I profess I am not good at manual-transmission, but with the FC I simply cannot grasp the biting point without applying a slight amount of gas first. Back when I learnt to drive manual I was always told to engage the clutch before applying gas, which for some reason I never manage to do with my FC.

So I am just wondering, is the FC's clutch biting point harder to find than average? Do you apply gas before engaging the clutch?

 

My FC has a "firm" engagement,
It sounds to me like your clutch is adjusted farther out than you are used to, I get lazy sometimes and am sluggish with the throttle while engaing the clutch and the car just doesn't like to do work at that low of an RPM.
Just tell yourself to "use your whole leg" and that should help you get used to it, IMHO.
I do apply some throttle before I engage the clutch, just a little over 1,000 rpm and then when the clutch starts grabbing and engages while I give it more throttle and before I know it I'm out of first gear.
All in one smooth action.

 

it depends a lot on the clutch and flywheel you have and engine modifications that may affect low end torque.

 

Finding where the clutch bites before applying throttle sounds like a recipe for bad starts. I always bring the RPMs up just a bit before the clutch bites then adjust clutch and throttle for a smooth start. What you need to do is drive your car around and try to make the smoothest starts and shifts you can. Drive for smoothness and you'll learn the car without even knowing it.

 

i've been driving these so long i think its easier than most cars...

once you get used to it, it'll be fine, and the rotary is forgiving too, you let the rpms drop under 500 on a piston and they just stall, rotary doesnt

 

I'm going through this while teaching my daughter to drive a manual.

Focus. Turn off the radio or other distractions. This way you don't lose focus between gears (it does happen). Practice smooth driving. Pretend that you have a cup of water and are not trying to slosh or spill. Try shifting at a higher rpm than you are accustomed to. Try shifting at a lower rpm. Try letting the clutch out faster, try letting the clutch out slower.

Another tip: Visualize the clutch and the gas on opposite ends of a solid lever (a teeter-totter). As the clutch comes out, the gas must go in the same amount.

Practice makes perfect. You must find and perfect the little things for yourself that smooth it out.

Good Luck.

 

Don't wreck the tofu!

Sorry, Initial D popped into mind reading that...

 

Try this:

Get the car in a parking lot and idling.
Clutch down to the floor, shift to 1st gear.
S-L-O-W-L-Y let the clutch up. DO NOT TOUCH THE THROTTLE.
You'll feel the clutch grab. Once the clutch pedal is all the way up, Put it back to the floor and hit the brakes...
Repeat ten times in a row successfully...

If you stall, release the clutch pedal slower.

You will gain a few things from this, most importantly where the clutch begins to engage... But you'll also feel the engine and know when it's beginning to stall. (The shaking, shuddering feeling.)

Any space between the floor and the clutch engagement point is dead space. When driving normally, try not to add any throttle in that dead space.

 

My S5 is all stock.

This is what I was taught before too, but I just couldn't do it on my S5. No matter how hard I try, it always stalls unless I give it a little throttle. Maybe I am incapable of finely adjusting my feet, but I really tried.

Is there any chance my engine has low compression? The Idle RPM is at factory spec though.

 

these engines lack low end torque. it is 50/50 with the gas and the clutch for a smooth launch.

 

I have driven over 20,000 cars in the last 7 years. Probably at least 10% of them have been manual. (If this were europe my understanding is it would be the other way around).

My method of driving a manual is to tap the gas a couple times and catch the clutch on a RPM downfall for smooth going. Braap braap braaaaaaaaaaap, (gear shift), braaaaaaaaap.

Lots of people especially females (IMO) give it gas and let the clutch out. They may rev to 1000 or 1500 or 2000 and just let the clutch pedal out until it engages. This method wears out the clutch faster because you are on the gas while the clutch is engaging.

 

That would sound more like what I am experiencing.

Over 20,000? Wow that's more than 78 cars per day on average.

 

I taught myself to drive a manual car..( I stole my Dad's Truck one night..went into town!)
I taught a Girl to Drive stick,and she was brainless.YES she went out with ME!(that is why I said she was Brainless!..haha!).
I Know it may sound Crazy but Think of a SEE-SAW.(teeter-totter)..the brake is the Pivot point..
when you put Pressure Down on one side,the other side goes UP.
So,Press down on clutch,then Push Light on gas and let clutch out,.,when you let the gas off to shift the clutch goes in,Shift,press on gas.let clutch out...so Clutch(TEETER) Gas(TOTTER)..It works Real good if you think about it!

 

I wish I had thought of that...Thanks!

 

7.8 cars a day. It sounds exagerated (and maybe it is who knows I stopped counting at 10,000 3 years ago), but between valet parking and running a smog shop, it really adds up.

 

A natural follow up question is, want is your prefer method of starting on an incline? Do you use the handbrake, or do you simply use the clutch to hold the car in place? It seems a bit hard to do the later if some throttle is needed to start the FC from a stop.

 

same here its all good

 

I'm able to do it on my car... 1986 GXL, 160K on the clock, original engine, original drivetrain, original clutch...

It's how I navigate Washington D.C. rush hour traffic.

And that S5 shouldhave MORE low end torque than my S5... You've got the Variable Dynamic Intake and the higher compression...

I'm telling you, you've gotta move slow as hell.

 

Its a rotary --- it requires more gas while releasing the clutch. **** on my turboII with 6puck clutch i do atleast 1,500 or so.

 

I just get off the brake, let the clutch out and give a couple taps of gas.

However if you don't feel comfortable doing that yet then just heel toe while letting out the clutch. Like you are doing a brake stand.

 

it takes practise. if you don't believe me, try left foot braking, just make sure there's nobody around.

on hills it depends, sometimes i'll be fast with my feet, sometimes i'll pull up the brake

 

For me, the way I figuired out the engagement was to just slowly let off tv clutch until the car started to move. Did this a few times until I really could tell where it was.

 

hehe... my car idles at 1500.

All i really have to do is pull the clutch out and im going. Works pretty well on hills.

I really need to get my idle control hooked up :/