NationStates Jolt Archive

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!
Use the clutch too much rather than not enough. Also steer clear of intersections at the top of hills. Rolling backwards when you stall sucks.

i have a manual neon. :) if you do it right you should have it down within 15-30 minutes. make sure you let the clitch out slowly. thats the main thing. when letting the clutch out too fast you will stall. letting it out too slow will rev the engine. try to find a balance between pressing the gas petal and letting out the clutch. hit the gas as you let the clutch out and it will grab. practice is the way to go, dont rush it :)

this is what threw me for the longest time

when you are starting the car moving in 1st gear you do not let the clutch all the way out before the car starts moving. you get it moving while the clutch is only partially engaged. it will take a couple tries to figure out just how much you should raise your foot but its MUCH easier than thinking that you take it all the way off before the car is moving. you dont even need to have your foot off the clutch before going on to 2nd, just make sure the car is moving 5-10 mph before you do.

Seriously, find a diagram of how this works. It will help you visualize what's happening.

You're trying to transmit power from the engine (via the accelerator) to the drive wheels. The clutch involves two plates, one on the engine side and one on the wheel side. When your clutch pedal is depressed the two plates are separated. The engine side is spinning and the wheel side is not.

So when you let out the clutch you need to apply more power (accelerator) and gently engage the two plates. Don't apply enough gas or engage the two plates to quickly and the car will stall. Embarrassing.

When in doubt, give it a little more power than you need, but always let out the clutch a little slowly. It is hard on the car to "slip" the clutch, but in short time you'll intuitively realize the minimum power to get the car in motion. It becomes intuitive quickly.

Most beginners have more trouble getting the car moving then they do shifting upwards once under speed.

I've taught lots of people to drive standard, they all get it after a little practice.

If you can't find it, grind it.

Seriously, find a diagram of how this works. It will help you visualize what's happening.

You're trying to transmit power from the engine (via the accelerator) to the drive wheels. The clutch involves two plates, one on the engine side and one on the wheel side. When your clutch pedal is depressed the two plates are separated. The engine side is spinning and the wheel side is not.

So when you let out the clutch you need to apply more power (accelerator) and gently engage the two plates. Don't apply enough gas or engage the two plates to quickly and the car will stall. Embarrassing.

When in doubt, give it a little more power than you need, but always let out the clutch a little slowly. It is hard on the car to "slip" the clutch, but in short time you'll intuitively realize the minimum power to get the car in motion. It becomes intuitive quickly.

Most beginners have more trouble getting the car moving then they do shifting upwards once under speed.

I've taught lots of people to drive standard, they all get it after a little practice.

Thanks. I'll make sure to look for one.

When you press the clutch you'll feel a bell curve of pressure (in the middle of the throw it's harder to push, at the ends it is easier). This is when the clutch is in contact between the engine and drive. This is the part of the clutch that you ease through on starts. If you think of the brake as a fulcrum(sp) to a see saw between your left and right foot that will give you a good guide to starts. It's not dead on, but it's a start (sorry, didn't mean to pun).

Also, DO NOT rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. You will burn it up.

You can hear the engine flatten out to tell you when to shift, plus a lot of cars have guides to when a good time to shift up is.

Best thing to do is take it out to an office park with a big lot on a Saturday and just practice. I have a friend who taught himself how to drive stick by circling his block. Once you get the hang of it it becomes second nature.

Switch it into first gear and hit the gas as hard as you can for long amounts of time. Make sure you give the people you drive by a friendy nudge with the front of the car.

When you press the clutch you'll feel a bell curve of pressure (in the middle of the throw it's harder to push, at the ends it is easier). This is when the clutch is in contact between the engine and drive. This is the part of the clutch that you ease through on starts. If you think of the brake as a fulcrum(sp) to a see saw between your left and right foot that will give you a good guide to starts. It's not dead on, but it's a start (sorry, didn't mean to pun).

Also, DO NOT rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. You will burn it up.

You can hear the engine flatten out to tell you when to shift, plus a lot of cars have guides to when a good time to shift up is.

