Rate My Driving, Oppo

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
12/16/2014 at 20:04 • Filed to: None

I may regret this, but I value Oppo's opinion. What do you guys think of my manual driving skill? I have only been driving stick regularly since Thursday for about 150 miles. Before that I had about 3 hours of sporadic manual driving in my friend's truck. Am I ahead of the curve? Do you guys think I need work, if so where?

DISCUSSION (18)

jkm7680 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:10

You seem to be shifting a bit short, also shifting into neutral ages before you get to a light or complete stop usually isn't advisable in my book.

E. Julius > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:12

Well, I couldn't see your feet, the shifter, or hear the motor, but your starts looked pretty smooth. Smoother than mine were at that point at least.

Also, traffic there does not look fun.

E. Julius > jkm7680
12/16/2014 at 20:13

Didn't notice that. Agreed.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > E. Julius
12/16/2014 at 20:20

You can see the shifter, but not when Im in 2nd. You can also see the tach. Thanks, for the compliment. I live just off the highway and it was rush hour, traffic was not fun

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > jkm7680
12/16/2014 at 20:21

Ya, Ive been told that. I need to improve my timing when shifting to neutral.

jkm7680 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:23

Otherwise you seem pretty good though!

E. Julius > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:24

Ah, to my discredit I skipped through too much of the video and missed the good stuff : /

I'm pretty much just above noob status on stick though, so it probably wouldn't have mattered much anyways.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:28

You are considerably less aggressive then I am while driving, what economy are you getting with the Ranger?

Jonathan Harper > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 20:46

Couple tips:

-when at a red light or at a stop sign, leave it in neutral until you're ready to go. It only takes a second to engage first gear from neutral, and every second you have your clutch foot on the floor with the car in 1st gear is another second the clutch is "in use". In some high-end sports cars and race cars this can begin a slow clutch death cycle.

-trim out the moments you're waiting at stop lights, it's easy to do and makes videos 1000% more watch-able

Good

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
12/16/2014 at 20:52

Well it was rush hour. You should see me drive when the roads are empty. But I average about 12-13 mpg

Tohru > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 21:04

0/10, convert to automatic.

Nah, you're okay.

PushToStart > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 21:09

It looks like when you're stopped, you've already put the truck in first and are just holding the clutch down while you wait for the chance to go. While it's not a particularly horrible thing to do (and some people do it all the time) it's best to leave it in neutral until you can see that you will actually be going soon. When you see the gap you're going for coming up (or in the case of a stop light, when the other traffic's light turns red), put it in first and hold the clutch until you go, not during the whole stop.

EDIT: just read the other comments and saw that JBH said the same thing.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 21:57

Not horrible fuel economy, considering it's a 22? year old truck.

Sn210 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 22:18

I notice when you took a right, you put it in neutral to slow down but didn't put it back in gear until you were all the way through the turn. I downshift right before I turn, and let out the clutch as I move through the turn. That way I can get on the gas as I come out of the turn and be on my way. It looks like your shifts are pretty smooth and you didn't stall on video, so I'd say you're doing good!

I'm by no means an expert though, I've been driving stick for ten years and know I can still be better at it. Do what you're most comfortable with.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
12/16/2014 at 22:42

21 year old truck, and ya not too shabby

Vicente Esteve > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 23:28

You seem to do rather nicely. I have driven a couple manual trucks, and they are quite more of a struggle than smaller cars so I give you credit for that.

What I do notice though is how much less is going on in streets of the US compared to Mexico. I don't want to sound annoying, but its a lot of work here compared to you guys. Still, good job!

I may be doing a video soon as well, just for the giggles.

miadaman? yes please > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/16/2014 at 23:48

Personally, I put in neutral at stop light and spare my clutch bearing the daily marathon. Also I notice your hand tend to wonder around steering wheel on turns, try plant them on 9 and 3 regardless of turning radius unless you need to do overhand.

Edit: oops, late to the party on the first comment. Also by 9 and 3 I mean keep your hands on the steering wheel's 9 and 3.

Nibbles > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
12/17/2014 at 09:54

1: Shifting early is fine as long as you're not bogging the engine. Shifting to keep your Rs between 1100-2000 will net you the best empeegees

2: MARKED IMPROVEMENT!

3: Nothing wrong with a little coast, but I agree with jkm on the length. Going to neutral that far before a stop won't get you anything except worn brakes :)