How to properly drive a stick...
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Newport News, Va
How to properly drive a stick... So I dont have very much experience driving stick, but I can drive it well for the most part. Well, I was testing out my friends 98 Mirage, and he was like fussing at me cuz I had the clutch pushed in at a stop light. He was telling me you need to put it in neutral at a stop and then when the light turns green put it in first again. What do yall think?
Also, How do LS1 M6s compare to other stick cars? Are they easier or harder to drive than most? Ive also driven an early 90s saturn stick car, and a late 80s Nova. The Mirage and the Nova were easy, but the Saturn was tough...
Also, How do LS1 M6s compare to other stick cars? Are they easier or harder to drive than most? Ive also driven an early 90s saturn stick car, and a late 80s Nova. The Mirage and the Nova were easy, but the Saturn was tough...
I find that I have a hard time driving small 4cyl cars because the lack of power and momentum means you need to masage the throttle more to get the car moving. Mine is very easy compared to any other car I have driven. The only thing that compared is my friends 5.0L Cobra. Now that I got my Textralia in, it seems like its even easier to drive! As for the stop light thing. Its just preferance. I take it out of gear and let out the clutch if I know I'm going to wait awhile, so I'm not tiring out my leg. I don't wait for the light to turn green before putting it in gear. If I do this then I scramble to get it in gear and end up jerking it off the line or worse stalling. I put it in gear a few seconds before the light turns green.
Ya, not good to ride the clutch,hard on the throw out bearing pressure plate & hydraulic's.
If your coming to a stop use neutral, then put in gear when needed. Cant really compair front wheel remote mounted shifter 4 cylinders to a RWD V-8 car. But they all feel close to same(RWD) The only diffences I run into is the clutch feel.
If your coming to a stop use neutral, then put in gear when needed. Cant really compair front wheel remote mounted shifter 4 cylinders to a RWD V-8 car. But they all feel close to same(RWD) The only diffences I run into is the clutch feel.
My LS-1 is the hardest manual to drive nicely. I used to own a 4 cyl MX-6 and the Mazda puts in a killer low gear, the car almost couldn't stall. The Camaro has a much taller 1st gear and by comparison it requires much more pedal care than other compact cars I have driven. I realize I am stating the opposite of Ferocity02.
I find that since it has close ratios the normal RPM drop during a shift causes the car to lurch unless I add some gas, something a wider ratio does not do.
I find that since it has close ratios the normal RPM drop during a shift causes the car to lurch unless I add some gas, something a wider ratio does not do.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 52
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From: Phoenix
I learned to drive on (my) '72 El Camino with a manual clutch setup. Talk about tough - you have to be in good shape just to get the clutch down.
That said, I find the LS1 cars very easy to drive due to the hydraulic clutch, but I've never really had any problems driving other cars, either. Just keep driving and practicing and you'll get a good feel for what you can and can't get away with when shifting.
Ryan
That said, I find the LS1 cars very easy to drive due to the hydraulic clutch, but I've never really had any problems driving other cars, either. Just keep driving and practicing and you'll get a good feel for what you can and can't get away with when shifting.
Ryan
for new stick drivers 4 cyl are good to larn on but after your used to driving your v-8, they're harder to drive. 4cyl rev really fast compared to v-8s.
i recommend not to do any hard shifting in your ls1 until you get used to it for a couple weeks.
i recommend not to do any hard shifting in your ls1 until you get used to it for a couple weeks.
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 58
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I was just thinking about posting a similar thread the other day!
I always put her in neutral when I know I'm going to be stopped for more than a few seconds.
If I'm at a light, I'll push the clutch in and put it in 1st when I see the cross traffic light turn yellow (if I can see).
How many of you downshift when braking? I always do (good/bad?). I have pretty good brake wear, and my stock clutch disc still had almost 1/8" of material on either side before I replaced it with a SPEC III after 90k.
I always put her in neutral when I know I'm going to be stopped for more than a few seconds.
If I'm at a light, I'll push the clutch in and put it in 1st when I see the cross traffic light turn yellow (if I can see).
How many of you downshift when braking? I always do (good/bad?). I have pretty good brake wear, and my stock clutch disc still had almost 1/8" of material on either side before I replaced it with a SPEC III after 90k.
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Verdad Gallardo I have pretty much stopped downshifting while braking. Revving it at high RPM and no load will probably drive up oil consumption. I just coast and push in the clutch as the RPMs hit 1000 or so and then put it in neutral and let the clutch out again. I am paranoid about thrust bearing wear. I only keep the clutch pedal down for a few seconds at a time.
Originally Posted by Just Floor It
So I dont have very much experience driving stick, but I can drive it well for the most part. Well, I was testing out my friends 98 Mirage, and he was like fussing at me cuz I had the clutch pushed in at a stop light. He was telling me you need to put it in neutral at a stop and then when the light turns green put it in first again. What do yall think?
Also, How do LS1 M6s compare to other stick cars? Are they easier or harder to drive than most? Ive also driven an early 90s saturn stick car, and a late 80s Nova. The Mirage and the Nova were easy, but the Saturn was tough...
Also, How do LS1 M6s compare to other stick cars? Are they easier or harder to drive than most? Ive also driven an early 90s saturn stick car, and a late 80s Nova. The Mirage and the Nova were easy, but the Saturn was tough...
He's concerned about his throwout bearing... While you are idling with the clutch pushed in, you have the throwout bearing under load. Over much time, the bearing will wear out sooner.
