Sub $10k stick shift car?

[Q]

Just an update for anyone that minorly cares

Bought a 2001 Mustang Bullitt yesterday. 60k miles, some minor mods, great condition, I'm very happy. Currently learning to drive it (5 spd) via my father...2 hours so far and I feel so stupid I'm worried about messing up the clutch or tranny or something by practicing, but I have no choice. Any tips?

Thanks all.
Oh, a few pictures:

 

[Fritzo]

Just an update for anyone that minorly cares

Bought a 2001 Mustang Bullitt yesterday. 60k miles, some minor mods, great condition, I'm very happy. Currently learning to drive it (5 spd) via my father...2 hours so far and I feel so stupid I'm worried about messing up the clutch or tranny or something by practicing, but I have no choice. Any tips?

Riding the clutch is better than grinding- just make sure you give it enough gas. It's OK to bring your foot off the clutch slowly at first until you get the hang of it. Change gears when you hit around 3000 RPM during normal acceleration, and let it go past 5000 RPM during heavy acceleration. You'll have it in no time.

I don't think they had self adjusting clutches on that year of Mustang, so you'll probably need some clutch worth within 20K miles anyway.

 

[MiataNC]

Grats!

Looks like a fun car. Just take your time, and you will have no trouble learning stick. You will stall it from time to time. It happens to everyone no matter how long they have been driving stick, so don't sweat it.

 

[unokitty]

Just an update for anyone that minorly cares

Bought a 2001 Mustang Bullitt yesterday. 60k miles, some minor mods, great condition, I'm very happy. Currently learning to drive it (5 spd) via my father...2 hours so far and I feel so stupid I'm worried about messing up the clutch or tranny or something by practicing, but I have no choice. Any tips?

Thanks all.
Oh, a few pictures:

Nice car! Congrats!

After you learn, you will like the clutch. In time, I am confident that you will be happy that you got a manual.

Until then, two word: patience and practice.

Learning to use the clutch has a craft nature. That is, you learn it through trial and error. Don't be afraid to make mistakes... like stalling the car.

When I taught my brother how to drive a manual, we went to a large factory parking lot on a Sunday when no one was there.

My suggestion, find a large empty space and just practice starts and stops. One exercise is to practice slowly letting the clutch out while the engine idles... Another exercise, would be to find a small hill first practice letting the clutch out from a stop while going down hill. After you get some experience, and confidence, practice letting the clutch out going up hill...

Seriously, in six months you will wonder why you are worried now. (Though, it is normal to be concerned now...).

Best of luck,
And did I say nice car!
Uno

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't think they had self adjusting clutches on that year of Mustang, so you'll probably need some clutch worth within 20K miles anyway.

My 89 had a cable clutch but I'm nearly positive that generation went to hydraulic and that isn't an issue.


Just keep practicing. You aren't going to hurt the trans and you aren't really going to do enough damage to the clutch to worry about either unless you ride the crap out of it.

 

[96Firebird]

Using the clutch becomes second nature in a short while, so don't give up.

The best advice I can give is to be patient. Assuming it isn't some aftermarket high-stage clutch, you should be able to get the car moving without any gas at all. I'd say practice this first. Let the clutch out until you feel it start to grab, then HOLD it there. Let it out very slowly, watching the RPMs so they don't drop too low. If they start dropping, stop letting the clutch out and hold it steady. Eventually you will get the hang of it and can time the gas correctly.

 

[angminas]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nissan-300Z...9ea6cea78&item=111307188856&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

 

[angminas]

If you like rice http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-CRX-S...3c7499ae8&item=291106298600&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

 

[Q]

Thanks for the tips all, I really appreciate it. I went with my Dad again today, parking lot for a few minutes then on the street and did decently. Hoping I'll be okay on my own next week.

AT Garage is great, I REALLY appreciate all the help ya'll.

 

[pauldun170]

Just an update for anyone that minorly cares

Bought a 2001 Mustang Bullitt yesterday. 60k miles, some minor mods, great condition, I'm very happy. Currently learning to drive it (5 spd) via my father...2 hours so far and I feel so stupid I'm worried about messing up the clutch or tranny or something by practicing, but I have no choice. Any tips?

Thanks all.
Oh, a few pictures:

Outstanding buy.
Congratulations

 

[angminas]

For me it helped a lot to understand what the clutch was doing.

To oversimplify, imagine two discs made of the same stuff as brake pads. One is attached to the engine and one is attached to the transmission. The gas pedal makes the engine disc spin, and the clutch pedal moves the discs apart. When the clutch pedal is out, the discs are pressed firmly together...when it's fully depressed, they're not touching at all. But in the middle, where the clutch "catches", they're not fully connected and are temporarily moving at different speeds. There is some slippage as the engine disc accelerates the transmission disc to its speed.

It's a way of syncing speeds by wearing out replaceable parts instead of damaging hard parts by slamming gears together. It transmits the engine's power to the transmission gradually. This is why, if you let out the clutch suddenly while in first gear, the car lurches...you made the engine and transmission sync their speeds instantly rather than gradually.

