Comments on: Be A Better Man In 30 Days | Day 4: Know How To Handle a 5-Speed http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/ Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:03:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: xcb5 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76755 xcb5 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 02:41:29 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76755 that was a favorite move of mine during high school when we were sneaking out late at night. roll the car down the hill, coast a little bit, pop the clutch when out of audible range, then laugh all the way to the party. that was a favorite move of mine during high school when we were sneaking out late at night. roll the car down the hill, coast a little bit, pop the clutch when out of audible range, then laugh all the way to the party.

]]> By: FASN8N http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76677 FASN8N Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:16:23 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76677 Also remember that you never have to worry about a dead battery with a manual transmission, you can always roll start the car and pop the clutch! Also remember that you never have to worry about a dead battery with a manual transmission, you can always roll start the car and pop the clutch!

]]> By: Tyler L http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76656 Tyler L Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:29:27 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76656 I don't think I'll ever go back to an automatic. Sure, sitting in traffic sucks with a clutch, but nothing beats a manual on an open road or something really windy. What's the best car you've driven with a manual? I currently drive a Wrangler and its loads of fun, but the nicest has been a 330i BMW, it practically shifted itself. I don't think I'll ever go back to an automatic. Sure, sitting in traffic sucks with a clutch, but nothing beats a manual on an open road or something really windy. What's the best car you've driven with a manual? I currently drive a Wrangler and its loads of fun, but the nicest has been a 330i BMW, it practically shifted itself.

]]> By: mock http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76652 mock Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:10:23 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76652 this so makes me want a manual transmission car again. i learned to drive on a five but have since migrated to automatic. good post. i've never heel-and-toed before. and i learned a few things about double clutching too. this so makes me want a manual transmission car again. i learned to drive on a five but have since migrated to automatic. good post. i've never heel-and-toed before. and i learned a few things about double clutching too.

]]> By: mock http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76653 mock Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:10:23 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76653 this so makes me want a manual transmission car again. i learned to drive on a five but have since migrated to automatic. good post. i've never heel-and-toed before. and i learned a few things about double clutching too. this so makes me want a manual transmission car again. i learned to drive on a five but have since migrated to automatic. good post. i've never heel-and-toed before. and i learned a few things about double clutching too.

]]> By: Dusty Overby http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76648 Dusty Overby Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:44:20 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76648 Funny that you mention waylaying the clutch on a VW Jetta; I had the same experience, only from the other seat. In college, I had a pretty nice 1.8T Jetta on which I taught my then girlfriend (now wife) to operate a manual transmission. That clutch definitely got smoked in the process. To her credit, she did go on to bigger and better things as a gear grinding Jeep driver in later years. Forgive the utter hypocrisy of this statement (in light of the fact that I drive an auto in my company car), but driving almost isn't worth doing without shift lever in hand. When I make it big, I'll get people to do my errands and my taxes but changing gears I'll keep a personal handle on. Funny that you mention waylaying the clutch on a VW Jetta; I had the same experience, only from the other seat. In college, I had a pretty nice 1.8T Jetta on which I taught my then girlfriend (now wife) to operate a manual transmission. That clutch definitely got smoked in the process. To her credit, she did go on to bigger and better things as a gear grinding Jeep driver in later years.

Forgive the utter hypocrisy of this statement (in light of the fact that I drive an auto in my company car), but driving almost isn't worth doing without shift lever in hand. When I make it big, I'll get people to do my errands and my taxes but changing gears I'll keep a personal handle on.

]]> By: xcb5 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76580 xcb5 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:41:08 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76580 Jason, I also have to agree with you. I too will commonly start in 2nd gear unless at a complete stop. Great points to remember about exit ramps and turning as well, not to mention using the higher RPMs! Have some fun. That's what its there for! Ever thought about getting racing pedals? Might help some with your big feet and pedal spacing. Not sure what you can do about the foot well though. Jason, I also have to agree with you. I too will commonly start in 2nd gear unless at a complete stop. Great points to remember about exit ramps and turning as well, not to mention using the higher RPMs! Have some fun. That's what its there for!

