What are your techniques when going from a stand still?

[dandydaniel]

Well, I've had my car for 2.5 weeks now and honestly, I haven't been able to drive it that much at all because of family vacations and an insane amount of yard work and house work which causes me to wake up, eat, work, shower, then sleep without any leisure time. I've only got 170 miles on the odo which goes to show that I really haven't had an adequate enough time behind the wheel to get the little nit picky stuff down.

What I'm wondering is, how do you guys go about messing with the clutch when going from a complete stop into first? I've been tinkering around with 3 methods 2 for smooth shifts and the other way was just how I was taught to drive any old manual... 1) (Smooth shifting) I let the clutch out until it hits engagement, give it steady gas, and then once the car begins to move, I hold my clutch on the engagement point for a good 1 - 1.5 seconds (I'm thinking this smoothens things out because it gives the gear enough time to sync up [but I'm worried that this is causing a bit too much wear on the clutch]) 2) (Smooth shifting) This one is a little hit or miss, but I've been able to basically dump the clutch to the engagement point give it gas and have a completely smooth start without slipping the clutch at all (what I'm wondering is if this is the way you guys all do it [I ask because as hard as I focus to re-do this, it just wont happen, it will happen randomly as I'm riding around toying with the clutch]) and 3) I just let the clutch engage, gas, and get off the clutch steadily (But with this method, the car is quite shaky [which throws me off because this is how I drove my Integra for 6 months and the shifts were smooth like butta]).

This is an extremely long post, but hopefully I can get some input from those of you who have some tips to share. Thanks!

 

[NCZ13]

arent you still in the break in period... i wouldnt be racing around and dumping the clutch from a standstill if i was you...

 

[dandydaniel]

I guess I used the wrong word. I don't really know how to express my action. Instead of depressing the clutch slowly, I just completely let the spring of the clutch come up to the engagement point, and then I stop it for a split second with my foot while giving gas and it goes. I'm not "launching" the car at all what so ever. All of this is done under or around 1500 RPM.

 

[NCZ13]

thats what i do after my car and clutch warms up.

 

[Jasnall]

All I can say is get used to it. I find it to be...finicky i guess is the word i'm looking for. Your first method of smooth shifting sounds the best. I just get the cluthc to the engagement point then slowly reslease and feather the gas and the clutch together for a smooth takeoff. Honestly I'd don't find it easy. I used to valet cars so I feel I know stick pretty well and the cluth in the MS3 just takes a little effort to get smooth.
Here these are my starting methods.
1. Just me in car: Try to be as smooth as I can but not worrying too much about jerkies.

2. Parents/elders in car. Drive like there is 50 open beer bottles sitting around your car not in cupholders. Really hold the clutch in engagement until the cars is really rolling (almost feels like to much)

3. Tired as crap/lazy and just me: Drive like whatever, jerky who cares My legs tired and I wanna go home.


Also try not to drive it when you're lazy or tired. I start to stall for dumb reasons.

 

[LV_MS3]

just buy the new skyline and use its automatic launch

 

[nextcar]

to be smooth, i simply release the clutch very slowly while giving gas gently. once it fully engages, then i can let go of the clutch faster. if i let go of the clutch very very slowly, it's smooth as butter.

to launch quickly, i rev the engine to around 3000 rpm while releasing the clutch faster.

 

[Boosted333]

I kind of let the clutch out with a low rpm, and just as the car starts to move i'll floor it (still around 3,000 rpm at this point) and let the clutch out quicker (not dumping it). You can hear the boost build as you are letting the clutch out completely, then short-shift into 2nd and it moves out ok. Definitely takes practice.

 

[blake_peanut]

arent you still in the break in period... i wouldnt be racing around and dumping the clutch from a standstill if i was you...

Boooo!

 

[blkMs3th]

to be smooth I will release the clutch until the car starts moving then smoothly add gas (does not work up a hill though)
The car got significantly easier to drive smoothly after 5K or so (combination of me being better at driving it and the car smoothing out)

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Take it up to the rev limiter and let her fly!

 

[Olestra]

All three of your methods seem almost the same, except for 3 with the jerkiness, which you don't want. If you're concerned about hurting the clutch, jerking the car is wearing the clutch out but nothing serious that you have to worry about. Clutches are pretty resilient. Dumping, riding, heating up the clutch is what will break it.

I think #2 sounds the most correct. Get the clutch on engagement point, get the car to roll and then give it gentle gas to help it through the rest of the engagement point. Let the clutch out completely and away you go.

#1 is what most ppl were taught in driving school because it lets you feel the engagement point. As you get used to the car, your time spent at the engagament point will shorten.
Anytime you feel a buck it's mostly because you're too fast on the clutch, so slow it down until you get a smooth engagement, then you can speed the clutch movement up again.
Also useful would be to go back to what they taught you in driving school and repeatedly get the car moving with the clutch and without any gas. This is the best way to get a good feel of the engagement point.
Every car is different, I always go through the basic exercises until I'm used to the car.

 

[matsuda]

You should be starting to apply the throttle exactly at the engagement point of the clutch. When you get it right, the RPM's should be no greater than 1000 (at the engagement point), and the car should move forward smoothly.

The key points are smoothness and minimum clutch wear.

After a while, it should become second nature.

 

[Betelgeuse]

For the most part I'm very smooth but like Jasnall, there are some days when I don't slip it all and just engage and go. I also adjust accordingly when I have passengers as opposed to when I'm by myself.

170 miles are too little to get used to the clutch in this car. Give yourself some time. The more I drive the more I realize there is no 'perfect' way to do it. Everyone develops their own technique. The idea is to be smooth with as little clutch wear as possible. And for fast launches, smooth = fast. No need to burn up the tires or be hard on the drive train.

 

[tiagotiago]

And for fast launches, smooth = fast. No need to burn up the tires or be hard on the drive train.

+1 But i'd say that extends to fast driving in general, not just launches.

And I'd agree that you just need to take it easy, and be patient in trying to find just the right spot for the clutch. Styles 1 and 2 seem like the way to go. Maybe keep doing 1 until you're faster and faster in taking the foot off. Practice is everything in these sort of things.

Good luck!! Hope you have time to enjoy the speed.

 

[USMS3]

1. push right foot to floor on top of gas pedal
2. remove left foot from clutch
3. hold steering wheel as straigt as possible
4. shift to next gear at some point

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Gas to the rev limiter and let the clutch go!

 

[mordant80]

Gas to the rev limiter and let the clutch go!

Yes, agreed. This is absolutely the best way to go. (Don't worry about that burning smell, it's fine)

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Go faster with the windows down, you wont smell a thing!

 

[Nokkers3]

Just give it a few weeks. Took me a little bit of time to get it smooth. I used to drive an integra too and that was much easier to get used to than the speed3. Just give it time and eventually, you won't even notice it.