Class 5 Test in a stick shift - anyone?

[UnknownJinX]

Just asking because I am taking mine next Friday, and yeah it will be in a standard. Will use a Civic from a driving school.

Curious if anyone has gone through it in the recent years. I took a lesson today and already got some tips from the driving instructor, but more advice is always welcome.

[Jmac]

I took all my tests in a stick shift and so did my SO. Didn't have any problems. Mind you, that wasn't recent.

Some things that I see stick drivers do that might cost them points on the test:
- one hand on the wheel and one hand on/near the shifter while cruising
- shifting gears while turning (e.g. left turns)
- holding in the clutch/putting the car in neutral while braking

Assuming you're fairly adept with pedal control, specifically clutch/gas for hill starts, it's not really much different than taking it in an automatic, IMO.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by Jmac

I took all my tests in a stick shift and so did my SO. Didn't have any problems. Mind you, that wasn't recent.

Some things that I see stick drivers do that might cost them points on the test:
- one hand on the wheel and one hand on/near the shifter while cruising
- shifting gears while turning (e.g. left turns)
- holding in the clutch/putting the car in neutral while braking

Assuming you're fairly adept with pedal control, specifically clutch/gas for hill starts, it's not really much different than taking it in an automatic, IMO.

Thanks!

Took my Class 7 in an automatic because that was all I could drive back then. I have been driving a stick shift a year and and half now.

I keep those habits you mentioned in mind. Supposedly, you also can't get in neutral at a red light - you have to leave your car in 1st with clutch in.

I agree that clutch control is a big part of the stick shift driving. The Civic is super easy to drive in the respect.

[Energy]

Wait you can't leave your car in neutral at a red light? That would kill your left leg though.

[bcedhk]

Originally Posted by Energy

Wait you can't leave your car in neutral at a red light? That would kill your left leg though.

I think he means you can't coast to a stop while on neutral.

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by Energy

Wait you can't leave your car in neutral at a red light? That would kill your left leg though.

You can. ICBC's guide even says:

To avoid wear on the clutch, if you will be stopped for a while, such as for a red traffic light, shift to neutral.

You can't coast with the clutch in or in neutral.

Coasting in neutral/clutch in on a down grade is a $121 fine and 2 points.

https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensin...-offences.aspx
http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/..._05#section197

[cdizzle_996]

Did mine in a 400whp Civic with a 4 puck unsprung clutch lol

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by Energy

Wait you can't leave your car in neutral at a red light? That would kill your left leg though.

In my RX-8, yes, because the clutch is pretty heavy.

The Civic clutch feels like a feather in comparison.

Anyway, that's what the driving instructor told me to do on the driving test. I'd think instructors deal with examiners on a regular basis to know these things.

As for wear on the clutch, if your throw out bearing is worn or something and the clutch disc isn't disengaged all the way, yeah, there will be wear, but if everything is working properly, there wouldn't be any additional wear.

[corollagtSr5]

Your suppose to be in first gear at a red light. It's the same thing for motorcycle test. It's a safety issue just in case you have to move immediately move.

[twitchyzero]

take the test in automatic removes a lot of guess work...I would borrow a family or a friend's car
all it takes is one little item and they'll fail you (ie. shifting in a turn)

someone else said it best...why choose the intermediate difficulty on a test when you can do it in easy mode

[320icar]

Do the test in Richmond. No hills

[jjson]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

take the test in automatic removes a lot of guess work...I would borrow a family or a friend's car
all it takes is one little item and they'll fail you (ie. shifting in a turn)

someone else said it best...why choose the intermediate difficulty on a test when you can do it in easy mode

Why would they fail you if you shift during a turn? 1 hand off the wheel? Weight shift?