Does that help?

 

[nitrous9200]

Wow, great buy! Congratulations.

I can't give you any massive insight into driving stick, but try not to overthink things.

When I first started to learn two years ago, I was constantly obsessing over exactly how much throttle to apply, how long to slip or let out the clutch, and most of all, worrying about wearing out the clutch from all of my mistakes. It just makes things harder!
Don't do that - the car will be fine as long as you don't leave your foot on the clutch while you're driving or do this.

Using only the clutch to get the car moving on flat ground is a good exercise as suggested earlier, so you can learn where the clutch starts to hook up. Just add some throttle as you get there and you're off.
Then shifting up through the gears is fairly straightforward.
And find a big open parking lot late at night or early in the morning to practice, that helps a lot.

It's like riding a bike - you might struggle for a few months like I did, but one day, you'll just get it.

 

[MagickMan]

Cheap, fast, with a manual, 350z. Though the Mustang is okay.

 

[Fritzo]

My 89 had a cable clutch but I'm nearly positive that generation went to hydraulic and that isn't an issue.


Just keep practicing. You aren't going to hurt the trans and you aren't really going to do enough damage to the clutch to worry about either unless you ride the crap out of it.

OK, it looks like they switched to hydraulic in 1996, so that should be good

 

[dkm777]

Great choice on the 'Stang. As a manual-trained European I'll give you a tip on saving gas - when driving around town shift at no more that 2500RPM and cruise slightly under 2000. With a V8 you have more than enough low end torque to do this.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Very nice ride. The bullitt version looks so good. Did Ford put any go fast parts on these?

As for driving a stick: wind her up to 3k on the tach and dump the clutch. You'll never stall that way.

 

[Fritzo]

Very nice ride. The bullitt version looks so good. Did Ford put any go fast parts on these?

As for driving a stick: wind her up to 3k on the tach and dump the clutch. You'll never stall that way.

Lower suspension, enhanced exhaust, effects kit, and larger tires.

 

[tweakmonkey]

Great pick up, I'm surprised these are that cheap. I did pick up a super clean, modded 99GT back in 2006 for $7500 though Drove it for 1 year and sold it for $8500 Gotta love the sound of a Ford V8

 

[fire400]

Great pick up, I'm surprised these are that cheap. I did pick up a super clean, modded 99GT back in 2006 for $7500 though Drove it for 1 year and sold it for $8500 Gotta love the sound of a Ford V8

did u upgrade any part of it before u sold it?

 

[amdhunter]

Using the clutch becomes second nature in a short while, so don't give up.

OP

When I bought my first manual car, I had to call a friend to drive me home. The very next day, I had to figure out how to go to work by myself. What, usually is a 10 minute drive, took 45 minutes...lol

Took about a week to cut that down to 20.
Took about a month to get back to normal.
Took about 2 months before I didn't have to think about it anymore.

Don't worry about messing up the clutch. If it's in fairly good shape, it will take some realllly idiotic moves to screw it up. lol

 

[amdhunter]

Grats!

Looks like a fun car. Just take your time, and you will have no trouble learning stick. You will stall it from time to time. It happens to everyone no matter how long they have been driving stick, so don't sweat it.

I've been driving manual cars since 2007. I still stall occasionally. Mostly when I buy new shoes or turn on the AC...lol

Happens to everyone.

 

[rednas]

pontiac GTO. Might be just a little over 10k but it will have much more kick than the other options posted.

 

[tweakmonkey]

did u upgrade any part of it before u sold it?

Nope because I was really happy with what the previous owner did to it. It was a while ago now but I think it had:
X-pipe
Mac catback I think on this one
UD pulleys
Maximum Motorsports (?) springs and camber plates, strut bar, sway bars
Pro 5-0 shifter
3.55 gears
Saleen 18 inch wheels
Saleen rear wing
tint

Maybe there was more but that's what I remembered. What a sweet car for the money too! originaly owner 80k miles. It was my 4th or 5th V8 Mustang so I was pretty happy to leave it as-is Now I miss it thanks to this thread. /cry

Here it is:

And with my 12 second DSM:

I took it on a 3500 mile road trip when I first bought it, from Tijuana to Whistler, BC Canada and back... all kinds of central OR highways and of course highway 1

Here's my old 86 Ex-patrol car that I paid $700 for. Before I fixed the front ... Gutted it down to 2500 lbs, handful of bolt-ons and it could keep up with my friend's modded S4 Turbo:

Later I had Weld draglites with slicks and skinnies, and eventually attempted a half assed LS1 swap. Sold it all off though.

 

[kitatech]

I've been driving manual cars since 2007. I still stall occasionally. Mostly when I buy new shoes or turn on the AC...lol

Happens to everyone.

Ha...thought that happened only to me...too many shoes of different weight and "feel"...

 

[96Firebird]

Ha...thought that happened only to me...too many shoes of different weight and "feel"...

Definitely effects my ability to drive a stick as well. Also, seat position. If I ever had to move my seat up to fit people in the tiny rear seat in my Trans Am, I would have a hell of a time using the clutch.