Q1: how to drive with a manual in a traffic jam? this has happened to me quit a few times now where the traffic just hums along at 2-5km, crawl, stop, then crawl a couple inches, then stop...
every time the traffic starts I have to ride my clutch then stop, which is pretty annoying and bad for the clutch right? if it was downhill i'd have put it in neutral and be done with it, but nope...
so any thoughts and tips on how to save the clutch in this situation?

Q2: for owners/drivers who's driven a manual civic, when you put the gear in reverse and press gas (say in a parking lot), do you ever fully release the clutch? or is it usually half in? i tried letting the clutch go completely and it reverses back really fast if I press the gas pedal too much, and if not enough the engine dies when i release the clutch. so, any insights there?

Q3: ok, another question, when driving at 60km/hr or 40miles/hr, my spedometer in 4th gear is about 2200-2300rpm, in 5th gear is about 1800-1900rpm, so which one would be better for the fuel economy? it's sort of intercity highway driving, so there're times when you have to slow down and speed up. I usually would see if the traffic is sparse I'd cruise in 5th and if there're lots of traffic I'd stick with 4th gear

thanks guys

 

1) Don't inch up every time there's a gap. Wait till there's a sizable gap, then put it in first, and just let the clutch out slowly ( you shouldn't have to use the gas). Unless you're going uphill, first gear should carry you forwards at a very slow, even rate. Also in a very small way, this helps to get traffic moving at a better, more even and faster pace.

2)I never let it out all the way, I modulate it.

3)the lower the RPMs, the better mpgs you'll get. But don't lug the engine (i.e. go up a hill in 5th at 1000 RPMs). Be sensible about it. If you're cruising along at an even rate of speed, throw it in the highest possible gear. I cruise at 1500rpm sometimes. Of course then i have absolutely no power lol. But its easy enough to rev match and pop it in to a lower gear.

 

^ great advice, most people just say lower rpm is better and stop but you elaborated nicely

 

What superfly said.

But if I'm reversing more than 10' or so, the clutch comes out all the way. Straight-cut reverse gears sound cool

 

A general rule of thumb is to be light on the gas. If you're in fifth gear and push the gas more and it doesn't really accelerate, then downshift, don't floor it in fifth fear to accelerate

 

manual tranny's sound like soo much fun

 

Thanks!

Actually i noticed today that I cruised in 5th at like 1000rpm quite a bit.

 

thanks for the tips. one thing I noticed is when i cruise at 5th gear, i rarely downshift when i need power to speed up, which is a bad habit for fuel econ i suppose.