I'm new to the world of manual shifting. I drive okay but not great on the streets. I just need to know the proper way of downshifting from 5th to 4th and so on. I already know not to gear in to 1st. I was a little confused when I was on the highway and when I shifted from 5th to 4th and the rpm jumped high (3 to 4) and all I hear is a zoom sound from the engine. When I pushed on the clutch, it dropped back to 3rd. What I should I do to make it a more smoother transition.

I know all you expert shifters are probably laughing at the moment. I would like to know how all you guys do it so I can be comfortable from now on.

A lot of responses would help me a lot.

Thanks!

 

No one should laugh at you, everyone has to start somewhere.

Anytime you gear down the rpms will shoot up like that you don't want to drop too many gears because then you will even be in the higher RPMS.

If you want a smoother feeling while downshifting try blipping the throttle while downshifting (also called single clutching). Also if you have someone who can go with you and show you these things it will be so much easier.

Good luck

 

try working on making smooth transitions in the upshifts and after you get really good at that then try downshifting. for now id recommend putting it in neutral when slowing down and depending on your speed put it in that gear when you resume driving.

anyways, if you want to learn it makes it a lot easier.

 

I second that!

 

ask your girlfreind, she can probably drive stick

 

i have to second the idea of having someone show you, that'll be the easiet way to learn. if that's not possible just remember to downshift at lower RPM then you upshift at... usually around 2K for me I think, possibly lower (if you want it smooth without any braking).

 

That was cold!!! But funny...

 

Sorry, not even funny. Not here.

 

you can downshift at almost any RPM, as long as the downshift won't put you pass redline for the next gear and that you "rev match" ..

-joe

 

Let me explain triple clutching. My g/f does it all the time.



You're at the stop light, it turns green. Let the clutch out. Hop, hop, dead. Not enough gas. Get frustrated, say a few words. Push clutch in, and start the car. You give some gas let the clutch out. Hop, hop, dead. You didn't give it enough gas. Get more frustrated, give traffic swerving around you and honking at you the finger. Push clutch in, start the car. Put the gas pedal to the floor and let the cutch out. Enjoy the smell of burnt rubber and roasted clutch.

Repeat as needed.

 

Ok here's how Rev Matching works. Lets say for instance you're at 45 mph for the durration of this explination. And let's say that at 45 mph hour you are at 3k in 4th and 4k in 3rd (just for fun.) If you're going along and you get up to 45mph in 3rd and you want to upshift because you're trying to break landspeed records, you would then depress the clutch, switch gears, and wait for RPMs to drop to 3k before you let the clutch out because in 4th gear, at 45mph, you are at 3k rpm. The key is to just figure out what RPM you are at in each gear at a certain speed, and when you put it in that gear, use the gas petal, or lack thereof, to achieve the nature RPM in that gear/speed combination. You'll get used to it, it doesn't take too long. My Evo was my first manual.

 

were are you from?

 

 

all you gotta do is find your "shifting point", heres a few pointers:

On all cars what you can do is put your car in first on a flat surface, put it in gear, and release the clutch with no gas. What you will find is that the car will begin going forwards very slowly. When the car feels it is about to stall you simply push the clutch back in. *that stalling point would be your "shifting point"

MEANING: Usually when you get close to that point is the time you want to start pushing down the gas as slowing as your releasing the clutch. TRY THAT A FEW TIMES TILL YOU GET COMFY.

NOW! try it on a hill, a nice big slanted hill that you wouldnt even wanna walk up. And simply put the thing in first and let the clutch pull the car up the hill slowly.(without using the gas) YOU WILL PROBABLY FREAK OUT AND STALL YOUR CAR A BUNCH OF TIMES, BUT ITS OKAY, ONCE YOU LEARN IT YOU WONT LOOK LIKE THAT FOOL IN THE PRIMERED CIVIC STALLING SHOW OFF FOR HIS HOMEGURL.

*THIS IS HOW YOU LEARN TO DRIVE UP A HILL WITHOUT ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO THE CAR BEHIND YOU.**

try that for about 30min to an hour and you'll impress the ladies in no time.

**As far as your downshifting, i suggest you do these steps first, before wanting to downshift for whatever reasons your thinking about doing.** But my suggestion is to just practice in a parking lot in the evening and wait for everyone to leave work.

You should have done this before you ever bought a stick, but i gues you gotta learn sometime.

Good luck man, Enjoy your stick.

- Adam

 

I'm from the great white north.