So i've had my 15' Fit for around.....2 months now. I drove a 6MT GTI before, so I know how to drive pretty well.

However I find getting off in first a little tricky in this car.

I generally keep it under 2k when starting off, but you have to be SUPER gentle with releasing the clutch otherwise the RPM's drop drastically and it's much rougher.

Has anyone else experienced this, The clutch just feels so numb and i've never had this much trouble driving a MT. I mean I drive it fine....but still it just feels.....odd

anyone have any tips/techniques?

 

after 30 years of driving a manual, i will toot my own horn, and say that i am an expert...

that being said, when i first got my 6mt ex, i was dissapointed with the super light, vague feeling clutch. of course, mine had a weaker then normal pressure plate, and the clutch failed within 36 hours of purchasing the car...

i have 10k miles on the new clutch, and i am happy to say after it broke in, it is not vague/numb feeling anymore. yes, it still is very very light, but it is much more readable, both on upshifts and downshifts.

i'd suggest letting it break in for a 1~2 thousand miles (depending on city/highway driving), and it *should* be much better. good luck!

 

"I generally keep it under 2k when starting off, but you have to be SUPER gentle with releasing the clutch otherwise the RPM's drop drastically and it's much rougher."


I've never driven an MT Fit, but I know something about Japanese standard and sportbike motorcycles.

Motorcyclists who find the clutchwork tricky between first & second gear, and have rough getaways from a stop may be having this problem because they are being far too gradual.

Japanese bikes like to rev... startups and 1st-to-2nd shifts are far smoother and the bike behaves better when the rider gives it some throttle.

So, my suggestion is to give it more gas. This will feel and sound a little strange at first because that's not what you're used to, but try it for a day to give yourself a chance to get the hang of it, and see if that gives you smoother starts and shifts.

 

All of my Hondas have been happy with gradual/gentle clutch releases.

That said, my Fits have had strange, high clutch engagement points that I've always hated. Maybe you're just struggling to adjust to the GK's tendencies? I know I still bugger a start or two every few months from the lack of feel; even in my GE.

 

Takes some getting used to. My wife, VERY good at manuals, refuses to drive my Fit after her first drive. She hates the clutch. After having it since July, I now like it, but it took awhile.

 

Practice, it's weird, you'll get used to it. It's ok to slip the clutch a little in 1st, motor has no torque. Just keep speeding up your engagement while keeping it smooth until you find the sweet spot.

Mine felt better on my GE after it broke in too. It was a little weird for the first 5k miles or so, between that and getting used to the pedal travel, lack of feedback, and high engagement point. Now it's just muscle memory.

 

Every powertrain package is different. Stop comparing it to other rigs and just let your feet explore it and figure out what's right. It'll happen.

 

I think that a lot of cars are going for the extremely light hydraulic clutch which makes the clutch harder to use because you can't feel the engagement point through your shoe. My old VWs have clutches that, while not being heavy, are definitely feel-able through one's shoes. The straight-line cable actuators also makes for better clutch feel.

Before you start slipping the clutch to get smoother engagement remember that this leads to the clutch wearing out and that's an expensive repair! Better to practice to get quick engagement at low RPM than to rely on slippage to keep things smooth.

Sad to say, but manual transmissions will soon go the way of the manual spark advance and crank start. Not much attention is being paid to producing easy-to-use sticks and clutches these days.

 

I also find first a little odd, seems like either you need to go ridiculously slow and hold up people behind you or rev overly high. In some situations I still use it, but I have actually started using 2nd more, even from stops. It requires higher revs and I usually have to feather the clutch a bit, but once rolling the car accelerates smoothly.

 

After 48 years of manual transmission driving you'd think I'd be an expert but I'm not.

This transmission has taken a little getting used to and now I'm fine with it.

It's a bit of a Zen thing. Don't think about it too much, just do it, let the feeling guide you with the clutch and throttle. It will click in your mind and you won't have to think about it.

 

When I went for a test drive I stepped out of the car and told the dealer the clutch must be broken. It felt that soft.
Was thinking it won't release quick enough if I was to do a very quick shift.

 

I, too, have been driving standard for about 30 years. Took me a good month to get used to such a light clutch. I actually had more issues with transitioning smoothly to 2nd gear. It's been 4 months now and am "used to it" but am still learning how to shift this car, specifically: still learning how to accelerate to high rpm's and shift rapidly ... friggin clutch is so soft .... wonder if a heavier return spring would help?

 

I'm positive you have the same problem as I did with my GD. I suspect it's not the clutch but the accelerator you are having problems with. My previous car's accelerator was a throttle connected via a cable. The Fit is "drive by wire" which means the accelerator simply sends a control voltage to the computer which then opens the throttle accordingly.

Since these cars are geared towards fuel economy, you really have to press the pedal to get revs. Since I was used to the old mechanical throttle my mistake is that I wouldn't press the throttle enough in first and bog the engine. The next shifts are easy but first is a little tricky.

So the secret is to do like you are doing and to engage the clutch at about 2k RPM but as soon as you feel the uptake, really press the gas pedal as you release the clutch. It makes for a semi spirited takeoff but that's the nature of driving a light car, IMO. If you don't want to take off as fast, simply apply a little less gas and release the clutch more gradually but a really smooth and slow takeoff is harder than a moderate to fast takeoff in the Fit.

 

I've had my 6MT fit for a few days and although its still brand spanking new, I've notived this.

If i release the clutch slowly its smooth, if i gun it from a stop then it jerks a bit.
Upshifting, I have to rev the crap out of it to be a smooth transition(about 5000rpm), and when I downshift I release the clutch slowly(and give myself A LOT more room to slow down).

I havent driven manual for too long but once you figure how to shift and make everything smooth its still fun to drive.

 

I wonder if the Fit has a damper in the clutch master cylinder and/or a delay valve in the slave cylinder.
My Si had both and removing them improved the quick shifting and improved the feel.

 

no need to wonder. the fit has a CDV (clutch delay valve), it is on the end of the master cyl, in a big bulbous lump.

 

Maybe there is a CMC and a stainless steel clutch line that could be used to solve at least part of the problem.
I know people are mixing and matching these and make it work. Don't know the geometry of the one on the Fit though...
With the CDV I couldn't shift quickly at high RPMs. Was delaying the shifts too much and wouldn't go into the gear.

 

That was the first thing I replaced on my 08 S2000

 

Took me a while too. Been driving MT for over 30 years and I know each is different but dang, it took me about a month. Even now, I don't play music loud because I feel I have to be so much in tune with the engine. For me, I'm VERY gentle on the gas when just starting to engage it.

All said, I LOVE the MT on the Fit. It's really a pleasure and fun.

 

Update: when the light turns green, or you want to move forward from a stopsign, get the RPM's to 3000 then release the clutch as you give it gas.

I've noticed this the past few days. If you keep it under 2K, then the car will jerk a bit.

Hondas are meant to be driven at high RPM's. The higher you rev the engine, the smoother the drive.