I purchased a car with a manual transmission and learned how to drive it, and it's a lot of fun. I even managed to drive down to West Palm Beach and back within the first few days of learning, so I know I'm doing well.

Anyway, I'm having some trouble with a few different aspects of the car. I have a 1991 Toyota Corolla.

1) Turns - is it normal for the car to whine a little bit when I'm turning? I already downshift into 2 for my turns, apply the clutch and brake until I'm to the point for more gas.
2) I notice that the car lurches a little when I'm driving around in 2nd gear in a parking lot; do I need to go up to other gears when I feel that happening? I don't go over 15mph in a parking lot, and I drive like a grandma.
3) What else can I do to extend the life of my clutch? I know I have to replace it within a few years (according to the previous owner), and I want to make sure I don't kill my car before I'm ready to give it up!

 

1) it is not normal for any car to make any strange sound while turning normally
2) put it in first if it starts to shutter like that.
3) you will go through the clutch quick in the first car you own. just drive it and keep practicing. theres not really a manual on driving manual.

 

what rotarykidd said. except you should learn throttle manipulation for that car. Lower gears = more sensitive.

I'd think 2nd gear is a pretty good gear as an all-around. depending on the car, it can get you from a stop and up to highway speeds pretty quick.

You'll have to explain shuddering, it's different from shaking, lurching, or vibrating.

What kind of car is this?

 

1) power steering leak
2)lurches as in shutters will happen if your going to slow, if your RPMs are too low then you need to downshit. Subsequently, if its to high and you're not consistent with the throttle, it will be jerk so upshift.


Lol at thinking because you drove long distances you're doing well. I can make it a full tank of gas and only use the clutch like 2 times. You need to practice throttle manipulation like stated.

 

The real test is stop and go traffic when your up on a hill. BTW if you need downshifting technique hit me up lol. They dont call me the downshift king for nothing, heel toe and rev match like a boss. Now thats fun driving. I think I have more fun downshifting than upshifting haha.

 

2. I throw it in neutral and coast a while, then back into gear when it slows down too much.

3. Engage the clutch quickly but smoothly. In other words, don't slip it.

 

Back in costa rica the hills are soo steep (to get a license you need to take it on a stick shift) you like use the hand brake put it in gear then go haha , florida is so flat the hills we got are nothing

but yeahhh stick is the best no homo

 

I've been driving clutch for three years and I still do the handbrake thing on occasion. It's just easier than going from brake holding the car to clutch holding the car or just holding the car on the clutch.

Practice will make the clutch last longer. Mine's held with me learning to drive, driving the balls off it for three years, and now my GF learning to drive stick. But when you replace it, go with a quality unit.

 

True Florida is pretty flat but up here we have some decent hills.

The handbrake thing bothers me when people do that lol. Its like a pet peeve or w/e I get mad when I see people do that. I hate when people dont hold the brake either at a light. They let the car keep rolling back then let some clutch out like a bunch of times before the light changes, just hold the damn brake rather than ride your clutch. Ive even seen people just hold the clutch where it is grabbing enough to not roll back on some slopes and it makes me cringe at the thought of the clutch slipping for that long lol

 

Fuck it, rev it to 9k rshared_pm then dump the clutch and you will never hear a whine.