(PSA) If you're considering a BRZ I personally don't recommend it

[Grady]

I wonder if he knows that they make a BRZ with an automatic? Boom his problem is solved and he does not have to buy a Civic!

The other death of the manual is with the new technology in the automatics they are acualy faster for 90+ percent of the driving public.

[ermax]

And just like that it’s become an AT>MT debate by someone who doesn’t understand why people prefer a manual.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by runfrodorun

... just grinds uncontrollably like the clutch is dragging but I’m positive it isn’t...

What makes you sure it isn’t? An easy way to tell for sure is to jack the rears off the ground and then put it in 1st while the clutch is pressed to the floor. If the rears are turning then you know you have a problem.

[KFTH86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

We hit minus 20 here and mine has never had a grind either. Maybe you got a Canadian transmission?

Canadian transmissions come with special xTra Cold-rated BRRRRRRz transmission oil, right?


I'm not adding anything that hasn't been said - it sucks you had a bad experience. No production run is without its problem cars, but it seems like your taking your bad one and projecting onto the entire line. Without seeing/hearing your car, it's hard to say if you're being overreactive about the whole situation or not, but either way...

Just trade the dang thing in and get something you'll actually like. You don't *have* to like a twin after owning one. I haven't loved every car I've owned, and there are some models I will hands-down never buy again, out of personal preference.

If you really like the car, besides the transmission problem, then try a newer model. If you're burned out on it, try something different. There's a whole wide world of cars out there, why obsess over just one, specifically because it had the audacity to not work out for you?

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Swabodda

I'd like to know more about this shifting grip.

OK. I sort of gave up trying to explain shifting in print and no doubt this is not news to many but I will give it a shot..

Over the decades I have taught well over 100 people how to drive MT (see Ermax I am doing my part to keep MT alive) and nine out of ten of them wanted to grab their knob with a death grip and wrestle the shift lever around. I blame Hollywood for this technique because most movies show people doing exactly that.

It is wrong for a modern car with a relatively short shift throw.



What happens when you do this is that you now have to have your whole torso, shoulder, elbow, forearm and wrist in exactly the right position to guide the shifter into the proper gate. If any one angle is off throughout that whole chain then then you either lose time in the shift while you adjust or you are forcing the lever into the gate against the resistance of your own body.

What you need to do is to not grip the knob at all but simply push and pull it with an open palm or just the fingers. This allows you to sort of flow the lever into the gate without having to use force since if you are not bang on the knob can just slide across your hand as the lever drops into place. If you are doing it right all you need to move is your wrist and forearm. Your elbow and shoulder should hardly rotate at all.

There are of course variations in hand position and you need to learn what you are most comfortable with but they are all basically like this:

Hand positions are exaggerated for demonstration.

Shifting into 1st, 3rd, and 5th push with the palm of the hand in the general direction of the gate. Do not grip knob.


Shifting into the even gears usually in the up shifts (away from you)


Downshifts to the even gears (pulling toward you)

Last time I posted this somebody added a video of a race driver showing this technique that makes it clearer than my written attempt.

So... Hope this helps anybody that is still grabbing their knob and jerking it around.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ermax

And just like that it’s become an AT>MT debate by someone who doesn’t understand why people prefer a manual.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by KFTH86

Canadian transmissions come with special xTra Cold-rated BRRRRRRz transmission oil, right?


I'm not adding anything that hasn't been said - it sucks you had a bad experience. No production run is without its problem cars, but it seems like your taking your bad one and projecting onto the entire line. Without seeing/hearing your car, it's hard to say if you're being overreactive about the whole situation or not, but either way...

Just trade the dang thing in and get something you'll actually like. You don't *have* to like a twin after owning one. I haven't loved every car I've owned, and there are some models I will hands-down never buy again, out of personal preference.

If you really like the car, besides the transmission problem, then try a newer model. If you're burned out on it, try something different. There's a whole wide world of cars out there, why obsess over just one, specifically because it had the audacity to not work out for you?

Unless you have a Scion the it is a FReezeS oil.

[runfrodorun]

Originally Posted by ermax

What makes you sure it isn’t? An easy way to tell for sure is to jack the rears off the ground and then put it in 1st while the clutch is pressed to the floor. If the rears are turning then you know you have a problem.

I did a bunch of tests, and believe it or not that’s one of them! The other you can do is come to a complete stop, but the e-brake on on a level surface, dfloor the clutch, put it in first. Then take it back out in to neutral. Hang out there for like 30 seconds, then try engaging first again. If you feel the gears crunching to sync, then the secondary moved. If it didn’t, you have absolutely no clutch drag.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

OK. I sort of gave up trying to explain shifting in print and no doubt this is not news to many but I will give it a shot..

I might add, that I have found, that the shifter knows how to get there, it just needs you to show it where you want it to go, then give it a little nudge.


humfrz

[runfrodorun]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That’s a good way of describing shifting. My techcnique is a little different with every car I drive, depending on the length of the throw, position of the gear selector relative to my chest, whether I have to float gears, etc. In the bmw, I typically use the tips of my fingers when engaging the even gears, and I sort of apply the motion with my elbow and a bending of the wrist. When I engage the odd gears, the lever just rides up against the side of my “get out of my way” finger. (Very important for bmw drivers in case the flashers are out of flasher fluid). I would describe the feeling of all of these as springy but connected, that’s the golden feeling.

Some of the cars I’ve driven I will totally close my hand on the lever but my wrist, and arm are loose. I could drive like this in my Honda because it was so tolerant. The brz I confess I can’t even remember how I drive it it’s been so long, but I remember it got some of the lightest treatment, but as soon as you could feel the sync approaching you had to act fast. I tried a bunch of techniques with it, and there was some variation, but it was never really great

[KFTH86]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Unless you have a Scion the it is a FReezeS oil.

See you learn new things here every day.

[highway7]

I've had 5th gear mini grind problems. 142 000 km build date AUG 13



When shifting from 4th to 5th, if it's anything except for a slow deliberate granny shift at low speed (Under 70km/h) it's going to do a mini grind at the very end of the travel. Still goes into gear no problem (yet), doesn't pop out (yet), but grinding has become more and more common. At first it would happen every 100 shifts, no big deal. Now I am surprised if it doesn't grind, not the other way around. I shifted back and forth from 4th to 5th over a 80km/h road around 6-7 times and it all grinded except for one shift. Tranny fluid changed with Motul 300 recently, no help. However, 0 grind when downshifting from 6th to 5th. All other gears don't grind.



Tranny stiffness and gear lockout in cold weather as well


And lol at all these "grip" posts and no mention of the wine glass grip

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by Grady

I wonder if he knows that they make a BRZ with an automatic? Boom his problem is solved and he does not have to buy a Civic!

The other death of the manual is with the new technology in the automatics they are actually faster for 90+ percent of the driving public.

And faster on the track, but not in our cars case.

[strat61caster]