For mtx drivers - fall or not?

[bige1030]

Inspired by the Manual transmission driving technique article on Wikipedia, I'd like to know what everyone does when starting up after stopping on an upslope, e.g. at a traffic light.

What I'm wondering is if, when starting up a steep hill, you take your foot off the brake, and then engage the clutch while accelerating - which causes you to fall backward (ever-so-slightly!) until the clutch is engaged and the acceleration brings you up the hill.

Or do you use your handbrake to keep you in place until the clutch is engaged? Then, you don't fall back at all.

A third option, according to that article, is the Hill-Holder™ that Studebaker invented. When you stop, it holds the brake in place until the clutch is engaged. They say it's only available now these days on Subaru Foresters (so I guess that only trolls (we still love you anyway) and people with savvy mods use them).

Or maybe for those of you without the Hill-Holder™, you alternate between the fall-back and the handbrake methods. That's what I do, depending on my mood. If I'm nervous or feel like doing something with my hands, I use my handbrake. Also, if an arsehat stops too close to me, I use my handbrake. Otherwise, I fall back (ever-so-slightly!) like most other Americans that I know.

One thing is for sure - I'll be using the handbrake all the time if I drive in Europe. After all, the article says that if you don't use the handbrake to keep you from falling backward (even ever-so-slightly), you'll fail the driving test there.

You can answer in the poll - and give some input on your humble opinion here

[Diablo0]

Well... I'll just reply also haha. I very very very slightly fall back but it's hardly anything really... I never use my ebrake... other than when I park and leave my car.

[AntiFreeze Neon]

i never use the ebrake unless im doin sum driftin or parked on a hill

[Diablo0]

Even if I'm not parked on a hill I use it just incase the car slips out of gear or if someone wants to try and tow me it'll take them longer Lift the front of the car up and they''ll have to drag my rear wheels... lift up the rear they'll have to fight the tranny. Put it on a flatbed and they'll have to fight all four wheels.

[AntiFreeze Neon]

speakin of flat beds ya ever watch that show called repo man or some crap like that?.. they tear some shit up yankin cars out of spots with drive axles down.....

[Louie]

never use the ebrake. when im on a hill im usually quick enough not to fall back at all.

[DannyBoy]

I use the E-brake when I am really, really lazy.

[racer12306]

i plan ahead by watching the other lights when im in the front of the line or by watching the cars infront of me. i let out on the clutch a little while my foot is still on the brake. when i feel the clutch start to engage then i take my foot off the brake and maintain the car in its position with the gas and clutch, i might bounce back and forth a little sometimes but mostly i stay put. i can hold my car on a hill for a while.

[Diablo0]

I hope you don't do that too long or very often... if you hold it like that a lot you'll tear up your clutch faster.

[racer12306]

no not very long. and only on hills.

[fixitmattman]

Depends on how big the hill is, 99% I just start like normal with a touch more gas and have minimal to zero roll back. On the steeper hills, before I let off the brake I let the clutch out just until the RPM's drop a tad then quickly get on the gas for a normal take off. Only takes about a second and there's nearly zero roll back.

Matt

[evlneon]

A third option, according to that article, is the Hill-Holder™ that Studebaker invented. When you stop, it holds the brake in place until the clutch is engaged. They say it's only available now these days on Subaru Foresters (so I guess that only trolls (we still love you anyway) and people with savvy mods use them).

i take it that was aimed toward me (or dvg maybe?), anyway...

i don't believe the wrx has this (or at least mine doesn't) cause i do occasionally roll back, though not much. it really depends on how steep the hill is. there are times where even on a slight slope that i'll be able to let of the brake with the clutch completely disengaged and won't roll. times when i'm on a steeper grade and do roll back, it's very little cause i'm quick enough to catch and accel. i also think the extra friction of the added AWD-drivetrain bits might help keep it from rolling back so much.

in conclusion: I <3 my AWD.

[Smoke]

umm, i don't really know what i'm doing so i usually just use the side of my foot to rev the car to around 5k and then just dump it... i usually get really kewl looks from the guys in the lane next to me too!!

[refect]

Even if I'm not parked on a hill I use it just incase the car slips out of gear or if someone wants to try and tow me it'll take them longer Lift the front of the car up and they''ll have to drag my rear wheels... lift up the rear they'll have to fight the tranny. Put it on a flatbed and they'll have to fight all four wheels.

turn the front wheels all the way too and make it more difficult haha

[Neonix]

The only time I use the ebrake is for parking. I guess it all just comes with practice, cause I barely roll back also. Unless there's a jerk behind me who stopped too close, then I roll back a little more and watch them get worried.

Sometimes to stop them from getting to close, when I see them coming up, I'll roll back slightly so they know I have an mtx, and usually they stop at a better distance.

[Kevin_GP]

never use the ebrake. when im on a hill im usually quick enough not to fall back at all.

Ha! Theres no hills in miami man. I roll back slightly if that. I always put my ebrake on in case I get towed, but thats only when i park.

[Frizbe]

The only time I use the ebrake is for parking. I guess it all just comes with practice, cause I barely roll back also. Unless there's a jerk behind me who stopped too close, then I roll back a little more and watch them get worried.

Same here.

[1st gen troll]

The only time I use an e-brake on a hill is if I am pulling from a parallel parking spot and am real close to someone.

[dblsg]

The only time I use the ebrake is for parking. I guess it all just comes with practice, cause I barely roll back also. Unless there's a jerk behind me who stopped too close, then I roll back a little more and watch them get worried.

hahahah, i do the same thing