Ok... I noticed that I can do this on my mini.... Disengage the clutch (press pedal) put the car on 1st (even 2nd works).. and then veery slowly engange the clutch (release pedal).... My car will start moving with NO pressure on the gas pedal..... I've only done it three times... 2 for me.. once for a friend to see hehe.... Is this normal?! Could this be an issue? I've driven stick all my life.. and I dont really recall any car being able to do this... does the Mini have a syncro or something for the clutch??


Thanks!!

 

Never had a car that this didn't happen on. Release clutch, if car is running and in gear, car moves. Release clutch rapidly with engine idling and, car jerks and engine dies.

 

I do that all the time in slow traffic...

 

Logic tells me it should not but... will this put unnecessary/extreme wear in the clutch? like it does when you are playing with the clutch while being uphill to keep the car straight...

 

i always just assumed that was normal. When you think about how a clutch and manual tranny works it makes total sense.

 

Oh i just thought normally the engine would stall.... but you are right makes sense...

 

That was how I learned. Our driveway was uphill, was not allowed to drive on the road till I could get the car up the driveway without touching the gas. Dad felt it was important to have good clutch control first.

 

Double thumbs up on that one. In fact when I teach anyone how to drive stick the first thing I make them do is get the car moving (on a level area) without the gas. One less think for them to worry about in the beginning and it gives them a solid understanding of what the clutch does.

A few cars I've owned had enough torque to get into third gear without any gas at all, just slowly run through the gears as the car takes off. The MINI is a bit weak in low RPM torque but you should still be able to get it moving without a problem.



chava007:

The clutch is the only link between the engine and the trans. That's all there is, nothing to do with syncros or anything. If you let out the clutch in gear the car goes. If the required torque isn't there (clutch out to fast, on a steep hill etc) the car will stall. If you're careful you should pull away.


Depending on how much to slip the clutch, yes you will wear it out doing this, but probably not anymore then you wear it out in normal driving. Holding the car on a hill with the clutch likely causes more wear.

 

As the others have said this is absolutely normal and a good way to develop good clutch control. I am not sure that I'd want to do it on an up incline but clearly it is a good way to learn how to feel your clutch engage and get your Mini going.

The bottom line is that this is anything BUT weird.

Rich

 

This is the way I teach every person to drive stick, because its how I learned and its a great way to develop clutch control early on I love taking on new driving techniques, right now I'm on left foot braking, which makes for a lot less jerkiness through the corners on the road, and a smoother transition to track driving! Speaking of, are there ANY tracks in new england that anyone knows about?

 

I used to have an old Opel Corsa.. I guess the torque on that car was enough because if I tried the same thing on it, it would just stall on me... so for me its only been that car (9 years) and 2 minis... THanks everybody for all the info!!!

 

that seems normal... or I have the same issue, only if I release the pedal slowly. Dumping it stalls out the car

 

Lime Rock? There still might be a track at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was my favorite when I ran karts. Watkins Glen is not New England nor is Pocono. So Lime Rock it is.

Rich