Car jerks when accelerating at low speeds

Some cars are more prone to bucking/jerking while at slow speed in 1st gear than others.

I remember my old V8 Mustangs were often like bucking broncos if I tried to putz along at low RPM in 1st gear. To smooth it out, I'd engage the clutch and then slip it a bit while letting it back out. This usually worked, but not always.

1st to 2nd gear jerk automatic transmission

Manual car bucking

Car jerks when accelerating in first gear

Car jerks in 1st and 2nd gear manual

Car jerks when releasing clutch in first gear

I think it has to do with a combination of factors (gearing, engine torque, driveline lash, etc...) that makes some cars buck more than others.

FWIW, I've only owned two cars that have virtually no low speed bucking/jerking at all.

The first one was an old '80s Celica (when they were RWD) that I bought as a winter beater back in 1993. The drivetrain on that car was smooth as butter no matter what the driver did. The other car is my current Audi. It's also perfectly happy crawling at low speeds in 1st gear, without any kind of bucking/jerking or protesting in any way.

But every other car I've owned over the years has been at least a little bit of a bucking bro

why does my manual car jerk in first gear

why does car jerk when changing gears