Manual driving method

[NOHOME]

Beg to differ on the double clutch method not being of any use. I find that it is one way to get past the 2nd gear "Klunk".

Of all the things that were done right on this car, the 2nd gear synchro was not one of them. I forecast that the synchro goes away completely sometime shortly after the warranty.

[einzlr]

Originally Posted by encity5

I think he's asking how to not take so long, and we aren't always racing so there are times you'd want to shift in lower rpms, the economy shift light comes on at around 2k anyway when in 4th

I've been teaching a friend to drive stick so I've become aware of the learning process lately. Upshifting quickly and smoothly is a matter of finding and maintaining the sweet spot as you roll back on the gas and off the clutch. Start by giving it more gas (ergo more rpms) than you need and coming off the clutch slowly so the car doesn't get away from you, then each time you do the 4-5 shift go easier on the revs and quicker with the clutch until you've honed it to perfection. There's no particular trick to it, it's really a matter of being tuned in to the car and that just takes practice.

[raul]

Originally Posted by NOHOME

Beg to differ on the double clutch method not being of any use. I find that it is one way to get past the 2nd gear "Klunk".

Of all the things that were done right on this car, the 2nd gear synchro was not one of them. I forecast that the synchro goes away completely sometime shortly after the warranty.

This is my least favorite shift. Doing so smoothly is possible, but it's too slow.

[jmaryt]

Originally Posted by frosty86

Let's have a correct driving method thread. I'm starting this thread for educational reference so please leave the elitist attitude out the door (unless you're the real michael schumacher).

Question Examples:

• Shifting point for comfort/performance driving
• What gear to be in for what speed
• RPM band:MPH
• Different methods to downshift/upshift
• What to do when losing control

I guess i'll start.

What I would want to learn is how to downshift smoothly and properly. I've heard of...

• heel-to-toe (which I can't do yet because my foot doesn't bend that way..yet)
• double clutching (confirmed to be useless for cars with synchro)

Since lots of highway exits in Hawaii are so short/close/narrow and I can't do the two listed above in that short amount of time... I use my own improvised method, which is shifting down into gear, tapping the gas (rev-match) while clutch is fully pressed and then gently releasing the clutch (this cant be good in the long run can it?). My main issue is doing this on the highway where I need to rapidly go down from 5th > 4th > 3rd on the exit(s). Low speed city driving isn't much of an issue. Do you know any other way till I master either heel-to-toe or double clutching? I'd hate to damage my car.

edit: thanks for the answers guys, I got better understanding of it now.

double clutching is unnecessary,however, i do it as a matter of habit from my
truck driving days when "helical" gears,instead of "conical gears" were in vogue!
double clutching WILL wear out the "throw-out" bearing faster over time,but it's a tough habit for me to break!
just sayin'

Originally Posted by Vladror

you're either taking too long to shift or shifting up too early. Remember this is a car that likes to rev, not one where you shift up at 2000 RPM

doesn't matter "two shits" about the revs as long as you are NOT lugging the engine in ANY gear! try NOT to "pop" the clutch! smooth engagement is the key!

[Nitesh31]

What gear/ rpm do most people cruise in at 30 mph? Following the shift indicator I'm in fifth around 2000 or if I got a bit faster sixth below 2000. I don't feel the engine lugging but everyone posting that they drive around at 4000 rpm makes me wonder

[whaap]

Originally Posted by Nitesh31

What gear/ rpm do most people cruise in at 30 mph? Following the shift indicator I'm in fifth around 2000 or if I got a bit faster sixth below 2000. I don't feel the engine lugging but everyone posting that they drive around at 4000 rpm makes me wonder

At 30-40 mph I'll be in 4th gear. As a rule when I'm going relatively slow and not in a hurry I try to keep the rpm's above 25-2700.

[thejevans]

Originally Posted by Realm

"AT driver"? Automatic Transmission? I've never owned one before... are you saying you're supposed to downshift in a manual transmission to decelerate? If so, I guess I have been driving wrong for the past 19 years I always thought it would ease unecessary strain on the gears. Same as how I always engage the clutch even to take the vehicle out of gear... I dunno

Downshifting, if done correctly, puts no extra strain on the transmission. When you rev match, the crank will be moving slightly faster than the flywheel. When you release the clutch at this time, the transmission is under normal operating stress levels. There is no danger when downshifting in this way.

