Driving Manual Tips
#176
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Join Date: 06-02-09
Location: Pickering, Ontario, Canada
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Heel-toe double-clutching down into 2nd for every turn for me, city driving. The downshift commences at a fairly low RPM to avoid having to stab the gas pedal too much (around just over 1k RPM).
Best method for braking, gearing and steering control going into - navigating - and exiting a corner.
Anything else (barring the double-clutch) is a compromise, IMO:
- entering the corner in 3rd/ 4th, you're now bogging as you hit mid-point, and now have a split-second delay when downshifting into 2nd as you unwind the wheel; both hands are no longer on the wheel as well
- coasting through the corner is an instant fail
Best method for braking, gearing and steering control going into - navigating - and exiting a corner.
Anything else (barring the double-clutch) is a compromise, IMO:
- entering the corner in 3rd/ 4th, you're now bogging as you hit mid-point, and now have a split-second delay when downshifting into 2nd as you unwind the wheel; both hands are no longer on the wheel as well
- coasting through the corner is an instant fail
#177
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Can I just brake-clutch-shift-blip-clutch out to downshift? I can't seem to blip before the shift cause my RPM's are already too low after my shift. Is my way bad? Also another HUGE issue Im having I cant believe I forgot to mention. Its reverse gear. Lets say im reversing into my driveway and this thing is fairly steep. I keep having to ride the clutch in, clutch out, cause if I release at the catch point, Im flying towards my garage door in reverse. Thats scary. Any tips?
#178
#184
New Member
I think If I re-learned the order, I would be able to BLIP before the shift. Now that I think about it, it does make more sense to do that. I've heard of potential clutch wear as a downside of downshifting but Throw-Out bearing? Seems a little far fetched to me. From my research so far, I hear TOB's go bad if you rest your foot down on the clutch at every light and if you mash the clutch pedal to the firewall alot (which I think is why Powell made a pedal stop). I will continue smoothening out my downshifting but learning to do it the right.
#185
As long as you keep the RPMS relatively low (below 3500), and dont ride your clutch or grind gears, you should be able to learn without worrying about too much damage to anything.
#186
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
Havent been paying attention to this thread lately. You cannot properly heel-toe in this car, the gas pedal is fire wall hinged not floor hinged.
Also if everyone is looking at you when you rev match to down shift you're down shifting to early, you shouldn't down shift to 3500rpm if you're driving on the street (at the road track completely different).
I also don't notice a significant difference in braking in neutral vs braking in gear, the brembos can lock tires up and I'm sure the LSJ guys can lock the tires up with their brakes so you only have so much braking traction for a given tire.
Rice we can't use your car as an example of where second gear takes you lucky LSJ guys with the 4.05 I am super jelly you can get to 80 in second (I'm midway in 3rd at 80).
Also if everyone is looking at you when you rev match to down shift you're down shifting to early, you shouldn't down shift to 3500rpm if you're driving on the street (at the road track completely different).
I also don't notice a significant difference in braking in neutral vs braking in gear, the brembos can lock tires up and I'm sure the LSJ guys can lock the tires up with their brakes so you only have so much braking traction for a given tire.
Rice we can't use your car as an example of where second gear takes you lucky LSJ guys with the 4.05 I am super jelly you can get to 80 in second (I'm midway in 3rd at 80).
#187
Where the gas pedal is hinged doesnt make any difference, its more about the spacing between the pedals.
As long as you can use 1 foot to blip the throttle for a down shift while at the same time applying the brakes, you are heel toeing.
It wouldn't matter if the gas pedal was hinged from the roof of the car, as long as its spaced properly from the brake.
I do notice a big difference in neutral braking vs. braking in gear.
But whatever style of driving you find comfortable, and keeps you safe, all the power to ya!
As long as you can use 1 foot to blip the throttle for a down shift while at the same time applying the brakes, you are heel toeing.
It wouldn't matter if the gas pedal was hinged from the roof of the car, as long as its spaced properly from the brake.
I do notice a big difference in neutral braking vs. braking in gear.
But whatever style of driving you find comfortable, and keeps you safe, all the power to ya!
#188
Senior Member
You have more precise control over the brakes with the car in gear since it's already creating force to slow down the car. Therefore less pressure is needed on the brakes, and then the brake pedal can be more accurately applied. It also reduces fade in endurance races with repeated braking. Dowshifting while braking also allows you to do 2 things in parallel saving lap times.
I have to say though engine braking sucks ***** in the LSJ. It's programmed to keep the TB open even when no fuel is being delivered to help with emissions. Still haven't found anyone who can tune it out. This is also why it takes forever for the RPMs to go down.
I heel-toe through every gear every single time I slow down. The car has 115k miles and shifts flawlessly. I don't even notice myself doing it anymore. It's pretty much automatic once you do it enough.
I have to say though engine braking sucks ***** in the LSJ. It's programmed to keep the TB open even when no fuel is being delivered to help with emissions. Still haven't found anyone who can tune it out. This is also why it takes forever for the RPMs to go down.
I heel-toe through every gear every single time I slow down. The car has 115k miles and shifts flawlessly. I don't even notice myself doing it anymore. It's pretty much automatic once you do it enough.
#189
New Member
Hey guys, the downshifting is coming along nicely and it makes for a much more enjoyful braking to a light. I finally re-taught myself to blip and shift fast enough to catch it without any jerking momentum or any loud revving. It is like OP said, the passenger wouldnt even notice I was downshifting. One key thing to add for anyone else learning manual after me on this thread. Feel out the shift pattern! Precisely know where each "gear gate" (I think thats what its callled) is located and transition into it quickly but smoothly.
#193
On my cobalt (ss/sc) it feels a lot smoother double clutching into second, like, a lot smoother. I don’t know why it doesn’t really make a difference with smoothness downshifting into any other gear but when I downshift into second double clutching just makes for a lot smoother of a shift. This isn’t a problem with second gear is it? Or maybe I’m just hitting it right when I double clutch and getting the timing wrong when I don’t. I don’t know, any thoughts?
#194
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
On my cobalt (ss/sc) it feels a lot smoother double clutching into second, like, a lot smoother. I don’t know why it doesn’t really make a difference with smoothness downshifting into any other gear but when I downshift into second double clutching just makes for a lot smoother of a shift. This isn’t a problem with second gear is it? Or maybe I’m just hitting it right when I double clutch and getting the timing wrong when I don’t. I don’t know, any thoughts?
#195
No my gears don’t grind it’s just a lot easier and smoother, it’s a lot harder for me to get that perfect downshift into second when I downshift normally than it is when I double clutch, it kinda puzzles me but I don’t think it’s anything to be too alarmed about it’s just a weird quirk. Probably means I suck at downshifting into second lol.
#196
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
No my gears don’t grind it’s just a lot easier and smoother, it’s a lot harder for me to get that perfect downshift into second when I downshift normally than it is when I double clutch, it kinda puzzles me but I don’t think it’s anything to be too alarmed about it’s just a weird quirk. Probably means I suck at downshifting into second lol.
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