Alias Unknown

I recently slipped my clutch pretty good trying to launch (my car is all stock unfortunately)... and for the past couple of days I have still been able to smell it when I get outta the car or pop the hood... I've never smelt burning clutch before in my life... am I screwed? Its been like 3 days...

Its pretty cold down here too and I find that before the engine warms up a bit I'm having a little trouble getting car into 1st and second... its a bit annoying... is this normal?

RKA

if you're doing it wrong. I can't give you any pointers here...since I tend not to abuse my clutch.

Anyway, regarding the tranny...when the trans fluid is cold, shifting is noticably "crunchy". Learning to double clutch will help reduce the wear and tear you inflict on your tranny, while the fluid is cold (takes about 5-10 miles to warm up the gear box sufficiently).

Double clutch
If you are moving along in first gear...
*release gas pedal
*press clutch pedal
*shift to neutral
*release clutch pedal
*press clutch pedal
*shift to second gear
*release clutch pedal

I sounds like a pain, but you'll get good at it real quick, and you'll notice zero crunches between gears, even at very low temps. Shifts to 3rd, 4th, and 5th seem relatively fine, even in cold temps, so no need to double clutch.

Audi2ptzero

Not like your going to spin your tires so much you have to slip the clutch to control the tires. You just have to release it out all at one time.