MX5 Driving tips

[zc32s]

I've got my mx5 na8 on the road now and I've taken it for a spin today. This is my first manual car and I have never been taught to drive manual before.
So do people have any tips for driving the mx5?

I notice my car shudders really badly if I move off/turn and end up between 1000-2000 rpm. Is this normal? Once I rev pass 2000rpm the car runs smoothly.
My downshifts are very jerky, I know I can rev match but I want to keep things simple for the time being.

[JBT]

I've got my mx5 na8 on the road now and I've taken it for a spin today. This is my first manual car and I have never been taught to drive manual before.
So do people have any tips for driving the mx5?

Are you on L plates? If not, how did you get a driving licence if not on a manual vehicle?

[Apu]

Practice.

[lizard]

I drove 20k to school and home when I was 10 that was in a manual with 2 other kids in the car

[markwid]

I notice my car shudders really badly if I move off/turn and end up between 1000-2000 rpm. Is this normal? Once I rev pass 2000rpm the car runs smoothly.

Clutch shudders? Maybe your clutch is worn out.

[citysurfer101a]

Hi

I am a new MX5 owner too ! However I`ve been driving for 30 years and mostly on manuals. If the car shudders at low revs then it probably is the clutch. Just had the same issue and got it replaced at MX MANIA. All good now. I noticed that the clutch got worse as it heated up. Okay to start with but after 10 mins was shuddering.

These cars are light weight and seem to bounce around a bit on sydney roads. For me thats the fun of them.

Good luck...Join a club is my recommendation.

[MattR]

I've got my mx5 na8 on the road now and I've taken it for a spin today. This is my first manual car and I have never been taught to drive manual before.
So do people have any tips for driving the mx5?

Are you on L plates? If not, how did you get a driving licence if not on a manual vehicle?

You can get an automatic only licence now......

Scary thing is there are less and less new cars being sold/built with a proper man pedal set up.

[JBT]

I've got my mx5 na8 on the road now and I've taken it for a spin today. This is my first manual car and I have never been taught to drive manual before.
So do people have any tips for driving the mx5?

Are you on L plates? If not, how did you get a driving licence if not on a manual vehicle?

You can get an automatic only licence now......

Yes, I know that. In Qld you need to be taught and re-tested to be licensed to drive a manual though - for good reason it seems.

[deviant]

The shuddering could just be that you are not using enough power to take up drive, you shouldn't need more than 2000rpm to pull away but you need to increase the throttle as you take up drive.

Don't try and heel n toe yet for your downshifts, that can come later. First thing you need to do is get some experience in the car to learn what speeds you can do in each gear. Next you need to really get your forward observation up to scratch so you can look ahead and predict the speed / gear you need to be in to negotiate a corner.

Remember 'brakes to slow, gears to go'. You don't need to change down through the gears as you slow down, just use the brakes until you get to the desired speed and then select the right gear. If you want to get a bit more advanced you can separate the actions....brakes to slow....come off the brakes...select a gear and tap the throttle as you come off the clutch to match the engine speed to the road speed.

Also remember that when you are slowing down you do not need to put your foot on the clutch as soon as you hit the brakes. Even in 5th gear you can slow down almost to a complete stop before needing to dip the clutch.

[zc32s]

Thanks for the tips everyone!
I just took the car for another spin and Im getting really use to it. Start is smooth, gear shifts are smooth, downshifts into turns arent the best but they're getting better.

I also tried reproducing the shuddering. This is when it occurs.
- When I let off the throttle too quickly, the car will shudder for a little bit as the rpms drop too quickly.
- Moving the car off in a turn at slow speeds (eg parking lot) or just pulling out of a small street. It feels like the rear wheels are locking which makes it shudder.

I just remembered the previous owner put a Cusco LSD in it so I think that is the culprit rather than clutch shatter. Any tips on how to fix that?

[issh]

downshifts into turns arent the best but they're getting better.


- When I let off the throttle too quickly, the car will shudder for a little bit as the rpms drop too quickly.

This happens as you are going too fast for the gear you are in. Only way to 'fix' it is to heel-toe it

[hks_kansei]

This happens as you are going too fast for the gear you are in. Only way to 'fix' it is to heel-toe it

Or just slow down more for the corner (or just use the higher gear)

Until you've dríven long enough that you don't have to think about gears/clutch heel/toe will just add compexity, and risk.

Double clutch before the corner maybe, but don't heel toe until you're experienced enough that you aren't going to slip off the brake, or stuff it up and ram a gutter/car.

[M1474]

You don't need to heel toe or double clutch.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the tight corner shudder being the LSD.

Either live with it,
Corner faster to lift the inside wheel so it spins,
Dump the clutch so both rear wheels spin,
Swap it fur my VLSD

[markwid]

I just remembered the previous owner put a Cusco LSD in it so I think that is the culprit rather than clutch shatter. Any tips on how to fix that?

There is only 1 known fix. Get rid of the LSD - I am happy to take it off your :-)

[NitroDann]

Everyone is kidding, the LSD is a highly sought after performance part, as you get used to the gears and confident cornering the car the LSD will become fantastic as it gives you a TONNE more rear grip exiting corners.

Dann