Quote:
Originally Posted by ap5512
A downshifting questions for the experts:
I've had a S2000 before this and now the BRZ. I usually rev match pretty good when downshifting sequentially (6-5-4 etc...). The question I have is about downshifting non-sequentially. When I first learned how to drive a standard from my cousin he said "you don't want to downshift from 6 to 3 or skip gears.." or something along those lines. Now is that true for all the standard tranny cars these days? Can you shift from 6th gear to say 4th depending on what situation you're in (slowing traffic, approaching red light that turns green..etc).? I know rev matching is important but wanted to understand if this will damage/reduce life on the syncros or anything else. I've had plenty of situations where I am approaching a red light and I am doing 65mph in 6th gear...put it in neutral and brake to slow down but the light turns green and I look down to see that I am down to 35mph...what should be done in an instance such as that?
Thanks in advance.
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Do you want to take off from the light or ease away? If I'm in a hurry I'd drop it into 3rd, if I want to easy away I'd go for 4th and shift into 5 shortly after. Normally when teaching someone new you tell them not to skip gears so they can learn what gear they should be in for a given speed, but you can skip gears to your heart's content as long as you pay attention to what you are doing.
As far as picking gears, the easy way to look at it is take your speed, your example was 35, and just use the first digit if you want to be in the base of your powerband and go up one gear if you are just casually driving around. So for 35mph you would look at it as 3, if you want to be quick you go for 3rd, if you want a relaxed shift go for 4th. Now this is just a generic rule to help someone learning, once you are really confortable with your car you will just know what gear to be in.
I hope that helps.