the first question is a no, i don't know why you'd count downshifting to make a turn 'agressive' and the second question, count it as what? THAT is agressive driving, but our engines can handle that well.

 

You got it bro!

 

You can drive "aggressively" without abusing the drive train. I rarely hit the rev limiter or spin the tires from a dead stop. The VDC keeps me in line. If it didn't have that, I would have to replace the back tires more often.

I run it up to about 6500 RPM and clutch/change gears while letting the RPM (RPM's in NOT correct term) drop exactly 800 to the next gear and I get crisp yet smooth shifts when accelerating.

When down shifting, I clutch/blip throttle to rev match (with size 13 feet, I can't heel/toe) so I will be in the right gear to accelerate out of a turn. Remember, you MUST rev match IF you are IN a high speed turn and you want to down shift. If you don't you stand a chance of the back tires losing grip. VDC may pull you out, but it won't be pretty.

Daily driving, I rarely down shift, I use the brakes. My wife is different, she downshifts all the time.

 

nice information. Texasscout are you saying you always shift gears at 6500 rpm? if so, even first? or could you explain that whole sentence again.

also i have another question... is it bad to stay in 1st gear for long? when youre cruising in traffic or whatever or should you shift to 2nd and cruise in 2nd cuz you shouldnt be in 1st for too long?

 

Oh no... Only when I want to boogie! I rarely shift out of 1st at that RPM. Around town, I usually shift at 2500-3000 RPM.




Like someone said earlier, First is just to get you rolling (in day to day driving). Once you get moving 5-10mph, shift into 2nd and stay there. (in stop and go traffic) Heck, these cars are geared so low, you can start in second gear fairly easy.

First is so low that you almost don't have time to shift into second when you are racing. That's the only time I shift at 6500 in first. If you do it right, you can make a quick shift, that is smooth, and not lose forward momentum.

 

thanks for the info man. the Driver community is really great

 

i kno that starting off of second is pretty easy but the engine sounds like its lugging. is it really lugging? thats why i shift into 1st when i come to a complete stop. still, though if im coming up to a stop sign in second and get to about 2mph to see if its clear to go, the engine will sound like its lugging

 

you should shift into 1st when coming to a complete stop.

if youre going 2mph downshift to 1st. i find it much easier on my engine

 

^yea i do that but i just dont know if the engine is really lugging,
i've heard people say its easy to start off of second or what not,
i just wanna know if thats classified as lugging, like if you were going 5mph in 6th

 

yeah when i go 2mph in 2nd gear i lug. i believe it can be classified as lugging? any others?

 

I hope you are revmatching when doing so, 1st gear doesn't have a synchro

 

does that apply when you have the clutch in? not that i do that, but it'd be good to know

 

There hasn't been a transmission built without a syncro'd 1st gear since my 1964 MGB.

With a little finesse you can put it in first at almost any speed.


Sliq, yes you are lugging in second. I was just saying that you can do it.

I watched Jeremy on Top Gear take a ZO6 vette and start in 5th and go all the way to 160mph! 0-160mph in ONE GEAR!

 

^^lugging FTL 160mph FTMFW!

 

The same general guidelines for driving a manual and clutching apply during parking(Guidelines Below). The slow speed and control requirements can make it more difficult. The easiest scenario is adjacent parking in a parking lot whereas you must come to a complete stop and make a 90degree turn into the spot. To do this, simply get the car rolling and re-clutch to let it coast into the parking spot. This “get it moving” and re-clutching action has to do with a few of the rules, mainly do not ride the clutch. This move-/e-clutch approach also applies to backing up on a flat surface. The point is, you must move slowly. So, although you can come off the clutch completely and let the car coast forward at the speed of the engine, you run the risk of under-revving the engine based on its load and riding the clutch therefore use the move/re-clutch technique. Now, I will raise the question of the most challenging scenario, how do you clutch if you are parallel parking on a decline that requires you to back in? I know the answer but it is the most special of all scenarios, I will provide the answer in another post… G-Spot26

Guideline 1: Do not ride the clutch
Guideline 2: Smooth, fluid movements with the clutch
Guideline 3: Either on or off the clutch (General Idea, special for the last scenario above- HINT)
Guideline 4: Re-clutch if about to stall
Guideline 5: (Advanced) know the gear/RPM correlation for your speed