Zero Confidence
Thread Starter
6th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,193
From: Montaner
Zero Confidence
Yep it's true. I have none. 
But I have a good excuse. I've only driven Civics, Sentras, and Corollas for the last 15 years.
I have an 06GT bone stock. My first V8 powered car. Manual tranny.
Can someone give me some tips on learning how to drive this thing? How to launch properly? What not to do? Just some general stuff here to get me started.
I don't want to blow up my transmission or destroy my engine. But it would be nice to know how to drive the car and start learning how to accelerate efficiently with it.
But I have a good excuse. I've only driven Civics, Sentras, and Corollas for the last 15 years.
I have an 06GT bone stock. My first V8 powered car. Manual tranny.
Can someone give me some tips on learning how to drive this thing? How to launch properly? What not to do? Just some general stuff here to get me started.
I don't want to blow up my transmission or destroy my engine. But it would be nice to know how to drive the car and start learning how to accelerate efficiently with it.
is my username.
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 13,808
From: Earth
RE: Zero Confidence
Do you plan on running against an 04GT vert anytime soon?
Those things you really just have to find out yourself. If your car is stock, your engine should be fine. Your transmission should be OK too. Try launching by bringing up the rpms to 2k, and release the clutch slowly (with the shifter in first). You're going to have to experiment from there on.
Those things you really just have to find out yourself. If your car is stock, your engine should be fine. Your transmission should be OK too. Try launching by bringing up the rpms to 2k, and release the clutch slowly (with the shifter in first). You're going to have to experiment from there on.
Thread Starter
6th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,193
From: Montaner
RE: Zero Confidence
No I don't plan on running against anyone any time soon. My friend's WRX would probably beat me right now because I don't know what I'm doing.
I guess I'm just wondering what to expect as far as the best way to launch the car. Power shifting and stuff like that I might try down the road but only after I feel like I know what I'm doing.
I guess I'm just wondering what to expect as far as the best way to launch the car. Power shifting and stuff like that I might try down the road but only after I feel like I know what I'm doing.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,584
From: CT
RE: Zero Confidence
You should also try to memorize what your car feels like as it nears redline, that way when you are accelerating for maximum performance, you do not need to have your eyes glued to the tach. Either that or get a shift light
Like 99GTVert said, the launching part just takes repitition and practice. Find a isolated road and practice (or go to the strip and practice there). I think the key to good acceleration and launch is to find that perfect balance of maximum acceleration and tire spin. You need to be right on the edge and it's car dependent. I have never driven a new Mustang, so no advice there. But in my STI, I just hammer the gas to the floor in every gear ( I slip it in first, but once I'm moving its pedal to the floor). In my Z06, I need to "squeeze" the gads pedal to the floor at a rate that allows me to accelerate quickly, but not spin the tires. Depending on road conditions I have to approach second gear the same way. It's a real pain in the *** and I am still learning.
Good luck and welcome!
Like 99GTVert said, the launching part just takes repitition and practice. Find a isolated road and practice (or go to the strip and practice there). I think the key to good acceleration and launch is to find that perfect balance of maximum acceleration and tire spin. You need to be right on the edge and it's car dependent. I have never driven a new Mustang, so no advice there. But in my STI, I just hammer the gas to the floor in every gear ( I slip it in first, but once I'm moving its pedal to the floor). In my Z06, I need to "squeeze" the gads pedal to the floor at a rate that allows me to accelerate quickly, but not spin the tires. Depending on road conditions I have to approach second gear the same way. It's a real pain in the *** and I am still learning.
Good luck and welcome!
Thread Starter
6th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,193
From: Montaner
RE: Zero Confidence
Thanks for the suggestions. I realize the stock pirelli tires won't get the greatest grip vs. some of the aftermarket stuff. I'll get better ones when they wear out.
What would happen were I to rev up to around 4K and just drop the clutch? How hard on the clutch is that?
What would happen were I to rev up to around 4K and just drop the clutch? How hard on the clutch is that?
1st Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 76
From:
RE: Zero Confidence
ORIGINAL: BicketyBam
You should also try to memorize what your car feels like as it nears redline, that way when you are accelerating for maximum performance, you do not need to have your eyes glued to the tach. Either that or get a shift light
Like 99GTVert said, the launching part just takes repitition and practice. Find a isolated road and practice (or go to the strip and practice there). I think the key to good acceleration and launch is to find that perfect balance of maximum acceleration and tire spin. You need to be right on the edge and it's car dependent. I have never driven a new Mustang, so no advice there. But in my STI, I just hammer the gas to the floor in every gear ( I slip it in first, but once I'm moving its pedal to the floor). In my Z06, I need to "squeeze" the gads pedal to the floor at a rate that allows me to accelerate quickly, but not spin the tires. Depending on road conditions I have to approach second gear the same way. It's a real pain in the *** and I am still learning.
Good luck and welcome!
You should also try to memorize what your car feels like as it nears redline, that way when you are accelerating for maximum performance, you do not need to have your eyes glued to the tach. Either that or get a shift light
Like 99GTVert said, the launching part just takes repitition and practice. Find a isolated road and practice (or go to the strip and practice there). I think the key to good acceleration and launch is to find that perfect balance of maximum acceleration and tire spin. You need to be right on the edge and it's car dependent. I have never driven a new Mustang, so no advice there. But in my STI, I just hammer the gas to the floor in every gear ( I slip it in first, but once I'm moving its pedal to the floor). In my Z06, I need to "squeeze" the gads pedal to the floor at a rate that allows me to accelerate quickly, but not spin the tires. Depending on road conditions I have to approach second gear the same way. It's a real pain in the *** and I am still learning.
Good luck and welcome!
5th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,151
From: Charlotte, NC
RE: Zero Confidence
Best place to practice(and that's all their is to it, no magic involved) is the drag strip. There you can practice everything important with "racing"(launch, 1-2 and 2-3 shifts). I used to go to the drag strip all the time and run super-mediocre times every time. Then the fall/winter came around and I got in a few street races(nothing special never from a dig) go down to the track like last week and find out I'm kind of like a hot shoe now. Funny how that works....
Over the last like 5 months my driving improved a lot. To the point where my "friends" didn't make fun of me anymore. It's all practice.
Over the last like 5 months my driving improved a lot. To the point where my "friends" didn't make fun of me anymore. It's all practice.