[vegbiker]

OK, I'll humbly admit in my first six weeks of ownership, I've stalled Hal, my Cooper non-S manual, 3-4 times. A few times in 2nd gear after slowing down I thought it had enough revs to accelerate, but Hal didn't (He Who Must Be Obeyed). Evidently, he wanted to be in first gear. So I lugged the engine to the stalling point. Once, I simply stalled pulling out from a light in first - kinda a rank amateur move. What can I say, I haven't driven a manual in over 40 years. But part of it is getting the feel and temperment of a modern gearbox and of course working the clutch properly!

I'm wondering if I'm in a club of one or others have had similar experiences with their new babies and are willing to admit to user's error and have learned any tips therein.

 

[uke]

I almost stalled an F56 when I took a test drive. The clutch felt very different from my R56.

But I have my own personal shame pack with manual transmissions, for sure. In 1976 I bought my first car, a manual transmission Triumph TR7, of all things (Q: why do the English drink warm beer? A: They're refrigerators are all made by Lucas. (Sorry UK friends)) and drove it home in Marin County, CA, a place with lots and lots of hills. I aged on that journey; so did the car.

But we made it, and thus I began a lifelong if not love, then grudging, affair with manual transmissions. I have screwed up with clutches every way that you possibly can, driving sports cars, 4-wheelers, trucks, you name it.

I'm pretty good with clutches now, but even with my R56 I stalled it a couple of times, and every now and then, for no stupid reason whatsoever, I forget the engine is still running after I park and let the clutch out, killing the engine. Why? I'm a doofus. I have to pay the Doofus Tax periodically.

My New Year's resolution is to not stall the F56 if it ever gets here...

 

[jeremybingham]

Just t h e once in 1200 miles in jasper and that was a bit thick of me, rounded a tight bend,kirton bladders if you're out there, and there was a horse and rider with a car composing like a butter the other way. I was in a very high gear, 3or 4th as I braked to near stop but forgot the clutch! Oops. Before I knew it he'd fired himself upagain!(once in a better gear!) Wondered if it was the stop start thing but nothing since!

 

[Peterg]

I almost stalled an F56 when I took a test drive. The clutch felt very different from my R56.

But I have my own personal shame pack with manual transmissions, for sure. In 1976 I bought my first car, a manual transmission Triumph TR7, of all things (Q: why do the English drink warm beer? A: They're refrigerators are all made by Lucas. (Sorry UK friends)) and drove it home in Marin County, CA, a place with lots and lots of hills. I aged on that journey; so did the car.

But we made it, and thus I began a lifelong if not love, then grudging, affair with manual transmissions. I have screwed up with clutches every way that you possibly can, driving sports cars, 4-wheelers, trucks, you name it.

I'm pretty good with clutches now, but even with my R56 I stalled it a couple of times, and every now and then, for no stupid reason whatsoever, I forget the engine is still running after I park and let the clutch out, killing the engine. Why? I'm a doofus. I have to pay the Doofus Tax periodically.

My New Year's resolution is to not stall the F56 if it ever gets here...

TR7 eh?
I had one wheni was 18, loved that car..mine was a vermilion manual 2.0, covered thousands of miles in that car,despite Horendous stories of overheating!
Eventually fitted a Rover V8 into it, over a period of two days in my parents garage. Was mental, could pull away in 4th gear and sounded unbelievable.
Looking back at it now, it was an awful car, but I loved it..
The things you do in your teenage years..

Anyway, back on track. Nope not stalled my F56 yet

 

[Stingray82]

The only time I stalled mine was the first time I took off from a hill. I didn't realize it had an anti-rollback feature and was trying to move forward with the brake still in force.

 

[jeremybingham]

That was a sad time for the uk car industry. Lots of great concepts destroyed by shoddy delivery and the unions. The wonderful mini was never developed ,maxi marina,allegro. We had them all.poor triumph mg and rover. All those great names. The only decent versions of some had the American 3500 v8 but many of these cars had such great potential. The maxi was so practical and the allegro was in my eyes a developed alfa stud and looked good though my grandads was dissolving from brand new.. I loved my metro but it needs a decent engine.Real shame but the uk car industry seems to be on track now!

 

[mikeswagon]

The maxi was so practical and the allegro was in my eyes a developed alfa stud and looked good though my grandads was dissolving from brand new.. I loved my metro but it needs a decent engine.Real shame but the uk car industry seems to be on track now!

Metro you say??? My first car was an MG Metro, A21 ERS , fortunately by the time I learned to drive my dads chocolate brown Allegro was long gone.

 

[jeremybingham]

All white MG Metro D470WFE the first car I bought-myself, had a red City I bought offmy dad as a first car. Lovely thing-superb seats and red seatbelts, white alloys loved it but it rusted over the wheel arches within a year and the rear wiper never worked properly! Great car but needless to say didn't keep it too long!

 

[Dollyman]

Some of us old gits still have our teenage and later cars!! For my sins I still have a Triumph TR6 and a Dolomite Sprint, as somebody one said " Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional"

 

[jeremybingham]

Wonderful pair of cars those. Good for you Dollyman.
Yes Sting Ray the hill start control can take you by surprise. Really good though.many makers charge extra for this one!

 

[johnan]

I havent stalled my F56 Cooper, but there was another thread about this being a possible problem some months ago.
Perhaps a forum search might unearth something?

 

[mikeswagon]

Vicky Butler-Hendersons first car was an MG Metro, so we're in good company

Back on topic, I've stalled mine once, attempting to pull away from the showroom when I collected it.:redface:

 

[Christian6984]

Vicky Butler-Hendersons first car was an MG Metro, so we're in good company

Back on topic, I've stalled mine once, attempting to pull away from the showroom when I collected it.:redface:

My Parents had a MG Metro, Being the second born the fun cars had to go, an original mini and this for a practical Ford Orion I would have loved the metro myself if im honest.

The only times ive ever stalled the F56 is down to stop-start when it turns off, then instantly traffic moves and quickly pulling away (so not really worth while it turning off), revs cant recover fast enough and it stalls.

 

[jeremybingham]

Fabulous photo. Not sure I'd have any.Must look.

 

[Christian6984]

see where I love my flared jeans from LOL!

 

[jeremybingham]

Wow brown metro van. Wonderful. Am getting all nostalgic now. They are super photos. You've made me think I ought to digitize all my old ones. Mammoth task though.Thank you. Fabulous.

 

[mikeswagon]

Cracking photos there.

I don't think any of my old pics have been scanned in yet, will have to dig some out.

 

[Peterg]

One of my blasts from the past..It was a modified 1275GT fitted with a 1340cc motor. It went like the clappers.

 

[Peterg]

Two more.The first was my TR7 that i bought when i was 21 years old, it was in fact a 1980 TR7, but i fitted a Rover V8 into it, which the TR7 should have had all along.Had that car for ages and loved it to bits, despite its shortfalls.
The 2nd picture was my first ever car a 1965 Austin Mini, i bought that 2nd hand from the local paper, sadly it came to an early end, after mounting a kerb at a roundabout!!! Oh how i wish i still had that car.. I do still have its number plate hanging up inn the garage though..

 

[uke]

One of my blasts from the past..It was a modified 1275GT fitted with a 1340cc motor. It went like the clappers.

Love the camber on the rear wheel. DIY lowering job?

I lowered my TR7 and put a bigger rear sway bar on. Really helped the handling.