New Stick Driver, looking for advice.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

Is it bad to go from 5th gear, slow down to approach a freeway entrance, then switch to 3rd gear without going to 4th?

Or should I go to 4th from 5th then to 3rd a few seconds later?

Do I have to press on the gas when downshifting from 5th to 4th to 3rd or can I just shift to all those without hitting the gas pedal?

Pretty sure not hitting the gas pedal is really bad, you'd be using the clutch to speed your engine up. Hard to get the rpm right though

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Pretty sure not hitting the gas pedal is really bad, you'd be using the clutch to speed your engine up. Hard to get the rpm right though

i dont think its really bad but its probably not too good either. its something i would avoid. modern cars with all their synchros do wonders

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

Is it bad to go from 5th gear, slow down to approach a freeway entrance, then switch to 3rd gear without going to 4th?

Or should I go to 4th from 5th then to 3rd a few seconds later?

Do I have to press on the gas when downshifting from 5th to 4th to 3rd or can I just shift to all those without hitting the gas pedal?

Heel toe, that is the answer

[ill86]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

Is it bad to go from 5th gear, slow down to approach a freeway entrance, then switch to 3rd gear without going to 4th?

Or should I go to 4th from 5th then to 3rd a few seconds later?

Do I have to press on the gas when downshifting from 5th to 4th to 3rd or can I just shift to all those without hitting the gas pedal?

Yes, you can go from 5 to 3.

No, you should practice rev matching. Synchros or no synchros, i wouldn't recommend "just shifting without hitting the gas pedal".

[ill86]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

Heel toe, that is the answer

Fatoni, go ahead lol... I'm not touching this one...

Please just describe rev matching and h/t as two different things.. :happy0180:

[ill86]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Hard to get the rpm right though

Practice makes perfect... It's something anyone can easily master.

[pinoyplaya]

Originally Posted by ill86

Yes, you can go from 5 to 3.

No, you should practice rev matching. Synchros or no synchros, i wouldn't recommend "just shifting without hitting the gas pedal".

Rev matching is when you rev the engine after downshifting before releasing the clutch at the lower gear right?

Cuz I know before when I was going too fast, down shift and BOOM! the car just rocks back and forth. Maybe cuz I didnt match the revs.


But I mean in general.

Say I was cruishing at 2k RPM in 5th gear. Then decide that I want to accelerate, can I go back to 3rd gear then accelerate, then to 4th then 5th gear when I get to my desired speed?

Or should I drop down to 4th first, accelerate then drop to 3rd to accelerate even more? That just doesnt make any sense.

[Sythellri]

Man, I was practicing in CCSF's parking lot. BIG EMPTY AREA but there is a police station like three blocks from it haha, they came instantly and pulled me over. I told them that I was trying to learn how to drive stick and the officer just laughed while telling me to leave because it was private property >.>

I've been practicing down near the beach in the sunset district. The great highway is a good long stretch to sorta "chill" after trying all those flats/stop signs and stuff.

For clarification, everyone tells me to get the car moving using ONLY the clutch...How?

Here's what I've been doing from full stop:

1. Push in clutch all the way and shift to 1st.

2. Slowly let off clutch until about 1-2cm before the friction point.

3. Tiny bit of gas.

4. Slow release of clutch balanced with slow pressure on gas.

How do I get faster at this if it is the right technique?

My friends aren't very helpful...
"Alex, it is best if you watch me drive and just learn from that."

*ten minutes later while going around lake merced at 80 mph*

"WOWWWW, THIS THING IS PLANTED! NO BODY ROLL! HOLY CRAP! DUDE THIS SHIT GRIPS!!!!"

....yeah hahahah

[Chauntalei]

Originally Posted by Sythellri

For clarification, everyone tells me to get the car moving using ONLY the clutch...How?

Push in the clutch, shift into 1st. Then, without giving it any gas, very slowly let the clutch out until you feel it start to grab. Right around that point, the car will actually start to move forward even though you aren't giving it gas. That helps you learn exactly where the engagement point is on the clutch.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by pinoyplaya

Rev matching is when you rev the engine after downshifting before releasing the clutch at the lower gear right?

Cuz I know before when I was going too fast, down shift and BOOM! the car just rocks back and forth. Maybe cuz I didnt match the revs.


But I mean in general.

Say I was cruishing at 2k RPM in 5th gear. Then decide that I want to accelerate, can I go back to 3rd gear then accelerate, then to 4th then 5th gear when I get to my desired speed?

Or should I drop down to 4th first, accelerate then drop to 3rd to accelerate even more? That just doesnt make any sense.

Rev matching is carefully matching engine speed while up or downshifting. It should be done smoothly and practiced until you are perfect.

Yes you can go to 3rd from 5th as you described.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by ill86

Fatoni, go ahead lol... I'm not touching this one...

Please just describe rev matching and h/t as two different things.. :happy0180:

Actually they both tie into eachother, being able to heal toe will teach you the gear ratio differences between gears at any given speed, an exhaust will also help you listen to the car better, with in a year you should be able to tell what gear you are in and how fast you are going based off engine speed and chassis movement alone

[cgrey]

Originally Posted by Sythellri

Man, I was practicing in CCSF's parking lot. BIG EMPTY AREA but there is a police station like three blocks from it haha, they came instantly and pulled me over. I told them that I was trying to learn how to drive stick and the officer just laughed while telling me to leave because it was private property >.>

I've been practicing down near the beach in the sunset district. The great highway is a good long stretch to sorta "chill" after trying all those flats/stop signs and stuff.

For clarification, everyone tells me to get the car moving using ONLY the clutch...How?

Here's what I've been doing from full stop:

1. Push in clutch all the way and shift to 1st.

2. Slowly let off clutch until about 1-2cm before the friction point.

3. Tiny bit of gas.

4. Slow release of clutch balanced with slow pressure on gas.

How do I get faster at this if it is the right technique?

My friends aren't very helpful...
"Alex, it is best if you watch me drive and just learn from that."

*ten minutes later while going around lake merced at 80 mph*

"WOWWWW, THIS THING IS PLANTED! NO BODY ROLL! HOLY CRAP! DUDE THIS SHIT GRIPS!!!!"

....yeah hahahah

You get faster by practising.

The smoother you are the faster it will be. Feel rushed and you'll begin to screw up, like anything else. Try to be smooth.

For a normal start you'll let the clutch out until you feel it engage and then add the right amount of gas for the speed you desire. For the most part you will select a fixed amount of gas pedal, modulate with the clutch until it's fully engaged, and then use the gas pedal to drive as normal.

You will need to develop the proper muscle memory for the task, after a while you won't be thinking about what to do.

[ill86]

Originally Posted by carbonBLUE

Actually they both tie into eachother, being able to heal toe will teach you the gear ratio differences between gears at any given speed, an exhaust will also help you listen to the car better, with in a year you should be able to tell what gear you are in and how fast you are going based off engine speed and chassis movement alone

I know, kind sir - as this is my profession.. It was an inside joke referring to another thread here.. not directed at you.
:happy0180:

[ill86]

Originally Posted by cgrey

You get faster by practising.

The smoother you are the faster it will be. Feel rushed and you'll begin to screw up, like anything else. Try to be smooth.

You will need to develop the proper muscle memory for the task, after a while you won't be thinking about what to do.

Very well said.