[lill2012]

I'm not usually one to share constantly but since I'm in the process of taking delivery, why not. My deal is I've owned and loved a Fiesta since 2010 and have been waiting for this moment for well over 5 years (ever since I knew it existed). I've never actually driven a manual transmission, but my biggest gripe with my current car has always been the transmission. So I ordered this car with no experience actually driving one. So far, my time behind a manual has been roughly 2 hours in a crowded parking lot. Today I actually pulled out onto the highway and drove in traffic. First off, my god this car is amazing. It's so much more planted on the road than my old one. And they power and sound. I'm in love. I'm picking it up tomorrow and am determined to take it down the shore this weekend. Once I was out of first things were much better. Downshifting wasn't too bad. Although, I never really had to come to a stop in traffic and get moving again. Obviously I still have to do the whole empty parking lot thing to really grasp all the concepts involved. I appreciate all the tips I've received from fellow members. Wish me luck and can't wait to fully enjoy what the car has to offer. And if anyone is looking for parts off a 2011 SES, message me.

 

[Zormecteon]

The next thing to learn is to pay attention to the tach. Watch where the needle falls to when you upshift, so you know how much to rev the engine for a smooth downshift...... another method is to "feel" when to downshift.... .. when you are ready or need to, push in the clutch, pull the car OUT of gear, and put very light pressure on the next lower desired gear. .. rev the engine, and when the revs "match" the stick will just slide into place.... done correctly, and you don't even need to use the clutch... (but ALWAYS do so anyway)

 

[SirSlaughter]

you were in the exact same situation I was in. And now about 2000 miles later I'm hauling ass and burning rubber all day. You will get the hang of it. After driving my dads VW bug for a minute and going back to my car, the transmission is so divine. It's sooth as silk and the car is so responsive. You essentially have an easy to learn and fun race car.

 

[RDgolfer]

If I learned how to drive a stick at 10 yrs old, sitting on phone books in my uncle's VW Bug, you are light years ahead of me...push the clutch in, then push the accelerator in, then let the clutch out, and then wait for the smoke to clear...everything will be ok

 

[jfdana]

Practice and have fun. As Zormecteon (did we just morph into a a weird StarTrek episode) said, learning to pay attention to the tach is the key. Of course, minding your speed saves money. The st makes driving both fun and easy by having lots of low rev torque which ends up being both very forgiving for newer drivers and really fun once you gain experience (quick shifting from 2d to 3d in the middle of a tight turn while leaning on the throttle is a blast, literally).

Being an old guy, I was pleased to read the recent NYT review of the '68 Z28, which is the car I learned to drive on. Oddly enough, for a really high revving V8, it came without a tach for which I had to pay the dealer an extra $80 to mount on the steering column. No clutch up and down-shifting; no problem. But then I was young and reckless.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/a...dule=Search&mabReward=relbias:r,{"1":"RI:10"}

My memory may be hazy, but my FIST is just as much fun to drive (and better around the twisties, although the sound of a Z28 blasting through traffic with the passenger door half open - don't ask- does linger).

In any event, I'm truly grateful to have yet another great ride.

 

[Cligedy]

For a week you won't be too smooth. Then about a month in, you'll be pretty comfortable. Six months in, nobody will know that you're new to it, and a year in, you won't even think about it.
Just remember, nobody was born knowing how to drive stick. Everybody that knows how went through the same thing. Welcome to the club!

 

[lill2012]

Thanks for all the tips. So far, things have been fairly smooth. Last night was the first time I ever had someone in the car with me to watch and he gave me some answers to things I wasn't too sure about. Like stopping. So far, today I believe I've only stalled out about 3 times. Nothing quite prepared me for that panic as the car stalls out in the middle of traffic. I'm learning patience. I'm heading down south this weekend so I'll have a nice hour and a half to practice. This thing is insane. I'm in love already. I already had my first ST thumbs up and wave from a Focus ST on the way home from work. And I managed to not look like a tool stalling out as he let me go. Wish me luck and enjoy the weekend

 

[RDgolfer]

Blip the accelerator...blip blip blip...and don't worry about peeling out....the clutch is like brake pads on the caliper...it grips at hard as you let it out, which is converse to braking, which grabs harder the more you push the brake pedal...just for fun, get rpm's up to 2500, on an abandoned road or something, keep at 2500 rpm when you let the clutch out, however you do it, fast or slow, and get a feel for the clutch...don't worry it will grab even if you let it out fast...but play around with it...some crazy people will redline it, and let the clutch out as fast as possible...but that just keeps tire companies in gold...good luck whippersnapper!!!

