How to drive a manual car during traffic?

[nibs]

I'm comfortable driving a manual car, but I don't what's the best way to drive when you're stuck in bumper to bumper traffic (from the point of view of what's better for the engine/tranny). I was stuck on the DVP and at some points it was moving slowly consistantly, at other points it was move...stop...move...stop.

Is it better to keep the car in gear (1/2) and edge the car forward, or do you gear up and then go into free when you're slowing down?

[RabidRabbit]

I usually hang back a bit (although people tend to cut in front if you do :mad:) so you can leave it in first and let it chug itself along. I only press the clutch in when you have to (traffic stops) and put it in neutral. Once you drive for a while and get better you can dump it into neutral without pressing the clutch with very light throttle. If traffic is not coming to a dead stop, I'll usually be in second.

As long as you are slipping the clutch as little as possible, you're not putting any excess wear on anything. It is not adviseable to cover lots of distance in neutral, however.

[boyoflondon]

Well, essentially, there is not much you can do .. most times its first and second gear if you are lucky ...

When slowing down, I usually put it in neutral and apply brakes as needed.

[oldsnail]

do u refer to 1/2 gear as neutral?

When not moving in traffic and stopped. I would leave it in neutral and just hold on the brake.

1st gear is usually used as a starting gear only.. avoid using it extensively.

for stop and go creeping traffic congestion / parking lot, i would use the clutch to accelerate the car and shift if required. this will eliminate unnecessary wear to your clutch. For most people will gas and clutch to accelerate.

[angel_wing0]

i would just leave the car in neutral and press brake. Once it moves a little, release brake, once it stops, press brake. no transmission at all.

[thephenom]

I usually hang back a bit (although people tend to cut in front if you do :mad:) so you can leave it in first and let it chug itself along. I only press the clutch in when you have to (traffic stops) and put it in neutral. Once you drive for a while and get better you can dump it into neutral without pressing the clutch with very light throttle. If traffic is not coming to a dead stop, I'll usually be in second.

As long as you are slipping the clutch as little as possible, you're not putting any excess wear on anything. It is not adviseable to cover lots of distance in neutral, however.

That's pretty much what I do. I start rolling when the cars in front are actually moving more than 4". :D

[CheapScotsman]

The reverse gear in my car has a higher gear ratio that 1st ... so if it is really bad I do a 180, stick the car in reverse (and just leave it there) and back down the freeway.

[JENOVA]

The reverse gear in my car has a higher gear ratio that 1st ... so if it is really bad I do a 180, stick the car in reverse (and just leave it there) and back down the freeway.

is this you?
http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Random/Backwards_Car_1.jpg

[MasterXan]

i would just leave the car in neutral and press brake. Once it moves a little, release brake, once it stops, press brake. no transmission at all.

couldn't you only do that if the road has a slight incline or decline?

[darek_dade]

is this you?
http://www.fugly.com/media/IMAGES/Random/Backwards_Car_1.jpg

Poland FTW!

[ES_Revenge]

Not that it's enforceable or anything but just a reminder that coasting in neutral is technically illegal--if you do it on a driver's test it's an automatic fail.

The other thing about shifting to neutral without using the clutch pedal... I've always wondered about that. Won't that wear out your syncros?

[darek_dade]

Not that it's enforceable or anything but just a reminder that coasting in neutral is technically illegal--if you do it on a driver's test it's an automatic fail.
With automatic yes, with manual it's a different story.

The other thing about shifting to neutral without using the clutch pedal... I've always wondered about that. Won't that wear out your syncros?
No, it's perfectly safe.

[ES_Revenge]

With automatic yes, with manual it's a different story.
No with a manual, in fact I was specifically talking about a manual.

No, it's perfectly safe.
I'm still not totally convinced on that one, especially considering your response to the above one, lol. (No offence or anything, just saying...)

[darek_dade]

No with a manual, in fact I was specifically talking about a manual.


So when you approach a intersection with the red light, you are not allowed to switch to neutral when rpms hit ~1500 (while on gear) and break?