Originally Posted by transam1998
He's concerned about his throwout bearing... While you are idling with the clutch pushed in, you have the throwout bearing under load. Over much time, the bearing will wear out sooner.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Blairsville, GA
Lot of good tips here for new M6 owners. The 2.66:1 1st gear calls for more finesse when taking off, but once you're off, the rest is just second nature if you've ever driven, or seen someone drive, a manual trans.
The only vehicle I've owned that's easier to drive than the WS6 has to be our '85 Jeep CJ-7. That's only because it has a 4.03:1 1st gear and 4.56s in the axles.
The only vehicle I've owned that's easier to drive than the WS6 has to be our '85 Jeep CJ-7. That's only because it has a 4.03:1 1st gear and 4.56s in the axles.
For what it's worth... I don't know too many people that have worn out the thrust bearing in an ls1 car before the clutch was shot.... and usually you replace everythign every time you are in there. Hence why i really don't concern myself with throw out bearing wear. If I see a light turning red, I usually pop my car in neutral and coast to the light where I have to stop.. I never compression breake the car. no need to beat the motor for nothing. I'll then put teh car in gear and wait for the light to turn green... wether it be 5 seconds, a minute, whatever.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Diego/Schertz,Texas
Originally Posted by SIK02SS
for new stick drivers 4 cyl are good to larn on but after your used to driving your v-8, they're harder to drive. 4cyl rev really fast compared to v-8s.
i recommend not to do any hard shifting in your ls1 until you get used to it for a couple weeks.
i recommend not to do any hard shifting in your ls1 until you get used to it for a couple weeks.
IMO the LS1 is one of the easiest sticks to drive, just slowly let out the clutch, and the torque makes it move with no gas required. Compared to the little 4 cyl I had this is a cinch to drive.
I usually put the clutch in, and leave it there for the duration of the light, never had a problem with wearing out the throw out bearing in any manual I've ever had.
Downshifting when going around a turn, sometimes yes sometimes no, it's cheaper and easier to replace brake pads than a clutch, so take that FWIW
The biggest problem IMO is the stock shifter, it's like stirring a bucket of rocks with a stick, no real sense of what gear you're in, get one of the short sticks (UMI or Lous) and the stock Hurst is pretty good.
To re iterate, practice your 2-3 shift ALOT before you try it at redline, unless you like checking/replacing pushrods
I usually put the clutch in, and leave it there for the duration of the light, never had a problem with wearing out the throw out bearing in any manual I've ever had.
Downshifting when going around a turn, sometimes yes sometimes no, it's cheaper and easier to replace brake pads than a clutch, so take that FWIW
The biggest problem IMO is the stock shifter, it's like stirring a bucket of rocks with a stick, no real sense of what gear you're in, get one of the short sticks (UMI or Lous) and the stock Hurst is pretty good.
To re iterate, practice your 2-3 shift ALOT before you try it at redline, unless you like checking/replacing pushrods
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Long Island, NY
Originally Posted by 2K2WS6TA
IMO the LS1 is one of the easiest sticks to drive, just slowly let out the clutch, and the torque makes it move with no gas required. Compared to the little 4 cyl I had this is a cinch to drive.
I agree...when pulling away from a light when the road is crowded and moving slowly i usually don't even touch the gas pedal in my GTO until the clutch is all the way engaged. Torque is a beautiful thing.
try that in a gutless 4 cylinder.as for waiting at lights.....i usually coast down to the light in whatever gear i was last cruising in (except 6th of course, i'll drop it to 5th) and then throw it into neutral at around 20 mph (when the tach drops to around 1000-1100 RPM).
FWIW, I usually leave the clutch in at red lights, unless I'm waiting for a train or something. My stock slave (and clutch and pilot bearing) lasted 87K miles, but I've never done any hard launches in the car, so that probably counts for something.
-Mike
-Mike
i have driving TONS of manual transmission cars and i will say that the LS1 M6 is very easy to drive.
one of the hardest cars i drive that was a manual was my friends 94 ford probe.
easiest car i drove was another friends 96 sebring
one of the hardest cars i drive that was a manual was my friends 94 ford probe.
easiest car i drove was another friends 96 sebring
I thought my stock 2002 was hard to drive. Then the 4.10s made it a breeze. Then the cam made it tough to drive again.
Anyway, I like to put it in neutral when i can to save wear on the T/O bearing and pressure plate and everything else. Not to mention if you ever get rearended, or if youre severely allergic to the bee that just flew in the window and you accidentally take your foot off the clutch, you wont lunge forward.
Anyway, I like to put it in neutral when i can to save wear on the T/O bearing and pressure plate and everything else. Not to mention if you ever get rearended, or if youre severely allergic to the bee that just flew in the window and you accidentally take your foot off the clutch, you wont lunge forward.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: St. Clair Shores Mi.
Everybodies opinion on this subject will be different.
Do I Know how to properly drive a manual transmision car ?
I Guess I do,
I have 102,000 on the original clutch and it still grabs great.
Sometimes I put it in Neutral at stops and sometimes I don't.
I always downshift (Compression brake) the Car, I sometimes let the clutch out with No throttle input (Torque is a wonderfull thing)
I have Never dumped it at mile high RPM But I don't Baby it either.
Clutch has only slipped bad on me a couple of times because of the shitty Hydraulics.
Do I Know how to properly drive a manual transmision car ?
I Guess I do,
I have 102,000 on the original clutch and it still grabs great.
Sometimes I put it in Neutral at stops and sometimes I don't.
I always downshift (Compression brake) the Car, I sometimes let the clutch out with No throttle input (Torque is a wonderfull thing)
I have Never dumped it at mile high RPM But I don't Baby it either.
Clutch has only slipped bad on me a couple of times because of the shitty Hydraulics.