Just had my friend help me pick up my MCS 08 today. I have been taught here and there how to drive a manual, and I was very excited to hear that MINIs are easy to learn on.

So far, it's been a REALLY rough day. :-( I am stalling out like crazy at stop signs...I've been practicing all afternoon, but it's not getting any better.

Everyone keeps saying that it will get better with time, bu I am not seeing it. I hate that I can't drive this car to its potential.

 

Have you pushed the Sport button? Take-offs are a lot easier for me when the Sport mode is turned on.

 

Cut yourself some slack. Relax. Keep trying. It will get better - and you'll come to LOVE motoring about in the MINI

 

Yep, my sport button is on. Still rough! :-(

I hope I get it...soon! I've gotta drive to work on Monday!

 

Let off the clutch slower. That was my problem - I was letting off way to quickly. You have to let off slow to feel it catch and then release a little slower. Check out this FAQ someone else pointed out this week.
http://standardshift.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3812

 

By the end of tomorrow, you could well be a smooth shifter !

Find yourself an empty parking lot. Just work on easing out the clutch as you feather the gas. Don't even worry about third gear. As soon as you get the car moving, push in the clutch, stop the car, and do it over again... and again... and again...

You'll get the feel for the clutch pedal's engagement point and how to coordinate the two pedals. Once you get really comforable with first to second gear, the rest is easy.

Next week: Down shifting.

 

Relaxing is the key. When you get nervous you wont be as successful. When I learned to drive a stick I literally stalled the truck I was in 20 times in a row. I was just over thinking everything, nervous, and embarrassed. Once I relaxed I was just fine. What worked for me at the beginning was to push down slightly on the gas pedal and keep it slightly depressed and the SLOWLY let off the clutch pedal. As mentioned by CR&PW&JB once you get a feel of the point the clutch engages you will be much more successful.

 

Have you tried using the clutch without the throttle?

This is an easy way, IMO, to learn how to drive a manual tranny.

 

As other have said. Relax and slow things down. The tension is self-induced and causes rushing which stalls the car only increases tension. It can be a vicious circle.

Remeber, if you don't like the way something feels, just push the clutch in. Many people think that once they start letting the clutch out, they have commited to it and just hope for the best. If you are uncomfortable, push the clutch in, take a breath, and try again.

Slow inputs.

 

I was in the same boat when I picked up Lewis, no worries!

Keys to your success: Sport. Rev it 1500rpm, then slowly let the clutch out. Keep your eye on the tach (and the road!) and modulate your right foot to keep it at 1500rpm. That'll get you a feel for using both feet at the same time.

In time you'll get quicker and smoother. Quick is easy, so focus on shifting smoothly once you get the basic basics down. I still get a buck into 2nd sometimes.

One last tip: Shoes. I usually wear the same pair of Pumas when I drive. It helps a lot to have the same feel when you're starting out. Now I just don't like driving in heels, so I change when I get to work. But if you pick a pair of driving shoes you won't have to adjust to different pedal feel every time you hop in.

 

My wife had NEVER driven a manual until we bought her a used Cavalier (this was a long time ago). We went to an empty parking lot. I explained to her what she needed to do to work the clutch, then I got out of the car and sat down on a bench until she got the hang of it. It took about an hour or maybe an hour and half, and she got the hang of it. I think as long as you know somewhat what you're doing, it's best to practice alone so no one is telling you stuff and distracting you while you practice. It is also VERY important to practice taking off from a stop on a hill without rolling backwards. That is the trickiest part of driving a manual at first.

 

Hang in there! I've taught three teenagers to drive manual transmissions and I tell them the same thing I tell myself whenever I have to do something difficult or frustrating: look around you at all the other people who can do this! I mean REALLY LOOK at some of these people! You're absolutely as strong, intelligent, and capable as every one of them and probably much more so than most of them! (Got me through childbirth more than once without drugs! )

One of the tips I give my kids that seems to help most (whether it applies to motorcycles or cars) is to let the clutch out slowly to about 90% and then bring it back in slightly until you're rolling. You've been given good advice here about finding the balance point between clutch and throttle. Sit on a slight incline and just find that point and "rock" the car until you get a feel for the interplay between clutch and throttle.

Soon, the frustration will be a distant memory and you'll be in total control of the car.

P.S. When you're ready to learn to parallel park in your MINI, let me know and I'll give you Mom's Patented "Slow Feet, Fast Hands" speech! Worked for my youngest son yesterday, when he learned to drive a stick and then parallel parked repeatedly and successfully less than an hour later.

 

When I learned to drive in my mini i had a hard time. It was new and the clutch and motor were not worn in at all. I was constantly stalling the mini, but i could drive my teachers car fine.

The trick?

Put a tissue or sticky note over the tach.

Within 15 minutes I was driving with no problems, i was just watching the tach way too much and not listening to the car.

 

Remember the 2 second delay (hill hold feature) and take that into account. Also try and take off as close to 1000-1200 rpms. Some times bliping the throttle makes it easier. That should help you out greatly. I have been driving a stick since the 60's,and quite frankly the R56 took some getting used to.
Richard

 

I could probably use that speech. I'm a terrible parallel parker.

But, Lamcc83, you've gotten some really good advice here. And trust me... if I could learn to drive a manual, you can too.