PLEASE HELP!!!! whats the best way to handle a stickshift on hills?

Question

I JUST GOT MY FIRST CAR, A MISTUBISHI LANCER '03. BUT ITS A STICK SHIFT, SO I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IT. I GET NERVOUS EVERYTIME I CAR PULLS UP BEHIND ME ON A HILL...I DONT WANT TO ROLL BACK! WHATS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE HILLS WITH A STICK SHIFT? I HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE THIS THING.

Answer 1

I drive a stick since the last 8 years. So here is some advice from an experienced person.
On the hill, the first thing you need to keep in mind that the less the gear i.e. 1 and 2, the more is the traction generated by the car, meaning there is more power for the car to pull itself up an incline. So, first thing, always keep in low gears when trying to start off or climb a steep incline.
Secondly, here is a trick to start on a slope.
Keep the car in first gear and keep the clutch pressed. Put the hand brakes on. Then, press the accelerator while releasing the clutch. You can feel that the car wants to move . At that point release the hand brakes. This will give the car a foward jolt which gets you off the start. Then quickly accelerate and you are on the move. This will stop you from rolling back.
Think about what I wrote ... and try it out. It works.

Answer 2

Find the point of letting out your clutch to what I call the Grab Point. The grab point is the exact spot where there is no draw on the motor and the car is held still by only the transmission. So, after you practice and find the grab point you can sit on a hill and use only your clutch to keep you still (without any brakes). The grab point kinda acts like a brake some how that I can't explain theoretically.

Practice on a slight hill or drive way approach a few times and your off on your way. Make sure your car is pointed up the hill. I have never tired it facing down.

Answer 3

There are several methods available for use on a hill, the most common being the "Handbrake" maneuver. This involves holding the handbrake in replacement for the gas. Iwill explain to you in steps to make it simple.

Ok so lets say you stop at a red light on a hill, you know that the light will be turning green soon, what do you do?

1)Clutch in
2) Pull and hold the handbrake as far as you can
3) Release the foot brake while still maintaining handbrake
4) Give the car a little bit of gas and at the same time bring up your clutch to the friction point
5) at this point you should feel the car want to move forward
6) with your left foot still at the friction point and your right foot still giving it a bit of gas, release the handbrake and start as you normally would by slowly pushing up the clutch and giving it a bit of gas.

Answer 4

You have to get the feel of it. Practice stopping on a hill with no traffic. You are in first, with the clutch in and your right foot holding the brake. Take your foot off the brake and give it some gas...maybe a little more gas than you would on flat ground. It will be rolling backwards...let out the clutch and give it enough gas and it will start to move forward. Keep practicing. Once you 'get it' you'll only roll back a half a foot or so.

Answer 5

When nervousness happens pull the hand brake and as you let out the clutch hold the steering wheel with one hand and as the car starts to move drop the brake lever with the other hand. This is just a beginners trick after a while you will allow enough space in front to pull forward a little. After you get a hang for manual you will get the rev's just right to pull away with out rolling back more than 6 or 8 inches

Answer 6

Practice this BEFORE getting into traffic...
Find a hill to practice on...
Slow to a stop switching to 1st gear as you near 5-10 mph.
Gradually let up on the gas and come down on the clutch and find the equilibrium where as you lift your foot off the clutch, you start to move forward. You may have to give it more gas.
The key is letting the clutch out slowly and bring it back in, too... You've probably seen cars gently rocking back and forth on a hill before...? That's how they do it!
A decent amount of steady gas and in & out on the clutch. Practice it til you get the feel and you'll be OK...!

Answer 7

You need to use your hand break. When at the intersection and about to take off, give the car some gas. When you feel the car start to move oh so slightly release the hand break and go for it. You might want to practise this just on the side of the road or something a few times until you are comfortable with it. I always put the car in first then give some gas while my hand is on the hand break. Kinda hard to explain, but I hope this helps.

Answer 8

when you come to a stop set your emergency brake. Give your car gas and slowly let out on the clutch. As the clutch starts to take hold let go of emergency brake and keep giving gas. you will not roll back. when you get use to driving the car you will get the dexterity to let out on the clutch and give the car gas at the same time. Don't slip the clutch. you will burn it out over time. Go some where there is a hill and practice.

Answer 9

Take your foot off of the brake (and this is going to sound tricky), ease your foot onto the gas AT THE SAME TIME as you ease your foot off the clutch. This has to be done smoothly so that you won't buck or kill the car.

Good luck; my father taught me how to drive a clutch by putting our '68 VW Bug at the top of a hill pointing up and making me do it while he had the hand brake, so that he could pull it if we died.

If you're too nervous, put on the emergency flashers to warn people, until you get comfortable with it.

Answer 10

Until you get the feel of your clutch, put your e-brake on enough to keep the car still, then give it a little gas, take your e-brake off and you should feel the car start to move forward, if not give it some more gas, trust me it may be slower but until you know what your doing ppl behind will appreciate the fact you are not rolling back into them.......