[bwana]

i am new to subies and am just getting used to an 08 sti. The steering is still tight and the car feels like it's on rails (800 miles). my question has to do with a mundane simple issue-getting started. How much clutch slippage is ok when going into first? It seems the clutch is very 'grabby' and there is a brief transition from off to on. I can make a smooth shift but 4 -5 seconds of clutch slip makes me wonder how long will my clutch last. If the slip time is only 1 or 2 secs, the car bucks going in 1st and even a bit going into second. Shifts into 3rd and above are like butter at 1-2 secs. Is this bucking behavior in 1st and second going to wear out the transmission or should i just do 5 second slips in 1st and plan on a new clutch at 30000 miles?

[JD_STI]

It is very "grabby" but don't keep slipping it for 5 seconds. That's way too much slippage. Practice. You'll get better. The only time you should be slipping it that much is in 1st is while backing up or on challenging driveways.

[wrxnext]

What I do to cope with my "grabby clutch" is to rev it to 1.5K rpm and try and release it quickly but smoothly.... it will usually take about 2-3 seconds.... 2 seconds at best.

It is what it is man, its better to be replacing your clutch at 30K than some drivetrain component....

I bet you have to slip it so long because the clutch is still so new and is not broken in yet. I bet it will get softer/easier to let it out. My exedy stage1 clutch I put in my car was a nightmare at first... but it has gotten a TON better after 3K miles...

Enjoy that 08.... got an 04 here and I love it more everyday

[Draco-REX]

Is this your first manual? It just takes practice and living with it for a while. Every clutch is different, even among otherwise identical cars. So even if this isn't your first manual, it can take a bit to adjust. You need to find a method that's between the two you're using. Not quite as fast as the one that bogs, but not one that drags out the slipping.

[encoded]

You might also consider waiting a bit longer before letting the clutch out. It feels like the STI takes forever for its engine speed to come down on a 1 -> 2 shift (and only slightly less so for 2 -> 3), but this too will help make things smoother.

Five second slipping is WAY too much. Practice practice.

e.

[Gondy]

I like to blip the throttle as I slip the clutch out in first gear on my STI.. seems to be a much smoother transition.

[ConradSTI]

Originally Posted by gondychi375

I like to blip the throttle as I slip the clutch out in first gear on my STI.. seems to be a much smoother transition.

+1. thats how I drive my truck also. Little blip and clutch half out gets the car rolling slightly and then clutch all out with gas and your off. Very little slippage if any and no bucking. Of course this is not the way I approach it if I want to accelerate fast of the line, but it's more of a just cruising around "being nice" to the car style of driving.