So I've been driving an automatic car for the majority of my life. I know the basics of driving a MT, but I've never driven one extensively, and judging by the way I was driving yesterday, I definitely need to work on it. With that said, I picked up a 2007 RX-8 with a manual transmission, and I want to make sure that I don't burn out the clutch or any other fun stuff that's associated with a newbie MT driver.

Today I don't intend to take it out anywhere, but I was thinking I'd go to an empty parking lot and just practice for a couple of hours. I have half a tank of gas left, so I should be good to go. Does anyone have any general tips for practicing on a MT, and any RX-8 specific tips? I'm past the point of needing someone to show me how to drive a MT, I just need to put the practice in.

 

Just dont drag the clutch for too loong.

at first you might jerk the car like u're high or something, but have no fear

Couple hours and u're good to go

 

'Nuff said.

 

dter i was in the same boat as you and this wat i did. first go on a very flat surface where you will not roll. then just slowly let the clutch out until you feel the engine start bogging down. once it starts to bog down put in a little gas and it will stop bogging and start moving. once you start moving keep moving the clutch out slowly and smoothly. that will basically just get the feel of starting off and where the clutch engages.

then when you get this down try shifting into other gears. same as before smooth in and out with the clutch adding gas when necessary. you will learn that the higher gear you go into the less gas you will need to put in.

after i did all that i started the go onto slight inclines with no one around so i could get the feel of the car rolling back. its not so bad once you feel where the clutch engages. once you get the feel of the hill and you actually are on one with ppl behind you just dont panic and be as smooth as possible.

for me it took about two weeks practicing every day to basically learn how to drive manual. hope that helps some

 

Try learning in a empty parking lot. no pressure from traffic behind you if you stall it. experiment with different throttle input. I taught my sister this way, it took maybe two hours total and she is a champ now. Good luck

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I'd say that above method is the best way to learn, that's how i did. And if you have the opportunity, try to get yourself on a dirt road, (dirt road with an rx8, crazy right? :P) , with dirt you have to be as sensitive as possible with a MT or you'll just spin the tires and not accomplish much, its a good teacher, i had to do it

 

I think the thing that n00bs don't realize about driving a manual is that you are not letting out the clutch at the same rate the whole time. You start to let it out... then let it out slower/hold it for a moment as the rpm's drop, then let it out. If you let it out at the same speed it will buck and feel like crap.

and moving around in parking lots at low speed is hard when you are first learning. Sometimes you just need to let the clutch engage a tiny bit (not let all the way out, just let out enough to move the car a bit) as you are creeping out of a parking space or starting on a hill.

 

Thanks for the tips, guys! I'm printing this thread out and taking the car out to a parking lot in an hour or so. Sucks that I don't have *any* friends that can drive stick in this area. The closest one is in Brooklyn (45min away) and she doesn't turn on her phone on Saturdays.

Any tips as to how to park it properly? Leave it in 1st gear if parked on a decline and in R if parked on an incline, right? Always use the handbrake, naturally.

 

where do you live? im assuming somewhere near nyc.

 

Bergen County, NJ. About 15 minutes away from George Washington Bridge.

 

Welp, after some practicing, I think I'm good. I need to work on the inclines/declines (my college is in a very hilly area) but I should be able to use this as a daily driver starting tomorrow. Other tips are appreciated though; especially stuff specific to the RX-8. I did my research on rotary maintenance and other stuff already.

 

You have my respect and the rest of the board's respect for not wimping out and getting the automatic. You'll get the hang out a lot quicker than you might expect.

 

when you learn how to listen and connect to the engine, you'll know when to shift

 

I actually wanted an automatic initially. I was looking at VW GTI with a DSG, then I went to a dealership to look at Mazda 3 hatches and saw how awesome the RX-8 was. The sales guy said that they had two '07s sitting on the lot for $17.5k, and a few days later one of them was registered in my name and parked in front of my apartment. :D

I've had a few friends tell me how dumb I was for buying a stick without knowing how to drive it, and a few friends commending me on the purchase. All in all, considering how good of a deal it was, I think I did ok and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's just a little difficult transitioning from a 15 year old automatic V4 with 130hp to a brand-new manual rotary with 230hp.

 

dter you should come to the tuesday night meets in east rutherford. a lot of good people with a lot of good info. you should come meet some people and learn about the car. we meet at the starbucks on rt17 near a lowes at around 8pm https://www.rx8club.com/ne-rx-8-forum-29/ne-nj-local-meets-tuesday-nights-121615/

 

tip:learn on a shitty car,then drive the 8

least you wont care if you fudge up the clutch.

 

I justt bought my RX8 from palisades park, NJ. Weird....

 

I might come next week! I have plans for this Tuesday already, but next week looks good.

Haha, nice! I got mine in Lodi. My gym is in Palisades Park. Small world, eh?