Is this a bad way to stop when driving manual?
 

I drove manual for about 3 days in order to get the basics down before buying my car, but now that I drive regularly, I'm faced with situations I'm unsure about.

My main issue is decelerating (to go around a turn) or stopping for a stop sign.

Usually what I do is stay in gear as long as possible (often a higher gear), then take it into neutral until about 5-10 miles per hour, then put it in second (to accelerate out of a turn or California stop a sign).

I know I should technically be heel-toeing and downshift in sequence, but I suck at that right now, so it is okay to do this? I know it's technically skipping gears, but I'm wondering if it's okay since I'm waiting until a proper speed for second gear to engage.

There isn't any real problem with this as far as I know. Its just less fun.

Well, don't strain your motor to keep trying to turn the tires while your trying to stop them with the brakes, that puts strain on the motor and all the rotating components. Try to keep a good judge as to how far you are away from the turn, stop, or anything you might have to slow down for. If your positive you will have to slow down to put it in a lower gear, just press your clutch and put it in neutral. Then whenever you are ready to take off again, then judge the right(ish) gear to put it into. Just try keeping an eye out for some good shift points throughout your driving. 1-20mph is a good easy 1st gear, 21-45mph is good for 2nd, and so fourth. I believe if you are dropping down a gear, your rpms will jump up about 1,000rpms, so just try and judge it right and stay below the redline if you want to downshift. Sorry if it sounds too complicated, not too good at explaining on here just better in person.

i been trying to get the hang of rev matching when i downshift but im not getting it smoothly and keep pissin the wife off. she thinks i just want to see her tits jiggle :lol:

nice lol, just remember, every time you downshift, the revs want to jump up about 1,000rpms higher, so for example, if your going at 2500rpms in 5th, and you want to downshift to 4th, press the clutch, pull it out of gear, place in 4th and bump the gas peddle till it jumps the rpms to about 3,500rpms and let go the clutch.

@Turdinator: Yeah it is less fun. I try to downshift if there's no one around so I can just practice my rev matching and coast to a stop, then I can move on to heel-toe.

@usptwins: Definitely makes sense! Usually I'm in second around 7+ mph because the car has low mileage and I'd be revving real high in first at turning speeds, though maybe not so much at stopping speeds.

@travace: I know! You should have seen the first day I drove the car. The jerking was insane, so the girlfriend was getting really mad and I was like omg I'm trying to concentrate lol. I usually put it in neutral when she's in the car, but I try to practice rev-matching when I'm alone.

If I have interpreted that correctly you are cruising for a short distance in neutral. I think that is a bad habit. You should be in the appropriate gear should you need to accelerate. You have no control over the car if you are in neutral.

Yeah, I know that's unsafe which is why I keep it in gear as long as possible. I'm only in neutral right before the turn and during the turn, but I usually would have the clutch depressed and the shifter in second in case I need to accelerate while taking the turn.

Contradictory statement. Either you are in neutral or you are in 2nd with the clutch depressed.

Meant before only, sorry.

Pictures or no dice!

I think I have read somewhere that coasting is illegal (may be only downhill?) and you pretty much have to be in gear.

Anyways...practice that heel-toe down shift!

yea as a kid i learned to feather the clutch out and let the engine slow you down. which i now know is not good.

i think its getting the feel for the speed at which i let the clutch out.
i haven't practiced it a lot. just a couple times and i was horrible at it :lol: one of these nights i will go practice

i have my own dice so i'm good:thumbup: