Taking off hill
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Joined: 01-06-07
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From: South Carolina
wow, i'm really amazed how many people have problems with this. i could completely understand it if it was the ls drivers having the problems, young high school kids getting their first car, i can totally see it. but its a lot of ss/sc people, which is ok but I would assume most people getting a car like that would know how to drive a stick.
I'm sure there are more people out there like me. Plus, I say if it helps you learn or drive better or feel more comfortable then do whatever you want with your clutch and start saving for a new one. It's your car and your money and ultimately your happiness. It's not worth wondering if you're driving "right" or the way other people think you should.
Yeah, I sometimes have to use the e-brake when someone pulls right up on my ass. The worst offenders are 1) people on motorcycles, I had one actually pull so his front tire was BESIDE my bumper on a HUGE incline no less. Like he was BEGGING me to hit him and 2) Soccer moms in minivans who seem like they've never even HEARD of a manual transmission 3) guys in full size pickups who get right up on your ass at a light then floor it as SOON as it turns green and almost take out the whole backend of your car then LAY on the horn like how dare you drift back 1/2 an inch and 4) yuppies in fancy cars who deem themselves SO important that they can't give up even an inch of space on the road for fear they'll be 4.325 seconds late getting their quadruple tall mocha docha frappucappalatte espresso at Starbucks.
everyone else does.
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Joined: 05-03-06
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From: new jersey
to the original poster, i suggest you go out on a saturday, and find a parking lot with a nice hill in it, and drive up and down the hill til u are satisfied that you aren't rolling back more than 2 or 3 inches. good luck, and be gentle with the clutch... they aren't cheap.
your only other option is to go to enterprise and rent a p.o.s. beater 5-spd for the day... learn on that, and let them replace the clutch.
B.T.W. - dont say that you're good at driving/racing your car, and then ask a question like this. thats basically an oxymoron.
LOL, that's a funny way to look at things. This is my first (and probably only) stick. I really didn't know they still made manual transmission cars until my junior year of high school. Then I always said that I would never own or drive one because it is crappy old technology. Then when the SS Cobalts came out and were only offered in a stick, I said that was the only car I would ever consider learning how to drive a stick for. Now, I own one - and I'm still learning. I'm sure there are more people out there like me.
I'm sure there are more people out there like me. Last edited by chevysalesman614; Mar 21, 2007 at 01:31 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Joined: 04-20-06
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From: Your Computer!
Your best bet would be to do the whole "move car without gas" trick.
Practice this first on flat ground. Put the clutch all the way down, put the car in gear. Take your right foot away from the gas peddle, so you don't have the ability to give it any gas at all.
Slowly left your left foot up, and I mean really slowly at first, untill you get used to it. Eventually, you'll find out where the clutch engages. Keep lifting your foot slowly, and the car will start to move all by itself, no gas at all.
Practice this a bunch, untill you can move and stop the car with no gas with complete ease. Then apply this exact practice to regular driving. As you come to an incline, while having your foot on the break on the hill. Start to let your foot off the clutch, untill you get to that spot where you feel it engage. Remember though, because the weight of the car is working against you, the car may roll back a little untill you get the clutch engaged enough to move the car. The more you practice, you'll be able to release the break without the car moving anywhere but forward.
Oh wow.. crappy old technology? WOW!.... I'm one to beleive a standard car, compared to the exact same car in auto.. the standard will always be faster. The gear ratios are what make this happen. There is a reason that pretty much EVERY single race car ever made is a manual tranny...
P.S. My e-brake is useless as well. I even just had the dealership look at it, and they said it was fine. But it does **** all..
Practice this first on flat ground. Put the clutch all the way down, put the car in gear. Take your right foot away from the gas peddle, so you don't have the ability to give it any gas at all.
Slowly left your left foot up, and I mean really slowly at first, untill you get used to it. Eventually, you'll find out where the clutch engages. Keep lifting your foot slowly, and the car will start to move all by itself, no gas at all.
Practice this a bunch, untill you can move and stop the car with no gas with complete ease. Then apply this exact practice to regular driving. As you come to an incline, while having your foot on the break on the hill. Start to let your foot off the clutch, untill you get to that spot where you feel it engage. Remember though, because the weight of the car is working against you, the car may roll back a little untill you get the clutch engaged enough to move the car. The more you practice, you'll be able to release the break without the car moving anywhere but forward.
P.S. My e-brake is useless as well. I even just had the dealership look at it, and they said it was fine. But it does **** all..
Oh wow.. crappy old technology? WOW!.... I'm one to beleive a standard car, compared to the exact same car in auto.. the standard will always be faster. The gear ratios are what make this happen. There is a reason that pretty much EVERY single race car ever made is a manual tranny..
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Joined: 07-09-06
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From: PA
Exactly, I think the cobalt SS/SC drives very nice on hills. I don't drift back much at all, even on a steep hill. You will get the hang of it, just takes time.
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Joined: 05-03-06
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From: Shaw AFB, Sumter, SC.
