[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by thundercrakcer

63falcondude, I can relate to a point and let me give you a quick back story on myself. I started driving stick when I was 15/16 and been doing it since. (33 years old now and a big rig driver), it took me sometime to get used to it, was doing the bunny hop, over revving, stalling, etc. for a long time as well, but gradually became second nature. But what helped most was being a kid, I had a farm and back roads to drive on, we used to drive the crap out of that old Datsun. We got used to shifting by sound, and forgot about missing shifts and stalling. What I'm saying, but not saying at the same time is, maybe you need to do a spirited drive and go through a couple of gears quickly a few times to get rid of that stress. Just be safe if you happen to. From what you've said, it seems like its the only thing you may have not done.


When I first got my '16 SS M6 I did not have the NPP just the stock exhaust, it wasn't loud enough for me to tell where the shift point was, so I went out and got a deeper exhaust because it was really bugging me that I had to watch the rpms when shifting.
Seeing you have NPP are you driving with the exhaust in stealth mode?

One last thing, the dead zone in the throttle, I noticed it too and I despise it. I'm getting a throttle controller for it, as it is supposed to eliminate that lag/dead zone. That could be a consideration to look into?

The stress goes away when I get spirited on back roads. I keep everything in sport mode and LOVE the way that the exhaust sounds. The problem is that I like to be able to relax sometimes and drive normally but that's where the stress comes in (maybe just always drive hard?? lol). I've heard bad things about the throttle controller with manuals.

[thundercrakcer]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

I've heard bad things about the throttle controller with manuals.

Same here, but going to find out real soon lol.

It maybe the case of driving hard all the time, but I'd need to see you drive. Maybe do a short video if possible and PM it to me? I didn't mention, but I'm also a driving instructor in the army, so driving things hard is what I do

[Techn9cian805]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

The stress goes away when I get spirited on back roads. I keep everything in sport mode and LOVE the way that the exhaust sounds. The problem is that I like to be able to relax sometimes and drive normally but that's where the stress comes in (maybe just always drive hard?? lol). I've heard bad things about the throttle controller with manuals.

the throttle controller wont really help with the deadzone much, just reduce your overall pedal range, subsequently shrinking the deadzone range, but by no means eliminating it or making a dramatic difference.

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by thundercrakcer

Same here, but going to find out real soon lol.

It maybe the case of driving hard all the time, but I'd need to see you drive. Maybe do a short video if possible and PM it to me? I didn't mention, but I'm also a driving instructor in the army, so driving things hard is what I do

Oh wow, looks like I'm in luck! I think that I am doing everything right, it's just stressful making sure that I do everything right. Either way, I'll take a video when the weather gets a little better and post it here.

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by Techn9cian805

the throttle controller wont really help with the deadzone much, just reduce your overall pedal range, subsequently shrinking the deadzone range, but by no means eliminating it or making a dramatic difference.

Yea I've seen a few threads about it and won't be getting it.

[Fraxum]

Hey falcon dude. Didn't I met you at Atco?

I cannot relate as I started with manuals at 16 and I am completely bored with automatics. But sometimes I am stuck driving them.

After a while, maybe a long while for some, driving a manual becomes second nature. You should be more worried about riding your MC. Too many people with cell phones in thier lap. I sold my Kawasaki 1400 and started having more fun in cages. So I was in your place with the MC. I took a beating and a guy from Connecticut stole it from me. But I cut my losses and never looked back.

All that being said, manuals are not for everyone. Individual preference. If you are not having fun with your Camaro it's an expensive paper weight.

What you could do is try to sell it yourself now or in the spring and maybe come out in the deal a little better. Or you might find someone here who might trade you an auto for your M6. Although that gets sticky if you both owe on the car.

Let us know how it turns out.

And remember:

[thundercrakcer]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

Yea I've seen a few threads about it and won't be getting it.

Well I should've said the lag, not so much the dead zone. But we're starting to get off topic now

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by Fraxum

Hey falcon dude. Didn't I met you at Atco?

I cannot relate as I started with manuals at 16 and I am completely bored with automatics. But sometimes I am stuck driving them.

After a while, maybe a long while for some, driving a manual becomes second nature. You should be more worried about riding your MC. Too many people with cell phones in thier lap. I sold my Kawasaki 1400 and started having more fun in cages. So I was in your place with the MC. I took a beating and a guy from Connecticut stole it from me. But I cut my losses and never looked back.

All that being said, manuals are not for everyone. Individual preference. If you are not having fun with your Camaro it's an expensive paper weight.

What you could do is try to sell it yourself now or in the spring and maybe come out in the deal a little better. Or you might find someone here who might trade you an auto for your M6. Although that gets sticky if you both owe on the car.

Let us know how it turns out.

And remember:

Yes you did! I was MUCH worse then. As you know, driving in NJ is rough. That adds to the stress of not being 100% comfortable driving the car.

[mcintyre1969]

I took the $10,000 hit to get rid of my '15 Mustang GT. It is real, but what the hell. I would do it again.

[enzia35]

It's perfectly fine that you feel this way about the manual. Honestly, my next car will feature an automatic.

[Michigan1LTRS]

I get it. Driving a stick in traffic when you are tired and just want to be home is not fun at all.

[DrugDoc]

What about meeting up with a fellow M6 forum member and have them ride with you to tell you what you could fix? I've driven a stick for 10 years now, but my little brother just bought his first. He was also pretty frustrated with it after a while but didn't have anybody to really teach him as he lives a few hours away. I drove down one weekend and critiqued him as he drove us around, and while he thought I was just being nitpicky that day, he texted me a few days later and said all the tips I gave him really improved his driving.

Just my two cents, this thread is full of some pretty solid advice

[Oil Man]

Originally Posted by 63falcondude

I can only wear one pair of sneakers when I drive it.

This could be a clue. Do you wear a large shoe size? I wear a size 14, and I can only really drive my M6 confidently while wearing sneakers with simple soles (like Chucks) or while wearing no shoes at all.

My first burnout in my new car happened when I thought I would be OK driving from one work location to another facility 2 miles away while wearing steel-toed work boots. I wedged one between the accelerator and the firewall and left about 60' of rubber on one of the industrial streets in Long Beach.

If you have large feet, your choice of footwear matters when driving a manual.

[63falcondude]

Originally Posted by DrugDoc

What about meeting up with a fellow M6 forum member and have them ride with you to tell you what you could fix? I've driven a stick for 10 years now, but my little brother just bought his first. He was also pretty frustrated with it after a while but didn't have anybody to really teach him as he lives a few hours away. I drove down one weekend and critiqued him as he drove us around, and while he thought I was just being nitpicky that day, he texted me a few days later and said all the tips I gave him really improved his driving.

Just my two cents, this thread is full of some pretty solid advice

I'd be up for that.

Originally Posted by Oil Man

This could be a clue. Do you wear a large shoe size? I wear a size 14, and I can only really drive my M6 confidently while wearing sneakers with simple soles (like Chucks) or while wearing no shoes at all.

My first burnout in my new car happened when I thought I would be OK driving from one work location to another facility 2 miles away while wearing steel-toed work boots. I wedged one between the accelerator and the firewall and left about 60' of rubber on one of the industrial streets in Long Beach.

If you have large feet, your choice of footwear matters when driving a manual.

I wear a size 12. The issue is how I ease up on the clutch. To start moving, I have my heel on the floor and use my ankle as a pivot point. Because of this, the clutch slides up my foot. If the soles of my shoes are notchy, the notches will grab the clutch pedal and make it not smooth.

This is only to start moving. After that I use my whole leg.