Hey,

I just picked up my brand spanking new Blue Honda Fit LX, it is awsome. I got a manual though and well I am not the greatest manual driver, today marks the third time I have ever driven manual actually. I forgot to shift back into first at one light and got the car going with some coxing in 4th (after stalling twice I think, Doh!), is this really bad or just something I obviously shouldnt do again? I figure it really isnt a big deal but it cant be good. Also how bad is it to sit with the clutch at the friction point when waiting for a light because right now my biggest problem is coming off the clutch too fast in first and stalling it. Thanks and hot damn it is everything I had hoped for.

 

about the worst damage you did was burn a bunch of gas you get used to it quickly like a week and youll be a pro some guys on here say its hard to drive a manual cuz of the drive by wire throttle but everytime ive driven one its not an issue at all making smooth shifts theyre just noobs wait till the first time you go from 5th gear to 2nd lol that will scare the shit outa you its due to happen in about a week and a half good luck young paduan

 

Practice, practice...
Take it out in the country for a long drive and get used to your new car.
Not too good of an idea to "ride" the clutch though.
Just have fun and put some miles on your new car...

 

Yeah, like they said, you didn't hurt the car starting in 4th; you're acceleration is just pathetic, that's all. Still, you don't want to keep doing it.

Sitting with the clutch at the friction point, however, is a major no-no, period. You keep doing that and you're clutch will be history in no time. The only time you have your foot on the clutch is when you're shifting or starting from a stop. You also won't hurt anything if you're holding the clutch in for short periods of time -- like maybe waiting for a car to quickly pass before turning onto a street; long periods though will wear your throwout bearing eventually, so don't sit at a light or in stopped traffic with the clutch in the whole time. My suggestion, go out to a big empty parking lot and practice your starts till they become smooth. You'll get it eventually, but it just takes time. It'll help a lot though if you have a friend or family member who drives MT go along with you to give you pointers as you practice. In the end though, it's just time and practice that get results.

 

Agree 100%. Your foot should either have the clutch down all the way or be off of it. When you take your foot off, do it smoothly, but don't let it sit with it pushed halfway down.
It's like driving down the freeway with the brake pedal pushed halfway - your brake pads wouldn't last too loing in that case either.....

 

Thanks guys that helps alot. Drove her today and no problems just a little over revving but I think that is ok for now. Settled my nerves, didnt want to have done some kinda serious damage to my car on the first day.

 

If you don't mind I would like to ask a slightly different question rather start a new thread. I'm also a noob at manual and this is my first manual car. I've gotten past the point of having smooth upshifts, but I'm trying to learn heal & toeing. Since this car rev hangs, it's easy to downshift while accelerating, but when I brake for a corner there is no rev hang (which is expected). So how do people who don't heal & toe approach a corner? So far I can only come up with 3 different scenarios: Downshift, brake, then turn the corner. Brake, turn the corner, then downshift. Brake, ride the clutch around turn, then gas at the apex. I do the last of the three scenarios. I'm not sure which is the best option. Since I drove auto for a long time, and I would be more comfortable braking first.
The other part of my question is how do you learn to heal & toe when no one around you has ever heard of it? I can't ask a friend to show me, but I do watch all of the youtube videos. Also, how long did it take you guys to learn it (speaking to the ones who do it)?

 

I tend to do the last one as well, and I think that's probably true for most people also in normal city driving. On a track though, not good. I also want to learn to heel-toe and I've tried it a few times for turns where no one was around to put into risk, and it was sloppy at best though I did pull it off 2-3 times. The street is just not the place to practice that I'd say, you really to go to a track, or somewhere where there's just nobody around. In my case, I tend to slam the brakes when I go to blip the gas, so best that nobody's behind me. At some point I think I'll take some classes at the local track here eventually and get some pro advice.