[josh]

I grew up driving manual, I used to have three old jeeps that were all 5 speed. I understand the principals of how clutches

This is the first time, however, that I have owned a CAR with a clutch...

Since the Sky is so new, and since it gets so much attention - I have been gunnin' it around quite a bit. Is this really bad for the clutch?

I don’t go crazy though, I don’t burnouts or tail-slide it around corners (ok... well maybe occasionally... sometime you gotta test out the LSD ). I'm just wondering how "hard" you can be on your car and still be within safe limits.

The reason I bring this up is because a friend of mine who has a new STI has already burnt out his clutch (after only 3ish months -- but that guy is crazy and was REALLY hard on his car)

As some of you may know, I leased my SKY in a 2-year deal. All I need is for everything to last only two years.

How hard can you drive you car and still be within normal operating limits?

 

[skyfan]

Now I know why I always but new cars....unless they are certified for 6 yrs or 100000 miles.

 

[wt2ga]

Clutch life is directly proportion to the tread life of the rear tires....

 

[brentil]

He probably does a lot of high RPM clutch drops. EVO owners do the same thing all the time too and nuke their clutches as well. Just don't launch your car at high RPMs and that alone will greatly extend the life of your clutch.

 

[rick112]

I have a friend that had a VW whos clutch lasted 18 YES 18 years. It was still functional when he sent the car to the wrecker.

 

[bradyb]

Stock with a normal driver they are supposed to last the life of the car.

I added 60% more horsepower to my car and with hundreds of hard launches my clutch lasted 45,000 miles. I went through four sets of high quality tires.

Most Sky owners will ruin their motors due to carbon build up by never going above 5,000 RPMS before they ever wear out a clutch. People like you and me that will want to spin the tires and drive aggressively, I'm guessing we'll get 80,000 miles.?

Although there as some terrible drivers that ride the clutch all the time like on a hill or always shifting above 3,000 RPMS, etc... A 7,000 RPM launch with AWD will kill any clutch be it a Mistu or Suby.

 

[Rick Tinley Park]

My first car with a clutch was actually a pick-up truck. Actuall y I had a Toyota Corolla for a short time with Stick -- but only drove it 10-15,K. I taught my two boys how to drive stick in that S-10. The clutch did not last 35,000. After I replaced it I drove that truck to 98,000 and never had another problem...:cheers:

 

[ousoonersgirl]

I have a friend that had a VW whos clutch lasted 18 YES 18 years. It was still functional when he sent the car to the wrecker.

Wow thats a seriously long time. I have a 97 Eclipse with a little over 282,000 miles on it and I have never had to change the clutch yet.

 

[GaryH]

I have a 91 Chevy pickup with 186,000 miles. At 158,000, I thought the clutch has to be almost worn out so I had the clutch and throwout bearing and preasure plate replaced. After looking at the clutch, I would say I could have gone another 40 to 50K. A lot depends on highway vs city driving. A lot depends on "KEEEPING YOUR FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH THE PEDAL".

 

[Maverick]

josh, there are no "old" Jeeps with 5 speeds. I had a 1953......no 5 speed. Old is relative, remember the average of the members on this forum.

 

[moni6]

I have a 1997 Saturn SC 1 with 143,000 miles with the original clutch. I have done a lot of stop and go traffic driving with it. I also don't drive like a grandma.

 

[theirishgonzo]

170k on a clutch in a twin turbo stealth i did some good launches once in a while. but when it was going it would not hold shifting in to seccond. sence it is a turbo car and has not to much bost till 3k so 1st was good but seccond sliped like no other. we also still have the car and it is up to 220k and has stock turbos stock tranny with no work. the olny thing we had to replace was the front 1/2 shafts and the rack and pinnon and alot of tires

 

[mr hankey]

replace a clutch in less than 100k???

Better start learning to drive a 5speed. (or 6 or 4, WHATEVER!!!)

NO excuse for burning out a clutch, UNLESS you're beating the heck out of it!

I'll have my tranny go before my clutch!!!!:cheers:

 

[JohnD]

replace a clutch in less than 100k??? Better start learning to drive a 5speed. (or 6 or 4, WHATEVER!!!) NO excuse for burning out a clutch, UNLESS you're beating the heck out of it!

I'll have my tranny go before my clutch!!!!:cheers:

I had the clutch in my brand, spankin' new Triumph Spitfire shatter after 625 miles. And I was quite good at driving a four-speed, thank you, and completely babied the car as it was my first new car and I was paranoid about the break-in period.

The Clutch was the first of many catastrophes on that car. Two days after getting it back with a new clutch, a "ticking" in the engine compartment was identified as a loose pulley that was not properly tightened at the factory. Since it was slipping, it chewed up the end of the crankshaft. In order to get it to clamp down properly, they had to replace the crank after what was now 705 miles.

So, I will add a new clause:

NO excuse for burning out a clutch, UNLESS you're beating the heck out of it - or if it's British Engineered.

 

[Seagull]

Learning

A lot depends on highway vs city driving. A lot depends on "KEEEPING YOUR FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH THE PEDAL".

:thumbs:
Be carful on hills. Especially if it is in "Stop and Go" situations.
I almost burnt out my clutch driving up the hill at Universal Studios for a concert a few years back. It took almost an hour to go up the hill the way the traffic was at the time, less then half a mile.
So just remember... Take Care!!! :thumbs:

 

[RMFNSKY]

I have 255,000 miles on my 1995 SC2 and it has the orginal clutch. I don't baby the car but I also don't melt the tires off it.