Manual regrets?

I was going to go auto, then I drove an auto and manual redline and ended up going with a manual redline, I enjoy it, but I have to say im getting frustrated with it. The clutch gives me the bloody shits I hate it!

I drive my VZ Monaro and the clutch is heavy and the grab point isnt as early as the VF and I can take off smoothly and there is no jerking. But with the VF Redline, bloody hell you need a neck brace!

The clutch on the VF is so light and easy to move, but once the clutch engages the grab point (very early) the clutch springs back on you, pushing you left leg back and the car lurches forward. I have lost count the number of times I have stalled the car and then in the end I get frustrated and walk away cos I have had enough of the car. I have tried different techniques, instead of lifting the clutch first apply the accelerator first and then lift the clutch (but old habits die hard and I find myself doing the clutch first then accelerator) The accelerator has a mind of it own, I swear I depress the accelerator to the same spot most times and i get varying RPM, sometimes its not enough and other times its too much.

Anyone with any tips please help me out, cos Im going crazy with this manual Redline.......

In saying that I have already ordered a Motorsport Edition in Manual, so i hope i get the hang of this thing soon.

 

Manual for mine. I'm nearly 50, drive in Sydney peak hour traffic during the week and all around Sydney during my son's cricketing summer on the weekends. It can be a bit of a p.i.t.a. during peak hour, but my previous two Holden's were auto's which I found boring. I might be getting on in years, but it's still fun going up in the gears and heal and toeing back down through them.

How brutal an environment the cockpit was in F1 when they had manual boxes, imagine doing that for an hour and a half, top vid there of Senna. The VF ute at the ring says it all.

 

The spring back on the clutch pedal is probably the return spring located up under the dash in the pedal cradle. A lot of people remove these and find the clutch pe6fal feel is far better and allows for smoother take-off. I've driven an SSV ute with and without he speing and fund it better without.
Might be worth a try?

 

ok cool, thanks for the tip. How do I go about doing this?

 

but this spring have anything to do with launch control, that the clutch will pop out in time?

 

Funny you mention this because the manual Redline I spoke of earlier gave me the impression of being very jerky both on take off and through the gears. I could feel this as both a driver and passenger. I also don't like the way it thuds into gear when the clutch is let out quickly when driven hard, I can only imagine what that's doing to the driveline. This was another factor that swayed me towards the auto.

 

Possibly yes? I've never done it myself, and the ute I drove was my Son's.
It's a VE so no launch control. So, I'm not certain on that sorry.

 

Auto. Remote start, paddle shift, sports performance mode. No driveline shunt. No clutch shudder, just depress the accelerator and hold on!

 

That ^^ sums it up nicely.
Oh, and with all due respect to FORG, I've never had any trouble coasting to give way signs or entering from a slip lane at any speed, or revs I chose. Equally I don't see any issue in using performance mode or manual shift at times either. That's what they're there for and as far as being sluggish? Granted mine is tuned, but the auto still shifts quicker than any manual. Don't get me wrong, I love manuals. I've owned plenty, including tuned and non tuned SS's. But for mine, the auto takes these cars to a whole new level.

 

Manual. Tried Auto before I bought the manual VF and it was the right decison for me.

 

I think that Mclaren is closer to a semi auto than a manual. They don't use the clutch on up shift or downshift, and it's a sequential shift.

Anyway, i grew up on a diet of 2 and 3 speed auto's which were absolute shithouse compared to today's 6 speed auto's. I cant even fathom driving a manual unless it was a truck or a work ute or something like that.

 

The Tremec TR6060 Manual trans is a bit of a clunker but these can be driven without any jerkiness or shudder at all. In fact I only purchased my SSV due to the fact that they are produced as a manual or I would have replaced my Subaru Forester turbo with the same but they are now CVT transmissions. I am also almost 60 but i am not ready for a rocking chair and automatic yet LOL, give it another 10 years and my SSV will be almost theft proof as most new drivers will not have ever driven a manual.

 

I have never owned an auto (been licenced for 50 years this year), and have never felt that driving a manual in traffic (in Melbourne and Sydney) was a chore.

Granted I have always been happy with a six, but I think that it would be even better with a manual for the V8.

One of my sons had to drive an auto VF recently (one of those in the livery of a V8 Supercar) for an exhibition. Straight after he went with me to pick up an historic vehicle from Inverell. I drove the 1970 Triumph back to Sydney with him following in my VF. He told me that he hated the auto, but really loved the manual, especially on the Putty Rd.

I have driven work autos, and have found them at best annoying to drive. If I ever reach the point where I feel I cannot drive a manual car, I will go the whole hog and transfer to a mobility scooter rather than an auto.

 

The manual takes some getting used to but after a week if driving i figured it out. Just need to make sure your clutch engage and accelerate are timed correctly. 1st to second is always a bit rough but its all good from there. Its good to be driving a manual again. Much more engaging and less likely to fall asleep at the wheel

 

The SV6 Manual was terrible, especially 2nd gear.

Luckily it's very different to the V8 box.

 

Maybe I've been spoiled by driving a ZF'd car, and experiencing what an automatic 'box is supposed to be able to do?

 

Geez that clip brings back memories, 1990 McLaren used full manual 6 speed gearbox, wish F1 still had manuals, from memory only Ferrari had semi auto (and maybe Williams) in 1990, McLaren did not use a semi auto till 1992.

For mine get a manual, my current car is auto and pretty much every time I want to have fun with it I wish I had got the manual.
Current manual's so easy to drive, not like manuals of old with really loose gear throws or heavy clutch.

 

The manuals would be a lot more desirable if they were fitted with a decent shifter from the factory...

 

Manual for me and zero regrets. I have the series 1 Redline and can't say I've had any of the problems with shifting mentioned here. My VF is one of the easiest and smoothest changing manuals I've owned.

 

No question the ZF is a better box but they can also sometimes "over-adapt" to lazy driving and can be caught unawares when suddenly requesting more acceleration.