• Jalopnik
  • spy-photos
  • jalopnik-reviews
  • Profile logout login

#bigvidtrue

Jalopnik

Share Cancel
   
Upload an image | Add an image URL
×

logging in
  • FAQ. Include # before tag:
  • #offtopic,
  • #tips,
  • #spyphotos,
  • etc.

Detroit, 3:27 AM
Tue Nov 24
23 posts in the last 24 hours

Contact

Tip your editors:
tips@jalopnik.com

Editor-in-Chief:
Ray Wert | Email | AIM

Road Test Editor:
Wes Siler | Email

Weekend Editor:
Murilee Martin | Email

Associate Editor - Houston:
Matt Hardigree

Associate Editor - Detroit:
Ben Wojdyla

Editor-at-Large:
Mike Spinelli

Contributors:
Mark Arnold
John Krewson | Email
Andy Didorosi

Follow Jalopnik on:
Facebook
Twitter

SUBSCRIBE TO Jalopnik RSS

New: Breaking news and daily top stories via email
1753 Subscribers
Jalopnik
  • posts about #bigvidtrue more →

    How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps

    Kristján Einar: Race Car Drivers Shouldn't Sell Hot Dogs

    Cars.com Super Bowl Commercial: Glondor Is Officially Sad

    Detroit's 2008 Belle Isle Grand Prix: IRL Race Result Tainted By Controversy, Prickish Fans

    Man Builds Tiny, Working Corvette 327

    2008 Dodge Charger Police Edition, Part One

    Death Race Trailer, Revealed!

    BMW GINA Light Visionary Model, Revealed... Creepy

    Dodge Challenger Races Honda Civic SI At Drag Strip

    Liz Cohen And Her Transforming Trabantamino
  • Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.
    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Duncan David Duncan David
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    I really want to get a manual transmission in my first car so I'm really excited to see this post. But, I do have one question. Why, in the downshifting section, do you say not to go into first at the stop?
     Reply
    Duncan David was starred Duncan David was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    04/28/09

    @Duncan David: Sorry if its unclear, it can be hard to remember how to explain these things after years of just doing it. Don't use first for engine braking. While slowing down, engine brake in first to the bottom of the gear, which will be single digit speeds, then just put in the clutch and brake to a halt. Once you're stopped, you can shift into first. There's just no need to engine brake in first since you're going below walking pace by that point anyways.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of something_unique_and_descriptive something_unique_and_descriptive
    04/28/09

    @Duncan David: Because there's no point. If you're going slow enough that you need to be in first, chances are you're sitting still.


    My experience has been that first is good for getting started from a stop, idleing along at sub walking pace... and that's about it. You shift up to 2nd @~15mph but unless you're slowed down to <5mph you can stay in 2nd without problem, and if you're going <5mph you can easily stop in less time than it'll take you to shift.

     Reply
    something_unique_and_descriptive was starred something_unique_and_descriptive was unstarred
    Image of Novaload Novaload
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    WES! Get out of the car NOW! There's a creepy guy in the backseat!!! RUN!!!
     Reply
    Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    "Is this just an excuse for a handjob joke?"


    Always.


    So, who has the nicer ass?

     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of pauljones pauljones
    04/28/09

    @FuzzyPlushroomanyte: I totally tried to make that comparison when I first watched the video. The fact that she was dressed like an eskimo because of the cold weather killed that one, though.
     Reply
    pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    All you need to know: Push in the clutch before turning the key. Clutch goes in before you shift. Don't rev it too hard.


    Get in and go 'till you got it.


    (Easy for me to say, as I got in, was able to get around just well enough to save my life, and got out. I need access to a beater car with a stick.)


    Also: Most anything with fewer than six cylinders and/or any sporting credentials needs a stick-shift.

     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of something_unique_and_descriptive something_unique_and_descriptive
    04/28/09

    @FuzzyPlushroomanyte:

    I'd say rental but I've never seen one with a manual in the US. That leaves car lots, find a car with a 5sp that would never be purchased by anyone you could give a rats ass about (Anything based on the Cavalier would be a good bet, Aveo, Versa or anything from Kia is also acceptable), practice launching in 2nd or 3rd gear. Find a hill, use the clutch to keep the car stationary. Heel toe, 5th to 2nd.


    Watch the salesman weep.

     Reply
    something_unique_and_descriptive was starred something_unique_and_descriptive was unstarred
    Image of something_unique_and_descriptive something_unique_and_descriptive
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    My method for teaching stick is much less risky.


    First they are forced to watch ~8 hours of Best Motoring with pedal box footage (Clockwork Orange style).


    They must complete at least 50% of Gran Turismo 4 using nothing but manual transmissions.


    Then they can get in the car.

     Reply
    something_unique_and_descriptive was starred something_unique_and_descriptive was unstarred
    Image of Turboner Turboner
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    Nicely done, Wes. I especially liked, "all the way in, all the way out." You didn't, however, go over proper seating position so as to be able to fully depress the clutch without locking the knee...


    I taught my high school GF how to drive stick in a 3-on-the-tree equipped ChevyII Nova wagon. It was more difficult than you show in the video. I can't wait to see video from Jill's first track day. She looks like a natural.