I'm still not totally convinced on that one, especially considering your response to the above one, lol. (No offence or anything, just saying...)
I am no expert but my dad was driving manual cars his whole life and that's what he told me.

[ChaoZ]

Coasting in neutral is not a good idea because if you suddenly need to get on the gas, your reaction time is lengthened by needing to shift back into gear. I still put it in neutral while stopped at the light though. If it is a stale red, I just keep the clutch depressed and leave the car in first gear with the brake applied.

Driving manual in traffic is a pain in the ass. If there is a constant moving and stopping, leaving a gap then doing short bursts is the way to go I think. Starting off in 2nd gear can help. A real workout for the left leg.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

So when you approach a intersection with the red light, you are not allowed to switch to neutral when rpms hit ~1500 (while on gear) and break?

Why would you do this? You like to wear out your brake pads and waste fuel?

I am no expert but my dad was driving manual cars his whole life and that's what he told me.

I was driving manual cars my whole life, doesn't mean I'm not an idiot. Jerking out of gear when there is any load on the syncros places more wear on them and is harmful, and there is no way for you to tell when your syncros are loaded or not.

[Emancipated]

With automatic yes, with manual it's a different story.

No, it's perfectly safe.

It's safe to throw the gear into neutral without the clutch? Isn't this going to eat the gears up? aka Grind?

[darek_dade]

Guys, I think we don't understand each other. Scenario:

Travelling at 60km/h on 4th gear I see a red light, I let my foot of the accelerator, coast like that until around 25-30 km/h (~1250rpm), put into neutral and start breaking.

The way I (and my dad...) switch to neutral without clutch, is to let off the gas, and push the shifter. If it doesn't slide out easily, I don't force it. I wait until it is not under any load, and it slides right out of gear.

I hope we're clear now.

Edit:
It's safe to throw the gear into neutral without the clutch? Isn't this going to eat the gears up? aka Grind?
No, if engine is under 0% load, shifting to neutral without clutch won't grind.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Travelling at 60km/h on 4th gear I see a red light, I let my foot of the accelerator, coast like that until around 25-30 km/h (~1250rpm), put into neutral and start breaking.

You should brake in gear and not put it into neutral until just before you stop. This way your engine helps you to brake and you use less fuel because the wheels are now driving your engine. If it's a short stop, you can just clutch and not shift at all.

The way I (and my dad...) switch to neutral without clutch, is to let off the gas, and push the shifter. If it doesn't slide out easily, I don't force it. I wait until it is not under any load, and it slides right out of gear.

Except it will be under load. Either your engine will be loading the rest of the driveline through the syncros, or the rest of your driveline will be loading the engine through the syncros. There is only a split second (when the engine speed exactly matches the speed of the intermediete shaft) that it isn't loaded and there's no way for you to tell. Just use the clutch. That's what it's there for.

[Emancipated]

Guys, I think we don't understand each other. Scenario:

Travelling at 60km/h on 4th gear I see a red light, I let my foot of the accelerator, coast like that until around 25-30 km/h (~1250rpm), put into neutral and start breaking.

The way I (and my dad...) switch to neutral without clutch, is to let off the gas, and push the shifter. If it doesn't slide out easily, I don't force it. I wait until it is not under any load, and it slides right out of gear.

I hope we're clear now.

Edit:

No, if engine is under 0% load, shifting to neutral without clutch won't grind.

Man, that's clutchless shifting and if you ask anyone who's worth their salt, they all say it's bad. Brake pads are cheaper to replace than a transmission.. something like that. I usually downshift when I'm coming to a stop but the guy behind me usually wonders why I'm slowing down already and I'm not even pressing the brake (no indicator given) so I usually see them closing up on my ass really fast. I try not to coast in neutral if I'm going above 40km/h.

As far as highway habits, I leave it in first and only super feather the gas if I see them stopping in front of me, I'll let the engine do the deceleration while in 1st gear which feels like someone just smacked you on the back of your head.. I love manuals but I don't think passengers or drivers on the road with me care too much for my driving style, to be honest.