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do you EVER downshift into first?

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psteng19

Diamond Member
I've heard that you should NEVER downshift into first.
Is that true?
Even if you're in 2nd, and trying to make it up a hill going at 5 mph?

Or if you're coasting in neutral at low speeds < 5 mph anticipating a stop and all of a sudden you need to accelerate again.
Do you pop it into 2nd or 1st?

My car sometimes doesn't let me put it in 1st, as if something mechanical/physical was stopping me.
<-- still a n00b stick driver
 
maybe once in a while, like if i am rolling into a parking lot or something unusual, but not normally
 
I've shifted into first when rounding a corner at a stop sign when no one is coming. My stickshift 'teacher' said she does it all the time too. I think second gear is preferred in such a situation, but if need be, first is okay too, IMHO.
 
I almost never downshift into first. If you're going more than 5 mph 2nd is where you need to be, 1st is a waste of gas and your clutch.

I can think of maybe 1 time I've done it, and even that time I'm not certain I was in 1st.

EDIT: 1st gear is designed to get you from a complete stop to somewhat moving, and then from there go to 2nd gear. 1st gear was not meant to be downshifted to.
 
I think the reason for this "rule" is that the average driver doesn't shift very well. (Of course, no one here is guilty of this, we're all experts).

If your RPM's match the gear and speed, there should be nothing detrimental about downshifting into first.

Commonly, people rolling slow shouldn't do this because they are at idle and therefore put alot of stress on the syncro's.

That said, there is very little reason for shifting into first unless you are at a complete stop or driving like a maniac. In the case of the latter, the stress on your car's tranny is probably the least of your worries.

 
But sometimes when in 2nd at low speeds ~5 mph, the engine lugs, making a very low rumble as if it's saying 'too damn slow for this gear you dummy'.
 
I try not to I ussually don't but I won't say I've never done it. I would say if your doing a rolling stop its fine.
 
I have done it from time to time, and don't see anything wrong with it as long as you double-clutch, or at least downshift at such a low speed that the engine and tranny are not too much at odds. The times I can think of mostly involved very low-speed turns or going up a steep hill.
 
I've done it from time to time as well. It won't hurt your car to downshift to 1st. What do you think an Automatic transmission does? Just make sure you're not forcing it into gear. Know what your high mph is in first and make sure you downshift when it gets well below half of that. It will keep you from causing your RPMs to jack when the tranny forces the engine to slow the car down.
 
Occasionally if I find myself rolling along at a very slow speed (under 5 mph). Whatever you do, don't force it. I have to double clutch and rev-match for it to let me into 1st. If done right there should be no need to force it at all.
 
My first gear doesn't have a synchro, so I have to be at very low speed, or the right speed, to shift into 1st. I don't really know how to double clutch..
 
barely ever, like... very rarely downshift into first... there is the ODD occasion where i feel i need to and just do it without thinking.

but normally, wait til i am like 1-2mph and then put into first (dont usually put in when i am completely stopped..) just before stop it's really smooth to put into first.
 
Originally posted by: jumpr
I've shifted into first when rounding a corner at a stop sign when no one is coming. My stickshift 'teacher' said she does it all the time too. I think second gear is preferred in such a situation, but if need be, first is okay too, IMHO.
Click to expand...

If your car has enough torque, 2nd works great in the California stop situation. 🙂
 
2nd gear always as long as you're moving just a bit

1st gear if you're going up a hill

if you are going to downshift, give it lots of gas to prevent jerking and horrible engine noise
 
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