Quick question about manual shifting

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Do I do exactly the same thing every time regardless of the situation? NEVER!!!!!

so basically what I said in my initial post?

Originally Posted by 7thgear

Put it in whatever gear you want at any time

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

so basically what I said in my initial post?

Yep, and what everybody else is saying in one way or another as well really!
Everybody just seems stuck on what they "usually" do but then they also seem to go on with something along the line of "but when I ***".
My whole point was that if you do exactly the same thing no matter what you probably need to revisit your driving habits.
Posts like this that ask "how should I shift" or "new to stick what do I do" always just piss me off anyway as it is so subjective there will never be a RIGHT answer and is not a subject that can be discussed purely in theory anyways! Might just as well be asking "how do I change from a walk to a run" or "have only eaten pudding before how do I chew steak".

[SLVRSRFR]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

downshifting one gear is not the same as going from 5th to 4th to 3rd to 2nd while rolling up to an intersection at city speeds.

this is pretty much what i do every time, unless i'm feeling lazy or it's late.

i'm not trying to show off. i think it's fun and i enjoy the sounds my car makes.

is it necessary? probably not, and i'm well aware of that. i could just stick it in neutral and brake. but it's a lot more fun this way!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

this is pretty much what i do every time, unless i'm feeling lazy or it's late.

i'm not trying to show off. i think it's fun and i enjoy the sounds my car makes.

is it necessary? probably not, and i'm well aware of that. i could just stick it in neutral and brake. but it's a lot more fun this way!

Me too really! But not as a firm rule. Hate the feel of rolling in neutral at anything over a couple of mph as I just don't feel in control so if may car is in motion it is in some gear.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

if i stick my downshift just right (especially 3rd to 2nd), i get a shitload of pops and backfires that make me smile. plus i enjoy the motions of rev-match downshifting through the gears to a stop. it's fun. if you think it's "masturbation" or not necessary, you are entitled to your opinion, ...

I dont recall who it was but I recently had this discussion on this forum.
Anyone who thinks that downshifting through all of the gears is making them stop faster than brakes alone is fooling themselves.

Of course it is fun, and I do it sometimes too, but if one thinks it makes the car stop faster they need to think again

Originally Posted by SLVRSRFR

as for people saying they "downshift" to 1st...what?! 1st is a starting gear only and you should never ever ever put your shifter into 1st if the car is still in motion (okay more than 5km/h anyways).

[dp1]

Brake pads are cheaper than engines

[wbradley]

I think sensible downshifting at appropriate revs/speeds does no harm and causes no excessive wear. When combined with braking it gives me good control to accelerate if need be if traffic starts moving and it slows brake wear. I try to stay in gear until just before stopping most times when stopping and going. Granted this is intolerable in a 2 hour traffic jam but suits me fine for my daily commute. Coasting in neutral delays my ability to accelerate and does nothing to assist braking. I doubt there is an absolute rule regarding this stuff except that the driver must maintain best possible control of his vehicle at all times. My manual cars brakes easily outlast those on my past auto trans cars at least 2 to 1. Incidentally, the clutch on the twins is so light it makes this style of driving quite easy. Both my WRX's have considerably heavier clutches, even the '15.

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by wbradley

I think sensible downshifting at appropriate revs/speeds does no harm and causes no excessive wear.

My old car's Borg Warner DSG automatic program has this same exact shift pattern (rev matches every downshifts and it doesn't skip a gear unless you hit the kickdown) and the clutch packs are rated for 300,000km of service life.

Having said all that and wbradley didn't even need to resort to mentioning how many years he has been behind the wheel.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by dp1

Brake pads are cheaper than engines

GEEEEZ must be rough to have an auto that downshifts all the time. Those guys must go through engines like mad!

Nope not gonna save brakes but unless you really screw up not gonna blow up your engine either.

I think wbradley summed it up nicely.

Was a Mobile Support Equipment Operator in the Army many, MANY years ago and almost took a beating from my instructor for coasting to a stop with clutch pushed in one time. Been in the habit of keeping it in gear ever since. Coasting around with clutch in (or even worse in neutral) turns your car into a big soap box racer with little to no control if you need it.

OH WHY AM I LETTING MYSELF GET SUCKED INTO A DEBATE THAT CAN HAVE NO "WINNER"???????????

[stugray]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

OH WHY AM I LETTING MYSELF GET SUCKED INTO A DEBATE THAT CAN HAVE NO "WINNER"???????????

Same reason we sometimes downshift through all gears....

[s2d4]

If you are special like suberman, you always win.
Well, in your head anyways. Otherwise us mere mortals win some, lose some and learn something new in the process.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

GEEEEZ must be rough to have an auto that downshifts all the time. Those guys must go through engines like mad!

well, for one thing an automatic gearboxes are mechanically different from manual ones...


kind of falls under that thing where people say "you should aim to shift as smooth as an auto"... when the process is inherently different....




today we all lose at internets

[drewbot]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

kind of falls under that thing where people say "you should aim to shift as smooth as an auto"... when the process is inherently different....

funny thing is that the A/T shifts up incredibly hard above <4000 RPM for a non-DCT

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by drewbot

funny thing is that the A/T shifts up incredibly hard above <4000 RPM for a non-DCT

yeah mang!


drove shotgun in a friend's auto M3 around mosport (ddt) one time, that thing shifts with a kick!