What car has the worst clutch feel?

"dr861" (dr861)
05/18/2014 at 14:15 • Filed to: Manual Transmission, Clutch

What you are looking at now is the pedal box from a re-creation GT40. See how everything is angled to the right? That's because if those pedals were straight, the clutch would rub against the footwell. Classic Car Club Manhattan has a CAV GT40 that I've been told has a clutch so heavy, and a catch point so small, that pretty much the only way to get going is to launch it every time. What car have you driven that has the worst clutch?

DISCUSSION (32)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:16

It wasn't a bad clutch but I learned to drive stick in a C6 Corvette which was tricky as hell to learn on.

dr861 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
05/18/2014 at 14:17

Lol awesome! I learned on a c5! Agreed.

oldirtybootz > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:17

A customer has a JK Wrangler and the clutch is ridiculously heavy compared to anything else I've driven, even other JKs. I could never drive his everyday.

Dsscats > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:18

2003 Toyota. Fucking. Camry. It doesn't have a tough engagement point, and isn't that hard to drive, but in the car i was in, it suffered at every take off and it was just so mushy.

CPT Speedbump > oldirtybootz
05/18/2014 at 14:20

And other JK's are nothing compared I'm sure? I test drove a JK and the clutch was insanely easy. Much easier then the Cooper S I drove that day, and both were much easier then the Z I drove...and bought.. which it isn't bad either, just takes getting used to, lol.

Crest > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:20

Try a genesis coupe. The engagement point is very high and the clutch is so light it is an embarrassing stalling event for anyone who's not good at driving manuals. Oh and can someone tell me why the clutch in Mercedes 190's don't last longer than 6 months? It just keeps failing

dr861 > Dsscats
05/18/2014 at 14:22

Wow I didn't even know they offered a stick for that. I guess a manual doesn't always mean more fun.

lone_liberal > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:24

A friend's 79 Camaro that had a 427 big block in it. The clutch was incredibly stiff. Once we were drunk and wanted his girlfriend to drive us home. She had to use every ounce of her strength to get the clutch in and told him that it was the last time she ever drove that car.

fhrblig > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:25

I test drove a Chevy Spark before I bought the Fiat, and it had the opposite problem. The clutch was so light, it felt like the pedal wasn't there. It made it really hard to drive. I know I was wearing heavy leather work boots at the time, but it still shouldn't have been that bad (and I don't have that problem at all wearing those same work boots in the Fiat).

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:31

Renault megane, clutch that is extremely light and feels like a switch. Parking and hill starts are a pain in the arse because theres no feel whatsoever

oldirtybootz > CPT Speedbump
05/18/2014 at 14:34

I had to teach myself to drive stick at work and the most common standard shift vehicles on our lot were the occasional used JKs. Every other one I have driven had a pretty light clutch, hell, we have one that either needa a clutch or a gearbox and it was still easier than his.

Your boy, BJR > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:34

Hummer piece of shit HFUCKING3 vaguest clutch I've driven. Runner up is 1999 cavalier z24 convertible.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:34

Any of the older Jeeps! the clutch is so damn heavy you have to virtually step on it!

The Transporter > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:35

The answer is always Miata. For what's supposed to be a "driver's car" clutch feel is very numb. I'm also not thrilled with the ratio spacing, it's way too close. It just feels weird being in 5th gear (overdrive!) at 2,200 RPM at 45 MPH.

Best clutch feel? Nissan hardbody pickup. Very, very firm feel. Gear ratios are also exactly where they should be (except for 5th, it could be a bit farther out). The shifter throw is a bit long but there's no mistaking what gear you're in. A hardbody would be one of the cars I'd recommend for people to learn manual on.

George Costanza > dr861
05/18/2014 at 14:38

I learned to drive stick in a 1990 or something toyota hilux and since then I have never seen a car that had changing clutch feel by the day. Usually clutch feel changes after thousands of miles but this changed after a couple of hours of driving.

The Transporter > Your boy, BJR
05/18/2014 at 14:40

Those came in manual?

Your boy, BJR > The Transporter
05/18/2014 at 14:43

yuuuuup

jkm7680 > dr861
05/18/2014 at 15:06

Hyundai Genesis coupe, it felt very springy and light. The owner didn't mind it.

CAR_IS_MI > dr861
05/18/2014 at 15:23

Define "worst".

