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I've never managed to learn how to drive a stick shift properly. When I mean properly I don't mean like a rally car driver. More so in the sense that you can feel the clutch loosening or failing to catch on after driving less than 15,000 miles. So as you can see I've major issues and I've asked some people how they shift and read a bunch on the net but I just can't get it right. I don't get no burning smell from the clutch. It's I believe more to do with my synchronization which causes the transmission to develop issues. Every car I've had ends up developing the same issue which is when I press the accelerator, there's this jerk that occurs.
I've sort of narrowed it down to what could be my possible issues. How important is it to keep your heel to the floor? I kind of lift my whole leg up when using the clutch? Is that wrong?
1) I can't adopt the heel to the floor approach. It feels so unnatural. Maybe it's the pedals?
2) I take several seconds to switch between gears if I try to drive smoothly. This results in everyone on my backside as if I'm stand still. I've had many tell me that I'm too slow in shifting. It's miles easier for me to shift if I drive like a lunatic because then I can sort of just slot it in. (which I've read is the reason it is easier to shift when driving fast)
3) I've heard it is vital to depress the clutch fully. It's something I struggle with because if I depress it fully I'll lose so much speed.
4) If I try to shift faster I get a jerk or what feels like the engine breaking.
5) I can't figure out how to use the clutch and gas at the same time to complement each other. If I need to use the gas to help with shifting or to stop me from stalling I've got to look at the RPM dial to tell how much I need.
6) I can't move off an incline without riding the clutch and then pressing the accelerator more so than I need which always gives that jerky take off and looks like I'm bouncing.
Any ideas guys? I've reached my limit and am really beginning to hate driving but I have a strong desire to learn manual.
I've sort of narrowed it down to what could be my possible issues. How important is it to keep your heel to the floor? I kind of lift my whole leg up when using the clutch? Is that wrong?
1) I can't adopt the heel to the floor approach. It feels so unnatural. Maybe it's the pedals?
2) I take several seconds to switch between gears if I try to drive smoothly. This results in everyone on my backside as if I'm stand still. I've had many tell me that I'm too slow in shifting. It's miles easier for me to shift if I drive like a lunatic because then I can sort of just slot it in. (which I've read is the reason it is easier to shift when driving fast)
3) I've heard it is vital to depress the clutch fully. It's something I struggle with because if I depress it fully I'll lose so much speed.
4) If I try to shift faster I get a jerk or what feels like the engine breaking.
5) I can't figure out how to use the clutch and gas at the same time to complement each other. If I need to use the gas to help with shifting or to stop me from stalling I've got to look at the RPM dial to tell how much I need.
6) I can't move off an incline without riding the clutch and then pressing the accelerator more so than I need which always gives that jerky take off and looks like I'm bouncing.
Any ideas guys? I've reached my limit and am really beginning to hate driving but I have a strong desire to learn manual.
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