Manual transmission

[attrapereves]

Another thing I struggle with. Sometimes when I release the clutch, the car jerks a little. I see the tachometer blipping up and down between 500 and 1000 rpm before leveling off. Can't tell if I am giving it too much gas or not enough.

I still struggle with take offs from a stop with this car.

[fnkngrv]

clutch upgrade was one of my best investments. people can bitch all they want about how they shouldn't have to do it with a stock setup, but honestly if it gives ypu an easier and more enjoyable experience it is like anything else that is better than OEM.

[428CobraJet]

The clutch interchange? It's bad , pure and simple. But its strong.

[attrapereves]

Does anyone else find a crunch when shifting into 3rd? It doesn't do it all the time, only about 50% of the time.

I just wonder why it's so difficult for car manufacturers to make a manual transmission that's worth a darn (besides a $50K sports car). My Chevy Sonic had a terrible manual tranny as well. Grinding shifting into certain gears, and a noisy clutch pedal.

[428CobraJet]

My trans is superb...especially for fwd. Great ratios. Great shifting. My floor liners, however, can keep the clutch from fully disengaging. ...especially when im too lazy to re hook them.

[Jcp123]

SVT Focus had great shifts. I learned on a '66 Mustang, so I always feel a bit lost on modern shifters - I got really used to that dog leg shifter, long throws, and rather gravelly shift quality. The shorter throws especially get me - I've slid my hand off the shifter before in my SVT, absentmindedly still pushing and expecting more travel.

[MJZ]

I am so glad I found this thread... it's like a MT support group. I learned on an 84 Toyota 4 Runner and that thing... the clutch was tight, the gas was light and the throw was massive. Yet the 08 Yaris HB I just bought makes me feel like a total noob.

I work on a military base, so always a line to get in, get your creds checked, then pull off... stalling it out or worse over revving, the looks I get from the guards, it's embarrassing...

For those that swapped clutches, can you provide any insight into which brand / part you used ? Cost would be nice as well. I just bought the car and when i had Toyota look it over, they said it looked like the plugs were never changed (it's got 133+k on it) so I feel safe assuming the clutch is still the originally installed unit.

Thanks!

[Jcp123]

I'm in big rig school right now...try shifting these ragged-out 9- and 10-speeds...you'll never complain again! Lol

[Flammable]

Originally Posted by attrapereves

I've had my car for about a week. I find the little Yaris with 5spd particularly difficult to drive smoothly.

Takeoffs are the most difficult. I either give it too much gas and the car slingshots forward, or not enough and it shudders a little.

What should the RPM be to start from a stop on flat ground? Also, around what RPM does this car prefer to be shifted?

I don't have a manual so can't say for the Yaris but if you think your car is hard try learning how to drive a standard tranny in a 1965 dodge pickup with a hydrolic clutch. That was a real experience. It took me a while to learn how far you had to let the clutch out before it bit and had to give it a lot of gas opr you stall the truck. Had no park/emergency brake either so hills were really fun.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Flammable

learning how to drive a standard tranny in a 1965 dodge pickup with a hydrolic clutch.

Was it a 'three on the tree' ?

[Flammable]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Was it a 'three on the tree' ?

Yes sir three on the tree. It also had a 170 ci slant six that my brothers swapped out for a 225 ci slant six when the 170 was burning and leaking so much oil you practically had to stop every 100 miles or so and add a quart of oil. Still ran however. The truck belonged to my dad I was 17 when I leared how to drive that thing. Only cars I have drove up to that point were autos. Years later a friend of mine was selling his 1963 Dodge step side. I bought it for 800 bucks. It was the same truck as my dads except two years older and a step side. Great vehicles always started right up and pretty much bullet proof. So simple to work on as well, just an engine, tranny and frame.

[Jcp123]

Three on the trees are fun. I had a Mercedes with a four on the tree.

[Flammable]

Originally Posted by Jcp123

Three on the trees are fun. I had a Mercedes with a four on the tree.

Nice! I never drove one but heard the old Saabs had a 4 on the tree manual. LOL

[Idahotom]

Even after 30K miles on my Yaris now, if I'm stopped on a hill, especially when in town at a red light, I found turning the radio down helps the clutch action! Seriously, being able to hear the engine a bit better makes it easier for me to engage the clutch smoothly, not to mention not stalling it out. Every day, when I stop on my rural road, right after pulling 1,000' vertical up the mountain at 45 mph, I get out to check my mailbox. I am always amazed how frigging quiet the engine is, especially after working it hard up hill. All in all, the clutch engagement issue is a pretty minor thing for me.

[Ben_]

I have let other members of the utah scca drive my mt at the auto x and I swear to you if its their first time driving a yaris with stock exhaust (or even second lol) the first thing they do is try to start the the engine when its already running. I shit you not this has happened on more than one occasion

[fnkngrv]

When I went for my driving test when I was 16 the officer got pissed at me b2cause she sais I was ignoring her when she kept telling me to start my parents 86 Corolla while she was doing her walk around. I told her to put her hand on the hood and she was startled the car was so quiet.