     Reply
    Turboner was starred Turboner was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    04/28/09

    @Turboner: Yeah, we felt that an extreme level of detail would only detract from learning the basics. We'll cover more advanced techniques and more complicated ideas in the future. Correct seating position is about much more than just being able to push the clutch in fully without fully extending your left leg.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Zandr Zandr
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    Is the lift-collar for reverse just a Saab thing? I haven't seen it on anything else.
     Reply
    Zandr was starred Zandr was unstarred
    Image of Mad_Science Mad_Science
    04/28/09

    @Zandr: Volvo, IIRC.
     Reply
    Mad_Science was starred Mad_Science was unstarred
    Image of Skunky Skunky
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    Which step is heel-toe?
     Reply
    Skunky was starred Skunky was unstarred
    Image of something_unique_and_descriptive something_unique_and_descriptive
    04/28/09

    @Skunky: Was just going to ask that.
     Reply
    something_unique_and_descriptive was starred something_unique_and_descriptive was unstarred
    Image of middlejester middlejester
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    You'll also be able to wiggle the shifter back and forth - which you can't do when engaged in any gear.


    Unless, of course, you're driving a Saab... in which case you can stir that thing like you're making cookies.

     Reply
    middlejester was starred middlejester was unstarred
    Image of MushyHeirloom MushyHeirloom
    04/28/09

    @middlejester: "...you can stir that thing like you're making cookies."


    <3

     Reply
    MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred
    Image of Cory Noll Cory Noll
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    Did Wes have to wear a pair of Jill's jeans?
     Reply
    Cory Noll was starred Cory Noll was unstarred
    Image of Maymar Maymar
    04/28/09

    @Cory Noll: No, but if he did, we all appreciate it.
     Reply
    Maymar was starred Maymar was unstarred
    Image of Dr. H. F. Danger Dr. H. F. Danger
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    I also have to point out the lack of a decent ass-shot.


    disappointing

     Reply
    Dr. H. F. Danger was starred Dr. H. F. Danger was unstarred
    Image of austingatz austingatz
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    'Jill Hanner has huge assets:'
    Is that kinda like: 'what's not to like? She's got... HUGE tracts of land'?
     Reply
    austingatz was starred austingatz was unstarred
    Image of Ray Wert Ray Wert
    04/28/09

    @austingatz: Good on you for the Monty Python reference!
     Reply
    Ray Wert was starred Ray Wert was unstarred
    Image of Flathead Smith Flathead Smith
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    In step nine you forgot to mention that parking brakes are great way to put your car into the all important "bootleg" turn.
     Reply
    Flathead Smith was starred Flathead Smith was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    04/28/09

    @Flathead Smith: Damn, always miss something.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Flathead Smith Flathead Smith
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    On step two you mention shifting at around 3 grand. I think instead of being distracted by the tach you tell the girl to listen for that tell tell sound of valve float.
     Reply
    Flathead Smith was starred Flathead Smith was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    04/28/09

    @Flathead Smith: If they can look at the tach, listen to the engine and determine what 3k sounds like, they'll be able to listen instead of look in the future.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Zandr Zandr
    04/28/09

    @Wes Siler: I can tell you though, that you do need to tell people to listen. My cousin learned on a car with a tach, and she's lost in a car without one.
     Reply
    Zandr was starred Zandr was unstarred
    Image of Joe-Btfsplk Joe-Btfsplk
    04/28/09

    @Zandr: I always shift when the rev limiter kicks in. Is that wrong?
     Reply
    Joe-Btfsplk was starred Joe-Btfsplk was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    04/28/09

    @Joe-Btfsplk: As long as you're using the fuel cutoff instead of the clutch, you're doing it right.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Mad_Science Mad_Science
    04/28/09

    @Wes Siler: My wife is frustrated with our WRX because it's too quiet.


    She learned to drive in a stickshift Tacoma with no tach, so she primarily operates on sound.


    She really had almost no concept of using the tach when I first had her drive my Jeep.


    I actually operate on feel. In normal driving, if I get a really strong response from a little pedal twitch, I'm probably in too low of a gear.

    (but just right for hoonin')

     Reply
    Mad_Science was starred Mad_Science was unstarred
    Image of Dr. H. F. Danger Dr. H. F. Danger
    04/28/09

    In reply to How To Drive A Stick Shift In Ten Easy Steps
    Step 1. bring revs to max rpm

    Step 2. quickly release clutch

    Step 3. revel in your badassness
     Reply
    Dr. H. F. Danger was starred Dr. H. F. Danger was unstarred
    Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

Login

Enter your username and password.

Please enter a username.
Please enter your password.
logging in
Login via Facebook | Sign Up | Forgot Password?

Reset Password

Please enter your email address to have your password reset.

Please enter your email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
requesting password reset

Register

Registering will give you a user profile and the ability to add other users as friends. To become a commenter, however, you need to audition.

Want to know more? Consult the Comment FAQ and legal terms.

Please enter a username.
Please enter a password.
Please confirm your password.
Passwords are not identical.
Please enter a valid email address.
registration sent, waiting for reply

Submit Your Comment

You don't need to login to comment. Just enter your email address below.

See how your address will be displayed in the Comment FAQ.

Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter a valid email address.
logging in

Login with your Facebook or Jalopnik account.

Sign up here.



  • Archives
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Legal
  • Help
  • Report a Bug
  • FAQ
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.