When do you guys shift under normal driving (Esp 1st to 2nd)

[Snoopyjh]

After driving the BRZ for couple months, this is how i shift under normal driving :

1st - 2nd: I bring the rev up to around 3500-4000, then clutch, wait until the rpm drops to 2,100 rpm, and then clutch out. This of course takes maybe a second or two which feels like a long pause for me... If i don't wait until it drops to low 2,000's then the car will jerk and force itself down to 2100-2200rpm.
I tried shifting around 2,500-3,000rpm, but when i do that, i'm going about 15mph, and the car behind me is all up on my butt until i shift into 2nd.

2nd-3rd : I bring the rev up to around 3,500-4,000 and shift at 1,000 less rpm from where i clutched in.

3-4-5-6 : I shift around 3,000 and clutch out pretty quick compared to lower gears. and I always try to keep my rpm above 2,000. If it drops to 1,800 then i'd down shift..

I know there's no right answers to when to shift but I'd like to know how other people shift. Am i shifting too high on lower gears during normal driving? Do you guys drive and cruise under 2,000rpm? I personally think that the car doesnt like it but let me know what you guys think! Thanks in advance!

[Summerwolf]

Sounds like you're not driving well. Use the clutch to where you're not being jerky with shifts. You shouldn't have to be pausing between shifts to wait for rpms.

Sounds like in the higher gears you're close to lugging it as well.

Just go out and practice and play.

[Captain Snooze]

Regardless of when you shift at it should be a smooth transition. Even changing gears quickly smoothness. It reads like you need a little hands on guidance and more practice.

[JimmyMac]

You shouldn't have to look down at the rpms when normal driving. Just shift by the feel and sound of the engine. The shifts should be nice and fluid. No pausing or waiting as Summerwolf stated. Clutch in, shift, and clutch out. All this while gently lifting up on the throttle, then reapplying throttle once shift is complete. It all comes with practice and experience.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by JimmyMac

You shouldn't have to look down at the rpms when normal driving. Just shift by the feel and sound of the engine. The shifts should be nice and fluid. No pausing or waiting as Summerwolf stated. Clutch in, shift, and clutch out. All this while gently lifting up on the throttle, then reapplying throttle once shift is complete. It all comes with practice and experience.

There ya have it...…….


@Snoopyjh ……. I'm ah feared you are Waaaaaay overthinking this whole shifting thing. As mentioned, just listen to the engine …… it will tell you when to shift …….

If the engines dies, you are in a too high of gear, select a lower gear; if the governor isn't "working" you may be able to shift into a higher gear ……

Oh, wait ……. this isn't the farm forum …… my bad ……


humfrz

[Tcoat]

Two things I see done wrong all the time with new MT drivers.

Don't grasp the shift knob with a death grip. Push it away or pull it with the palm of your hand or just your fingers. When you grab it Fast and Furious style your body is fighting the gates giving you delayed and jerky shifts.

Stop thinking about the clutch and shift as separate stages it is all one action with things happening at once. It is not clutch in. Shift lever. Clutch out. It is clutchinshiftleverclutchout. You should already be moving the shift lever as you are pushing in the clutch and just finishing the shift as you clutch out again. I do not mean this action has to be fast but it should all be going on at the same time not as different steps. Understand what I am trying to say?
God I hate trying to explain this in print. Could show you in about 5 seconds.

[Spuds]

I just do this all day everyday:

Really, I don't worry about the occasional jerky shift. If you get back on the throttle at the right time it's barely noticeable.

[JimmyMac]

Yes, everything is happening simultaneously. But in a logical order. If that makes any sense. haha

[Snoopyjh]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Two things I see done wrong all the time with new MT drivers.

Don't grasp the shift knob with a death grip. Push it away or pull it with the palm of your hand or just your fingers. When you grab it Fast and Furious style your body is fighting the gates giving you delayed and jerky shifts.

Stop thinking about the clutch and shift as separate stages it is all one action with things happening at once. It is not clutch in. Shift lever. Clutch out. It is clutchinshiftleverclutchout. You should already be moving the shift lever as you are pushing in the clutch and just finishing the shift as you clutch out again. I do not mean this action has to be fast but it should all be going on at the same time not as different steps. Understand what I am trying to say?
God I hate trying to explain this in print. Could show you in about 5 seconds.

