I just picked up my first 911, it's an '08 C4S.... It is my first manual and I was hoping I could get some driving tips... Anything at all you think could help. I've driven manuals before, but not very often.
Thanks
Chris

 

Congrats !

everyone here will tell u to go to a driving school (Porsche, Skip Barber, etc) to learn manual shifting as well as driving dynamics.

BTW, no pics = it didn't happen.

BOL

 

Pics or BAN!

 

I'll post some pics once I figure out how... In posting this from my phone

 

Congrats.

Regarding driving the manual, I think it depends on how comfortable you are at this point.

I'm somewhat new to manual myself, but I have some past experience with it in cars and motorcycles, so I'm fairly comfortable with it and my focus has been on first trying to make my shifting as smooth as possible, and then eventually shifting more quickly.

If you're uncomfortable with the manual, I recommend getting some hands-on guidance until you're ready to go solo. You definitely don't want to be burning the clutch, grinding gears, stalling in traffic, downshifting hard without rev matching, etc.

Good luck!

 

Congratulations, great choice and gutsy move to get a 6 speed without a lot of experience driving one! Rep to you for that. If I had to brush up, or learn to drive a stick, this would be the ultimate car to learn on. Go to a Home Depot at night when the lot is empty and tear it up! It will become second nature soon and you will not ever want to go to an automatic once you master it. I like the PDK during all of the test drives I have done with it, but I am afraid I would feel disconnected from the car if I had it in my car. That's a subject for a different thread.

Enjoy your car and I look forward to seeing the pictures.

 

Add Content

 

Yea, I'm not too comfortable with it yet, I have stalled at a few red lights... Pretty embarrassing, but whatever... I really just don't want to mess anything up... I think I just need some more practice, I might get a cheep civic o practice on, but I do have to drive it home in a couple days - 300 miles, all interstate.
If I need one, how much is a new clutch, or is it covered under the factory warranty?

 

I like the suggestion of practicing in an empty parking lot, preferably with someone experienced to give you some guidance. You'll probably pick it up sooner than you expect, and I don't think you need to get a different car to practice with.

I'm not sure about the warranty coverage. I guess it depends on whether the service people can distinguish between misuse vs defective parts.

 

Chudso- You are gutsy to buy a 6 speed car(porsche) and learn as you go. Don't you worry, it will take a few mishaps and then you'll get the hang of it. Good job!

 

Main thing to remember is to have the clutch either all the way in or all the way out. Don't ever drive with it partially engaged as a way to modulate speed. While engaging the clutch it's OK to just press in hard. When letting out the clutch you want to do it relatively quickly, no messing around, but don't dump the clutch either. This is the part that you'll need to get the hang of. If you learn this you'll be better than 95% of our population.
To get more advanced and learn heel-toe, you ought to attend a driver's ed course, after which you'll be a better driver than 99% of our population.

 

I'd agree, you'll learn shifting as you go. No need to waste money on another car just to learn. I had half a day of lessons in a buddy's truck years ago before buying a manual Audi and I just figured it out as I went. Stalled it every now and again, but that's part of the process. The less you think about it, the better you will do.

 

Find 'em or grind 'em!!

Congratulations!!!

 

I haven't been grinding gears, but I can smell the clutch some of the time, it has gotten a little bit better since I started... I think I might be too timid with the clutch... Thanks for all the advice... I'll try and get some better pictures, I'm out of town right now and don't have my computer with me

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the clutch smell. It happens sometimes, and this car is rugged enough to withstand track use.

In just two weeks, you'll be much more comfortable with driving the manual and will be laughing at what you're going through now.