[snowball]

No neutral after stopping at a red light? Sounds terrible, if your left leg takes a break for half a second your car might go shooting forward, or you'll end up with a busted knee eventually from the clutch pedal resistance.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...ticle34931042/

[twitchyzero]

Originally Posted by jjson

Why would they fail you if you shift during a turn? 1 hand off the wheel? Weight shift?

potentially upsetting the balance

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/c...it_was_unfair/

[CCA-Dave]

I'm a firm believer in the joys of manual transmissions. I did one of my driving tests in a fully caged, 5pt equipped rally car, so I'm up for a challenge...but honestly, doing your driving test in a manual car is dumb. The test is unevenly weighted towards those who use an automatic. Why? They can dock you points for making errors with the manual transmission. Shifting in corners, putting it into neutral or depressing the clutch too early before stopping, sitting at red light in neutral (some will say this is okay, some will say you must be in first with the clutch depressed).

If two people are taking a test and person A is evaluated on a total of 100 points, while person B is evaluated on total of 125 points...and it takes just 25 points to fail either test, who would you rather be?

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by twitchyzero

take the test in automatic removes a lot of guess work...I would borrow a family or a friend's car
all it takes is one little item and they'll fail you (ie. shifting in a turn)

someone else said it best...why choose the intermediate difficulty on a test when you can do it in easy mode

I know people are going to say this.

The truth is, I am at the point where I need to remember some details of automatics when I hop in one, and I still find myself depressing the non-existent clutch pedal to start the car, moving my hand towards gear stick when accelerating, things like that.

IDK, part of me likes the challenge, but the other part just wants to get it over with.

Originally Posted by 320icar

Do the test in Richmond. No hills

Hill start isn't really a worry of mine. Pretty easy when you get the clutch pedal down.

[underscore]

I did my N test with a manual without any problems, but I was lucky and the instructor was a car guy so we spent most of the time talking about his two 300ZX's. I did my Class 5 in an auto and nearly failed because of doing a lot of rolling stops, I wasn't used to a vehicle starting to move again as I eased up on the brake as I approached the stop since a manual doesn't do that.

The lesson here being whatever you take it in, use it a bunch ahead of time and be familiar with it. If you go to do your test in a vehicle you haven't spent the last while driving you're more likely to make mistakes.

Originally Posted by jjson

Why would they fail you if you shift during a turn? 1 hand off the wheel? Weight shift?

I believe it was because if you screw up the shift, you're a sitting duck in front of oncoming traffic. Not a good place to be.

[Nulified]

You could ask the instructor if they have a preference for stopping at a red (clutch in, clutch out). Each instructor is a little different even if theoretically, they shouldn't be.

Good luck.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by underscore

I did my N test with a manual without any problems, but I was lucky and the instructor was a car guy so we spent most of the time talking about his two 300ZX's. I did my Class 5 in an auto and nearly failed because of doing a lot of rolling stops, I wasn't used to a vehicle starting to move again as I eased up on the brake as I approached the stop since a manual doesn't do that.

The lesson here being whatever you take it in, use it a bunch ahead of time and be familiar with it. If you go to do your test in a vehicle you haven't spent the last while driving you're more likely to make mistakes.

I believe it was because if you screw up the shift, you're a sitting duck in front of oncoming traffic. Not a good place to be.

Yep, this is one of those small things in an AT that will screw me up on a test.

As for getting used to the vehicle, I find that most MT cars(especially cars driving schools would use) are very easy to drive if you know how to drive a MT RX-8(which is like 90% of the RX-8s out there). Took me all of 10 seconds to get familiar with the Civic or that Jimny I drove in Costa Rica. I booked a road test package with DriveWise so I will get a little more training before doing the real thing.

The tricky thing is getting back in my RX-8 after driving another MT family car. I remember when I came back from Costa Rica, I tried to get my RX-8 out of the garage. Spun my wheels twice before finally stalling. Yep, I am glad no one was there to see that.

Originally Posted by Nulified

You could ask the instructor if they have a preference for stopping at a red (clutch in, clutch out). Each instructor is a little different even if theoretically, they shouldn't be.

