Man this is probably one of the most stupid questions ever. I have been driving a manual for about 2 YEARS now, and can't really seem to learn on when to clutch. I mean I drove a hatchback civic, but it was really weak so it worked perfectly with everything stock. Now that I own a ix, I don't want to mess up the clutch because the car is much more powerful. This is my driving style.

When I am at around 40 mph and predict I will probably need to break, I automatically press the clutch all the way down, then I either break or put it into neutral and come to a stop.

My question is, am I "riding the clutch" if I just hold on it with the gear in and somethings no breaking? I guess the main question is, is holding on the clutch a lot going to mess it up?

Another question is when you want to downshift to break (because i'm still in the break-in process), how do you know when to downshift.

Oh and when do you guys recommend for the first oil change. I am at around 500 miles.

I know these are stupid questions, but I just wanna know. Thanks in advance

 

http://www.standardshift.com/videos.html

No that is not riding the clutch. Riding the clutch is when you are in gear and you have your foot resting on the clutch pedal OR slipping the holy hell out of the clutch and not letting it fully engage.

Well its about feel, and knowing your RPMs.

Id say between 500-1000 miles for that oil change.

 

this might sound too simple..but the only time you want to depress the clutch is when you're changing gears for daily driving.

When you're racing /taking corners, it's better for the drivetrain to revmatch when you're going into lower gears.
This does take some practice to do it properly without over reving or under reving.

BTW, depressing the clutch while in gear will wear out your clutch faster.

 

Im with you 19psi here. But many of us rev match on the street - I do every shift. Saves the dt and clutch a little bit more - and well its 2nd nature after you get it down.

 

I agree with you.
I rev match pretty every time here too.
You just need to practice and practice and later on you will do it without even thinking about it.

 

As long as your foot isn't resting on the clutch while driving you shouldn't be 'riding it' like the other member said. So holding in the clutch at a light, or having it in neutral should be cool. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is downshifting to slow the car down. Its better to eat up 300$ brakes than a 2k tranny or clutch. The less wear you place on the more expensive items in the car, the better IMO. Oh, and change your oil every 3k at least, & check it periodically.

 

You should minimize the time you have the clutch depressed. If you are at a stoplight, the car should be in neutral with the clutch out rather than in-gear with the clutch depressed.

Personally, when I am approaching a stoplight, I just let off the gas and start braking, keeping the car in gear and letting the engine slowly lose revs. When I am down to about 10 mph, I depress the clutch and put the car in neutral and come to a stop.

As for the oil change, the manual states either 3500 miles or 5000 miles, depending on your driving style. It really is unnecessary to change it before then if it is just a street-driven near-stock car.

 

thanks for all the replies.

What exactly is rev-match?

Is it when you gas, while the clutch is depressed, and then let it go so it would be a smooth drive?

Thanks again.

 

Its brake, not break. Don't break your brakes, especially during break in.

 

I usually like to blip the throttle between shifts to keep it really smooth. I think this would help conserve the clutch.

 

the oil change i just got my MR and did my oil change when i hit 2000... my friend told me do it at 1500... for the first one... but i was busy so mines was down at 2000... at the dealer they only charged me 9.75 sinc ei had my own oil and filter...

 

yea but like what he asked... what exactly is rev-match?... i don't really understand... and this is my first turbo car... EVO- greatest ever....

 

rev matching is matching drivetrain speeds to engine speeds on a downshift. It consists of bliping the throttle while downshifting as not to buck the car when releasing the clutch pedal, or as not to ride the cluth out slowy.