When driving a manual car in a line of traffic how do I move slowly?

Question

I know that you need to use the clutch but do I need to find the bite each time before I move of or should I keep the pedal just below. In other words if I find the bite will I move off too quickly and slam into the back of the other car

Answer 1

I just lift my foot up off the clutch slow, keep it right before it pops.  Now i dont' do alot of trafic driving with my weekend car so, i am not worried about the life of the clutch.

Answer 2

i just wait till there is a lot of room in front of me then i move up cuz i dont like to use the clutch a lot, like in trafic jams...i hate it lol

Answer 3

You don't have to find the complete "bite" every time. When I drive 5 speed '07 Mazda 3 in traffic I wait until atleast a couple car links open up so I am not constantly pushing the clutch in and out. When we do start to move I find enough of the friction point to get me going fast enough then press the clutch down to put it back in neutral and let it coast. That way you are not wearing out the pads on your clutch. Never use the clutch to keep you stationary on a backward incline or to keep bumper to bumper with the car in front of you. This is major wear on the clutch and it will just give out soon.

I learned to drive stick in Jacksonville Florida traffic so I definately know how to do traffic clutching.

Go manual trans drivers! We are a dying bread.

Answer 4

You shouldn't be concerned about finding the "bite" at all, if you've been driving a manual for awhile this shouldn't be a conscious thought, you should be able to move the car with fluid movements that produce a controlled response.

With that out of the way the best method of handling traffic in a manual is to leave the clutch pedal depressed. This is NOT riding the clutch. As a 13+ year mechanic I can't begin to tell you how many people are miseducated on how the clutch works and more importantly how it wears. Every time you push the pedal down you're moving the clutch disk in and out via a throwout bearing and carrier bearing. The more you move the clutch plate back and forth the quicker it will wear and the quicker the bearings will wear.

Removing your foot at every stop, putting the car in neutral, and taking your foot off the clutch is the quick way to shorten the life of a clutch. Keep it depressed (all the way) when in traffic, move it up to engage a drive gear when possible...depress again in anticipation of the next move forward in traffic. Do not start the car in 2nd, most manuals will do this but again....unnecessary wear and tear.

Hope this helps!