Good luck.

Yes, every instructor will be different, but I would think examiners have to follow a set of guidelines, which is you have to press the clutch in with gear stick in 1st at a stoplight.

And thanks!

[underscore]

A lot of manuals feel pretty similar, but if you get in something with a heavy or worn or badly adjusted clutch it can take a bit to adjust your habits to work with it. Downshifting, rev matching and shift points can vary quite a bit too.

[UnknownJinX]

Did my test today in DriveWise's Civic 5-speed and passed the test.

Pretty nervous the whole way, and it was rainy out, too, but there was nothing that really surprised me.

For anyone who wants to do the Class 5 test in a stick shift:

Get a lesson or two beforehand just so you know what the examiners are looking for, and things everyone mentioned before in this thread. Coasting in neutral(A rule of thumb is that you shouldn't be coasting for more than 5 seconds), shifting when turning, sitting in neutral are all big no-nos on the test. The lessons are recommended even for folks who do an AT test.

Remember that they are not really looking at your skills at driving a stick. Obviously, if you stall a bunch or buck at every single shift, then you will have a hard time, but if you occasionally, lightly buck once in the entire test(as I did), they won't give a crap. What they are looking for are those shoulder and mirror checks, and the fact that you pay attention to your surroundings and is a safe driver.

And in that logic, don't show off how good you are at rev matching. Downshift only when you are very slow, and only give the throttle a very light blip, otherwise, they can fail you for driving too spiritedly and aggressively.

Other than that, not much to say. My instructor told me that most people who fail the stick shift test fail for reasons not related to the transmission choice, so even if they are in an AT, they would have failed.

Originally Posted by underscore

A lot of manuals feel pretty similar, but if you get in something with a heavy or worn or badly adjusted clutch it can take a bit to adjust your habits to work with it. Downshifting, rev matching and shift points can vary quite a bit too.

Sports cars are usually a bit different from family cars. Sports cars tend to give you a bit more feedback with a heavier clutch while family cars usually have lighter clutches that dampens the bucking if you are not familiar with the car.

I usually learn a couple of gear-speed-RPM combo in a car for quick references. Didn't really pay much attention to the Civic, though, since I just shifted fairly slowly the whole way. They don't care about what RPM you are at unless it's very unreasonable(don't pass 3000). Cruising at 2200 RPM? They couldn't care less. For driving test city driving, just stick to the first 3 gears and you are good. Highway driving, use the 4th gear. Don't touch 5th.

[underscore]

Originally Posted by UnknownJinX

Sports cars are usually a bit different from family cars. Sports cars tend to give you a bit more feedback with a heavier clutch while family cars usually have lighter clutches that dampens the bucking if you are not familiar with the car.

It's not just the clutch pedal weight, the engagement point can be all over the place and the shift points can be as well since different cars have different rev ranges. Cruising rpm in one car can be bogging in another. Then there's the shifter, is it tight or sloppy? Does the trans have any touchy synchros or an unconventional gear layout like a dog leg 1st gear or reverse in a different spot? Do you need to be stopped to get 1st or will it go in while rolling? Most of the time these won't come up but if they do and someone isn't prepared it can throw someone off enough to cause other mistakes.

[UnknownJinX]

Originally Posted by underscore

It's not just the clutch pedal weight, the engagement point can be all over the place and the shift points can be as well since different cars have different rev ranges. Cruising rpm in one car can be bogging in another. Then there's the shifter, is it tight or sloppy? Does the trans have any touchy synchros or an unconventional gear layout like a dog leg 1st gear or reverse in a different spot? Do you need to be stopped to get 1st or will it go in while rolling? Most of the time these won't come up but if they do and someone isn't prepared it can throw someone off enough to cause other mistakes.

All very true, and that's just the beauty of driving a manual transmission. Every car is different, has their own unique character.

For noobs, though, I really recommend a Corolla and Civic. They have relatively loose shifters and light, easy clutches.