I will throw two of my own cars into this. By your own description above this would be worst. My 3000GT VR4 had a non-sprung hub 6 puck disk with aluminium flywheel and an 850 ft/lb pressure plate. Even though it was hydraulically assisted, that pressure plate felt like you were pushing 1000lbs with your left leg. Traffic, forget it. just pull off and wait. And its engagement could be rather harsh, but it was built for speed, not groceries, so I loved it.

My other toss in is my current Jeep Wrangler (2014 MY). It has a dual mass flywheel on a pressure plate that wont hold much more than 300 ft lbs (so its VERY light to begin with) and it has a cammed return spring on the pedal box (this allows the clutch to feel virtually weightless when depressed). The problem is, all this things make the clutch nearly impossible to 'feel' where your catch points are. I've owned about a dozen cars with manual transmissions and driven over double that, It's never taken me more than a week to adjust to a clutches catch point. I've owned this Jeep for over 7 months and I still have difficulty feeling where the catch point will be. IMO this is the worst.

dr861 > CAR_IS_MI
05/18/2014 at 15:29

Worst meaning awkward in anyway, too light, too heavy, no fathomable clutch point or clutch point seems to change, too springy, too poppy. Anything. Honestly, my personal worst I'd have to say is the current generation of Camaro SS. Severe springy and poppy issue. Vette's don't have this problem.

whoarder is tellurium > dr861
05/18/2014 at 15:54

Two hardest vehicles I've driven...

2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe: I never got comfortable with the clutch on my G35 for the year or two that I owned it. The clutch engagement was harsh, sudden and I just couldn't be smooth with it. I couldn't feel it through the sludgy, non-progressive pedal. I remember stalling it about 3-4 times just on the initial test drive. Maybe it was an aftermarket clutch (I bought the car used), but I don't have another Z or G car to compare and contrast.

2004 Mazda RX-8: The RX-8 clutch is very precise and allows quick engagement. The RX-8's clutch is also not fun in traffic or parking lots. In my mind, its the equivalent to holding and releasing an arrow. Real resistant on the beginning of engagement, then right on the edge, it snaps. This also made for fantastic quick shifting but its definitely NOT for beginners.

Axial > dr861
05/18/2014 at 16:26

I haven't driven enough manuals to make a statement other than I hate soft clutches. My ZF6 is stiff and begins catching about mid-way. It's linear, predictable, and offers tons of tactile feedback. All of the other manuals I have driven were newer, and they were really soft, loose, offered no feedback, and caught near the bottom without warning.

What the fuck, manufacturers?

dr861 > whoarder is tellurium
05/18/2014 at 16:34

I've heard the clutches are a pain on the rx-8's. Keep in mind I live in NYC and every day driving is done in some sort of traffic, with a little to a lot of stop and go.

tehGnomeArmy > whoarder is tellurium
05/18/2014 at 18:23

I drove a 05 G35c manual for 7 years. The clutch was tough to deal with for the first few months. Then it got a bit softer and I got used to it, smooth shifts were no problem. Sounds like you had some aftermarket clutch on it.

Sinanigans > dr861
05/18/2014 at 19:57

My BRZ has pretty shitty clutch feel. Hard to pinpoint where it bites and tough to modulate. Everything else though is pretty effin' sweet!!!

dr861 > Sinanigans
05/18/2014 at 21:12

I drove an Fr-S and liked it pretty well. Very light clutch and definitely stalled it a few times, you're right the catch point is difficult to decipher. Excellent car though.

signintoburnerlol > Sinanigans
05/18/2014 at 21:43

You can adjust the clutch...

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > dr861
05/18/2014 at 23:44

This one.

Kinja'd!!!

Pretty sure this has like no clutch feel at all

D > The Transporter
05/19/2014 at 02:48

well, which Miata? NA is great. NC is a little wonky but I'm not very used to it.

Barbarian772 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
05/19/2014 at 07:23

you beat me to it

Janson Rodger > dr861
05/19/2014 at 15:14

The Chrysler Crossfire's clutch doesn't have any feeling to it at all. I remember when I test drove one that I couldn't get a comfortable seating position and every possible thing that could provide feedback felt numb. And I was coming from a manual V6 Solara which isn't exactly the shining beacon of driver feedback.

dr861 > Janson Rodger
05/19/2014 at 16:55

To be fair, I'm not sure the Chrysler Crossfire has any feeling, whatsoever.