How to correctly drive an MT
08-09-2007, 06:25 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How to correctly drive an MT
From http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169286
<----chilibowl
On many forums I browse thru, (as im an enthusiast of all types of cars), there is such a misconception on how to drive a MT. All these talks of double-clutching, and how to correctly downshift, and riding the clutch a bit too much on take-off. Although the G's arent the easiest cars to drive in the planet, its not rocket science. We have high-engagement point clutches, but as with anything, you simply adapt to it. If you cant adapt, then you simply dont belong driving an MT.
For first, "double-clutching" is NOT NECESSARY AT ALL. These are synchronized transmissions, and whoever is doing this is honestly wasting their time. Double-clutching, to those who dont know, is the act of using the clutch twice in order to make a gear shift. So lets say your in 2nd gear, wanting to shift into third. You would clutch in, put the shifter in neutral, clutch out, match revs up, then re-clutch in, and then put it in 3rd, then re-clutch out. This is simply f*cking stupid. Whoever is doing this, is seriously wasting their time because this doesnt "save" your transmission from abuse nor will it make it last longer. This was done on cars WAYYYYY back in the day who did not have synchronized transmissions.
Take a peak at this video...Listen for the downshifts as he comes back to the camera...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N18RmcuyV38
Do you hear his downshifts? You can CLEARLY HEAR, this incorrect downshift, and I addressed it with one of my boys that he is simply downshifting incorrectly. What you hear in this video, is this person simply putting the shifter into a lower gear and letting out the clutch very slowly, allowing the clutch to fry in order to catch up with the drivetrain. Although the slower you let your clutch the more you fry it, you will not feel such a sudden jerk/pull on the car, but it is still very bad for your clutch. Whoever this is, in this video, I feel sorry for your clutch at about 40-60K miles. When you do this, you are simply forcing your clutch and flywheel to match up with the RPM's in the previous gear.
The correct way to downshift, is to rev-match. Lets say youre in 5th gear, at about 3K rpms on the highway, and you need some more passing power. 4th would be nice...so in order to downshift CORRECTLY, the process goes as this...
1) 5th gear, 3K rpm...you want 4th...
2) You clutch-in, and AS YOUR MOVING THE SHIFTER INTO 4TH, you blip the throttle, matching the revs as to what they would be in 4th gear, approximately 4.5K rpm. Let the clutch-out. This must be done in one step. Not 2, not 3. One step. If done correctly, you should feel NOTHING, no tugging/pulling of the car, but simply a louder motor because of the higher revs. Granted, once you start practicing, you may miss it, by over-revving, or under-revving. If you over-rev, the car will lurch forward. If you under-rev, you will feel a tug. If you under-rev, thats when you can use the clutch slightly to smooth out the transition, but you should NEVER "use" the clutch 100% to do your downshift for you. As I said before, you are simply frying your clutch.
<----chilibowl
On many forums I browse thru, (as im an enthusiast of all types of cars), there is such a misconception on how to drive a MT. All these talks of double-clutching, and how to correctly downshift, and riding the clutch a bit too much on take-off. Although the G's arent the easiest cars to drive in the planet, its not rocket science. We have high-engagement point clutches, but as with anything, you simply adapt to it. If you cant adapt, then you simply dont belong driving an MT.
For first, "double-clutching" is NOT NECESSARY AT ALL. These are synchronized transmissions, and whoever is doing this is honestly wasting their time. Double-clutching, to those who dont know, is the act of using the clutch twice in order to make a gear shift. So lets say your in 2nd gear, wanting to shift into third. You would clutch in, put the shifter in neutral, clutch out, match revs up, then re-clutch in, and then put it in 3rd, then re-clutch out. This is simply f*cking stupid. Whoever is doing this, is seriously wasting their time because this doesnt "save" your transmission from abuse nor will it make it last longer. This was done on cars WAYYYYY back in the day who did not have synchronized transmissions.
Take a peak at this video...Listen for the downshifts as he comes back to the camera...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N18RmcuyV38
Do you hear his downshifts? You can CLEARLY HEAR, this incorrect downshift, and I addressed it with one of my boys that he is simply downshifting incorrectly. What you hear in this video, is this person simply putting the shifter into a lower gear and letting out the clutch very slowly, allowing the clutch to fry in order to catch up with the drivetrain. Although the slower you let your clutch the more you fry it, you will not feel such a sudden jerk/pull on the car, but it is still very bad for your clutch. Whoever this is, in this video, I feel sorry for your clutch at about 40-60K miles. When you do this, you are simply forcing your clutch and flywheel to match up with the RPM's in the previous gear.
