Yes. source: I daily drive a corvette. (11' c6 grandsport) The only issues I have are avoiding steep driveways/entrances as the front end is rather low. I daily my 05 c6 manual and would highly recommend it!
Use neutral more and your clutch less. You need to have your foot on the clutch to start your car, to shift up or down, and to stop; otherwise, keep your foot off the clutch. Going downhill, downshift and use your brakes or shift into neutral and use your brakes to slow down.
Clutch control tips
- Find a quiet and flat practise area.
- Release the hand brake.
- Depress the clutch all the way down and put the car into first gear.
- Give the accelerator a gentle nudge.
- Slowly raise the clutch until the car starts to move forward.
It's called “riding the clutch.†Resting your foot on the pedal also means your clutch may not be fully engaged. That can cause major slippage with your clutch disc (also wearing down your clutch). The Bottom Line: Resting your foot on the clutch is a bad habit to get into, so try and avoid it as much as possible.
The ideal technique to keep moving in city traffic is to wait till the car ahead has moved a few feet, then shift into first gear, release clutch fully and move ahead. When you have to stop in traffic, press the clutch, shift to neutral and release the clutch.
With manual transmissions you "always" should start you car in neutral! Pressing the clutch pedal while cranking is possible, but it will add more extra wear to the clutch system, more load to the crankshaft and bearing since oil isn't pumping yet.
You probably know that, for the most part, it's a bad idea to start your manual-transmission car while it's in gear. Doing so means you're basically using the starting motor to spin the engine along with the transmission—in turn, moving the car. It also works in reverse, in case you're facing the wrong way.
On older cars, you can usually start without touching the clutch pedal and with the vehicle in gear. Turn the key. The starter motor spins the engine; if the car is stuck in gear, the car will lurch forward.
How Do I Drive a Stick Shift Car?
- After starting the engine, keep the clutch pressed in all the way.
- Move the gear shift into first gear, to the left and away from you.
- Release the emergency, or parking, brake.
- Slowly ease off of the clutch and give the engine a little gas.
- Drive forward in first gear.
Not long, just an afternoon really. Now then, how long did it take me to learn to drive it WELL it an entirely different question. That took about 4-6 months to learn all the nuances and really get good at engaging everything perfectly and smoothly.
Generally, you should shift gears up when the tachometer is around “3†or 3,000 RPMs; shift down when the tachometer is around “1†or 1,000 RPMs. After some experience with driving a stick shift, you'll be able to figure out when to shift by the way your engine sounds and “feels.†More on that below.
Begin pressing down on the accelerator.
- As your right foot begins to press down on the accelerator, your left foot should continue to release the clutch, in a simultaneous motion.
- If you complete this action correctly, the car will start to move forward and you will be driving in first gear.
You might think driving a car with a manual transmission, also known as a stick shift, is difficult. Really, it's not, despite the nervousness and fear it inspires in learning drivers (and even experienced drivers who have never had to learn).
