Im quite new to manual, as im only 18, and I learned on my G which I've had for 2 months. Many people tell me the G by far is the worst car to learn on, and so I did happen to drive and RSX and holy sh*t is that car so much more easier to drive. I do like driving aggresively but for some reason this car makes me feel like im doing damage to it from my unsmooth shifts. For some reason, I can NEVER get a smooth, high-rev shift. I can only get smooth low-rpm shifts, where I can hold the clutch at its engagement point for about a second or two, while I give it gas, and the shift is smooth. If I try shifting at 5K+ , I get quite the jerk, and I hate it. Its almost like I make this car slow because I cant properly drive it at its maximum. I dont know if im letting out the clutch too fast, or not giving it gas at the right moment, but I hate this jerk I get between shifts. My friend with a Z, everytime I ride with him and he shifts high, its just an amazing small pause between shifts, but its very smooth, and Id like to be able to shift like him. I know it comes with practice, but im getting desperate and want to learn to shift at high rpm's very smoothly. Can any1 give me some tips?

 

You will learn. I have been driving sticks for over thirty years and I was way jerky when I starded with my G. I'm the exact oposite of you. I shift fine fast, but I still (after a year) screw up the 1-2 shift sometimes.

Try to let the revs drop about 800 rpm at 5000 rpm for a shift. It will be pretty smooth. As you climb in rpm, you will need to let it drop even more. It will come to you.

 

I'm have the same experience with jerky shifts at lower rpms. Now that I have passed 1200mi and am no longer worried about the 4K rpm limit my shifts are much smoother. But I drove a Probe GT for 7 yrs so I have some experience.

 

I've noticed that if I turn off the VDC at high shifs, it shifts MUCH more smoothly...kinda weird

 

ima try that....

 

It's jerky with the VDC cause your engine rpm is still fast enough to spin the tires. It then cuts the power and you get the jerks. Slow down

 

When you try to shift fast at high rpm, VDC kicks in and that's why you can't get a smooth shift.. As far as the jerkiness, the faster the shift, the jerkier it will be (just drive any car with an F1 type of tranny and you'll see). It's assumed that if you're shifting at high rpm, you're accelerating fast and want to shift fast as well so why would one want to slow down the shift by feathering the clutch?

 

Whats it exactly mean to feather the clutch?

 

Shifting at high RPM and doing it fast and smooth comes with practice. I am now able to do that after 1.5 years of owning the car. I know how u feel but it all comes with time and practice.

 

Feathering the clutch is when you let it off slowly as opposed to dumping it. What you're doing in your 1-2nd shift is feathering. Your first priority should be to learn to shift fast at high rpm rather than smooth. Fast shifting wins races, the rest will come with a lot of practice.

 

Don't, it burns it up. Only feather when you are starting in First gear. To feather is to slip, to slip is to add wear.

 

I've owned my G for about 11 months now, and this is my first manual tranny car. I've driven my friends' cars with stage 3 clutches, flywheel, racing tranny, etc, but it was just a once in a while kind of thing. Never really had a chance to learn properly. I don't really understand why some would say it's hard to drive the G. Maybe it's because I never had another easier MT car to compare with.
Anyways, it all comes with practice. At first, I had trouble throwing the shift **** into second gear smoothly, but now I can shift fine any position, bare foot, slippers, whatever.
When I was practicing drifting, it helped a LOT with shifting, clutch timing, gas pedal pressure control, steering, cornering, pretty much everything. I also practice heel and toe downshifting daily, so that helped out too.
Don't think about the shifting too much when you're driving, it could be bugging you mentally making you paranoid, getting your muscles nervous. More you mess up, the worse you could get. Just relax and try not to stress about it, it'll just come naturally.
As far as jerkiness in high rpms, if your car jerks like something held onto you for a split second and let you go (something like shiftlocking feeling) i think you're giving the gas a little bit too late or letting the clutch out too soon. If it's over revving a bit and jerks a little after, then you're giving the gas too soon, or letting the clutch out too late.
Since you have to let the clutch out further to engage compared to other cars, that timing can be a little tricky. But don't worry, you'll get it sooner or later. Everyone's driving style is different, and every car is different (even if they're supposed to be exactly the same cars), so it's hard to give advice with just text words but, all I have to say is, don't let it stress you out, it'll only make things worse. Just enjoy it, don't even think about it as "practicing" and later on, you'll be like "wow, I improved a lot, didn't even notice!"
Hope I didn't confuse you, sorry if i didn't make sense... English isn't my first language and I'm not very good with words...
Those of you who either never knew (like the caveman here *points to self*) or never gave it a try, I suggest this with everyone who owns a car.
Take some time off and go to a track, or any safe place (not on the street! and notice i didn't say 'safe place to hide from cops') where you can unleash the beast within the G. Remember to turn vdc off, and get ready to spin out a lot in ur beginning stages and prepare to use up lots of tires (which equals to money). Learning how to drift and slide around for few months helped my driving more than years of stupid/suicide driving, illegal street racing for years. You'll improve every aspect of your driving skills and more including safety. It's very helpful in dangerous situations where it could mean the difference of life or death, especially during heavy rain. I've had my share of experience when I spun out across the freeway during the rain and saw headlights coming towards me instead of taillights........ o.O;;;
(No, i wasn't racing anyone, my tires were all bald... SOOOO lucky i didn't hit anything, and nobody got into any accidents)
Good luck and drive safely!

 

P.S Damn, why the hell are my posts so long all the time?
I really need to take some literature classes or something.. and learn how to get to the point... lol

 

well to me, i was used to shifting fast and high rpms in my talon then i got my G and tried my normal quick shift 1st to 2nd and rocked like hell. Shifting to 2nd is tricky in the G in that the rpms drop slowly so i learned to just take it to 5k in 1st then shift slowly to 2nd engaging at 3500....then the other gears are easy to shift to quickly.....just that tricky 1st to 2nd is annoying.

 

I took a trip to the mall today, VDC Off helps ALOT , I also chirped the tires today for my first time! lol, it felt good!