Preferred downshifting method?
 

I was just pushing the clutch in putting it into the lower gear and then pressing the gas pedal liberally while releasing the clutch. I have now started practicing heel toe. Blipping the throttle with it in neutral and foot slightly on brakes then throwing it into the lower gear and then gas in and clutch out.


Is there a method that I should be doing? Or does it not really matter?
Still have tons to learn with manual, so don't make fun of me too much. :P

Put it in a lower gear when/if needed. Pretty much don't need to be rev matching, blipshifting, double clutching, heel-toeing etc when driving normally.

I rev match downshifts and double clutch rev match if skipping gears.

DOn't know what is correct just how i do it.

You don't need to heel toe unless you really need to slow down and expecting to accelerate right away, i.e. making a turn but you went from 40 to 20mph you can heel toe to get you down to the right speed and be in the right gear right away. Even then you're mainly doing it for the sake of no jerking and being at a preferred rpm.

Otherwise what you're doing is right, still practice the heel toe for the sake of learning it but you're essentially just rev matching regardless if you're braking or not. Just clutch in, blip the throttle while switching gears and release clutch at a smooth rpm.

hell toeing/ blip shifting, etc. is normally not needed for everyday driving.. You should rev match for smoother downshifts but that's about it when it comes to daily driving..

i rev match when wanting to take a turn faster or when i want to pass someone

Rev matching is essentially what I said that I've been doing right? Just clutch, neutral, lower gear, gas to right rpm as I pull the clutch out. Is that right for normal driving? It feels right. When I do it to the proper rpm, there isn't any jerking or excessive acceleration.

Also when in 3rd or 4th gear and rolling up to a stop light, I clutch and brake, neutral, clutch out, come to stop, clutch in, put it in first and wait. Is that proper for minimal clutch wear? Or should I just hold the clutch in all the way through the deceleration to the stop?

I would go to 3rd gear and when u start to get below 1500 rpms follow this sequence;
Clutch in
3rd to neutral
Clutch out
coast to stop
wait at light til green
clutch in
first gear
go.

Never just hold the clutch in when not needed. That puts premature wear on your throw out bearing and out cars are notorious for having bad TOB..

Over thinking the whole thing once again! If it feels right do it. If not don't.

I prefer the paddle on the steering wheel for downshifting :popcorn:

I just rev match every downshift out of habit and it's smoother. For agreesive-ish daily driving I only heel and toe when going from 40+mph to a right hand turn. Otherwise just don't ride your clutch and drive it like a normal manual car.

You should really learn and master how to do them all (rev-match, double-clutch, heel and toe, even granny) as you can use any one of these techniques in different situations of traffic at various speeds.

Don't overthink just keep practicing and most importantly get some good fitting shoes with thin flexible soles (I always recommend Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 which is readily available).

Thin soles give you good pedal feel so you can accurately apply the amount of gas / brake / clutch. The best I've found is actually Geox Xense Moc but I've had durability issues with them from too much walking (burned thru 3 pairs in 2 years and not exactly cheap either).

You should never be sitting at a light holding the clutch in; you will prematurely wear out the throw-out bearing.