I think that we always "think" we are doing better than we really are because we know when we're shifting and when we're on the throttle...I believe its best when you have someone in the passenger seat and ask them if they felt the car jerk or whatever. Passengers will always feel effects on the car more than you....It's like your car feels faster when you're sitting passenger.
I always ask my girlfriend if she felt the car jerk or whatever, but she never notices because she's not paying attention haha. So let your passenger know what to look for. just my opinion.

 

Try double clutching when you're going into second gear and blip the gas a tad before letting up the clutch on the second time(or if you don't mind putting extra wear on your throwout bearing, just hold the clutch in for an extra half a second or so and let the RPM's fall a tad before letting up the clutch while you're between your 1-2 shift). It's really all about rev matching, and the G's revs don't drop as quick as would be needed to rapidly shift from 1rst to second gear at slightly higher RPM's and at a hurried pace without bringing forth a slight jerking motion. The only problem with the double clutching between gears or delaying a second for the revs to fall, is that you'll accelerate slower in general due to the slightly extended shift times between the gears that you are trying to avoid bucking on.

 

You're absolutely right, and it kinda takes the fun out of driving the car. I don't care how much horsepower you have or how fast a car is, if you can't drive it right all that power is useless. I'd rather have a moderately powered car with a flawless tranny.

The bogging during takeoff in 1st and the 1-2 shift are really the culprits here. Sometimes its smooth, but only when I'm really paying attention to my footwork. The least bit of laziness and you're bound to bog, leave the line slower than a turtle and look like you're just a newbie learning to drive stick. Any good clutch combos out there and do they remedy the issue???

 

If the revs don't go down coming out of first you are letting off the gas a tiny bit too late. I had the same problem and found that by coming out of the gas a bit earlier than usual compared to pushing in the clutch it helps. Could be the clutch grabs and releases real low so you are taking the load off the engine while still on the gas.

 

when i shift to second i just release the gas pedal almost all the way but not completely off, and shift to 2nd while my foot is still pressing on the gas a little. then just balance the clutch and gas.

 

all i know is i already hate the traction control/vdc/whatever it is called. i keep breaking loose in 2nd and then it feels like i hit the brakes. I gotta try driving with that $hit turned off. Then again, I don't wanna buy new tires too soon. Maybe I should just slow down.

 

^yes it is normal

 

My new 06 seems to be fine shifting into 2d...