It seems like whenever I downshift into 1st gear I can never get a smooth transition. Even when I rev match the car seems to "kerplunk" into gear. I will usually do this when coming to a stop or going into a turn at around 10-15 mph, never more than 20 mph. Is that too fast for 1st gear? Because it seems like if I downshift into 2nd gear at those speeds the car struggles a little bit to get back to speed. It almost seems like there is a dead spot between 15-20 mph where 1st gear has too much torque and 2nd gear too little. Is anyone else experiencing this? I have a '06 SS/SC btw.

 

i never downshift to 1st 2nd is the lowest ill go

 

same here. Even when i'm making a turn i go down to 2nd. i only use first to get rolling...that's it

 

u downshift into first at 15? why? is that necessary for you to drive or slow down? i experience it too, but just clutch it a little in second then feed it out. downshift to 1st max at 10 if anything

 

I guess I'll have to clutch it out a little more into second at those speeds. I guess 1st gear is really only good for dead stop and roll (less than 5mph).

 

ya i wouldnt downshift to 1st. its usless really. only good for going

 

there is no need to downshift into first, as long as your moving second is fine, and if your slow enough to put it in 1st you might as well put in neutral

 

The entire concept of downshifting into first scares me, that might be weird, but I'm over it....

 

Oooh! no downshift to first=unhappy car.

 

its not good to downshift into first. first is there for pulling off. only time i ever had to downshift into first is when i was in second going 20 and a street bike pulled out in front of me. i went into first and slammed the brakes. came inches away from hitting his punk ass. i only downshift into first if its really really necessary.

 

go 60 and pop it into 1st...ull get extra boost and rpm

 

downshifting into 1st = BAD

 

why would you do that?

 

I use first all the time, but never for turn handling. I use it all the time for city driving though. Say I get a red light. I use first to avoid braking at all. Then I only need to go one block, there it no need to hit second. The trick to first is that it needs a really high rev and constant pressure. Say you are doing 15 and want to hit first. You will need a 5-6k rev to enter. So, tap to 6k and release the clutch quick then slowly and steadily release the gas. It will be smooth. Once you get above 3k in first you must keep pressure on the gas... more than you would think fitting (you have to ease out of the rpms). It is a useful gear if you get accustomed to it.

Edit: Just to warn you. It takes practice, but an unskilled driver shouldn't play with it. It could damage the engine or transmision.

 

if you need to rev to more the 5000rpm to downshift during normal driving you are downshifting to early IMO

 

Ideally, but I was saying in the case of going that speed like he said. Time arise when you don't have ideal time for second to slow you down in traffic. I personally hate to waste my brakes. Like I said though, if you don't know what you are doing it is better just to use the brakes than damage something that costs more lol. I was just explaining how it could be done smoothly.

 

wait, so unskilled drivers should not attempt to shift into first while moving? that's only for "good" drivers?

 

I'm saying there is a good chance some kid on here could hurt his car. I'm not saying you have to be a pro driver. Just that I would feel bad giving advise that led to some 16 year old hurting his car. If you mean good as in it is bad to do. It isn't bad if you do it properly. Frankly though, unskilled drivers should not be driving stick on a 20k car. They should learn on a beater to start with; however, there seem to be a lot trying anyway.

 

This thread is so special that I have to post this up

 

you should not be downshifting to first, end of story. there's safetys there that won't let you shift above a certain speed, like 10, unless you really jam it in there. you can keep the car in 2nd till about 5 mph without touching the clutch. unless you're stopped, you should not be in first. it has nothing to do with skill. first is not a driving gear, it's not designed for that.

how about this one!!

 

I used the other picture cause I have no idea what these people are talking about when it comes to downshifting into first gear...

 

i know. i just wanted to post a pic of you having your way with a little ole asian man! even when i'm coming to a stop, my car won't let me shift to first unless i'm pretty much stopped. come to a stop sign, doing 2 mph, neutral, brake shift to 1st. WTF, go into first bitch, there's people behind me! i can't imagine how much pain that car is in when it get shifted to first at around 20 mph that's the equivelent of punching it in the nuts

 

LOL I had that happen to me last night. I was like "wtf! go!" hahaha

 

i have a feeling you're talking about something different but trust me, it's just as frustrating!

 

LAWL

I wish it was that (I think)

Nah, it was my Mitsubitchy