Manual Noob driving in heavy traffic.

[bad driver]

Hello guys, I just got my first personal manual car.

any tips in heavy manila traffic.... specifically the loooong stretch incline in edsa, guadalupe area? hehe....

Is it ok to ride the clutch a bit in walking pace traffic/incline? or do I really have to let off the clutch as much as possible? blip the gas then go to Neutral (and repeat-taxi driver style?).

follow up.... In fast driving.... Do I have to be as smooth as an automatic in shifting or is it ok to feel a bit of a push? I achieve AT smoothness on gears 4 and 5 but on 1-2,3, I have to slide the clutch to not have the jerk.

sorry for these noob questions but I've only driven A/Ts for 9 yrs. hehe....

[Picard]

Let off the clutch as much as possible if the speed permits it. Don't be a clutch driver - the cluch wears and tears like your brake pads so use it wisely. NEVER rest your foot on the clutch.

In fast driving, avoid stop and go to conserve fuel. Avoid using the 5th gear at low rpm's (less than 2K rpm). I usually use the 5th gear * 70+kph.

[artpogi]

don't ride the clutch, madali masisira mga clutch components mo nyan.

in a crawling traffic on an incline going up, use your handbrake. With the handbrake engage, put the gear in 1st, slowly release the clutch and at the same time slowly step on the accelerator and lower the handbrake. Practice lang yan.

Just remember to use the handbrakes kung hindi mo matimpla ng maayos para di mo maatrasan nasa likod mo and most especially wag ka matataranta.

HTH

[bad driver]

thanks guys.

what if it's a continuous walking pace (or the speed we use during parking) that forces you to go with the slow flow or else sisingitan ka ng sisingitan or pagalitan ng nasa likod.

In this situation, you have to ride the clutch, right?

[ssaloon]

pwede mo parin bitawan yung clutch basta moving yung vehicle.

[nicolodeon]

thanks guys.

what if it's a continuous walking pace (or the speed we use during parking) that forces you to go with the slow flow or else sisingitan ka ng sisingitan or pagalitan ng nasa likod.

In this situation, you have to ride the clutch, right?

Not really. Sabi nga ni ssalon, you can let go of the clutch when your vehicle is moving.

What you can do in this situation is have your foot ready to immediately step on the clutch when you fell a stall coming or a sudden stop. Practice lang yan. You can rest your foot on the clutch pedal but you should not apply pressure to it. Sanayan lang.

[starbutt]

if you have extra cash to spare, i suggest you take a crash course on manual tranny driving with smart or a1. since you have been driving for some time now, as you said (but with automatic tranny), you do not need to learn manuervering skills. instead, request that your lessons be focused on mastering the neutral-to-first gear, clutch-brake-and-gas pedals manipulation. after that, neutral-to-first gear, clutch-brake-and-gas pedals manipulation plus hand break manipulation (on ascend - they call it "hanging"). training on this skills will likely require you to tail jeepneys for hours (nice place is shaw boulevard from c-5 to kalentong and back during heavy traffic). also, you will likely be asked to "hang" the car on a hill (revving your engine at the same time controlling your clutch in such a way that neither the car will move down or move up). at least, di masisira clutch ng new car mo while trying to learn. yong sa driving school. and you get professional advice on the spot. after you have mastered the neutral-to-first gear, clutch-brake-and-gas pedals manipulation plus hand break manipulation, the rest is easy. kung may extra cash ka lang.

[rion]

IMO, be a smooth driver, a bit of a push feeling costs more fuel... make it smooth just like when you are driving an A/T. don't go high RPM unless you wan't to make a quick overtake or in a hurry on a highway. A push feeling will make your pasaheros hilo and suka...

even a push feeling doesn't even mean that you are driving fast. it all goes down to the speedmeter. see how much you gain speed continiously...


your problem with the smoothness in 1st-3rd gear driving could rely on your accel-pedal. contrary to what you may think it's to early to upshift. give it a try and just push your pedal more deeper. baka hindi kapa nasanay sa M/T, kasi most A/T has only 4 gears...

NEVER rest your foot on the clutch.

when I drive, I rest my foot on the clutch because I can access it fast.
but In Drift King Video Tutorial, the king who even makes use a lot of clutches never rest on the clutch. so I'm practicing not to rest in the clutch pedal anymore...

just an OT. when you are now using a M/T, do you think you are more aggresive in driving compared to an A/T?

for me kasi, yes. when I drive A/T, bumibigay ako sa Ibang drivers. but in M/T, I hate stopping or going back to 1st gear kaya medyo buwaya ako sa M/T.