But thats why I don't get it. I can do that without the car hiccuping, harshly switching gears, lunging, anything. I can perfectly slide it into 1st gear and let the clutch out while already moving at 5mph or more.

Just as a side question, wouldn't there be times a car would need to be switched into 1st while moving at 15mph to get that quick first gear acceleration but not at WOT (say while at an autocross or track race), instead of boggin in 2nd and slowly accelerating until its at 3500rpm. Don't flame me because I asked a racing question either...

 

Yea, is there a time when you guys downshift into 1st or do you only use it to get going?
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I did the same thing three weeks ago. First time driving stick and was going to take lessons on monday and buy the car on a tuesday. The instructor broke his hip over the weekend and I still went ahead and bought it. I read and watched tons about how to drive stick so I would have the concept down. I ended up scoring a "C". I got it home in rush hour stop and go traffic with snow coming down pretty hard. I only stalled about 4 times in a 45 minute drive. If push comes to shove try to coast alot so you don't have to be at a complete stop then drop to a lower gear and take off. My bother in law has a manual z06 so he took me out to help with technique after I had it for a week and a half. Try to find a friend or family member that knows manual really well so they can teach you good habits and not develope bad habits as over time bad habits wear the clutch and clutch bearings more easily.

P.S. If you stall, laugh it off. It's not the end of the world and you will get better at it.

 

I'm a newb, but if you try to downshift to first and feel lots of resistance, don't do it. the shifter will almost lock you from dropping into 1st if you are going 5-10mph. I never put it into first unless I'm at a complete stop, otherwise for yeild and stop signs I drop to 2nd and crawl through the intersection. Watchout for cops.

 

I analyzed it a bit closer on my drive home from work yesterday. You guys are right. Its about 2 times harder or more to press the car into 1st after going 5+mph. I now know not to do that I guess, although I doubt a few times will be anything harmful. I wonder if they say not to do that in the manual.

 

Greg, If you were needing acceleration and didnt want to bog down I think it would be pretty tuff to slam it into first... Maybe just Rev up the motor and drop the clutch in 2nd... That may let the engine stay high enough not to bog down.. If you do it right... But dont rev to high as TCS will kick in...Personally I have never had to drop it to first for that fast of acceleration but thats just what I thought I would do in such a situation...

 

Greg - I have no clue how you did that - I myself have only shifted down to first when rolling or stopped...I would say 6 MPH or less. 5-10 is pushing it - I haven't tried but I have gave it a slight push and am pretty sure I felt the gate blocking the gear......Me personally - I would not shift to first except when starting of course and when rolling/creeping into a parking spot or through a parking lot but only after im going real slow like 2-5 MPH....

 

Would the gate be broken after 2-3 times of doing that?????

 

thats a pretty techical question im not positive to the answer as i myself am a newbie to the G's gearbox. I mean...im thinkin if you're switching to 1st at 10 mph without any resistance - then something may not right because if im rollin more than 5MPH that gate stops me into 1st and ive never really jammed it in there...do u remember having to jam it in initially and then it going in easier on subsequent tries? if so it could be a lil problem...however if the gate has been just as "strong" in stopping u from goin into 1st then im sure ur fine. I dont know it's its a "breakable" gate, its probably just resistance that stops you from goin thru but lets u if u push it enough. i doubt u broke any real gate...I mean the main reason the gate is there is to prevent damaging mechanical overrev on accident from shifting into 1st when ur at higher speeds....its there to provide some resistance against going into gear ... Hope ur gear box is alright man!!!


Joe

 

Hey Vince, if it makes you feel better I learned manual on my G, too! I drove it 20km home and I stalled only 3 times... all at stop lights.

But after 2 months of driving, it's all good.

(off topic: where are you around in Tdot?)

 

psyh. im in markham.
i actually took 3 lesson with shifters. my instructor was a racer from germany. so the quality of lessons were top notch. i think i spent more time asking question than practicing. my stupid head cant function without theory. hhaa.
.
god the G is so hard to drive, i drove an integra and it was like as if i drove an automatic.

 

So my only problem with shifting is that (and this sounds insane) is it's easier to shift from 1st to 2nd with the A/C off rather than on. Nearly everytime I shift from 1st to 2nd with the A/C on I get a little jerk from the car, but when the A/C is off she is smooth as glass. I need better foot, hand coordination.

 

I noticed that when I'm lazy I don't even gas going from 1st to 2nd... I just ease the clutch into 2nd and then gas right after and it's silky smooth.

It's still below freezing here so I can't say I've experienced this A/C oddity yet!

 

yea i can still shift very smooth without giving any gas going into second as well.. this car seems easy to me coming from an 06 STI with a 6 puck and light weight fly wheel.. ect