The correct way to downshift, is to rev-match. Lets say youre in 5th gear, at about 3K rpms on the highway, and you need some more passing power. 4th would be nice...so in order to downshift CORRECTLY, the process goes as this...
1) 5th gear, 3K rpm...you want 4th...
2) You clutch-in, and AS YOUR MOVING THE SHIFTER INTO 4TH, you blip the throttle, matching the revs as to what they would be in 4th gear, approximately 4.5K rpm. Let the clutch-out. This must be done in one step. Not 2, not 3. One step. If done correctly, you should feel NOTHING, no tugging/pulling of the car, but simply a louder motor because of the higher revs. Granted, once you start practicing, you may miss it, by over-revving, or under-revving. If you over-rev, the car will lurch forward. If you under-rev, you will feel a tug. If you under-rev, thats when you can use the clutch slightly to smooth out the transition, but you should NEVER "use" the clutch 100% to do your downshift for you. As I said before, you are simply frying your clutch.
Last edited by 06Gcoupin; 08-09-2007 at 06:29 PM.
08-09-2007, 06:26 PM
#2
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Continued...
Heel-toe'ing is a different subject and it is honestly not needed in daily driving. Track use, yes, very efficient technique to have the best braking and best acceleration around corners, but for daily driving, it really isnt necessary at all.
Over-revving on a takeoff is also bad on your clutch. From a 1st gear takeoff from a light, you should NOT be higher than 2K rpm's while the clutch is halfway. If you are revving past 2K rpms on a take off , you are burning up your clutch. Too much over-revving and you decrease the life of your clutch. Once in a while, its fine, no disaster, just dont make it a habit. The sweetspot for a take-off is 1.5K rpms.
While sitting at a light, never have the clutch-in waiting until the light turns green. This is stupid and the only thing youre doing is tiring your left leg and eating up your throw-out bearing. If your sitting at a light, you simply leave it in neutral, and unless ur on a hill, you shouldnt have to have your feet on any pedal. Once you see that the adjacent light is turning yellow (your turn next), you clutch-in, 1st gear, and you take off. Simple.
Also, this is a manual transmission people, do not be afraid to play with your revs. If your in 5th, and want to downshift into 3rd, and you barely tap the throttle and YOU KNOW you didnt tap it enough for a smooth 3rd gear downshift, simply leave the clutch pushed in and play with your gas pedal, until you blip it to the perfect rpm, then let the clutch out smoothly. It is not a crime to play with your revs, do it all you want. Good lucky and happy shifting....
Also, 1st gear is ONLY for takeoffs. If youre rolling at 10mph, or even 5mph, you should be in 2nd. It is also physically impossible, unless you wanna trash your transmission, to downshift into 1st. If youre going 15mph in 2nd, the car will physically not allow you to enter 1st, the gate will be closed, and unless you force it (causing damage), you will not go in 1st. The gate for 1st is only open around 2-3mph. If youre rolling to a stop sign in 2nd, and you can clearly see no1 is coming from anywhere, stay in 2nd and equalize the gas and clutch just as you would 1st gear. If youre equalizing from 2nd tho, you must apply a bit more gas so it doesnt lug the engine.
Also, the only possible way to burn your clutch is if its halfway. If you have the clutch pressed in, the transmission and engine are fully disengaged. If you have the clutch out, the transmission and engine are in full sync. Dont be afraid to use your clutch on gear shifts, thats what its there for , to use. Sometimes, you do have to simply ride the clutch, just try not to do so for so long. Our clutches, although noisy, are very stout. They are not made of paper, but they are not made of cement either (although they sound like a cement mixer lol).
Heel-toe'ing is a different subject and it is honestly not needed in daily driving. Track use, yes, very efficient technique to have the best braking and best acceleration around corners, but for daily driving, it really isnt necessary at all.
Over-revving on a takeoff is also bad on your clutch. From a 1st gear takeoff from a light, you should NOT be higher than 2K rpm's while the clutch is halfway. If you are revving past 2K rpms on a take off , you are burning up your clutch. Too much over-revving and you decrease the life of your clutch. Once in a while, its fine, no disaster, just dont make it a habit. The sweetspot for a take-off is 1.5K rpms.
