Anyone have some tips for adjusting to a Manual transmission? Specifically, a 4thGen Maxima 5 speed. I've never driven a stick before and I intend to learn quickly. I'd appreciate some advice from some enthusiast drivers to augment the real world practice.

 

Search the internet or rev the motor till redline and side step the clutch pedal in 5th gear.

 

Practice. Nothing else will beat it.

SuDZ

 

BMW M5 Virtual Driving School

Yeah yeah, it's an M5 , but the instructional videos that this guy did are great, and apply to any car with a stick shift.

Enjoy

 

lol

 

Yeah, I've been reading all over the web. Just hoping someone might have some wisdom to share regarding rev matching, clutch preservation in a Maxima...Considering how many guys here obviously enjoy the hell out their 5 speed.

Thanks for the vids SteVTEC. That's exactly the type of thing I'm looking for.

 

check out the links posted in this thread:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=manual


besides that,
all i can say is practice practice practice
don't get discouraged.. EVERYONE can get it..

also, another thing i was advised which helped me get a better feel for the clutch is to just try moving the car without giving it any gas.. just using the clutch.. doing this smoothly will help you feel where the grabbing point is.. after a while you'd be able to launch that thing off the line like a rocket..

 

Use the parking brake when trying to start off uphill.

 

learning to shift from 2-3, 3-4, 4-5. is easy, its the launches u should work on. make sure for every amount of pressure u apply to the gas, take that much off the clutch and wait for the clutch to grap then let off quicker and continue to give more gas, really starting is the only tough part. and when trying to stop just put the clutch in and shift to nuetral. then use the break to stop just like an automatic, just dont forget to put the clutch in and put it in first when u start again. i would recomend this method first then after u get better at upshifting then work on down shifts

 

The very first time you start out, its a good idea to try a start in 1st w/out giving the car any gas, just let out the clutch really really slowly, this gives you a good idea of where it catches and when you'll need to start to give it more gas....it worked for me.

 

comon now, what r u tryin to do to the guy, teach him how to roast the clutch in 10sec? if some1 trys this i wanna be there to see it.

 

exactly, I had my brother driving stick in 10 minutes with this technique.


practice....practice...practice

 

Once you learn the engagement point on the clutch, you will be set!

Now if I can get my G/F driving. She does fine on the highway though

 

Nah, thats a crutch. Learn to do it the right way.

SuDZ