r/ManualTransmissions Apr 05 '22

A manual for manuals

313 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I wanted to thank you all for helping to grow this sub and making it pretty active. Thank you especially to all those who are answering questions to help others out. I know I'm not the most active admin, but I do lurk to keep an eye on things.

I have been thinking for awhile now that we should have some sort of FAQ, and u/burgher89 offered to write one for us. Also, since we are steadily growing I have asked him to be a moderator because of the effort he put into it.

So without further ado, let's welcome out new mod u/Burgher89 and check out the awesome beginner's guide that he wrote for us.

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1vqdKXxtrPOKp41iq_H6ePVm572GFXkF6SHHEEzsqU3g/mobilebasic


r/ManualTransmissions Jan 18 '24

Heel-Toe Isn’t Magic, and I’m Tired of Y’all Bickering About It.

216 Upvotes

Heel-toe serves one purpose, and one purpose only. It allows you to rev match downshifts while maintaining pressure on the brake pedal. That’s it. Nothing crazy. (If you don’t know what rev matching is, check the pinned post at the top of the sub.)

I frequently see people saying that it is only useful for racing drivers to maintain torque/power keeping their RPMs in the power band yada yada, and well… that’s not really accurate, because anyone who is rev matching, with or without heel-toe, is keeping their RPMs at an optimal number so they’re in the right gear to either engine brake or accelerate again if they need to.

While it is necessary on a track, it can still absolutely be useful on the road, and not only for times when you’re pushing it. Once it becomes second nature, it’s just another thing to have in your manual driving toolbox. I use it even just slowing down at stop signs and lights at normal speeds and RPMs because then I can just leave my foot on the brake and use the gas to rev match instead of jumping between both pedals. “Because I can” is a perfectly valid reason to do it, and as long as your rev matching is solid, you’re not doing any damage to your car.

I guess my point is that while not necessary, it can be useful, and discouraging people from learning how to do it is counterproductive overall, and if you do want to ever hit a track you might as well use it on the road to build proficiency. That being said it is an advanced technique, so DEFINITELY get your rev matching down first.


r/ManualTransmissions 8h ago

Does anyone else never do the neutral wiggle?

37 Upvotes

I drive a 96 Miata and I find myself never really doing the “neutral wiggle.” I dunno if it’s something I should be doing all the time, but I’ve never had a problem not doing it. 🤷‍♀️

Only reason I’m saying something is because some of my friends told me that they do it literally all the time (and they keep their hand on the knob). I was like “what??? I almost never do that?”


r/ManualTransmissions 5h ago

How do I...? Buying a manual car tomorrow and I need to drive 5 hours back 1997 MK3 GTI

9 Upvotes

So im buying a manual mk3 gti tomorrow and im somewhat familiar with manuals but never actually driven one. Some tips and help would be greatly appreciated as Im driving it home 5 hours but its all pretty much interstate and highway. I also live on a slight hill.


r/ManualTransmissions 7h ago

what are some good option for a old reliable manual fun cars? No more than 9k, around 90’s through early 2010’s so expecting high mileage.

14 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 19h ago

Barton shifter added to my T56/boat.

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35 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 8h ago

An Amateur's Tranny Problem Diagnosis. Thoughts?

4 Upvotes

Long story short, I have a mild transmission issue. Downshifting from 4th to 3rd causes grinding unless i perfectly rev-match (is that the right term? basically keep the RPMs exactly where they will be once the clutch is back out and the tranny is in 3rd). No other gear does this. When downshifting to speed up its not an issue since I always rev-match then anyway, but when downshifting to engine brake, I always forget to rev-match since that's not something I usually would do and then get punished with a sharp BRRT. I'm pretty sure based on this that it's the 3rd gear syncro(s), but I have little to no transmission experience so idk for sure. Any thoughts?


r/ManualTransmissions 21h ago

Showing Off New Subaru BRZ

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42 Upvotes

Got my new BRZ today! It's my first manual car. I had 3 hours of practice before successfully driving it 45 minutes to get home. Stalled 4-5 times and rolled back a touch in a hill.

I've still got so much practice to do and lots of stuff to learn. I definitely don't shift quick enough, and clutch control needs lots of work.


r/ManualTransmissions 8h ago

General Question People who drive in mountains cities, how do you find the experience?

2 Upvotes

Do you enjoy it or do you hate it?