This was my first stick as well. The first morning trip to work I stalled it at half the lights. I thought to myself that I would never learn how to drive the damn car. I got to work 30 mintues early just to learn at the parking lot. After a week you should good. As for a hill, I tried the ebrake trick and it does work when learning. After you know where the release point is you never need it on any size incline. What I did to learn the hills I drove behind a wal mart to its loading dock. Its steeper then most inclinces but not ridiculous. Its a long downhill and its flat at the bottom incase you worry about hitting the doors. Good luck!
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Joined: 01-06-07
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From: South Carolina
Probably. I never said I had ruled that out...But then again...
Originally Posted by chevysalesman614
are you for real? i can't believe that i just read that.
Oh wow.. crappy old technology? WOW!.... I'm one to beleive a standard car, compared to the exact same car in auto.. the standard will always be faster. The gear ratios are what make this happen. There is a reason that pretty much EVERY single race car ever made is a manual tranny...
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Joined: 07-28-06
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From: Toronto
Ok, so I'll explain it. If your new to the whole manual thing don't worry about this, get the basics first, this is more involved than you need to worry about.
yes, I've driven a few semi trucks, not legally but that didn't stop me. the theory is very similar but uses the clutch for shifting. up shifting is cake, but slow. lets say your going from 2-3. so your at about 3k rpm, i push the clutch in, put it in neutral and let the clutch out. I don't touch anything until the rpm drops to around 1.5k, which is where 3rd gear would put me at that speed, so the gears and the rpm all match, i can drop the clutch quickly and not feel the slightest jolt. I'm using arbitrary numbers here, if the numbers i give you actually work thats just dumb luck.
down shifting is the exact same theory only while lets say going from 3-2 i'm at 1.5k rpm in 3rd gear, i would go to neutral and bring the rpm up to lets say 3k rpm or whatever my rpm would be at that same speed in 2nd gear.
The reason for not just raising or lowering the rpm while the clutch is in is inertia of the clutch disk, which in a little car doesn't make beans. but in a big semi truck where they can weigh a few hundred pounds its considerable. its good practice to let the clutch out in neutral but doesn't have to be done.
the theory is simple as can be. actually making it work and being smooth at it is another story. It was necessary on old old cars with unsynchronized trannys, but its not something that needs to be done on any newer car as all the gears mesh up properly, aside from 1st gear. and this is the trick to getting into 1st gear smoothly while moving.
the only real reasons to use it are to prevent wear on the clutch and racing. NO its not a drag racing thing. every copy of fast and the furious should be burned, someone everything they have to say about racing is wrong. it slows you down when up shifting. Its great for road racing when down shifting though, just dumping the clutch is fast but not smooth and could cause you to lose traction coming into a turn and that doesn't typically end well. a good double clutch into a turn will put you in the right gear smoothly and quickly. But that gets into heel toe braking, which is using your heel on the brake while you bring rpm up with your toe so you can go into a lower gear. it also sounds simple but its a tough one. if your racing, keep it at the track.
yes, I've driven a few semi trucks, not legally but that didn't stop me. the theory is very similar but uses the clutch for shifting. up shifting is cake, but slow. lets say your going from 2-3. so your at about 3k rpm, i push the clutch in, put it in neutral and let the clutch out. I don't touch anything until the rpm drops to around 1.5k, which is where 3rd gear would put me at that speed, so the gears and the rpm all match, i can drop the clutch quickly and not feel the slightest jolt. I'm using arbitrary numbers here, if the numbers i give you actually work thats just dumb luck.
down shifting is the exact same theory only while lets say going from 3-2 i'm at 1.5k rpm in 3rd gear, i would go to neutral and bring the rpm up to lets say 3k rpm or whatever my rpm would be at that same speed in 2nd gear.
The reason for not just raising or lowering the rpm while the clutch is in is inertia of the clutch disk, which in a little car doesn't make beans. but in a big semi truck where they can weigh a few hundred pounds its considerable. its good practice to let the clutch out in neutral but doesn't have to be done.
the theory is simple as can be. actually making it work and being smooth at it is another story. It was necessary on old old cars with unsynchronized trannys, but its not something that needs to be done on any newer car as all the gears mesh up properly, aside from 1st gear. and this is the trick to getting into 1st gear smoothly while moving.
the only real reasons to use it are to prevent wear on the clutch and racing. NO its not a drag racing thing. every copy of fast and the furious should be burned, someone everything they have to say about racing is wrong. it slows you down when up shifting. Its great for road racing when down shifting though, just dumping the clutch is fast but not smooth and could cause you to lose traction coming into a turn and that doesn't typically end well. a good double clutch into a turn will put you in the right gear smoothly and quickly. But that gets into heel toe braking, which is using your heel on the brake while you bring rpm up with your toe so you can go into a lower gear. it also sounds simple but its a tough one. if your racing, keep it at the track.
I think this only confuses new people more, thats why I wouldn't mention Double clutching and then try to explain it to them. I have never seen anyone double clutching while racing and while down shifting using a good heel toe will get you into the right RPMs for the lower gear which I agree with your last sentence but with a little practice is pretty easy.
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