 

[lill2012]

Thanks for that tip. I spent the weekend in an open parking lot on the beach. Saw the Supermoon, practiced until ungodly hours with all the windows down, roof open and stereo off. The people walking the boardwalk probably thought I was insane, but who cares what bennies think anyways Got a feel for what was doing what, what rpm's meant, all the basics. I haven't stalled out since. This thing is amazing. It just pulls and pulls and pulls. I'll give the clutch things a try. That a great visualization btw. Thanks

 

[CarefreeAZ]

Thanks for that tip. I spent the weekend in an open parking lot on the beach. Saw the Supermoon, practiced until ungodly hours with all the windows down, roof open and stereo off. The people walking the boardwalk probably thought I was insane, but who cares what bennies think anyways Got a feel for what was doing what, what rpm's meant, all the basics. I haven't stalled out since. This thing is amazing. It just pulls and pulls and pulls. I'll give the clutch things a try. That a great visualization btw. Thanks

I've got to find me some beach...it sounds like you had a absolutely awesome time!

 

[RDgolfer]

Your left foot and your right foot will eventually be friends with your brain...don't sweat it and have fun...and buy a radar detector now....best investment ever..Valentine 1....look it up...Mike Valentine was one of the two cofounders of Escort, and founded his own company..I own it, and it has paid for itself over and over again...and where is the mountune downpipe and exhaust??? I want it yesterday..but whatever...good luck kid!

 

[RDgolfer]

I want to know what happened when you let the clutch out out at 2500 rpm....can you pedal your Fiesta ST yet???

 

[lill2012]

hills have proven to be slightly more difficult than i imagined. now, i just wave my hands out the window if someone pulling up behind me. i'm afraid to rev this thing. my friend told me I drove like a grandma. I did manage almost 34 MPG one tank. baby steps.

 

[RodMoe]

Do you have hill assit on ?

 

[lill2012]

yes

 

[RDgolfer]

Get the rpm's up beyond idle....blip blip blip...and work the clutch with your left foot...the worst thing you can do is not have enough rpm's when you let the clutch out...blip the throttle while you're letting the clutch out...work your left and right foot....your right foot gives power, and left foot makes it grab...you will find out how to make your car go forward as fast as you want it to...it just takes some experimenting

 

[RodMoe]

Yup with hill assit you can learn to do it without rolling back right away how cool is that for a novice ?? We had to learn using the E brake. Also may want to try holding revs about 2500 at first while you learn as the motor makes good torque there to help you start out as you ease off the clutch then when you feel it grabbing ease on the gas a weeee bit more and slide the clutch out all the way. Yes this may wear your clutch a little bit till you get the hang of it but it's better than the other results of rolling back into something and the heartburn that causes.. Practice practice practice.. It will come in time. And pretty soon it will become second nature to the point you get sloppy and grind 2nd and 3rd gears all in the same drive around town.. No wait that's just me being Lazy Shifting!!! Lol

 

[lill2012]

I honestly had no idea you could be stopped in first with the clutch down and not always in neutral. I rewatched all those videos I watched to learn how to first drive a manual. Never bothered to watch them when I first got the car last week. I was doing a lot of extra work. I actually used to do the do the hill thing where you play with the throttle to keep it from rolling back. The whole concept is finally making more sense. With a little more roadtime I'll actually be able to enjoy the car instead of thinking about shifting so much.

 

[RDgolfer]

Ha! You will abandon this thread soon enough after roasting rice type tubs over and over again...now let's talk about modifications...how about a bolt on 350 hp turbo? That means wider tyres and an adept right foot my friend...but in the mean time, get your car going off the line, and when you master that, you will be another enthusiast looking for mod parts that will help you roast unsuspecting motors off the line and during roll on at speed...and btw, bolt on turbo mod, 2K USD...I'm thinking about it, because I can feel you and I need more HP..ha ha...good luck little brother!...and keep posting...we want to hear...or at least I do...Peace