Manual transmission 2nd into 1st

[MrMista]

Hello everyone,

My BRZ is the first manual car I have owned, and honestly have ever driven. My car has a hard time shifting from second into first at any speed greater than around 7mph. This is all with the clutched pushed in of course.

For example. I could be in 3rd gear pulling up to a stop sign. I'll shift into neutral and break to slow down but then want to get it in 1st so I can get moving quickly after coming to a stop. However, it is hard to shift into 1st, until I basically come to a complete stop.

Is this normal? Do all cars behave this way?

[malave7567]

it is usually very difficult to get back into 1st when carrying any speed above 5mph (it will feel like grinding a bit if not rev matching). All my manual cars have been this way.

edit: I usually will still use second at that speed (7-10mph), but feathering the clutch a tiny bit, as dumping into 2nd at that speed will lug the engine.

[FR-S Matt]

Because of our gear ratios, first gear is really hard. Hell, I can do 6th gear at 45 mph on a flat road. That's insane. Hence the reason why the automatic gets better gas mileage than the manual but the manual is faster.

I'm always in second gear unless I hit a complete stop. First gear is almost pointless for how short it is.

[MrMista]

Thanks guys, I figured this was the case. Yea 1st gear is pretty much useless unless at a complete stop.

[stockysnail]

Yes most cars are this way. Don't bother with 1st unless you are only creeping along or at a stop. 1st gear is more of an uphill or get her going a little gear anyway. On a flat surface we can start in 2nd and get going just fine with a little slow on the engagement of the clutch and more gas. Better for the clutch to start in first from a stop however.

[andrew5826]

Double clutch rev matching makes it easier

[KONVERTER]

Don't press the clutch pedal all the way to the floor.

[ZionsWrath]

I just coast in whatever gear I'm in. If I don't have to complete stop double clutch rev match the appropriate gear, which is never first if the car is still moving unless it's super slow stop go traffic at less than 5mph.

I have tried high RPM rev match into first and it is smooth so not sure why its hard to put in first, I know it is when cold but other than that I haven't had much problems. but first gear isn't used that much from non stationary/almost stationary starts.

[ciro]

After I got my trans fluid changed I can now shift into first around 12-15mph if I am slowing down, Maybe I have broke my syncro to work better hahaha.

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by andrew5826

Double clutch rev matching makes it easier

Double clutching is usually the ONLY way to downshift into first while moving at any speed much above walking pace.

The reason is the gearbox spins at road speed all the time and the entire gearset spins at road speed times the ratio selected. The higher the gear you are in before trying to select first the harder it is.

Downshifts require that the gearset to be engaged be accelerated by the applicable synchronizer to the higher internal speeds that desired gear spins at, relatively speaking. Every shift involves the entire gearset and of course first gear spins fastest for any given road speed so the synchro has to accelerate that first gear engagement dog by the biggest delta of any downshift. First gear dog is the biggest dog also, top dog if you wish.