Agreed. No need to double clutch and no need to heel/toe unless you're braking at the same time, which isn't always the case (although if you're going into first gear, you should probably be thinking about using your brakes soon unless you have a lot of asphalt left in front of you )

 

Ahhh I see now. Revmatching other gears is fine but I have always had a hell of a time with 1st doing just as the original poster was commenting....rolling into a right turn and you'd like to be in 1st but can't get there.

Other than this scenario it really isn't advisable to shift down to 1st is it (IE coming to a stop sign)? To me at that point brakes are cheaper than clutches....hence why I don't downshift at every single stop.

 

Like others have said: Rev the engine a bit while the clutch is depressed and put it into 1st.

Good luck.

 

Not being able to shift into 1st gear while still rolling is normal. It's designed that way to prevent you from shifting into 1st while driving. I noticed it on my other MT cars too, although not all cars have it. My friends 1.8T Jetta, doesn't since his engine has no power at all on low rpms, thus he has to always put it in 1st at turns. On our cars, you can still do it but you have to force it in. Same thing happens, while standing still, try shifting into 1st gear after you rev the engine. It won't let you, only after the RPMs fall to idle position you will freely be able to shift into 1st.
At the intersections, I usually pop it into 2nd, but when I'm really rolling slow, you can still shift into 1st, it just requires more force.

 

You're damaging the gearbox by forcing it. The fact that you have to force should tell you you're not supposed to do it. If it requires force, you're simply out of the 1st gear RPM range. If you really think/want to go to 1st, rev the engine a bit to match the engine speed and the car's rolling speed.

 

You may be right. I'm going to have to try it. Although I think rev matching has little to do with what we are talking about here. As far as me, I rev match only as I'm letting off the clutch, but that's done when the gear shifter is already in gear. Here, we're talking about shifting the **** into gear when the clutch is pushed in. You let go of the clutch and rev match AFTER you position the shift **** into 1st or any gear. In fact, even if you are stopped in neutral, with the clutch in, and rev the engine, you will experience the same difficulty putting the **** in 1st gear, while the RPMs are high. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

What is all the confusion about? I explained why he is having this issue and how to get into 1st gear back in Post #9

 

No hard feelings, but the logical reason he would want to shift into 1st is to gain more speed quickly thru the intersection. Going thru all the steps you explained in post #9, he might as well shift into 2nd, especially since our gears are very short and gain that speed just as quick. Either way we answered his question. Nothing is wrong, the 1st gear blockage is there for protection.

 

I still believe you should rev match in neutral before shifting into first.

What you are trying to accomplish is rev matching the given gear to the driveshaft speed before engaging them together. (since 1st gear doesn't have synchro on older G35Cs) The only way to accomplish that is letting out the clutch and rev match in neutral. Attempt to rev match with the clutch in only causes wear on both the clutch and gears.

Engine-->flywheel-[]-clutch-->layshaft-[]-gears-->(synchro)-->drive shaft-->differential-->wheels

 

I totally agree here. I think we've all explained the reasons why he isn't getting into first and helped him do it if he so desires. I really don't know why this thread is still growing.

 

Yup, this is exactly how it's done, been doing it this way for 25+ years with manuals...

 

Dang! I don't feel so old, now. Make that 30 years even for me.

On a serious note . . . I do not perform the above on a regular basis. I do not feel it is all that great for the car, if you know what I mean. Most of the time I will coast to the stop or simply stop and then grab 1st gear. It affords less wear and tear on the tranny and other related parts.

 

i've always driven stick the way i thought most ppl drive and i don't have this problem. i guess apparently some ppl drive manual differently and can encounter this problem. all the step-by-step talk on how to shift correctly to avoid this is so odd to me because i've never actually thought about how i shift/drive step-by-step.....i just do it without thinking.

 

I'm just learning stick. And one thing I've learned to not do is downshift into first. It's a really bad idea plus 2nd gear is good from 3mph and up so if you're rolling its better to stay in 2nd. The only time to use fisrt gear is at a complete stop. I've learned rev matchin is a good thing to do. I push in the clutch move the shifter and blip and then slower release the clutch. It's better for the engine to slow down then have to speed up! First gear is basically useless though and downshifting into it while rolling only makes you need to shift down and then back up when you really don't need to! Anyone have tips for hills??? I either stall or squeel the tires.. I'm driving a 91 240sx btw. I gave up on the G haha.

 

-apply the parking brake
-release the vehicles main brake (make sure your not rolling)
-start releasing the clutch and apply power
-you'll hit a spot where the car 'shifts' (hard to explain, better to experience)
-hold the pedal positions
-release the parking break, your car is now level and not rolling back
-continue to apply gas and release the clutch
-away u go.

the better u get, the more fluid the whole thing is. u'll be able to do the whole operation in a couple of seconds. like they say, "practice makes perfect."