How to drive a pre ī87 in the city ?

[livi]

I live in the countryside with a lot of winding roads, no stop signs or traffic lights and very little traffic. Itīs perfect for driving Carrera with a 915 gearbox. Only have to use first gear starting up at home.
I work at a hospital in a rather big city - Helsingborg. The other day I thought it would be a great ride to work. Itīs mostly highway. That was very nice. Surprisingly good comfort in that old car.
From the turn of the highway itīs approx 3 miles to the hospital, a handful of red lights and maybe a dozen stops and go in total.

Parking the car I was a nervous wreck ! My left leg was stiff and shaking. Would just barely carry me up the stairs. I was also trembling for the anxiety of the several incidences where I could not put it in first gear, beginning to create a traffic jam behind me, just to stall the engine from nervousness when the damn gear finally fell in place.

Had to start the day by prescribing myself a sedative !

I for sure will not do that trip again in my p-car. Itīs back to the Jeep with automatic trans, thank you very much !

That is unless you guys have evolved a city driving method you would like to share (that donīt addict me to sedatives)

[Az911]

Workout more, if your leg got tired in that short of time you are way out of shape

[DustinTarditi]

I drive mine every day I can, weather permitting.

I do have a bit of traffic on my trip to work - about 6 miles.
Just drive it like a motorcycle (pretend everyone out there doesn't see you) and you'll be OK.

Parking is a whole different story - you have to plan it out and put it someplace where it won't bother you.

I park where I can see it from my desk (I have a window)... nobody messes with it and I know enough people (including the security guard and maintenance people) that others sort of keep an eye on it anyway.

[sagacis]

I just take it easy. I also make sure I shift into first right before I have stopped rolling. Basically, I don't care if people have to sit behind me occasionally. I'll make up for it on the start....

Gee, I wish I had more opportunities to drive on winding country roads. Even the country roads around here have traffic and stops.

[Emission]

I don't like driving my 911 in the "city" either.

If forced, I will take the circuitous (yeah, I had to look the spelling up on that one) route with less lights and less traffic. If you plan accordingly, city driving isn't that bad.

[dfink]

Instead of using your leg to shift with use your ankle. When coming off the start in first gear it is much easier on the leg to just keep the heal planted and rock the foot back. Should have much finer control. Leave it there for the quick shift to 2nd then move foot off of clutch so you don't burn up the throw-out bearing. Then leg shift the rest of the gears. Don't know if this makes sense but hope it helps. [edit] sometimes I have to let the clutch out just a little bit while moving into first. Not to much or will grind. Again the foot method gives greater control. I also usually shift to first just before the car stops.

[DustinTarditi]

Originally posted by sagacis
I also make sure I shift into first right before I have stopped rolling.

X2, BTW - I find that it shifts much easier that way... plus Peter Zimmerman (Used 911 Story) recommends driving this way, too. :-)

[mtelliott]

Originally posted by dfink
Instead of using your leg to shift with use your ankle. When coming off the start in first gear it is much easier on the leg to just keep the heal planted and rock the foot back. Should have much finer control. Leave it there for the quick shift to 2nd then move foot off of clutch so you don't burn up the throw-out bearing. Then leg shift the rest of the gears. Don't know if this makes sense but hope it helps. [edit] sometimes I have to let the clutch out just a little bit while moving into first. Not to much or will grind. Again the foot method gives greater control. I also usually shift to first just before the car stops.

Absolutely makes sense. That's the way I do it. Mine's a daily driver and when I25 backs up, I'm doing a lot of that. As for getting into 1st, double clutch on the way into the stop. Then, right into first once stopped.

Now, if I can just figure out how to keep my foot out of it on the open road.

[Az911]

Originally posted by Emission
I don't like driving my 911 in the "city" either.

If forced, I will take the circuitous (yeah, I had to look the spelling up on that one) route with less lights and less traffic. If you plan accordingly, city driving isn't that bad.