While sitting at a light, never have the clutch-in waiting until the light turns green. This is stupid and the only thing youre doing is tiring your left leg and eating up your throw-out bearing. If your sitting at a light, you simply leave it in neutral, and unless ur on a hill, you shouldnt have to have your feet on any pedal. Once you see that the adjacent light is turning yellow (your turn next), you clutch-in, 1st gear, and you take off. Simple.
Also, this is a manual transmission people, do not be afraid to play with your revs. If your in 5th, and want to downshift into 3rd, and you barely tap the throttle and YOU KNOW you didnt tap it enough for a smooth 3rd gear downshift, simply leave the clutch pushed in and play with your gas pedal, until you blip it to the perfect rpm, then let the clutch out smoothly. It is not a crime to play with your revs, do it all you want. Good lucky and happy shifting....
Also, 1st gear is ONLY for takeoffs. If youre rolling at 10mph, or even 5mph, you should be in 2nd. It is also physically impossible, unless you wanna trash your transmission, to downshift into 1st. If youre going 15mph in 2nd, the car will physically not allow you to enter 1st, the gate will be closed, and unless you force it (causing damage), you will not go in 1st. The gate for 1st is only open around 2-3mph. If youre rolling to a stop sign in 2nd, and you can clearly see no1 is coming from anywhere, stay in 2nd and equalize the gas and clutch just as you would 1st gear. If youre equalizing from 2nd tho, you must apply a bit more gas so it doesnt lug the engine.
Also, the only possible way to burn your clutch is if its halfway. If you have the clutch pressed in, the transmission and engine are fully disengaged. If you have the clutch out, the transmission and engine are in full sync. Dont be afraid to use your clutch on gear shifts, thats what its there for , to use. Sometimes, you do have to simply ride the clutch, just try not to do so for so long. Our clutches, although noisy, are very stout. They are not made of paper, but they are not made of cement either (although they sound like a cement mixer lol).
08-09-2007, 06:26 PM
#3
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Continued...
You should always let up the clutch slowly and smoothly. Not so slow that ur halfway for more than 2 seconds, but nice and fluidly. Our flywheels are a bit heavy on these cars and on the 1-2 shift, the revs take very long to fall back down, so for the 1-2 shift, you have to bring it up slower than normally as other gears. If you shift or let the clutch up too fast, the car will lurch forward, basically meaning the revs were still too high for that gear. If you take TOO long to shift, the car will tug at you, meaning you under-revved and the clutch had to sync itself up with the motor. To be able to shift smoothly, you must find the sweet spot between those two.
For final, if you've never driven a MT in your life before and are hopping into a new G 6MT, I HIGHLY suggest you practice your smoothness first. Dont ever try to be a speed shifter if you dont have smoothness down 100%. Once your eyes, hand, and feet are fully coordinated and comfortable with shifting smoothly, only THEN do you move onto shifting with speed. If youre driving aggressively, I suggest you turn VDC off, it hinders you from chirping 2nd and/or 3rd as it will cut power once it senses the wheels slip.
Also, a good tip I can give to those newer drivers, is to learn how to smoothly shift, with just clutch action. If you can learn how to shift smoothly with barely any throttle input, you will achieve faster shifting skills, quicker. The thing with this transmission though, if there is no throttle input, it can get clanky and loud. To those just learning, go out in your cars and try it(empty parking lot of course). Take off in 1st, shift into 2nd, but when you shift, dont equalize with the gas, just simply let the clutch up nice and smoothly. If you do it correctly, it should be a smooth transition, but the clutch will be clanky. Now if you do the same, but with 25% throttle, you will notice the shafts match up perfectly, and there will be no clutch music.
For downshifts, its all about timing. Do not try and memorize all the different RPM levels to all the gears at all the speeds. Thats dumb. You must learn by timing. While youre cruising at on highway like roads, play around and learn, its the only way you CAN learn. If youre cruising in 4th at 45, practice rev-matching into 3rd, then back into 4th, then back into 3rd, and so on...Do it with all the gears. Once you practice with all gears, going from 5th to 3rd, from 6th to 4th, it will be like tying your shoes man... Also, dont skip more than 2 gears.
