ok, i just bought a ralliart 5spd last friday, the dealer is ordering it for me and they should be calling me tomorrow telling me when i can pick it up.

i have never driven a 5 speed before, i know how everything works in theory, and i consider myself to be somewhat of a 'technically geared person'... im sure it will be a learning experience and probably feel nothing like i have imagined.

is there any sugguestions anyone has that could benifit a newbie such as myself?

any pointers, sugguestions, or comments would be appreciated.

thanks

 

Maybe you can ask the dealership to let you rent a regular Lancer or other manual car for a few days, or rent from a rental agency. Only would cost you $100 or so, and you'd get quite a bit of practice. Worst case, you could enroll in a driving school.

I'll say this. I've learned how to drive a stick solely from test drives. Just watch what you learn on. The first stick I ever drove was an '88 Lotus Esprit, which was the crankiest thing on the planet. But some of my earlier drives were the Mini Cooper S, and Honda S2000, which completely hid my newbiness to rowing my own.

You should really have it down by the end of the week. Practice starting on an incline, attempt to do parallel parking in an empty parking lot, and all the other basic stuff. You'll have to do it all eventually, and better to learn when the worst you could do is drive over a painted line.

 

thanks for the sugguestions, is there anything i should avoid so i dont burn my clutch out or do something stupid?

 

just dont get too hard on the gas while clutching so you dont buck.also just bring a friend who know how to drive manual as a back up.

 

The Evo should get up and going well enough at 1500-2000 rpm. Just give it a bit of gas before you let up on the clutch pedal. Though I think with the Evo you really shouldn't care much for complete smoothness, so I wouldn't bother slipping it too much for a smooth engagement.

That and make sure you use the dead pedal. Don't rest your foot on the clutch pedal unless you want to replace your clutch more often than normal. If you have trouble starting on hills for a while, use your handbrake to hold yourself there while you get going.

That's about it from me. I don't drive a manual often enough. The regulars here would probably offer better advice.

 

I learned on my friend's truck but the way he taught me made it easy for me (I have tried with other friends but I always kept stalling). This was how he taught me:

1. Don't even think about the gas pedal, just concentrate on the clutch. Get in 1st gear and just slowly let out the clutch and you will feel the sweet spot. Eventually the car will accelerate slowly.

2. This is not the fastest way to accelerate but do this several times to get a feel for the clutch. DO NOT even press the gas, just practice slowly letting out the clutch. The key word is SLOWLY!

3. Eventually you will get a feel for the sweet spot. Now we bring the gas pedal into the equation. Give a constant amount of gas, I think the first time, I stayed around 2,000rpm and now while holding the revs at 2,000rpm slowly let the clutch out and you will accelerate out faster.

4. Do that many times and eventually you will notice that you can accelerate much faster than from step 1.

 

you'll be fine, when i first got my wrangler i basically jumped in it and started driving... Def. wasn't the smoothest and my sister was laughing at me, but you'll def. have it down after practicing a few days.

 

k, thanks everyone for the input.
regards

 

Just takes practice. You'll get the hang of it within the first few hours and be a pro within a few days... Well maybe not a pro, but you get the idea. Best of luck to you!

-=RoscoES=-

 

Bring a friend who has drives manual, and do what sophis said; learning the clutch is much more important than using the gas.

 

It's all on how smooth you let the clutch out.

 

well my dad took me out today to learn in his audi TT he figures since he only has a 3 year lease and free maintainance, its better for me to put some wear on his clutch than my car which im buying...

anyways it felt a little different than i had imagined... i didnt stall the first time but i did several times later... shifting is easy for me, just starting from a stop, especially a hill is kind of bumpy...

i guess ill get the feel of it with time

 

i was just like you when i learned but i got the hang of it. it just takes time and practice
Good luck