stickshift questions

I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.

This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.

So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake
only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad
for the brake?

"Johnny" > wrote in message
om...
|I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
| drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
| get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
| the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
|
| This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
| street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
| stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
|
| So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake
| only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad
| for the brake?

You'll eventually get use to "feeling" if the engine is about to stall. The
e-brake trick is a common one...not to worry.

In article >,
says...
> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
>
> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
>
> So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake
> only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad
> for the brake?
>


You don't have to listen for it, you'll feel it. Seriously if a car
starts lugging there's no doubt about what it's doing.

Experience is the best teacher in this case and he's probably right on
the 20 hour thing.

Johnny wrote:
> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
>
> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
>
> So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake
> only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad
> for the brake?

I wouldn't say that it is bad for the brake unless this is happening
alot, but the effect on the clutch might be a different matter. The fact
that you need to use the e-brake is indicitave of poor clutching. Taking
too long to engage the clutch and start your forward movement could be
causing excessive wear. You should shoot for one second max from
beginning to engage to full engagement of the clutch even on a hill.
This will prevent you from rolling back once you get the hang of it.
It's probably better to chirp your tires a little rather than burn the
clutch. If the road you're practicing on is too steep than try a lower
grade until you feel more comfortable.

Even after years of driving a stick, I still feel uneasy when I drive
w/o a tach because I often tend to shift late and would suggest that you
try to get one installed if you can. Otherwise, as someone else
mentioned, eventually you get used to it and will just be able to feel
the engine. After a while, it's so natural that driving an automatic
will be unnerving.

Good luck

"Anoni Mouse" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Johnny wrote:

> I wouldn't say that it is bad for the brake unless this is happening
> alot, but the effect on the clutch might be a different matter.

I agree.

> The fact that you need to use the e-brake is indicitave of poor clutching.

Or indicative of early training in the use of the clutch. It is, admittedly,
the easiest way to get going when you don't have the various hand and foot
coordination efforts down pat.

Eventually, the OP will want to get to the point where he/she can sit on a
hill, gradually release the clutch to the point that it is engaging and
starting to slow down the engine a bit. Then, once ready to start out,
release the brake pedal and gently apply throttle to help the slipping
clutch keep the car from at least rolling back, and preferably moving
forward.

> If the road you're practicing on is too steep than try a lower
> grade until you feel more comfortable.

That's how I taught my daughter, and am now teaching my son, to perform this
admittedly tricky maneuver.

> Otherwise, as someone else
> mentioned, eventually you get used to it and will just be able to feel
> the engine.

Or know your vehicle well enough to not even feel or hear the engine. I can
shift either of my vehicles without looking down at the tach (one doesn't
have one) even with the radio going and the A/C blowing full blast.
Eventually, you just get a good feel for each vehicle and know about when to
shift subconciously.

Beware of anyone that attempts to get you to focus on shifting at a
particular RPM or particular speed (if you don't have a tach). I've watched
more than one person spend more time concentrating on the instrument panel
than the road in an attempt to not "burn out their engine" or, worse yet, to
"save gas".

Most modern engines have a cut-off to keep you from overrevving the engine.


--
Malcolm

> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
>
> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.

What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach?

> So, when I have to start uphill, I completely release the handbrake
> only when the car starts to inch forward. My question is: is this bad
> for the brake?

I doubt it. You're going so slow, it's not heating up the brakes at all.

(Larry Bud) writes:

> > I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
> > drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
> > get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
> > the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
> >
> > This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
> > street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
> > stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
>
> What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach?

Unfortunately, most of them. A tachometer is seen as an extra-cost
doodad, and a manual transmission as for the pathetically poor. It
seems that lots of cars with automatics come with a tach, though. At
one time, I wanted to order a manual Escort with a tach; I would have
had to order tilt wheel and cruise to get it, as I recall.

<snip>

--
-Stephen H. Westin
Any information or opinions in this message are mine: they do not
represent the position of Cornell University or any of its sponsors.

In ca.driving Larry Bud > wrote:
:> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
:> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
:> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
:> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
:>
:> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
:> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
:> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.

: What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach?

Probably some GM P.O.S.

The same company that would mate a foot-operated emergency brake with
a manual transmission (on the other hand, Ford this on one of my POS cars).

It must be an "American thing".

b.

In article > ,
Larry Bud > wrote:
>> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
>> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
>> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
>> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
>>
>> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
>> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
>> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
>
>What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach?

Econobox.

> wrote in message
...
> In ca.driving Larry Bud > wrote:
> :> I recently bought a car with a stickshift and I'm learning how to
> :> drive it. Someone told me it takes about 20 hours of city driving to
> :> get used to the stickshift, and I've probably spent only 2 hours on
> :> the street and 5 in an empty parking lot.
> :>
> :> This car has a VERY quiet engine and no tachometer, so even without
> :> street noise, it's very hard to tell when the engine is about to
> :> stall. And it's almost impossible on the street.
>
> : What kind of car has a manual trans and no tach?
>
> Probably some GM P.O.S.
>
> The same company that would mate a foot-operated emergency brake with
> a manual transmission (on the other hand, Ford this on one of my POS
> cars).
>
> It must be an "American thing".
>

Most manual trans Volvo 240 series came
with no tach, not a big deal, you only need a tach
if you are deaf, or unaware of what a car is supposed
to sound/feel like.

Bernard