Also, to popular belief, they say its "bad" to skip gears on upshift.... Says who? If properly matched, you can go from 1st to 4th if you really feel like it.
For instance, you launch off in 1st, redlining the gear...that puts you at 36MPH. If lets say you see the popo and dont want to chirp the gear, simply put it in 4th, but leave the clutch pushed in, until the revs fall from 7100 (I have an 06) to about 2K. Once the needle is about to reach the 2K, you let the clutch out smoothly. If you match it up perfectly, it will be a smooth shift. Now on the other hand, if you WERE to redline 1st gear all the way at 7100rpms, and then dumped it into 4th and let the clutch out while the revs were spiked high, you can honestly hear your own clutch just crying for help.
If youre trying to slip into a parking spot, just smooth on the clutch and throttle and pull in. Reverse is actually easier than 1st gear, if you ask me. You also gotta learn how to "catch" the car if its about to stall. If you are about to stall, or the car is jerking very harshly upon take-off or anything, simply press the clutch in. There are sometimes when I do lug the car myself...simply press the clutch in and try again. If you practice my tips all day for an entire day, you will become good quick, but to master it, it will take you many months...
The point is to be able to drive smoothly not just for you, but for your passengers as well. You dont know how many times Ive been in a car with a person who's driving and is so horrible at it that all you do is jerk back and forth at every gear shift, going from like 4th to 2nd on an un-revmatched downshift. Yes, clutches can be replaced, but why do so? When a car is driven properly, the clutch should last the life of the car... (Drag and Track use excluded)
You should always let up the clutch slowly and smoothly. Not so slow that ur halfway for more than 2 seconds, but nice and fluidly. Our flywheels are a bit heavy on these cars and on the 1-2 shift, the revs take very long to fall back down, so for the 1-2 shift, you have to bring it up slower than normally as other gears. If you shift or let the clutch up too fast, the car will lurch forward, basically meaning the revs were still too high for that gear. If you take TOO long to shift, the car will tug at you, meaning you under-revved and the clutch had to sync itself up with the motor. To be able to shift smoothly, you must find the sweet spot between those two.
For final, if you've never driven a MT in your life before and are hopping into a new G 6MT, I HIGHLY suggest you practice your smoothness first. Dont ever try to be a speed shifter if you dont have smoothness down 100%. Once your eyes, hand, and feet are fully coordinated and comfortable with shifting smoothly, only THEN do you move onto shifting with speed. If youre driving aggressively, I suggest you turn VDC off, it hinders you from chirping 2nd and/or 3rd as it will cut power once it senses the wheels slip.
Also, a good tip I can give to those newer drivers, is to learn how to smoothly shift, with just clutch action. If you can learn how to shift smoothly with barely any throttle input, you will achieve faster shifting skills, quicker. The thing with this transmission though, if there is no throttle input, it can get clanky and loud. To those just learning, go out in your cars and try it(empty parking lot of course). Take off in 1st, shift into 2nd, but when you shift, dont equalize with the gas, just simply let the clutch up nice and smoothly. If you do it correctly, it should be a smooth transition, but the clutch will be clanky. Now if you do the same, but with 25% throttle, you will notice the shafts match up perfectly, and there will be no clutch music.
For downshifts, its all about timing. Do not try and memorize all the different RPM levels to all the gears at all the speeds. Thats dumb. You must learn by timing. While youre cruising at on highway like roads, play around and learn, its the only way you CAN learn. If youre cruising in 4th at 45, practice rev-matching into 3rd, then back into 4th, then back into 3rd, and so on...Do it with all the gears. Once you practice with all gears, going from 5th to 3rd, from 6th to 4th, it will be like tying your shoes man... Also, dont skip more than 2 gears.
Also, to popular belief, they say its "bad" to skip gears on upshift.... Says who? If properly matched, you can go from 1st to 4th if you really feel like it.
For instance, you launch off in 1st, redlining the gear...that puts you at 36MPH. If lets say you see the popo and dont want to chirp the gear, simply put it in 4th, but leave the clutch pushed in, until the revs fall from 7100 (I have an 06) to about 2K. Once the needle is about to reach the 2K, you let the clutch out smoothly. If you match it up perfectly, it will be a smooth shift. Now on the other hand, if you WERE to redline 1st gear all the way at 7100rpms, and then dumped it into 4th and let the clutch out while the revs were spiked high, you can honestly hear your own clutch just crying for help.
