Driving with manual transmission questions

Where I turn off the highway to get home, I may have to rev match for second gear and if the timing is right where I don't have to completely stop, then I may be lugging the engine a little but not like chugging lugging, but not in the power range. It's not a race car and I'm not in a race...although I've ran it pretty hard from time to time, just because

 

^^^^^^
Nice...

 

clutch pedal ALWAYS TO THE FLOOR

then move the stick

my father taught me how to ‘ sneak ‘ thru the box

or what truckers call ‘ floating’

essntially shifting w/o the clutch

U have NO NEED to down shift while slowing down

Ur upshifts should be smooth ................................take Ur time dont rush

 

I didn't see it mentioned, but don't hold the clutch while you are sitting at a stop. Take it out of gear and take your foot off the clutch when you are sitting at traffic lights or you have to wait a bit to pull into traffic.

When upshifting, try not to be too abrupt with your throttle changes. Start to ease-up a bit on the gas as you approach the RPM where you are going to shift, but not enough to start slowing or anything; just kind of ease off as you reach for the shifter.

On engine braking, the way I brake is to start pressing the brake while it's in gear and I'll shift down as the RPM drops. Once I'm slow enough, I take it out of second and finish the stop in neutral. It's in one gear or another during most of the stop, though.

As others have said, you're better off holding a gear a bit longer when upshifting than to shift too soon. The bucking horse feeling if you shift too quickly from first to second does suck.

I don't know if it's the ADM or just the nature of the hydraulic clutch in this truck, but it is very sluggish when starting out in really cold weather. Really cold being below 32 F way down here in Georgia.

 

Oh, it very much gets smoother as it breaks in, or I've gotten used to it. I learned to drive in an 82 F100 with a three-on-the-tree column shifter, so this transmission is still a dream compared to that old clunker.

 

Thanks, and can't wait. Not like it's -22 F average all winter here or anything lol

 

I park outdoors, so it's a bit worse for me than it may be for you. It doesn't take it a huge amount of time to warm up, though.

 

I would suggest you check around the area driving schools on the off chance a stick lesson is offered. Otherwise, I would check out car rentals and see if you can get a MT. Practice on theirs rather than yours. Be aware, there are vast differences to how MT's feel from vehicle brand to vehicle brand. Honda was the smoothest I ever drove. However, as previous responses warned, take it slow and easy.

 

Oh, just to avoid confusion, I saw all the references to the accumulator delete and got ADM on the brain; my truck still has the accumulator.

As I said earlier, the transmission does get a lot smoother as it breaks in. I let my older son try to drive it when it was brand new and he had a lot of trouble. He tried again when visiting from college when it had 15,000 miles on it and he was much smoother and remarked that it was much easier.

 

Keep it in gear and clutch pressed. Doing so keeps you in control when your in control your safe. Keeping it out of gear is just foolish advice.

 

When stopped for more than a moment? I'm going to have to strongly disagree with that. If you're referring to me throwing into neutral instead of first when almost stopped, I can understand that, but have found this truck doesn't like going into first when moving. I could keep the clutch pressed, then, but it's slow enough I'm not worried about it.

 

Stopping/pulling out on a hill can be where the old parking brake technique comes in handy. And what a convenient location to have the parking brake in the Tacoma to do so.

 

With practice you can clutch with the left and brake->gas with the right. It’s quicker and very helpful on vehicles with shitty parking brakes.

 

It’s a judgment call. Keeping the clutch pushed in is stressful for your leg and knee, and wears the throw out bearing/bushing.

I put it in neutral most of the time at stoplights, but keep my foot on the brake. Biggest worry is getting rear ended and pushed into the car in front or the intersection.

 

Pretty much how i've been handling it.. truck appreciates the neutral to 1st much better lol

Grateful it's not by the floor

 

Heel and toe.. a beginner technique

I'm in neutral with the brake for long stops too. Feel like the rear ending thing is fairly rare to worry too much about. Guess it's up to personal preference.

 

Depends on where ya live. I grew up with city traffic and have spent some time on a motorcycle. While I have no fear whatsoever of merging, I'm always watching the mirrors.

Its kind of funny though. My uncle has been rearended 7 times. I don't know anyone else that has been even once. I assume he's one of those over+early braker types.

 

Sorry for not reading the whole thread. I'm sure a 1st gen feels way different than what a 3rd gen is like, but here's what I've learned:

I've driven 3 manual cars total. My own taco, a 2000 Mustang GT, and a Pontiac Vibe. All were extremely different feels. The Mustang had the typical heavy V8 clutch but shifted extremely smoothly, just didn't feel like driving it without stomping the skinny pedal. The Vibe was like shifting a smoothie blender, you had to look at the tach or really listen for the engine because the clutch felt like nothing.

My Tacoma at least has really jerky and sensitive shifting, if compared to aforementioned vehicles. It's an in between the two, having an easier clutch than the stang, but you can still "feel" the engine and drivetrain when it wants to go somewhere else unlike the Vibe. Smooths way out at higher rpms than you'd expect, so try to shift around 2500 normally. Keep the engine operating above 1800 rpm if you don't want to lug it when accelerating or upshifting. The owners manual for me has the recommended shifting speeds/rpms, I would check yours and see what it says. When shifting, keep everything relaxed. I found that when learning how to drive manual, I would tense up and release the clutch too harshly.

I have yet to figure out the funky shift between 1 and 2. 1st is the "low gear" in our trucks, even though its still high enough to have to start out in normally. In my experience, this certain shift feels better if you have higher rpms in 1st and don't take too long to shift. When you get good you can start off in 2nd, however that's something you have to be in tune with your clutch to do normally.

Like others have said, it just takes practice. Your left leg will eventually develop a rhythm of pushing down and releasing after some time.

 

My feelings about it as well. Another tip, before coming to that long stop, you can get first at a slow roll, then back to neutral for the wait. Makes first gear easier, lined up I reckon. My experience anyway

 

Im not sure if the manuals have it like the autos do but there is feature called Hill Start Assist that uses the ABS system to stop the truck if it starts to drift backwards on a hill.