Little experience with manuals. Learning in a Viper.h

[Softbutter]

Hi guys,

I've lurked here for a long time and don't post much. I'm going to buy a G5 within a year and will be test driving one soon.

Thing is, I've driven a manual car a total of 3 times in my life and don't feel 100% comfortable with it yet.

So.... How easy is it to get the hang of it in this car? I'm not clueless with it but I haven't had a lot of hours with a manual thus far. I would rent a manual for a weekend and go nuts but I can't seem to find any that are available.

The cars that I have practiced in is a Renault hatchback (rented in downtown geneva, switzerland two months ago) and a Mustang GT (just a few weeks ago), which I suppose is a nice warm-up for a Viper.

 

[SnakeBitten]

I will let the owners handle the meat of your question but re-learning stick in a car with 640hp/600tq is hilarious especially with your only experience with a stick is Renault and an MGT. It can be done though as I learned stick with the first sporty car I bought at 23. Drove it off the lot and went 55 miles to my home only stalling around 4 times. But that was a 200hp car with wimpy torque. Be careful with the snake especially if its a wet day that you are picking her up. From what I have read its not a car for novices even though it is quite a bit more forgiving than the past gens. Be safe.

 

[MoparMap]

In a certain sense it's actually way easier to learn manual in a high power car like a Viper. Super easy when the car has so much torque especially. I can actually take off from a dead stop in my gen 3 without even touching the gas pedal. The car has so much grunt if you just slowly let out on the clutch you can get it moving pretty easy. The main thing is to just be careful and work your way into the throttle. The traction control in the gen 5 is sure to help you out some as well, so I wouldn't be too worried. I'd just stay under half throttle for a while until you get used to the car.

The temptation is always to turn of traction control and punch it to see what a car can do. I'm as guilty as the next guy, but just remember to do it in the safest way possible (ie. in a straight line and not around traffic) if you can't resist and be ready for the back end to get loose. I've found it's usually much better to roll up to full throttle, quick stabs are sure to make the back end squirm on a car with so much low end.

 

[Allan]

Try to drive as many manual cars as you can before you get the Viper.

...........Test drive some junks off of used car lots if you have no other resource.

Get the feel of how to start/stop and shift in traffic.
You don't want to be trying to learn that in the Viper with everybody staring at you the whole time.

-Don't want to be in a parking lot or gas station somewhere with a bunch of hot girls looking at your car, just to see you kill the motor while letting the clutch out stupid.

 

[Treviso]

As much as I hate to say this...this is not a beginner car for someone just learning how to drive a manual gearbox. This car, in particular, is a torque monster and many experienced owners have totalled their Vipers, nevermind an inexperienced neophyte. Start with something else and work your way into a Viper. It could save your life.

 

[danfromohio]

A $500 5 speed ****** to practice with is cheaper than a Viper clutch.

 

[Jack B]

If anything, the G5 is harder get moving from a dead stop than past generations. The lower 1st gear ratio and the aluminum flywheel negate the available torque.

 

[05Commemorative]

If anything, the G5 is harder get moving from a dead stop than past generations. The lower 1st gear ratio and the aluminum flywheel negate the available torque.

This is so true for the Gen5. Gen3's were super easy, just let the clutch out and go. Gen5 not so much. rent a mustang gt for a weekend and drive all over the place to get a hang of it.

 

[denniskgb]

i would say you need to practice on PlayStation3 first

 

[mblgjr]

Id go with what one guy said above. Go test drive as many manual trans cars off used car lots as you can.

The G5 isnt hard to drive; but it does require a bit of finesse to be proficiently smooth.

 

[Bobpantax]

See if there are any local performance driving schools in your area. You can sign up with an instructor and use the school's car. Some track day organizations also do this. I had my son do a one day program in a manual Vette ( the track day people provided it). At the time, he had little experince with a stick. By the end of the day, he had learned a great deal from the instructor. Doing this will kill two birds with one stone. You will familiarize yourself with a stick and do so in a performance vehicle in a safe environment. There is no such thing as too much driving school.

Hi guys,

I've lurked here for a long time and don't post much. I'm going to buy a G5 within a year and will be test driving one soon.

Thing is, I've driven a manual car a total of 3 times in my life and don't feel 100% comfortable with it yet.

So.... How easy is it to get the hang of it in this car? I'm not clueless with it but I haven't had a lot of hours with a manual thus far. I would rent a manual for a weekend and go nuts but I can't seem to find any that are available.

The cars that I have practiced in is a Renault hatchback (rented in downtown geneva, switzerland two months ago) and a Mustang GT (just a few weeks ago), which I suppose is a nice warm-up for a Viper.

 

[vipernut]

See if there are any local performance driving schools in your area. You can sign up with an instructor and use the school's car. Some track day organizations also do this. I had my son do a one day program in a manual Vette ( the track day people provided it). At the time, he had little experince with a stick. By the end of the day, he had learned a great deal from the instructor. Doing this will kill two birds with one stone. You will familiarize yourself with a stick and do so in a performance vehicle in a safe environment. There is no such thing as too much driving school.