If youre trying to slip into a parking spot, just smooth on the clutch and throttle and pull in. Reverse is actually easier than 1st gear, if you ask me. You also gotta learn how to "catch" the car if its about to stall. If you are about to stall, or the car is jerking very harshly upon take-off or anything, simply press the clutch in. There are sometimes when I do lug the car myself...simply press the clutch in and try again. If you practice my tips all day for an entire day, you will become good quick, but to master it, it will take you many months...
The point is to be able to drive smoothly not just for you, but for your passengers as well. You dont know how many times Ive been in a car with a person who's driving and is so horrible at it that all you do is jerk back and forth at every gear shift, going from like 4th to 2nd on an un-revmatched downshift. Yes, clutches can be replaced, but why do so? When a car is driven properly, the clutch should last the life of the car... (Drag and Track use excluded)
08-09-2007, 06:27 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Powershifting takes lots of practice, and since powershifting consisting of not lifting off the gas pedal, you must be VERY quick. When powershifting, as soon as you push in the clutch, the revs will spike all the way to redline/fuel cutoff, and if youre not quick enough, you will be simply at fuel cut for about a second and you will actually lose time. Also, when slowing down to come to a light, I downshift and 3rd is as low as I go. Cruise to the light in 3rd and just brake the last few feet while putting it in neutral once u come to a full stop. You should also always be in gear. If youre going down hill, stay in very low gear, such as 2nd or 3rd, and the engine will hold itself from gaining too much speed. Downhill braking eats up brakes, ur better off just using the engine to brake.
Although I slip up myself sometimes with this on slow moving city and residential streets... When taking a turn, always be in gear, 2nd preferably. Don't clutch and gear in midway thru the turn, its not good practice. Brake before the turn, Rev-match into 2nd and take the corner. This way, you will be in gear immediately, ready to punch it if need be.
For race launches, I have found my sweet spot to be at 2.5K RPMs. I have the clutch in, raise the RPMs to 2.5K, and then dump the clutch, but I dont dump it the whole way, I feather it at the top while I ease up on the gas until I have minimal wheel spin. Once I catch 100% traction, its 100% WOT from there. For launches, just practice and find your sweet spot. What you dont want is wheel-spin.
On upshifts, it all depends on what your intentions are. If youre just cruising along, the clutch should be let up slowly and any shift under 5K rpm should not be jerky. But if you want optimal acceleration, you want to push that clutch in as fast as you can, as youre pushing in the clutch youre already selecting your gear, and as youre letting it up quickly youre already mashing down on the gas pedal. This of course, will NEVER be smooth. If you want the best acceleration, VDC has to be off because once you redline 1st, your gonna chirp 2nd indefinitely.
Although I slip up myself sometimes with this on slow moving city and residential streets... When taking a turn, always be in gear, 2nd preferably. Don't clutch and gear in midway thru the turn, its not good practice. Brake before the turn, Rev-match into 2nd and take the corner. This way, you will be in gear immediately, ready to punch it if need be.
For race launches, I have found my sweet spot to be at 2.5K RPMs. I have the clutch in, raise the RPMs to 2.5K, and then dump the clutch, but I dont dump it the whole way, I feather it at the top while I ease up on the gas until I have minimal wheel spin. Once I catch 100% traction, its 100% WOT from there. For launches, just practice and find your sweet spot. What you dont want is wheel-spin.
On upshifts, it all depends on what your intentions are. If youre just cruising along, the clutch should be let up slowly and any shift under 5K rpm should not be jerky. But if you want optimal acceleration, you want to push that clutch in as fast as you can, as youre pushing in the clutch youre already selecting your gear, and as youre letting it up quickly youre already mashing down on the gas pedal. This of course, will NEVER be smooth. If you want the best acceleration, VDC has to be off because once you redline 1st, your gonna chirp 2nd indefinitely.
Last edited by 06Gcoupin; 08-11-2007 at 10:24 AM.
08-09-2007, 06:39 PM
#6
Registered User
When I learned to drive, most cars had manual trannies. And we just lerned to drive them. We didn't know it was complicated. We just stepped on teh clutch, selected a gear, and released the clutch. No big deal.
We didn't have endless debates about technique, we just drove them. and you know what, clutches and trannies seemed to hold up just fine.