Could it be that there's something wrong with the trans?
Idk if you ever drove a GTI or Civic Si, but I could shift those cars butter smooth, to the point where I thought the BRZ is just a harder car to shift smoothly, or there's something wrong with my car lol

When I try to shift all in one motion from 1st to 2nd at 4,000rpm (without waiting the rpm to drop to 2,100), I would be letting go of clutch around 3k rpm, and car just jerks and forces itself down to 2,100 rpm

[chaoskaze]

Originally Posted by Snoopyjh

After driving the BRZ for couple months, this is how i shift under normal driving :



1st - 2nd: I bring the rev up to around 3500-4000, then clutch, wait until the rpm drops to 2,100 rpm, and then clutch out. This of course takes maybe a second or two which feels like a long pause for me... If i don't wait until it drops to low 2,000's then the car will jerk and force itself down to 2100-2200rpm.

I tried shifting around 2,500-3,000rpm, but when i do that, i'm going about 15mph, and the car behind me is all up on my butt until i shift into 2nd.



2nd-3rd : I bring the rev up to around 3,500-4,000 and shift at 1,000 less rpm from where i clutched in.



3-4-5-6 : I shift around 3,000 and clutch out pretty quick compared to lower gears. and I always try to keep my rpm above 2,000. If it drops to 1,800 then i'd down shift..



I know there's no right answers to when to shift but I'd like to know how other people shift. Am i shifting too high on lower gears during normal driving? Do you guys drive and cruise under 2,000rpm? I personally think that the car doesnt like it but let me know what you guys think! Thanks in advance!

Errr I just rev it to 2.5-3k ish,,, clutch in, shift, clutch out.... but like tcoat/humz said

You just need to learn that clutch is not a switch, you can let go of it with different degree of being on clutch & let go completely once you feel it’s grabbing.

It’s one motion, you trains your leg and hand to move at the same time.


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[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Snoopyjh

Could it be that there's something wrong with the trans?
Idk if you ever drove a GTI or Civic Si, but I could shift those cars butter smooth, to the point where I thought the BRZ is just a harder car to shift smoothly, or there's something wrong with my car lol

When I try to shift all in one motion from 1st to 2nd at 4,000rpm (without waiting the rpm to drop to 2,100), I would be letting go of clutch around 3k rpm, and car just jerks and forces itself down to 2,100 rpm

If you've already had some experience with a different manual transmission, I bet you're struggling with the weird clutch because it engages so high. It's a common complaint.

Try to avoid dumping it even at the very top, and hold off on feeding the throttle.

It has an odd rhythm compared to normal cars.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Snoopyjh

Could it be that there's something wrong with the trans?
Idk if you ever drove a GTI or Civic Si, but I could shift those cars butter smooth, to the point where I thought the BRZ is just a harder car to shift smoothly, or there's something wrong with my car lol

When I try to shift all in one motion from 1st to 2nd at 4,000rpm (without waiting the rpm to drop to 2,100), I would be letting go of clutch around 3k rpm, and car just jerks and forces itself down to 2,100 rpm

Doubt there is anything wrong. It is just a little different from a FWD car. As the others have said don't worry so much about the numbers and just get the feel. There is no one correct rpm to shift at and it can be much higher or lower depending on the circumstances. As odd as it sounds you could even cover the tach so that you are not focusing on what the RPMs are and just getting the feel of things. It will all click into place eventually.

[chaoskaze]

Originally Posted by Snoopyjh

Could it be that there's something wrong with the trans?

Idk if you ever drove a GTI or Civic Si, but I could shift those cars butter smooth, to the point where I thought the BRZ is just a harder car to shift smoothly, or there's something wrong with my car lol



When I try to shift all in one motion from 1st to 2nd at 4,000rpm (without waiting the rpm to drop to 2,100), I would be letting go of clutch around 3k rpm, and car just jerks and forces itself down to 2,100 rpm

Hmm That does sounds weird...

But those car you mentioned are really easy to shift because their rev hang... you can shift those car with a blindfold first time you drive it.

Try shift faster & gas at once ⛽️


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[reeves]

Originally Posted by Snoopyjh

Could it be that there's something wrong with the trans?
Idk if you ever drove a GTI or Civic Si, but I could shift those cars butter smooth, to the point where I thought the BRZ is just a harder car to shift smoothly, or there's something wrong with my car lol

When I try to shift all in one motion from 1st to 2nd at 4,000rpm (without waiting the rpm to drop to 2,100), I would be letting go of clutch around 3k rpm, and car just jerks and forces itself down to 2,100 rpm

Have you tried the clutch pedal adjustment? http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8040
Made it much better to get a smooth shift for me, especially since it was hard to feel the clutch engagement when I first drove this car. Once you drive it for a while the smooth shifts become second nature.