Recent content by Cgiroux

well I am shifting much more smoothly now. I still think I could be quicker getting off from a stop. It is as if I almost let the clutch pedal out completely before even giving any gas. I'd say the only thing I need to work on is downshifting and hills. 1.5K RPM seems to be a good spot to...

Yes - time for an update. I eliminated the jerking that I was experiencing when upshifting. I realized it today that it was due to me not giving it enough gas early enough. Shifted from 2nd to 3rd today as if it was unnoticeable. Felt great :) It rained the last few days and my feet (and...

How is being in neutral different than having the clutch pedal in? If I shift into neutral, can I let the clutch pedal out as fast as I'd like? How would I be 'burning' the clutch if I am in gear and have the clutch pedal in? If the clutch pedal is in, the clutch is disengaged, right? So how...

How much of the clutch do you guys cover with your foot? I mean, do you cover the clutch pedal entirely, or do you partially cover it with your toes? I think I am more comfortable with the former. I don't know if one way is politically correct or if it is personal preference.

Nope. I just need to refine my muscle memory. It will take some time (perhaps more than others)

true. thanks for the offer, but no thanks This is my problem. I 'linger' and I'm not as simultaneous as I should be. Even if I creep the car forward with the clutch alone and virtually 0% gas, I'm not causing any harm, right? I park on a somewhat crowned road and I don't believe I can move...

yea I know I worded that pretty badly trying to play this out in my imagination. Time for bed.

sorry...? Needless to say I appreciate this forum as a whole and for everyone's input so far. nobody is forcing you to post. Anyway. I got called into work today, so I gave her another shot. I do think I am getting better at it. I can shift from 1st to 2nd now without any jerking, seems...

I don't personally own a motorcycle, but I did take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's basic rider course and got my class M license that way. Motorcycles seem so much easier, I don't know why they seem more forgiving. I could do figure eights and slow maneuvers pretty easily when they were...

True..thanks :)

I'm not sure. I'm afraid of leaving the clutch pedal halfway in. I know I shouldn't give it more than 1200 RPM (on a flat, at least) before releasing the clutch completely. I think you are right with me revving the car too high. I will shift earlier from now on for the sake of my clutch, not...

Just thought I'd try something different. I've been riding motorcycles, so a clutch isn't fundamentally new to me. I just didn't have much experience driving stick in a car let alone a diesel engine. Maybe the extra torque is why I am having such a hard time with the clutch? I should...

some of you may have remembered the thread I made maybe a couple weeks ago in which it turned out that I burnt the living sh*t out of my clutch. While the car was in the dealer shop, I decided to take some lessons from a driving instructor for a couple of hours. We used a Honda Civic which to...

To add to that, I was dropping the clutch every time I started the engine. And since I stalled a lot, I started the engine a lot... I'm an idiot:)