After over 50 years of driving manual trannies, I can assure you it doesn't matter whether you downshift or not, double clutch or not, rev match or not, coast in gear or in neutral, etc, etc.
Manual trannies are amazingly robust, and its almost impossibel to break one. The will almost always outlast the engine that they are attached to, no matter what you do to them.
And there is one other thing I will absolutely guarantee. You will NOT learn to drive a manual tranny on a message board, or by reading a book. You will only learn it in the driver's seat.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
bill
We didn't have endless debates about technique, we just drove them. and you know what, clutches and trannies seemed to hold up just fine.
After over 50 years of driving manual trannies, I can assure you it doesn't matter whether you downshift or not, double clutch or not, rev match or not, coast in gear or in neutral, etc, etc.
Manual trannies are amazingly robust, and its almost impossibel to break one. The will almost always outlast the engine that they are attached to, no matter what you do to them.
And there is one other thing I will absolutely guarantee. You will NOT learn to drive a manual tranny on a message board, or by reading a book. You will only learn it in the driver's seat.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
bill
08-09-2007, 06:47 PM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bailey bill
When I learned to drive, most cars had manual trannies. And we just lerned to drive them. We didn't know it was complicated. We just stepped on teh clutch, selected a gear, and released the clutch. No big deal.
We didn't have endless debates about technique, we just drove them. and you know what, clutches and trannies seemed to hold up just fine.
After over 50 years of driving manual trannies, I can assure you it doesn't matter whether you downshift or not, double clutch or not, rev match or not, coast in gear or in neutral, etc, etc.
Manual trannies are amazingly robust, and its almost impossibel to break one. The will almost always outlast the engine that they are attached to, no matter what you do to them.
And there is one other thing I will absolutely guarantee. You will NOT learn to drive a manual tranny on a message board, or by reading a book. You will only learn it in the driver's seat.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
bill
We didn't have endless debates about technique, we just drove them. and you know what, clutches and trannies seemed to hold up just fine.
After over 50 years of driving manual trannies, I can assure you it doesn't matter whether you downshift or not, double clutch or not, rev match or not, coast in gear or in neutral, etc, etc.
Manual trannies are amazingly robust, and its almost impossibel to break one. The will almost always outlast the engine that they are attached to, no matter what you do to them.
And there is one other thing I will absolutely guarantee. You will NOT learn to drive a manual tranny on a message board, or by reading a book. You will only learn it in the driver's seat.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
bill
Trending Topics
08-09-2007, 06:57 PM
#8
That's one hell of a guide. I don't double clutch (except for the old camry I used to drive, since the syncros were shot), but what about engine braking? Oftentimes instead of using the brakes, if I am coming in slowly, I'll downshift say from 3rd to second and let the engine do some of the braking for me. Is this as bad for the tranny as you make it out to be? Lately however, I have gotten into the habit of rev-matching, but I sitll engine brake sometimes.
08-09-2007, 07:08 PM
#10
Registered User
Originally Posted by 06Gcoupin
Im guessing you havent seen the 2432987492894789 threads on this forum with MT issues. You sir, are a tard.
And guess what, my 240's now got 210,000+ miles and it's still on it's original clutch, not to mention transmission, with no clutch slippage in sight (knock on wood). These things are robust, despite taking a few abuses here and there.
My 350Z is a July 2002 build, very early. But I've had no transmission problems (knock on wood). Yeah it does sound like a cement mixer but it's holding up quite well. I don't know why some people go through so many transmissions.
08-09-2007, 07:34 PM
#13
Originally Posted by bailey bill
...You will NOT learn to drive a manual tranny on a message board, or by reading a book. You will only learn it in the driver's seat.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
Quit obsessing about "technique". Just drive your car and enjoy it.
I remember reading several "how-to" articles on heel-toe. I even tried to go through the motions sitting in my driveway. It's all meaningless until you actually get out and try it. Sure the first couple of attempts on the road were rough but eventually I got the hang of it.
Look at it like dancing. Some people will never learn the waltz - either from lack of interest or lack of ability. The rest of us will fall somewhere in between mediocre and being smooth as glass.
The bottom line is that you're out there having fun, whether you good at it or not.
08-09-2007, 07:45 PM
#15
Registered User
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: .
