Take off in manauls

[pcboy]

Hi guys, I've just rented a manual 2003 ford focus from rent a wreck. I want to learn manual on my own, since I've always been a fan of manuals.

Anyway, I have a few questions to the manual drivers out there.

How can I make my take off as smooth as an automatic car? I managed not to jerk a lot during take off, but there's always a 1-2 second delay from a completely stop. It's so hard to manage the clutch just right. Like, let's say on a red light, I can take off smoothly, if I get ready ahead of time by slowly releasing the clutch before the green light comes on. As soon as the car in front of me moves, I take off right away.

However, if I have to accelerate from a completely stop (like a left turn or stop sign), where I can't get ready ahead of time, then there's always a 2 second delay.

2nd, when I tried to take off on a hill, is it possible to take off without first roll back? I always have to use extra gas on a hill, can this be overcome with more practice?

To those who's thinking about getting a manual car, i'd say it's worth it. man, It's so much more fun, it took me a good 2-3 hrs, before I am road ready. It's easyto learn how to drive from point a to point b, but it takes time to make it smooth. When I drove the manual from Dupont street (the rental place) back to Scarberia, it was one hell of a ride.... I stalled atleast 2 times in busy traffic...., I pissed a lot of ppl off, ha ha.

[TheCheez]

However, if I have to accelerate from a completely stop (like a left turn or stop sign), where I can't get ready ahead of time, then there's always a 2 second delay.

This will come with practice once you know exactly where the clutch engages you can manage the gas and hit it quickly without over revving or stalling. If you want to learn this try getting the car moving without gas. Just manage the clutch slowly.



2nd, when I tried to take off on a hill, is it possible to take off without first roll back? I always have to use extra gas on a hill, can this be overcome with more practice?

To those who's thinking about getting a manual car, i'd say it's worth it. man, It's so much more fun, it took me a good 2-3 hrs, before I am road ready. It's easyto learn how to drive from point a to point b, but it takes time to make it smooth. When I drove the manual from Dupont street (the rental place) back to Scarberia, it was one hell of a ride.... I stalled atleast 2 times in busy traffic...., I pissed a lot of ppl off, ha ha.

On a hill you will always need more gas. You're trying to make the car do a lot more work than normal and also overcoming any roll back. On a steep hill you can put on the park brake then get the clutch/gas just right and release the brake. That'll help until you can get going quickly.

A manual is great until you get stuck in traffic or in smaller towns with lights every block.

[untaka]

If you pull the clutch out a little you will feel your car shake (Just before it stalls) at this point your car will not roll back. So when on a hill you can do this hold it there while you switch from brake to acceleration.

[ES_Revenge]

2nd, when I tried to take off on a hill, is it possible to take off without first roll back? I always have to use extra gas on a hill, can this be overcome with more practice?
You can "hold the car on the clutch" before driving off. That is let up on the clutch pedal until the clutch is slipping enough to hold the car on the incline without you touching the gas or brake. High performance/close tolerance clutches in some cars do not recommend doing this. For example I remember the Lancer Ralliart had this warning on the windshield from the factory saying "High performance clutch--do not hold the car on an incline using the clutch."

It's also not good to keep the clutch slipping like that (in any car) so don't do that the whole time you're stopped on the incline, perhaps just a few moments before you anticipate moving again. Obviously if you don't let off the pedal enough, you're going to roll back and if you release it too much you're going to stall on the hill. As the other poster said you have to learn where the clutch engagement is and hold the pedal there.

[M-e-X-x]

agreed with above, just takes practice... rolling back on a hill = no good obviously, try ur best to minimalize it to the point of no rollback period, just in case the person behind u stops closely behind ur ass right?

edit: don't forget about handbrake starts on a hill, learn the basics first

[pcboy]

Ok thanks all for the replies, I guess i need more practice to have a smoother take off.

what do you gusy mean by clutch slipping?


I heard mixed opinions on slowing down by downshift, is it good or bad? I've tried it on the highway a few times, thx

[ES_Revenge]

Ok thanks all for the replies, I guess i need more practice to have a smoother take off.

what do you gusy mean by clutch slipping?
Any time you have the clutch partially engaged (when your foot is on the pedal such that it's either not on the ground or not fully released) the clutch is slipping to some degree. That is, it's neither fully engaged nor disengaged--those two conditions are typically only at the ends of pedal travel (on the floor is completely disengaged, foot off the pedal is completely engaged).

If you don't slip the clutch at all, you'll engage it abruptly and without the RPM to allow for that, you'll stall the car. What you're doing when you slowly let up on the clutch is essentially controlling the clutch slip while you apply the throttle and [eventually] release the pedal altogether which engages the clutch fully allowing it to turn with the engine, without slippage.

When you're on a flat surface, you can release the clutch without touching the throttle and the car may start to move forward very slowly without stallling or it will shake and then stall as the other poster mentioned. Here the clutch is slipping (which again is not good to do for a long period of time). On the hill something similar happens but you release the pedal so the clutch is slipping just enough that the engine power that gets to the wheels is enough to hold it on the hill and not roll backwards and at the same time not enough to move forwards.