, you know?)
Unfortunately, I'm speaking from experience -- ahem -- during my very first out of town drive in my car...I had taken a few friends with me and we had decided to have a night out in San Francisco and we all were about 50 miles north of SF. Highway 101 leading into SF via Marin County and Mill Valley....is a very hilly and steep area once very close to SF.
I was on the 2nd hill which was steeper than the first -- I hadn't realised that I had to shift down when my car began to slow down and reduced power. All my friends and I were starting to panic because we all thought my car had broken down or something. I was in the FAST lane, ehh...soon one of my friends had this seemingly brilliant idea at the time, for us all to try getting the car to go faster by us rocking the car back n forth...
Soon, I got pulled over by cops - shit, I just about crapped myself at that point! I was so embarrassed that I didn't pull over right away when my car began bleeding power and explained to them about what was happening.
The policeman was kind and tried not to laugh as he explained that I had to shift down in order to maintain the power and keep going up hill.
He let us all go -- and he was chuckling as he walked away!
What an experience and I will never forget about it.
Unfortunately, I'm speaking from experience -- ahem -- during my very first out of town drive in my car...I had taken a few friends with me and we had decided to have a night out in San Francisco and we all were about 50 miles north of SF. Highway 101 leading into SF via Marin County and Mill Valley....is a very hilly and steep area once very close to SF.
I was on the 2nd hill which was steeper than the first -- I hadn't realised that I had to shift down when my car began to slow down and reduced power. All my friends and I were starting to panic because we all thought my car had broken down or something. I was in the FAST lane, ehh...soon one of my friends had this seemingly brilliant idea at the time, for us all to try getting the car to go faster by us rocking the car back n forth...
Soon, I got pulled over by cops - shit, I just about crapped myself at that point! I was so embarrassed that I didn't pull over right away when my car began bleeding power and explained to them about what was happening.
The policeman was kind and tried not to laugh as he explained that I had to shift down in order to maintain the power and keep going up hill.
He let us all go -- and he was chuckling as he walked away!
What an experience and I will never forget about it.
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Ouch, Waterrats13!! I drove on the steepest hill....Leavenworth Rd. in SF...oh, man... it makes me hell nervous when I stop at the traffic light. Thank god, I don't do shift while I drive my car on that hill!!
Anyway, I tried to learn how to use shiftgear when I was late teenager. My dad instructed me how to drive that car. I did try it, but I was lousy at shifting gears. Then, he hollered at my face, "do not break the engine!" over and over until I finally fed up and gave up.
I have not learned how to use shift gear prior to today. How sad.
Anyway, I tried to learn how to use shiftgear when I was late teenager. My dad instructed me how to drive that car. I did try it, but I was lousy at shifting gears. Then, he hollered at my face, "do not break the engine!" over and over until I finally fed up and gave up.
I have not learned how to use shift gear prior to today. How sad.
CatoCooper13
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Tousi said:Ohhhhhh! THAT kind of a stick....Okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
You bad, Tousi!! :P I reckon you're craving for some of THAT specific action, hey?
CatoCooper13
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Tousi said:
You know that I was merely joking! :P 
javapride
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I was gonna play around with the *stick* on u guys but i got to cracking up on waterrats comment I remmied the story cuz that very same night i got a visit from her and lo and behold she was laughing and telling me the story cuz previously she was freaking out now she's not LOL!
Driving a stick is easy, but like everything, it takes practice. . .
Just remember one important thing, when clutching, press it ALL the way in, and let it ALL the way out, don't let the weight of your foot hold it down. . . you'll burn it up that way. . .
The only hard part really is getting the car moving. . . you just really need to know where your clutch engages and feather it, basically, just let it out say. . .probably 1/2 way (that's where it is on mine) and you'll get rolling as smoothly as you do in an automatic (granny shifter), then just let it out all the way. . .
Hills. . . well, like I said. . . just feather it, and give it a bit more gas than you normally do, once it's rolling forward, it's not a problem. . . just do it quickly so you don't hit the car behind you
Just remember one important thing, when clutching, press it ALL the way in, and let it ALL the way out, don't let the weight of your foot hold it down. . . you'll burn it up that way. . .
The only hard part really is getting the car moving. . . you just really need to know where your clutch engages and feather it, basically, just let it out say. . .probably 1/2 way (that's where it is on mine) and you'll get rolling as smoothly as you do in an automatic (granny shifter), then just let it out all the way. . .
Hills. . . well, like I said. . . just feather it, and give it a bit more gas than you normally do, once it's rolling forward, it's not a problem. . . just do it quickly so you don't hit the car behind you
Omega
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i have never drove a stick before but i plan to learn how from my friend, hes the expert in driving sticks...he drives a 1997 mustang GT and he races it when possible; i have ridden with him when he was racing....i'd suggest anybody who are scared of speed or gets scared easily to NOT ride with him..... :dj: :rl: 
:dj: :rl:
CatoCooper13
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Omega said:i have never drove a stick before but i plan to learn how from my friend, hes the expert in driving sticks...he drives a 1997 mustang GT and he races it when possible; i have ridden with him when he was racing....i'd suggest anybody who are scared of speed or gets scared easily to NOT ride with him.....
I LOVE speed! I'd ride just about EVERY FAST rollercoaster -- so therefore, I'd not mind riding in the mustang gt! Just buckle up well and hold tight! 
Y
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hahaha Believe it or Not ! when i was
only 16 years old with a brand new
drivers license i did NOT know how to
drive with a stick and my friend's parents
were selling an used Toyota Corolla with
that stick for a big bargain so I bought
that car even tho I did NOT know how
to drive with that stick hahah .. it was
a real bargain cheap and very good buy
so i forced myself to learn how to drive
funny thing they live on the hill ! that's
the most difficult to learn on the Hill ....
Luckily my ex-beau taught and showed me
how to drive
only 16 years old with a brand new
drivers license i did NOT know how to
drive with a stick and my friend's parents
were selling an used Toyota Corolla with
that stick for a big bargain so I bought
that car even tho I did NOT know how
to drive with that stick hahah .. it was
a real bargain cheap and very good buy
so i forced myself to learn how to drive
funny thing they live on the hill ! that's
the most difficult to learn on the Hill ....
Luckily my ex-beau taught and showed me
how to drive
Wolfboy
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I started driving shift when I was 7 in mexico. It takes time to learn so take your time.
Oh important advice is be calm while driving shift for the first time. If you are nervous at your first time you are bound to burn out the engine. So relax and always push the clutch if you gonna shift or stop other wise you will stall. You will do good. So good luck.
Oh important advice is be calm while driving shift for the first time. If you are nervous at your first time you are bound to burn out the engine. So relax and always push the clutch if you gonna shift or stop other wise you will stall. You will do good. So good luck.