With the 4spd and less shifting Im supprised you mind driving in the city

[Sonic dB]

dont downshift into 1st with a 915, just go to neutral and use your brakes.

Get the shift coupler adjusted and put a new clutch cable on it and adjust clutch to spec. Learn to hold the clutch in for 1 second at a stop before putting it into gear.

I drive my 915 in LA traffic and on twistys each day with no issues of stalling, lugging in 2nd etc.

[Emission]

Originally posted by Az911
With the 4spd and less shifting Im supprised you mind driving in the city

It's the lag. Most every car (and truck... and minivan) can beat me in a "normal" launch across the intersection. Just as I pass 3000 rpm and my boost gets up... another red light. No fun.

[livi]

Great advice ! Letīs see if can compile a list here.

1. Work out more.
2. Drive it like a motorcycle.
3. Donīt downshift into first.
4. Dubbelclutch.
5. Put in first gear before complete stop after holding clutch for a sec.
6. Use ankle method
7. Take the circuitous..

Much obliged ! Iīll give it another try.

[nostatic]

I rarely had to double clutch to get into first. Instead I would put the car into neutral at a light and let the clutch out (which you're supposed to do to save the throwout bearing anyway). When it turns green, I push in the clutch, pull the shift lever down towards second until it meets resistance (this quiets the syncros), then slide it up into first. Don't jam it...lovingly slide it in (ooh, I'm getting all warm...).

You might want to replace your omega spring on the clutch lever...if it is tired it will be tougher to push. But it is stiffer than a japanese car...no two ways about it. Get used to it.

[livi]

By the way, the car had a complete clutch job just 3k miles ago.
Would it be out of order allready ? It feels and works great otherwhies.

[CarreraS2]

Were the cable and helper spring replaced?

[livi]

Afraid I canīt say for sure. The bill said "complete clutch" and the cost surely pointed that way. In your money it would be like 1k dollars.

[smstcoach]

When coming to a light I put the clutch in, shift to neutral and use the brakes to stop the car (old habit pre-911 was to work back through the gears, but pads are much cheaper to replace than transmissions). I find that to shift into first, take your foot off the brake and it gives the synchros just enough play to slip into gear. As stated, you can also shift into first while rolling to a stop, but then you have to do a one legged squat for the duration of the light. I would assume that this would also shorten the life of the clutch.
At least we didn't get a G50...we would have nothing to talk about!

[livi]

"one legged squat for the duration of the light" !!!!!!!

Cracking me up ! That was what I eventually did and thatīs why I allmost fell out of the car with my left leg giving in under me. Ha,ha, ha..

[tcar]

Yes, tough on the throwout bearing to hold the clutch in, especially at a long light. It's not designed to do that.

Also, tough on the left leg. It's not designed to do that.

I do NOSTATIC's drill. AND, if you can see the light the other way, put clutch in when that side turns yellow, nudge toward second and it should slip into first. You're ready to go.

[Dan Mc Intyre]

Best advice, practice, practice, practice. I know that sounds like the smart a$$ answer, but it really isn't. These cars take some driving to get the hang of them. They're not easy to drive....right.

My method of getting into first at a light from neutral, clutch out is this. First, I anticipate the light and don't wait until it is green to shift. I watch the light for the other direction. When it goes yellow, I push in the clutch and immediately start into first. But easyand not forcing it. If I wait too long to try putting it in first after pushing in the clutch, the gears inside stop spinning and then it'll never go into gear. I sometimes have go back into neutral and let out the clutch once or twice to get it to go. But then mine's a tired old 77.

Keep driving it, your left leg will strengthen and you'll get the hang of it eventually. I drive mine in town all the time with stiff pedals, stiff steering, and a sloppy shifter. I love it. The only thing I'd like different is a close ratio gear box. The RPM drop between 1 & 2 bugs me a little.

Good luck.

Dan