M/T owners -- how do you drive in stop and go traffic
Sometimes owning an M/T can be a pain in the ass when you have to deal with stop and go traffic. I was wondering how some of you drive when you come upon it?
- Ride the clutch (partially pressed in) and shift out of 1st gear to neutral and back to first gear, right foot above brake
- Keep car in 1st, let clutch complety out, drive forward with clutch fully out, right foot above brake
- Wait for enough room to drive forward in 1st or 2nd gear with left foot above clutch and coast to a stop in neutral with right foot above brake
Any other way? I know the first way (riding the clutch) will be burn out your clutch the quickest.
- Ride the clutch (partially pressed in) and shift out of 1st gear to neutral and back to first gear, right foot above brake
- Keep car in 1st, let clutch complety out, drive forward with clutch fully out, right foot above brake
- Wait for enough room to drive forward in 1st or 2nd gear with left foot above clutch and coast to a stop in neutral with right foot above brake
Any other way? I know the first way (riding the clutch) will be burn out your clutch the quickest.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Washington D.C.
Vehicle: Hyundai Tiburon FX
I never had a problem, and never understood what the fuss about being stuck in traffic was all about. If anything, it's worse with an automatic because you have to keep your foot on the brake at all times if you're not in neutral whereas with manual you just pop in neutral like you regularly would, the brake is lighter, or handbrake.
the valvectomy mod for our clutch slave cylinders works against us in stop and go traffic, oh well..i just take it in stride and always start moving in 1st gear..moving in 2nd puts more wear the clutch disc.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Floating around the AUDM
Vehicle: X3 Sprint, S-Coupe Turbo
I like to "play the accordion"
You have a minimum and a maximum allowed distance to the car in front. When the car in front starts to pull away, you do nothing until they exceed your maximum allowed distance. Only then do you start to accelerate and match their speed. When the car in front then starts to brake, you do nothing until they enter your minimum allowed distance. Then you engine brake, then actually brake if they are still stopped.
This works to damp out the tiny, jerky movements of peak hour. It also avoids you riding your brakes and clutch, and just roll along at an average speed. Can't remember where I learnt that trick but it works ridiculously well.
You have a minimum and a maximum allowed distance to the car in front. When the car in front starts to pull away, you do nothing until they exceed your maximum allowed distance. Only then do you start to accelerate and match their speed. When the car in front then starts to brake, you do nothing until they enter your minimum allowed distance. Then you engine brake, then actually brake if they are still stopped.
This works to damp out the tiny, jerky movements of peak hour. It also avoids you riding your brakes and clutch, and just roll along at an average speed. Can't remember where I learnt that trick but it works ridiculously well.
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,992
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From: Washington D.C.
Vehicle: Hyundai Tiburon FX
^I do the same. It's nonsense to stop go stop go when you can ease off.
Why thank you kind sir! My camp... err, fort will treat you well but we are a tad short-staffed. If you could bring a few chicks with you that would be generous
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I've never had to over think it like that. I'm of the HKC camp, I think being in traffic in a manual is the preferred method over auto.
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driving stick in traffic is one thing but dealing with a super stiff clutch pedal is another pain.
i driven m/t mazda 6's that have such a stiff pedal that i ask the owner if their left limb is more built than their left.
i driven m/t mazda 6's that have such a stiff pedal that i ask the owner if their left limb is more built than their left.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Atlanta, GA
Vehicle: MC + RD2 + AW11 + 944 = 4x Win



