gearbox/shifting concern
 

I am very happy to purchase an frs. Also my first manual. Befor hand I drive manuals at work. And had a ton of practice. This is my second week of ownership, and learned to properly shift gear to gear butterly smooth with no thud. Although 2nd and 3rd gear is iffy... foot is all the way on tje clutch and it poppimg it from 2nd to 3rd my gears grind.....

1. The fr-s gearbox is notchy from the factory, it's the way it is. You'll find it shifts better at higher RPM than low rpm. Thanks the triple synchros in 2nd and 3rd.
2. It's worst when it's cold. I get grinding when it's in below 0 celcius sometimes.
3. If it really grinds (as in GRRRRRRRR), then bring it to the dealer and make them drive it. I'd be surprise though, nobody here had to have their transmission replaced, it's a very good gearbox.
4. You can change the fluid, a lot of people say it helps a lot. I'll be doing the same here.
5. I personally think it's a bad gearbox to learn on so be patient, it's quite aggressive compared to say, a stock civic(non SI) or any other econobox shifter.
6. It will get better as YOU get better and as the gearbox breaks-in.

Good luck!

1 yeah I've observed that. First days of drivng I noticed a bogging so I used hifher rpms
Works fine.

2 I'm taking it in today
And I'm worries bc I bought it used with 3800 miles

Thanks for your help

Yes I sort of figured out shifter higher it clunks less into 2nd at higher toms which is probably good it likes to be beat on

If it's just a slight clunking from 1 to 2 I think it's same with everyone. But mine doesn't grind.
Ask the dealer to check.

sometimes I feel like I have to force it in gear. Is that normal?

like I'm going 45 mph and try to put it in 6th, it's not buttery smooth shifting. I feel like I have to give it a little more "pull"

That's normal for 6th gear. Sometimes I have to force mine a bit too.

plus - "buttery smooth" isn't the best way to describe the 86's gearbox. It's very mechanical feeling and it supposed to be that way.

driving stick smoothly is all about muscle memory and habit. So just dont worry about it and have fun

We all have the same thing, I at least have the weird sound coming from the rear diff when the car is on neutral and stopped then shifting into 1, I also get that little clunk noise when shifting into second gear. I'm pretty sure it's normal, once again don't worry about it, takes time to get used to it.

very good to hear, i was panicking a lot. but then again im comparing bmw manual transmission to my frs.