Ever thought about getting racing pedals? Might help some with your big feet and pedal spacing. Not sure what you can do about the foot well though.

]]> By: xcb5 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76578 xcb5 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:40:40 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76578 Jason, I also have to agree with you. I too will commonly start in 2nd gear unless at a complete stop. Great points to remember about exit ramps and turning as well, not to mention using the higher RPMs! Might as well have some fun. That's what its there for! Ever thought about getting racing pedals? Might help some with your big feet and pedal spacing. Not sure what you can do about the foot well though. Jason, I also have to agree with you. I too will commonly start in 2nd gear unless at a complete stop. Great points to remember about exit ramps and turning as well, not to mention using the higher RPMs! Might as well have some fun. That's what its there for!

Ever thought about getting racing pedals? Might help some with your big feet and pedal spacing. Not sure what you can do about the foot well though.

]]> By: CobaltInfinity http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76569 CobaltInfinity Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:19:58 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76569 I'm sure we could get a nice debate going here on starting out in second gear. I do it as long as the car is rolling on flat or downhill pavement. Saves a shift and saves 1st gear synchromesh. Always first gear from a dead stop. I'm sure others might disagreehere! Totally agree. While the video does leave things to be desired, his heel-and-toe-ing is pretty damned good. I'm sure we could get a nice debate going here on starting out in second gear. I do it as long as the car is rolling on flat or downhill pavement. Saves a shift and saves 1st gear synchromesh. Always first gear from a dead stop. I'm sure others might disagreehere!

Totally agree.

While the video does leave things to be desired, his heel-and-toe-ing is pretty damned good.

]]> By: Jason http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76568 Jason Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:04:32 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76568 Amen to it all. Nice tips. I wish I could heel-and-toe but my feet are too big for my car's small pedals and foot well. Couple more things: while you're moving, always have the car in a gear. Don't drift around a cloverleaf exit ramp riding the brakes, with the clutch pedal pushed in. Pick your gear and slow down as you enter the turn, get off the brakes and be ready to accelerate out of the turn. I'm sure we could get a nice debate going here on starting out in second gear. I do it as long as the car is rolling on flat or downhill pavement. Saves a shift and saves 1st gear synchromesh. Always first gear from a dead stop. I'm sure others might disagree. And use the upper end of your car's RPM band once in a while, especially four cylinder engines. Saving gas is great most of the time. But wasting torque, fun and a nice exhaust note is a crime. It's the beauty of a manual transmission! Amen to it all. Nice tips. I wish I could heel-and-toe but my feet are too big for my car's small pedals and foot well.

Couple more things: while you're moving, always have the car in a gear. Don't drift around a cloverleaf exit ramp riding the brakes, with the clutch pedal pushed in. Pick your gear and slow down as you enter the turn, get off the brakes and be ready to accelerate out of the turn.

I'm sure we could get a nice debate going here on starting out in second gear. I do it as long as the car is rolling on flat or downhill pavement. Saves a shift and saves 1st gear synchromesh. Always first gear from a dead stop. I'm sure others might disagree.

And use the upper end of your car's RPM band once in a while, especially four cylinder engines. Saving gas is great most of the time. But wasting torque, fun and a nice exhaust note is a crime. It's the beauty of a manual transmission!

]]> By: Patrick Tuttle http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/06/04/be-a-better-man-in-30-days-day-4-know-how-to-handle-a-5-speed/#comment-76567 Patrick Tuttle Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:59:08 +0000 http://gearpatrol.com/blog/?p=9163#comment-76567 As someone who grew up with an automatic and now lives in Manhattan I can only read this piece and longingly dream about real driving. Good tips though. As someone who grew up with an automatic and now lives in Manhattan I can only read this piece and longingly dream about real driving. Good tips though.

]]>