That's exactly what I did 20 odd years ago...took some lessons from a reputable driving school on a standard tranny ...and that helped immensely!

 

[FinalEd357]

Captain Obvious here, be very, very careful before you accelerate hard and do so only in a straight line for quite some time. The ESC will be a great help to you in the Gen 5 but the power really kicks in over 4,000 RPM or so and it can bite you very quickly. Just be careful and enjoy that beautiful piece of art & machine. Congrats!

 

[s62]

Thing is, I've driven a manual car a total of 3 times in my life and don't feel 100% comfortable with it yet.

If you are close to North NJ I will give you some lessons in my car. And no, I don't want or expect anything in return.

In a certain sense it's actually way easier to learn manual in a high power car like a Viper. Super easy when the car has so much torque especially. I can actually take off from a dead stop in my gen 3 without even touching the gas pedal.

I agree but I also think it is more a function of how bent the ECU on maintaining idle. I can do the same in my S2000 which probably has 1.4 lb-ft at 800rpm
I could easily stall my 03 M5 doing the same even though it has lots more torque (than the S2k) at idle and similar gearing.

 

[PDCjonny]

Go practice for an hour in a big parking lot when you get it.
I never drove a stick in my life and learned on a Z06 when I drove it off the lot.

 

[Boxer12]

Just be careful, take it easy on the go pedal when shifting, and you'll be fine. I applaud your *****! Have fun! Its an experience like no other.

 

[LouN]

Hi guys,

I've lurked here for a long time and don't post much. I'm going to buy a G5 within a year and will be test driving one soon.

Thing is, I've driven a manual car a total of 3 times in my life and don't feel 100% comfortable with it

So.... How easy is it to get the hang of it in this car? I'm not clueless with it but I haven't had a lot of hours with a manual thus far. I would rent a manual for a weekend and go nuts but I can't seem to find any that are available.

The cars that I have practiced in is a Renault hatchback (rented in downtown geneva, switzerland two months ago) and a Mustang GT (just a few weeks ago), which I suppose is a nice warm-up for a Viper.

Dude you have to know how to drive a manual before owning a viper. You will hurt yourself or someone else. If not still likely get in accident. What if five minutes into the car you are at a stop light on a hill. It won't be pretty. Rent a manual or buy a ****** to learn on, it's really the only smart thing to do.

 

[jjrho]

i brought my 14 yr old out to local airport and had him learn his first manual driving on the new TA…. he did fine… course they ride motocross bikes since age 4 but still…
it's got a lot of torque so…

also, it has a break hold for about 1.2 second so, on uphill, the gen5 viper is easier for newbies….. was wondering how my 17yr old so 'good' on starting on a uphill and realized the car was holding the break for him….i realized it at night…rear brake light ON.. could't tell during daytime…. lol

good luck… fun car…i just got one and was scared initially due to all the stuff i read about previous gen. vipers but… due to traction ctrl and ESC…i've not lost control of it….yet…… i know the electronics saved me several times already…

jR
#66 TA

 

[Policy Limits]

I hadn't driven a manual transmission in 20 years when I bought my new snake. Very user friendly. The clutch pedal is really light. You can adjust them too. Let the clutch out 30% to 50% and you feel the car start to move forward without any gas. Hit the accelerator and slowly take the clutch out and you're moving. During break in period I kept shifts south of 4000 RPM's per the manual. Once the break in period is over (500 miles) u will find most of the power tge car produces is over 4000. Short throw shifter makes it easy too. It will take practice and experience to get the shifts smooth. After 1000 miles the shifter loosens up nicely. Once you start rowing gears you will have So much fun that you won't want to go back to paddle shifters again. The car even has parking assist so if you're on a hill the car won't roll back as you take the clutch out and attempt to negotiate first gear. Hope this helps.

 

[Softbutter]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I drove the car today.

Quick thoughts: Seeing and driving is truly believing with this car. Can't be understood otherwise.
Steering was a little heavy (for a guy who has never driven a Viper) but it was easy to get going. Will admit I stalled once (lol) but that was before I even left the lot and because the feel of the car was surprising. I think I'll really have to get used to that steering but the dealer told me it would only be a week before I'd be really familiar with it.

Highway experience was hilarious. EVERY single car that passed by, I could see everyone breaking their necks to look. A car or two even decided to start following me for awhile.
I've never seen a car get this much attention.
I did not do anything stupid but I was able to hit the gas a little bit (rolled the windows down for full effect). My reaction upon doing this can be summed up like this:

"eoncoewaxwutdewzcacermvmiwelsfve!!!!!!!!"

That's the sound I made, in my head, if you can imagine that.

So yes, like I said at the start of this thread I will definitely be buying soon. Early spring is the set date for me.

 

[Allan]

Yes, a Viper is something you have to experience to understand.


.......after you buy one,
Then scare yourself a few times,

You'll really love it.

 

[Chelseasnake]

That's exactly what I did 20 odd years ago...took some lessons from a reputable driving school on a standard tranny ...and that helped immensely!

20 years age???? that would make you only 10 when you went to the driving school. hmmm