Okay, I love this car. I've had it for a week now, and put about 600 miles on it thus far. (Had 9 when I first got it). I love everything about this car, EXCEPT FOR THE CLUTCH. What the hell? No matter how much driving I do, I just can't seem to get used to this thing. Every other car i've driven I could drive with ease, and without any bucking or stalling (prelude SH, Mazda 6 V6, etc.). I don't know what it is with this car.. I just can't seem to get this clutch down. It seems really inconsistent and likes to grab whenever it feels like it. Also, this drive by wire is really annoying the hell out of me. The laggyness combined with the garbage clutch makes for some really tough takeoffs, especially from a dead stop. Once the car is moving its fine, aside from the 1-2 shift which likes to buck on occasion. Is it just me, or did anyone else have a hard time driving their SS s/c when they first got it? The only real way I can seem to take off smoothly is to slip the **** out of the clutch and revving to 2k, which I know will kill my clutch. What are you guys revving to when you take off, and how long do you slip the clutch for?

 

I don't rev it at all. I let the clutch out till it starts moving then give it some gas

 

revving a little before you take off wont hurt anything. just get out of the clutch quickly and dont slip it forever.

the clutch in these cars is not garbage. its more of a sport clutch than your probably used to....and they are a very "on/off" kinda feel compared to most vehicles....and will take some getting used to.

just be patient with it....learn how the car likes to be driven.
Dont expect a car to change to your needs. you have to adapt to the way it needs to be driven.

Also, if your getting on it hard....DONT roast the tires through first and slam into second expecting it to grab.
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/showthread.php?t=59549
that howto video may help you avoid clutchslip on the 1/2 shift.

 

I actually havn't really been driving this car too hard yet. I really want to get this clutch down. I've been reading up and searching a bit (yeah, a noob that searches. OMFG ). I read up on the clutch glazing, etc. The thing I am trying to get at here is how many of you had a hard time with this clutch, first time driving the car? Like you said, its more an on off clutch, it really doesn't leave much room for error. I'm just trying to see what methods work best, both for taking off without stalling as well as for optimum clutch life. :pimp:

*edit* bah, no pimp emoticon?

 

your lucky bro i gotta learn stick on this car when i get it lol

 

ugh....dont do it.
go get a friends beater and learn on or something.

 

time is the answer, it is def more of a sport clutch but I wasnt used to it because all the other sport clutches I had driven were behind decent V-8's with low end torque, this car....not so much. Give it a few more weeks and you'll be fine, shift at about 3500 rpm's

 

friends dont drive beaters 1 of them did and sold it off or i would.....but my dads been driving stick for 32yrs he should help me out a little

 

The car is not hard to drive by any means, it's just the sport clutch and the throttle by wire take some getting used to, especially when starting from a stop ie. stoplights, etc. I've stalled it at least 10 times in the middle of traffic, deffinitely embarassing.

 

This is going to sound strange but.....drive it for a few hours bare foot and you will get a better feel for it.

Good luck !

 

you will get better
im still not use to it all the way

 

tio is right... My 07 cobalt is the first time i have ever put my foot on a clutch, and it's getting better (stalled out more times than i can count haha)... But i actually have tried riding bare foot, and you can seem to get the feel alot easier...

 

might not wannna stick to the whole bare foot then ur gunna get used to that and its gunna be diff when u put ur shoes backon

 

its also illegal

 

i never new that...

 

wow.
you know what?
i guess thats an urban legend.

i just had a look around. and apparently its technically not illegal lol.
damn. i was always told your not allowed to drive barefoot

edit: its illegal in some countries....but apparently its an urban legend that you cant drive barefoot in the US.

how bout that. learn somethin new every day.

hmmm interesting, new edit: apparently, though its not illegal, there have been cases of Insurance companies not paying, when the driver at fault was found to be barefoot.

 

LOOOOL, +1 rep for that 1 man

 

I either wear tennis shoes or drive bare foot when I drive my Cobalt; but this is how I've driven all of my cars with a stick. When I'm driving it with my boots on that I wear for work I have to concentrate a little more but it's not a problem.

 

I lightly press the gas peddle and ease off the clutch. This has always worked for me. The clutch and shifting of this car has never been a problem for me.