If you hit someone who was stopped that close to you on a hill, the accident would be their fault as they did not provide enough distance between you. That said, after learning on the hills of San Francisco, I've never had a problem with hills.

 

Install the bypass....skip shift is a PIA. I would recommend the skip shift which simply replaces the fuse; much easier install!

 

Maybe get a good friend that drives a manual that your trust to show you the ropes. Can be too much overload in some instances and some of the advice is just a matter of opinion. Like using the hand brake to hold yourself on a hill..........don't know whats up with that. Take the time to learn how to leave a hill the proper way, with clutch and throttle manipulation. You'll be much better off in the long run......good luck.

 

Talk about opinion!!!! How to do handle a steep hill?

 

Just a couple notes about 4th gear I learned on the Atlanta Motor Speedway. We were there with Corvettes against Breast Cancer and was trying to have a little fun.

I figured out that coming through the front straight in 4th at about 70, I would stand on it. At about 105, and I could have gone higher, I put it into 5th. Starting at 70 and standing on it, it would still push you back into your seat.

4th is a great utility gear in the mountains. I will also drop into 4th on the highway when I want to get around someone quick.

 

Better option is to just tune it out of the ECM altogether. Bypasses can and have failed.

 

Great tip. I have been practicing this at red lights. I had now idea this could be done without gas.

 

Third day of driving and I did not kill the engine once today! LOL OK, not exactly a grand milestone but I am learning.

Seems like the only time I need first gear is from a dead stop....if I'm rolling I go straight to second and skip 1st. In truth, 2nd doesn't see to add too much. I have even accidently gone from fist to fourth without issue.

One thing I will say, it is a helluva lot more fun driving a stick! Just feel like I am actually driving and in more in control. I can see though that in heavy traffic it might get old....but I am using the heavy traffic to work on my shifting skills.

So one question.....if I can motor in 4th gear at higher speeds, then 5th seems like what would seem to be an over-drive gear....but then there is still 6th.

On a non-Corvette note, I restored two 1926 Dodge Brothers Coupes....with 4 cylinder, 3 speed motor/trans....they had a whopping 30 hp! Anyway, first gear was kinda of useless as it went soo slow in first. It was only needed when heading up a steep grade from a dead stop. So then you only had 2nd and 3rd and that was just not enough.....2nd was too slow and 3rd was too fast, if that makes any sense. It was obvious they needed a gear in between the two. Not sure when DB went to a 4 speed but I'm sure they must have in the late 20s or early 30s. I had a lot of fun driving those but with top end speed of about 40 mph, and that was downhill with the wind at my back, I didn't drive them much. Finally, got rid of both of them....for about 1/2 what I had in them. Decided they were my last 'restoration' projects.

 

If a person is driving a manual and can't power off a steep hill without using the hand brake they really should be out looking to trade their manual in for a slush box. I've driven manuals for 50 years and have never.....never used the hand brake because I was on a steep hill. If someone knows how to drive a manual correctly they won't need the hand brake......

 

I've never used the e-brake either.

 

The issue was the OP and driving a stick. Not a supposed expert's ability to handle a steep hill. You all may be able to handle a steep hill and "expertly" and able to heal-toe with a clutch. But that's not the OP. Telling to OP to trade in a manual for a "slush box" because he's having problems ... what is wrong you with you people !!!!!

Thank you for once again ruining (for the OP) a meaningful discussion of a problem.

Please to fix your ID10T light and your roller muffler bearings because I'm out. Destroy this forum as a place for information, I'm going elsewhere. Rather that try to help you are all just trying to increase your number of posts.

 

 

Be patient my Corvette brother and practice, practice, practice!!! Don't ever feel embarrsed about stalling, F everybody else! Congratulations and Enjoy the Ride!!!

 

On another subject, I don't have a M6 but I have heard if you don't park your car in Reverse you can run the battery down. Maybe something else people with an M6 can comment on...but I know it says park it in reverse all the time.. Congrats on the car and save the Wave.

 

You're missing the point that he was addressing his comment to you and your recommendation to use the e-brake on hills, and not to the OP.

Using an e-brake on a hill is NOT the way to learn how to use a clutch on a hill. And for the record, there is also no need to heel-toe on a hill either.

 

Just keep practicing. Learning how to drive a manual trans car properly just takes putting in time behind the wheel. Once you learn how to do it the right way, you'll never look at an auto trans car the same way again.

 

That is only for the 2005 model year.

 

What is the rationale for putting the car in reverse when parking? Does reverse have more compression than first so the car won't roll? Much easier to put in 1st....especially if you park somewhere that you don't have to back up.

 

In this case, it's to shut off all of the car's electrical systems. But GM probably selected that method because of the tranny ratio to help stop rolling.

 

There is nothing wrong with using the handbrake when taking off on a steep hill. You can also just let off the clutch with your foot on the brake and wait for the revs to start dropping before releasing the brake. It's the exact same concept. Many people do it who are probably far better drivers than you are.

I learned how to drive a manual in Europe and this was "ONE OF THE METHODS" taught. But what do they know about driving manual transmissions? Just because you do something one way, doesn't mean everyone else has to do it the same way.

For the record, your condescending, closed mind attitude creates the exact type of stereotype that kept me away from buying a corvette for years and is the reason owning a corvette carries the stigma that it does. I love the car but can't stand half the people who own one.

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