The danger comes in when people downshift without rev matching either out of laziness or trying to get as much engine braking as possible per downshift. this puts instantaneous excessive stress on the transmission by putting all the pressure of increasing the crank speed on the gears. this also changes which part of the gears are in contact. Think of it as running at someone full speed and having them slap you in the face as hard as they can as you run by. That's a lot of combined force. Conversely, rev matching is equivalent to them running to catch up to you, and gently putting their hand in front of your face . Also, when people downshift incorrectly, they usually attempt to ease into it by slowly releasing the clutch. This also puts an excessive amount of wear on the clutch as well.

[ks22732]

maybe the whole break in period thing has me scared. I don't want to hurt my car, so I'm driving like a little old man I guess. I set the light at 4k as per advice in the owners manual and on this forum, and generally shift gears between 2k and 3k. about 40 mph I just shift from 4th to 6th and call it good.

[whaap]

Originally Posted by ks22732

maybe the whole break in period thing has me scared. I don't want to hurt my car, so I'm driving like a little old man I guess. I set the light at 4k as per advice in the owners manual and on this forum, and generally shift gears between 2k and 3k. about 40 mph I just shift from 4th to 6th and call it good.

Though I've never tried it I would guess 6th gear at 40 mph is putting a considerable amount of strain on your engine (lugging). I won't go into 6th till atleast 50 mph.

[Vladror]

after reading some comments here i tried today to drive in 6th at 40mph and to be honest, i imagine that is what it feels like suffocating a new born baby with a pillow.
The car and engine feel completely dead, it's just wrong people....

[2point0]

If you have big feet, don't even try "heel-toe." Use the inside of your foot for the corner of the brake pedal and rotate your foot so the outside edge can blip the gas up to the right RPM/sound/whatever. I don't even think about it anymore, I'd have to TRY to downshift any other way. Whoever said don't ever try this on the street, calm down. Maybe practice somewhere nice and quiet, but it's very useful and can be made to be second nature.

I agree that the 4>5 upshift is a drag. It feels like 5th is two gates over from where it should be...the 1-4 gears are all so nice and tightly packed together.

Originally Posted by Realm

... are you saying you're supposed to downshift in a manual transmission to decelerate? If so, I guess I have been driving wrong for the past 19 years I always thought it would ease unecessary strain on the gears. Same as how I always engage the clutch even to take the vehicle out of gear... I dunno

What he meant was that when braking while the clutch pedal is depressed, you can cycle down through the gears (no strain on anything) so that if you HAD to get back on the gas in a hurry (and let off the clutch), you will be in an appropriate place in the powerband to get out of the way.

[dori.]

yeah you really ahve to be in 4th or 5th for 40 MPH. My CRZ had no problem doing it though.

IMO after you condition yourself to shift smoothly, I would jsut work on rev matching downshifts.

[thejevans]

Originally Posted by 2point0

If you have big feet, don't even try "heel-toe." Use the inside of your foot for the corner of the brake pedal and rotate your foot so the outside edge can blip the gas up to the right RPM/sound/whatever. I don't even think about it anymore, I'd have to TRY to downshift any other way.

Yeah. I have bunions and this is the only good thing that came out of the deformity lol. My feet are the perfect shape to make this easy as hell.

[Norkoastal]

Ok, so after shifting through a few cold mornings, canyon runs, and stop n goes, i've learned this car has unique shifting/throttle traits..

Morning shifts - Clunky and hard to keep smooth for at least a couple miles.. Slipping or long pauses seem like the only way to avoid jerky 1-2 shifts..

Warm n happy - Smooth shifts are easy to fly through.... I tend to not overshift up (6th at 35-40 yikes!). Downshift only when needed (freeway speed to offramp). Traffic lights coast to N or to 2nd if I know lights going to change.

AC On - Yikes.. Off the line the throttle seems off and requires decent throttle increase to match AC off movement.. Once off the line, higher RPM's are needed to avoid bog 1-2-3... I'm sure this is common, but you would think the computer would adust to not make the driver feel the drag of the AC compressor so much.