Best thing to do is take it out to an office park with a big lot on a Saturday and just practice. I have a friend who taught himself how to drive stick by circling his block. Once you get the hang of it it becomes second nature.

what he said, especially the part about practicing in a big open space where you wont hit anything

my inlaws have an old tracker, damned thing drives like a truck from the 40s

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!

Practice stopping and going on an uphill road somewhere safe. Away from traffic.

Sorry, no tips here, but... a '96 Geo Tracker? Those things get *maybe* 10 miles per gallon, man.

step 1 grind the transmission on that thing till you need a new car.
step 2 buy an automatic

it is amazingly easy to drive standard.

the hardest part will be starting in first gear. Lift your foot off the clutch slowly and lower your foot on the accel. at the same time. If the car begins to buck, press down on the clutch and let it up slower.

Beware of hills. if you HAVE to start on one, give alot of gas to begin with. It will help prevent you from stalling, and will reduce how far you roll back.

If all else fails, pull over and let people go around you. The hardest thing is that people begin to panic, and therefore rush and mess up more. If the car stalls, relax. It isnt the end of the world. take a deep breath, start it back up and try again.

Practical and usable method for learning to drive a manual transmission.

-Start in a parking lot or other open area.
-Put the clutch in and put the car in first gear, then forget about the shift lever.
-The idea is to learn how to use the clutch, worry about shifting gears later.
-Practice starting and driving, getting used to the way the car responds to engine speed using only first gear and getting the technique of starting without stalling mastered. Don't forget to put the clutch in when stopping before it stalls.
-Once you can start and stop smoothly and putt around in first gear comfortably then you can move on to shifting gears.

Trust me on this one, I've been driving 28 years and have taught over a dozen people to drive a manual transmission

The most effective way to learn to drive a manual is by yourself - no audience to embarrass you and increase the pressure. This is unlikely to be an option if you're anywhere that requires someone sitting next to you while you learn. I had lessons but it wasn't until I was out on my own that I really learnt how to do it properly.

My preference was always for handbreak starts -- most people hate them but it's easier to not stall or roll backwards.

Put on the handbreak, press the accelerator lightly, start coming off the clutch until the car feels like it wants to roll forward then gently take off the handbreak. If the car is pulling really hard before you take off the handbreak, DO NOT take it off or you'll jump forward far too quickly, take your foot off the accelerator in panic and then stall anyway. Instead, just ease back on the accelerator a bit so that you take off slowly when the handbreak comes off.

My preference was always for handbreak starts -- most people hate them but it's easier to not stall or roll backwards.



Ugh...handbreak starts. Thank god my handbreak doesnt work (yeah, I know. I should get it fixed. but it is a Nissan truck. Did anyone even know that Nissans made trucks?)

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!

Let out the clutch slowly as you SLOWLY press the accelerator. Don't try stopping on hills unitl you are in very good control on level ground. It's like riding a bike. Once you learn how you'll never forget. Good luck and don't forget to buckle up.

Don't you learn this in driving school?

Here, if you get your driver's licence with an automatic, your licence is only valid for cars that are automatics. So almost everyone gets their licences on manuals as that means they can drive both if they please and most people also end up driving manuals because they're accustomed to them.

Personally, I can't stand automatics. They just don't feel right.

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!
1. Find a huge parking lot.

2. Be patient with yourself until you get a "feel" for how the gears mesh.

3. Go very, very slow.

:D

I've got a 96 Geo Tracker with a manual transmission and I am learning to drive it this weekend. Any tips on what I should know to make my learning experience embarrass me as little as possible? And how I can keep myself from stalling every other time I am in control of the thing?

Thanks!

Take it somewhere off-road, and play with it until you catch the "feel". Driving a clutch is more about reading the feel of the vehicle than anything you can pick up from written words. when I get into an automatic now, I find my foot looking for the clutch and my hand looking for the shifter.
Clutch-driving isn'tthat difficult, you just have to get 'smooth' in your movments.

Oh, and everyone who learns a clutch, does embarassing things the first time.

Thanks for all the help.

About the question on whether I was taught this at driving school, I was taught on an automatic, in driving school, and in Maine at least I am licensed to drive both.