tips for manual on a 25 year old Jeep xD

[ComayroLouver]

hey im trying to learn my dads old 85 Jeep (its the one with the window that folds down). im not sure on the model, its just old....haha. im not allowed to drive it once i get my license because (with the doors off, which is how it is) it has like 1 star safety rating lol but he still wanted me to learn stick.


when he tried to teach me there was way too much cursing because i could not figure out the clutch. Any tips?

He said we were in the worst possible position for me to learn (uphill, parked, and a25 year old jeep) so he gave me a little slack but he yelled when the jeep jerked around 2 or 3 times. i eventually got it into first and 2nd gear but with some difficulty. any tips? i couldnt find the "sweet spot" and he said i released the clutch too fast.. ( i was releasing it really slowly)


so i need help lol

[Mr Twisty]

Just listen to your pop, you'll get the hang of it. If he says it's too fast, do it slower. Keep your release slow until the clutch pedal is completely up.

Ask him to find a nice big level area next time too

[Xanthos]

My grandpa taught my mom stick by parking her at the bottom of a hill, and getting out and walking home. Something along the lines of "when you can get the car home, you'll know how to drive stick."

Apparently she was successful, and never had problems driving stick again.
- X

P.S. - The thing that helped me a lot was realizing that in terms of killing the vehicle, it is literally impossible to let the clutch out "too" slowly. Letting it out slower just makes your start a bit slower - it won't actually kill the vehicle. However, too fast and you'll kill the vehicle.

Another thing that might help is to put your right foot on the brake and slowly let off the clutch until you feel the engine start to grab (it'll feel like the car is fighting the brakes) - then get used to that position. Its about where you'll want to slip the clutch to in order to get moving.

[ComayroLouver]

Hahaha thanks i know hes good in the jeep too so ill listen good. I guess its a matter of time. Plus that jeep is like a party-mobile so i need to learn it. Oh and it was funny.... before we fixed the jeep it stalled out in the middle of a highway. No joke. My dad was driving and like "no...no....no....shit". And people were laying on their horns, going 60 mph 3 feet from my face xD scary and lets you realize the power of cars zipping by.

Anyways.... can u explain y it is that its easier on a level surface? We were on the up ramp of a small parking lot lol

[ComayroLouver]

Sorry. Double posted it....

[Xanthos]

Originally Posted by ComayroLouver

Hahaha thanks i know hes good in the jeep too so ill listen good. I guess its a matter of time. Plus that jeep is like a party-mobile so i need to learn it. Oh and it was funny.... before we fixed the jeep it stalled out in the middle of a highway. No joke. My dad was driving and like "no...no....no....shit". And people were laying on their horns, going 60 mph 3 feet from my face xD scary and lets you realize the power of cars zipping by.

Anyways.... can u explain y it is that its easier on a level surface? We were on the up ramp of a small parking lot lol

Its easier on a level surface because the engine is only having to fight inertia, not inertia and gravity. Less clutch slippage required, and its a bit more forgiving.
- X

[ComayroLouver]

Ohhh. Ok. My dad was saying how our clutch is "unforgiving" and picky about where you can change gears... thanks

[ihaveacamaro]

Originally Posted by ComayroLouver

Anyways.... can u explain y it is that its easier on a level surface? We were on the up ramp of a small parking lot lol

you have to push more on the acceleration to get good shifts when you're going uphill, otherwise you'll start to roll downhill lol

pushing the clutch puts the car into neutral gear, and in neutral gear your car will naturally move "down" with gravity. thus it is easier to drive a manual car on a level surface, where gravity won't move your car "down". and that is also why you should never drive a manual in san francisco where they have roads with with really really steep grades lol