question about clutch

[djPhobic]

i'm getting a MSP and i've never really driven a stick before....i mean i have....but only a couple times and not very well....anyways....i know the clutch isn't covered under warranty or anything...but for a beginner learning to drive a manual....do i need to worry about burning the clutch out in the first couple months i have the car....i mean i don't want to have to shell out a bunch of cash for a new clutch....any help would be appreciated....btw....i do know how to drive a stick...just have trouble getting into first like everyone else that ever learned to drive stick...once i'm going i'm fine...so please...no help in that area...just wondering about burning the clutch out...thanks

 

[PERRY323]

If youre have a little bit of driver blood in your vain i think that you will not burn the clutch, people who burn the clutch when learning on a car are just ready for an automatic car... todays clutch car are so easy to drive if you compare to old car... the clutch and tranny are so driver friendly.... (talking about mazda/honda/toyota/vw ones at least). You will not burn it...
and in a month youll be good enought ;-)

 

[PERRY323]

by the way, i did what you will do to... 3 years ago ;-) and my 2000 ES protege clutch is still like a new so no prob.... further more, my girlfriend learned on it, but shes really good so thats not as scary as it may sounds ;-)

 

[djPhobic]

hehe...thanks...yeah.. my gf can already drive a stick...she's just as excited about me getting this car as i am..lol

 

[jroof]

I think the key when you're just learning to drive standard is not to overdo it. When I first started, I was shifting all the time, coasting down hills, dragging the clutch around corners, gliding down hills...burnt the clutch out in about 30,000 miles. Just drag the clutch as little as possible and keep your shifting to a minimum. Try to function somewhat like an automatic...until you're ready to throw it into the twisties.

 

[JonnyMiata]

dj,

You will be driving great by the end of your first week. You should only take a few miles of life off of the clutch learning but it is worth it. Manual transmissions are so much more fun than autos. It is helpful to actually know what is happening inside the transmission when you are shifting and maybe missing and grinding. You can get more info on it at http://www.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

Good luck,

Jonny

 

[TedManEight]

Just for a little more support. The only thing you really have to worry about is not grinding the gears, which you can do if you try to shift without the clutch in.
On a side note, my gf who is not a very good driver, got a brand new nissan sentra GXE manual and with just a little instructions from me and about a month of practice(shes a slow learner), she knows how to drive it perfect now. So, this is just to say if she can do it, ANYONE can. And I mean that because she is an asian girl, we all know how they drive, no offence. Anyhow, goodluck and just take it slow and easy and of coarse SLOW DOWN BELOW 10 MPH before trying to go into 1st!!! Sorry, that was the 1st gear problem that "everyone" has.

 

[jroof]

Just for a little more support. The only thing you really have to worry about is not grinding the gears, which you can do if you try to shift without the clutch in.
On a side note, my gf who is not a very good driver, got a brand new nissan sentra GXE manual and with just a little instructions from me and about a month of practice(shes a slow learner), she knows how to drive it perfect now. So, this is just to say if she can do it, ANYONE can. [B}nd I mean that because she is an asian girl, we all know how they drive, no offence. Anyhow, goodluck and just take it slow and easy and of coarse SLOW DOWN BELOW 10 MPH before trying to go into 1st!!! Sorry, that was the 1st gear problem that "everyone" has. [/B]

HaHa, I know what you mean...two strikes against her but I'd like to see her reaction if you told HER that.