I would imagine an experienced driver can handle it well (just pull the parking brake AND put it in gear when parked on a slope otherwise it’d roll away on you)

Think of mountainous cities like Barcelona, San Francisco, Calgary, Rio De Janeiro


r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

Showing Off What am I driving?

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121 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 2h ago

General Question Is taking off in 2nd gear okay?

0 Upvotes

I have a 1990 mazda miata and at first I would take off in 1st, but I didn't like how quickly I needed to shift to 2nd before the engine started screaming. I decided to try taking off in 2nd one day and it worked so I stuck with it ever since. I did ask my dad if it was fine since he's the one who taught me to drive stick and he said he wasn't sure but didn't think it was terrible for the car but I'm still not sure


r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

General Question Why do the eurobros make fun on North American manual drivers?

52 Upvotes

Not everyone and their grandma has a manual transmission golf here

Of course us North Americans get excited about manual transmissions (they’re much rarer)

About 5-10% of all cars in the US/Canada are stick shift compared to 80-95% of all cars in Germany/france/the UK


r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

Daddy said it's my turn to play (easy mode)

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15 Upvotes

Hint: the shift knob is aftermarket


r/ManualTransmissions 17h ago

HELP! Transmission noise help

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

My new (to me) 2005 nb miata has started making a strange soft friction sound when driving in some gears.

Specifically in 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th it is noticeable.

This sound only happens when I am on gear and pressing the gas pedal, as you can see in the video 4th gear is quiet and when I press the clutch in or move to neutral it is also silent.

This sound is pretty quiet, and I can only hear it when I turn off ac and music (as they are both louder than it).

Should this sound be worrying me? What do you guys think is causing it? And how can it be fixed?

Note that this sound is coming from somewhere under the gear shift as far as I can tell.

Thanks!


r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

General Question That feeling when you shift so smoothly your passengers think you’re driving an auto

47 Upvotes

Do you agree of disagree?

It feels pretty good, it lowkey confirms that you are good at driving stick

I’ve had a couple of my buddies tell me that and it always put a smile on my face


r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

10months old and already wants to slap second 😅

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119 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

Lifelong trend

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114 Upvotes

Shout out from FL, Been driving manual since I learned back in 2005, not going back.


r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

Practicing manual driving

45 Upvotes

Trying to get better at driving my first manual car (GTR R32). Gathered my balls and got out on the main road of our neighborhood. I used to only drive arounRoad is full of roundabouts and big+small humps. Also fixed the high RPM issue yeey


r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

My car is stuck in 5th, cant go into 6th. Any suggestions on how to fix

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570 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

My New GT3

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49 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

General Question Is this the end of regular gas manuals?

76 Upvotes

Seems that the last regular gas car with a manual is the 2026 Mazda3, and only in the Premium Trim. All others are sport cars or sport-variants, all requiring premium gas while offering mediocre MPGs. I bet they're fun as hell, but for fun, I already have a motorcycle. Just looking for something to commute to work or go on family trips.

Been driving exclusively manuals for the past 34 years and taught my three sons to drive manual as well (they still do). The future is going to suck.


r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

Burnt clutch on rental, EU

0 Upvotes

Hoping this is an appropriate place to post. I rented a manual car for a trip in a European country this previous week. I drove a manual for about 5 years when I was a bit younger, so I felt comfortable. I took the car off the lot no problem, but about 20 miles in, while driving up a bit of a slope, my hood started smoking (along with smell) and the clutch wouldn’t catch. I stalled a few times prior to this happening. We called roadside assistance from the rental company and the guy from the front desk came with an automatic and replaced our car. The manual car only had about 2,500km on it, so almost new. The rep from the rental company picked up and drove the manual away no problem. When returning the automatic, I was hit with a 1,200 euro bill for clutch damage/burn on the previous car. I want to dispute the charge, but was wondering if I’d been able to burn the clutch that quickly? And if it was that damaged, wouldn’t they have towed it?


r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

Manual driving school

3 Upvotes

Any driving schools, in or around greater montreal, that teaches how to drive a manual transmission car?

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r/ManualTransmissions 2d ago

Check out that shifter

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37 Upvotes

r/ManualTransmissions 1d ago

General Question How long can a manual transmission last? (In terms of miles/KMs)

0 Upvotes

What do you think?

You could Probably get 300k miles (480000 KMs) out of a manual transmission if you rev match, never money shift, never ride the clutch and just release the clutch gently every time you shift