Posts: 9,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A for effort, but D for me not learning anything. I'm still amazed that people need a how-to to grasp these basic concepts.
Oh, and I've never heard of someone destroying a throwout bearing by holding the clutch in at a stop light. IMO, doing this will have no effect on the longevity of a drivetrain.
Oh, and I've never heard of someone destroying a throwout bearing by holding the clutch in at a stop light. IMO, doing this will have no effect on the longevity of a drivetrain.
08-09-2007, 07:48 PM
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by taurran
Oh, and I've never heard of someone destroying a throwout bearing by holding the clutch in at a stop light. IMO, doing this will have no effect on the longevity of a drivetrain.
08-09-2007, 08:12 PM
#17
Originally Posted by taurran
Oh, and I've never heard of someone destroying a throwout bearing by holding the clutch in at a stop light. IMO, doing this will have no effect on the longevity of a drivetrain.
08-09-2007, 09:17 PM
#18
Registered User
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: .
Posts: 9,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by roast
Of course not if you do it once. They wear out over time. If you constantly hold the clutch in for long durations every chance you get, then yes, it will eventually wear out the throwout bearing. Chances are though, if you drive like this, you probably drive like such **** anyway you will wear the clutch out first anyhow.
08-09-2007, 09:42 PM
#19
Registered User
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
08-09-2007, 10:10 PM
#20
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
06Gcoupin, just want to say thank you for taking the time to write this guide!
Many of the guys here probably take most of this knowledge for granted after driving for years in a Z, but I just learned stick in the last few months and I certainly would have appreciated this then! I feel like I had to learn 90% of this stuff the hard way -- by abusing my brand new '07. :-(
Most of this stuff I figured out as I went along, including rev-match'd downshifting, but a few of the points you made are definitely news to me:
* Cruising at very low speeds in 1st gear. I didn't realize this should never be done. I assumed that 1st should always be used up to 15 mph or so. (Although the engine seems to make awful sounds when cruising at low speeds in 1st in my Z.) Anyways, thanks for the info about using 2nd gear at lower speeds.
* Engine-braking to a stop light. I've tried this, but I feel like I end up going FASTER towards the stop light while trying to throttle-blip my way sequentially through the gears. It's either I'm not fast enough, or my 'blip' is too early, or something. Lately I've resigned to throwing it into neutral and coasting, then braking as I approach.
* VDC enabled slows down my acceleration on straight lines? I knew it reduced wheel-spin and tries to keep the car oriented correctly while turning, but I never thought it gimp'd my WOT up-shifts. Is it just because to get maximum accel, I should have a bit of wheel-spin? I've rarely ever turned this off so far in my '07 Z... am I missing out?
Also, one last question. A guy at work told me that you should never need to clutch-in to flick the gear shift into neutral. Is that really healthy for the car? I always clutch-in first because I'm paranoid, but I'm just wondering.
Anyways, great post man!!
Many of the guys here probably take most of this knowledge for granted after driving for years in a Z, but I just learned stick in the last few months and I certainly would have appreciated this then! I feel like I had to learn 90% of this stuff the hard way -- by abusing my brand new '07. :-(
Most of this stuff I figured out as I went along, including rev-match'd downshifting, but a few of the points you made are definitely news to me:
* Cruising at very low speeds in 1st gear. I didn't realize this should never be done. I assumed that 1st should always be used up to 15 mph or so. (Although the engine seems to make awful sounds when cruising at low speeds in 1st in my Z.) Anyways, thanks for the info about using 2nd gear at lower speeds.
* Engine-braking to a stop light. I've tried this, but I feel like I end up going FASTER towards the stop light while trying to throttle-blip my way sequentially through the gears. It's either I'm not fast enough, or my 'blip' is too early, or something. Lately I've resigned to throwing it into neutral and coasting, then braking as I approach.
* VDC enabled slows down my acceleration on straight lines? I knew it reduced wheel-spin and tries to keep the car oriented correctly while turning, but I never thought it gimp'd my WOT up-shifts. Is it just because to get maximum accel, I should have a bit of wheel-spin? I've rarely ever turned this off so far in my '07 Z... am I missing out?
Also, one last question. A guy at work told me that you should never need to clutch-in to flick the gear shift into neutral. Is that really healthy for the car? I always clutch-in first because I'm paranoid, but I'm just wondering.
Anyways, great post man!!