How to correctly drive an MT.
It's silly to you because proper technique comes natural to you. There was a time when autos were the odd ball. That time is long past and driving a "real" car/truck is a lost art to many. They don't even teach it in drivers ed class anymore. Hell, you don't even have to take a driving test anymore.
BTW, 148K is the exception not the rule. You did well.
BTW, 148K is the exception not the rule. You did well.
The start of this thread bothers me just a little. Its a nice thought to blip the throttle to down shift but its just not practical in everyday use. I think the notion that your trans will blow up simple by letting the clutch out on downshifts is just a little far fetched. I mean how many older people that own these cars are going around rev matching...probably 100% sure none. Hell my mom had a Celica when I was a little kid for 13 years, on the same clutch, and she would look at you like you were speaking greek if you asked her about rev matching. With synchros and the construction standards of most transmissions these will not break under normal driving. Don't go from 6th to 2nd and you shouldn't have an issue. Don't dump the clutch and haul *** from every light and you should be fine.
The introduction of the synchros eliminated the need to rev match when you downshift or double clutch to shift up by helping the shiter slip into the gears, and a secondary job of the synchro is to absorb the damage when the gears aren't lined up properly, which happens pretty frequently as is evidenced by any transmission with a grinding gear. But before synchros were invented, you would have to rev match to downshift, and double clutch to shift up.
Last edited by dofu; Oct 28, 2013 at 03:31 PM.
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Yea, the point of rev matching is to be in the right RPMs and have as much power as possible when you want it, like when you are exiting out of a turn. It's only used when you are pushing your car or during spirited driving, but not necessary to get you from point A to point B. But it's not the clutch you are saving by rev matching when you downshift, it's the synchros and gears themselves.
The introduction of the synchros eliminated the need to rev match when you downshift or double clutch to shift up by helping the shiter slip into the gears, and a secondary job of the synchro is to absorb the damage when the gears aren't lined up properly, which happens pretty frequently as is evidenced by any transmission with a grinding gear. But before synchros were invented, you would have to rev match to downshift, and double clutch to shift up.
The introduction of the synchros eliminated the need to rev match when you downshift or double clutch to shift up by helping the shiter slip into the gears, and a secondary job of the synchro is to absorb the damage when the gears aren't lined up properly, which happens pretty frequently as is evidenced by any transmission with a grinding gear. But before synchros were invented, you would have to rev match to downshift, and double clutch to shift up.
The second mating to match the transmission with the engine speed is the purpose of the second heel-toe, and the one you still might want to do with synchros. If you don't, it's the clutch that has to do the work of dragging the engine speed up to match the transmission speed. Also the engine/clutch acts like a brake in that period of mating which jolts the car and can cause wheelspin (and slide in a rwd).
Great thread the G is my second car and my first manual, still only driven a few times but now I never stall, I just need to work on smoothness, 1st gear starts and hill starts. Then I can move onto rev-matching lol
I've been driving manual cars all my life but only owned one before my G which was an Integra GSR. Getting used to the Z33 trans has been... interesting. Is it just me or do our gearboxes feel (as my friend put it) beefy? I feel like I can't snap gear changes like I could in the Honda. The trans feels really strong but clunky. Even more clunky than my step-dad's 06 Mustang when I'm revving out and banging gears.
Maybe its just requires a learning curve. The high grabbing clutch pedal certainly has.
Maybe its just requires a learning curve. The high grabbing clutch pedal certainly has.
The best shifter I have EVER had was in my Honda Si Sedan, bar none. That was the slickest thing I have ever used. The G doesn't feel "beefy" to me, however, it doesn't feel "clunky" either. It's not a bad one at all. I think that the gear ratios leave a lot to be desired though. I wish the first to second was a bit taller and I wish sixth was a LOT taller. I want to be running about 2500 rpm at 80mph. The damn thing runs as fast in fifth as it does in sixth, so it should be a big over drive to save gas.
Even though mine is automatic, I've driven the manual ones and I absolutely agree about the 6th gear thing!
I had a 00 Trans Am and loved the 0.5 ratio 6th. It would just purr down the interstate at less than 2000 at 80 and still get 27 MPG.
I get "close ratio" but it doesn't make sense on 5th and 6th.
I had a 00 Trans Am and loved the 0.5 ratio 6th. It would just purr down the interstate at less than 2000 at 80 and still get 27 MPG.
I get "close ratio" but it doesn't make sense on 5th and 6th.
The best shifter I have EVER had was in my Honda Si Sedan, bar none. That was the slickest thing I have ever used. The G doesn't feel "beefy" to me, however, it doesn't feel "clunky" either. It's not a bad one at all. I think that the gear ratios leave a lot to be desired though. I wish the first to second was a bit taller and I wish sixth was a LOT taller. I want to be running about 2500 rpm at 80mph. The damn thing runs as fast in fifth as it does in sixth, so it should be a big over drive to save gas.
The si is incredible to shift. Really, almost all Hondas are extremely pleasant shifting gears. Im assuming a 6mt TSX sedan would be similar if not the exact same as well.
I dunno. My Honda felt a little too light and 'fragile'. I mean it was solid and consistant and the syncros were great (except downshifting into second), but it almost felt like I could break it if I hit it too hard. It was good, but the Gs feels 'beefy'. Almost like it shifts itself and won't let you make a mistake. I think I've only missed a gear twice since I've owned it. It just grabs with conviction.
the synchros make it so you don't need to double clutch. It does away with the first heel-toe into neutral, because it matches wheel speed with transmission speed, but it doesn't affect the need to heel-toe the second shift into gear,
The second mating to match the transmission with the engine speed is the purpose of the second heel-toe, and the one you still might want to do with synchros. If you don't, it's the clutch that has to do the work of dragging the engine speed up to match the transmission speed. Also the engine/clutch acts like a brake in that period of mating which jolts the car and can cause wheelspin (and slide in a rwd).
The second mating to match the transmission with the engine speed is the purpose of the second heel-toe, and the one you still might want to do with synchros. If you don't, it's the clutch that has to do the work of dragging the engine speed up to match the transmission speed. Also the engine/clutch acts like a brake in that period of mating which jolts the car and can cause wheelspin (and slide in a rwd).
You don't want to use downshifting add a brake to show your car down. The entire point of rev matching is so your car doesn't jolt and to keep your engine and clutch from having to endure that kind of stress.
Last edited by dofu; Nov 30, 2014 at 11:36 AM.