Quote:
Originally Posted by kalamitykode
The problem is that even if I shift at 8-10mph it still feels like it takes ages to get into 2nd. And there's always a jerk, no matter how much I practice. I've tried at different rpm ranges, different speeds, no luck. With my automatic Mazda 3 I was easily able to pull into traffic and go without cutting anyone off.. But in this car I have to make sure I have plenty of time.
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While many will disagree with this, I've been doing 70-80% of my starts in 2nd gear. I've tried a couple manuals over the last few months, most of them with 5-spd gearboxes, and my friend's 4-spd beetle, and most of them can go from 1-20 in 1st gear. It makes me think that 1st gear in this car is way too short and 2nd gear could reasonably function as 1st.
While I understand that you need to slip the clutch longer to start in 2nd, I find it's a neglible difference. You're slipping the clutch to get into 1st, and if you want a reasonably smooth shift to 2nd, you're slipping it again.
Unless I'm on an incline of some sort, I just find it easier to accelerate from a complete stop in 2nd. YMMV