Advice on driving the Type R

[Gansan]

No, its not "riding" the clutch if the clutch is "fully" depressed. At this point, the clutch is disengaged. However, if you only depress the clutch lightly so its still partial engaged, then you're "riding" the clutch and that will give you a smell like burning brakes. You don't want that. Think of motorcycles. They always have their hand on the clutch lever. It's how you drive a manual. In stop and go, my feet are hovering over the brake, gas and clutch the whole time ready to mange all three while I am in stop and go or slow moving traffic. It's a dance. The only time your foot is not hovering the clutch pedal is if your cruising along. Otherwise, before a turn, in a turn, slow moving traffic your foot shoot hover the clutch pedal. You may need to engage it if conditions change or if you need to "feather" it due changes in speed under slow down or exiting a moving traffic. It's not always press clutch, shift and forget. Your always staying close to the clutch pedal in traffic.

You're right about the definition of riding the clutch, but he's talking about the throwout bearing, which is in between the clutch fork and the diaphragm. If you sit for minutes every day with the clutch pedal depressed waiting for a light, for instance, you are going to wear out your throwout bearing quite a bit faster. It's a dry bearing with only limited lubrication. It's a good reason to sit in neutral at the light or waiting for someone in the parking lot.

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[Bandit_TypeR]

You're right about the definition of riding the clutch, but he's talking about the throwout bearing, which is in between the clutch fork and the diaphragm. If you sit for minutes every day with the clutch pedal depressed waiting for a light, for instance, you are going to wear out your throwout bearing quite a bit faster. It's a dry bearing with only limited lubrication. It's a good reason to sit in neutral at the light or waiting for someone in the parking lot.

Fair point. I don't stay on the clutch at light or if traffic has stopped as I mentioned. I will put in neutral. But, my left foot is almost always hovering over the clutch ready to depress it depending on driving conditions.

 

[Bandit_TypeR]

Fair point. I don't stay on the clutch at light or if traffic has stopped as I mentioned. I will put in neutral. But, my left foot is almost always hovering over the clutch ready to depress it depending on driving conditions.

I have driven manual since I was 17. I am 57 now. Never burned out a clutch or bearing. Clutches last a long time if you're driving correctly. My last car was a 6-spd manual '04 330i. I didn't replace the clutch until I cleared 100k miles.

 

[Gansan]

I have driven manual since I was 17. I am 57 now. Never burned out a clutch or bearing. Clutches last a long time if you're driving correctly. My last car was a 6-spd manual '04 330i. I didn't replace the clutch until I cleared 100k miles.

Totally agree. I've also been driving manual since 16, and I'm 54. We old timers and new drivers alike need to keep the manuals alive!

 

[menikmati]

I have driven manual since I was 17. I am 57 now. Never burned out a clutch or bearing. Clutches last a long time if you're driving correctly. My last car was a 6-spd manual '04 330i. I didn't replace the clutch until I cleared 100k miles.

I have no clue how my STI is at 170k miles (and ticking) with the stock engine and clutch.

 

[Bandit_TypeR]

I have no clue how my STI is at 170k miles (and ticking) with the stock engine and clutch.

Cause you drive it properly! These cars can be driven hard. They're made to be driven hard. You just need to drive them properly. If you rocking the clutch to stay in place on a hill, that's not good. If you dump the clutch on take off, that's not good. There's almost no clutch wear shifting while moving. Cars last a long time under good drivers. I sold that ZHP 330i on an auction site at 135k miles on it and it drove like the day I bought it. Dead straight, rev'd to redline like a sewing machine, no shakes at high speed. I hope my CTR lasts a long time because soon there will be no manual options, especially in a performance car.

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