Ok I must confess I bought an STI! It is my first Manual Car! I driven stick here and there. It was okay picking it up from the dealer and going on a grocery trip. But the shifting is ruff at times. I am having trouble with hills. It roles back alot before the clutch grabs. Any tips for a beginner would be helpfull.
Driving Stick
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You just have to get good at it...that's about what it amounts to.
For hills...you need to work on the transition of your right foot from the brake to the gas in a hurry to make sure that when you get that clutch out you have enough gas so that you don't kill the engine.
As far as slowing down....if you know you are going to stop, you can do whatever you like. However, when you are approaching a light and you might not completely stop, it is wise to downshift. Not only does the engine braking help slow you down, but you won't have to all of a sudden think "Damn, what gear now" once that light turns green.
Honestly...the STi is the easiest manual car I have ever driven because of the low end torque. You shouldn't have too much trouble with it.
For hills...you need to work on the transition of your right foot from the brake to the gas in a hurry to make sure that when you get that clutch out you have enough gas so that you don't kill the engine.
As far as slowing down....if you know you are going to stop, you can do whatever you like. However, when you are approaching a light and you might not completely stop, it is wise to downshift. Not only does the engine braking help slow you down, but you won't have to all of a sudden think "Damn, what gear now" once that light turns green.
Honestly...the STi is the easiest manual car I have ever driven because of the low end torque. You shouldn't have too much trouble with it.
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16 Posts
One option until you get better at the clutch is to use the emergancy brake.
When you stop an a hill pull the e-brake. When it is time to go start letting out on the clucth and giving it gas, when you feel the back end pick up take off the e-brake, this might help you limit your rolling backwards. It would be a good idea to practice this on an empty hill with no other cars around.
When you stop an a hill pull the e-brake. When it is time to go start letting out on the clucth and giving it gas, when you feel the back end pick up take off the e-brake, this might help you limit your rolling backwards. It would be a good idea to practice this on an empty hill with no other cars around.
too big for STi??
Cheap clutches? I thought it was very expensive especialy on a AWD. BTW Don't get me wrong. I ve been driving for a long time. I am 30 years old, but I have done very little driving with a stick and I feel like a punk!
Cheap clutches? I thought it was very expensive especialy on a AWD. BTW Don't get me wrong. I ve been driving for a long time. I am 30 years old, but I have done very little driving with a stick and I feel like a punk!
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2,472 Posts
what i meant was our tranny is around $5000 while replacing a clutch costs maybe $500 including labor. probably only $200 if you do it youreself. i consider that cheap.Hispanics said:
Hispanics said:
i was just grimmacing of how it would look; an sti stalling, lurching and bucking from a stop. not suggesting you're doing that...
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199 Posts
a good way to get familiar with you clutch is to find a flat, uncrowded place (like a parking lot). put the car in gear, and get it rolling without touching the gas pedal. just let the clutch out very slowly and gently. you'll probably stall a few times, but it will help you figure out exactly where the clutch engauges. should make starting on hills a lot easier.
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349 Posts
This is my first stick as well. I have a feeling I will be able to tell you exactly how much it costs to replace a new clutch fairly soon (or maybe not -- knock on wood). Within the 1st week, I killed the car quite a bit.
Rush hour traffic helps tremendously; I would say that helped me out more than any othere single thing I did. I think it's a combination of forced practice, and pressure to perform (I may have given myself an ulcer thinking of what I would be doing to thousands of other drivers if I killed it).
Don't give up hope! Three weeks after purchase, and I no longer look like an amature to other drivers on the road.
Rush hour traffic helps tremendously; I would say that helped me out more than any othere single thing I did. I think it's a combination of forced practice, and pressure to perform (I may have given myself an ulcer thinking of what I would be doing to thousands of other drivers if I killed it).
Don't give up hope! Three weeks after purchase, and I no longer look like an amature to other drivers on the road.
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311 Posts
okay for you guys who street race....
I'll have to start to learn manual on my grandfathers Nissan truck, its got to be the same right? :-?
On a flat do you need to give it gas in first to get it going, or will the clutch suffice?
I'll have to start to learn manual on my grandfathers Nissan truck, its got to be the same right? :-?
On a flat do you need to give it gas in first to get it going, or will the clutch suffice?
I have to re-learn how to drive manual. I havn't driven one in 5 years until I got the STi.
Been going ok, my shifts are really jerky though. I can make them non jerky but only when I shift at 3k rpms and when I do that the turbo kicks in and I get plastered to my seat and it revs to 4k really really fast so I have to shift again because its not broken in yet... I cant seem to do a smooth slow shift especially 1st to 2nd.
Any tips on downshifting? Im not very good at that either.
Been going ok, my shifts are really jerky though. I can make them non jerky but only when I shift at 3k rpms and when I do that the turbo kicks in and I get plastered to my seat and it revs to 4k really really fast so I have to shift again because its not broken in yet... I cant seem to do a smooth slow shift especially 1st to 2nd.
Any tips on downshifting? Im not very good at that either.
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