How to drive a stick? **Downshift or Brake?**

[m2kewl]

DOH, where's Roger?

 

[Ultima]

Originally posted by: Synergy
ah too many rules, I don't know which one to follow!

Just stick to basics. Don't worry about double-clutching, heel-toe, downshifting or any other of that crap for now. When braking, just brake normally and put it into neutral.

 

[ElFenix]

man... another ATer gets a manual when they don't know how to drive one...

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior
I dont know how my dad drove his 911, Ill ask him tommorow. Eitherway, when I was learning on our Passat, I just assumed to go to neutral and use the brakes straight up. But after asking him, he said it doesn't necessarily matter. And yes, not through each gear..more like..5th...3rd....1st or neutral. Very smooth. OH well, what the hell do I know.

You sound as though you know a good deal actually.

I was just thinking about the way I used to shift when I was first learning (clutch out, select gear, clutch in, no rev-matching/double-clutching, lurchy as all hell) and I didn't think it would be a great idea for a novice stick-shift driver to make a habit of going down through the gears without getting more practice under his belt.

As I've said, it can be done (via double-clutching and rev-matching), but it takes some time to get those things right and until then it's not a great idea (IMO) to make extra gear-changes.

ZV

Why do you have to double clutch to downshift? Clutch, shift into the lower gear, rev the engine up, and let in the clutch.

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Excelsior I dont know how my dad drove his 911, Ill ask him tommorow. Eitherway, when I was learning on our Passat, I just assumed to go to neutral and use the brakes straight up. But after asking him, he said it doesn't necessarily matter. And yes, not through each gear..more like..5th...3rd....1st or neutral. Very smooth. OH well, what the hell do I know.

You sound as though you know a good deal actually. I was just thinking about the way I used to shift when I was first learning (clutch out, select gear, clutch in, no rev-matching/double-clutching, lurchy as all hell) and I didn't think it would be a great idea for a novice stick-shift driver to make a habit of going down through the gears without getting more practice under his belt. As I've said, it can be done (via double-clutching and rev-matching), but it takes some time to get those things right and until then it's not a great idea (IMO) to make extra gear-changes. ZV

Why do you have to double clutch to downshift? Clutch, shift into the lower gear, rev the engine up, and let in the clutch.

It really depends on the transmission. Like Zenmervolt said, the cars that he usually drives have weak syncros, so double clutching saves him time and money in the future. More current transmissions were built more "idiot-proof" and don't require doubleclutching.

 

[Vic]

Dear God, people make mountains out of molehills here!!
It's a brand-new Mazda6, for Christ's sake! It doesn't have to be double-clutched, ever. The brakes are fantastic so you only need to downshift when you want to (I recommend, however, not downshifting into 1st while moving).
As for driving a stick, it's easy. The most important thing is to know why you are shifting (engine torque range, etc.). Then just remember to (1) never slip the clutch, (2) shift up, don't ride at high rpms, (3) always use the clutch when you're supposed to, (4) don't powershift, and (5) have fun!