Question for the stick drivers

[fake]

When you're slowing to stop for a light, stop, or whatever ..

do you downshift to 2 always? when? how fast? through 3rd?
do you break with clutch released (engine disengaged) ?

I'm at the point where I can drive stick on major roads not highway yet. Anyways, right now I'm more comfortable with shifting 4-3-2 in one shift and leaving the clutch pressed in and slowing w/o engine.

Parents (both drive stick) say I should be downshifting to 2, engaging engine, slowing, then only at complete stop should I release clutch. When I try that, it seems by the time I downshift i'm at the point where i need to break hard or if not, then the car starts jerking while it slows..

Basically my only problem right now .. any help would be appreciated..

 

[fake]

common someone, i gotta drive to school tommorow!

 

[LAUST]

Driving to School was actually how I learned.. I got home one night and SNAP my linkage busted.. Had to learn a clutch in my moms car that next morning on the way.. 30 minutes and I was doing good, by the end of the day I was not stalling at all and by the end of the week flawless and comfortable with how I learned to drive em..

Thats how you'll have to be.. just do it for awhile and you'll get YOUR feel for em.

 

[Stifko]

you don't have to gear down when coming to a light, you can just coast in neutral to the stop.
if you do go into 2nd to slow down, listen to the engine always, if it sounds bogged down, then press the clutch

 

[Killbat]

When I'm going to slow down to stop (not like regulating speed in traffic, can use engine for that), I press in the clutch, and continue to downshift at the proper speeds in case I have to accelerate. In a nutshell, I take power off the wheels, but I keep the proper gear engaged. Once stopped, I just keep the clutch in and fiddle with the gears, even pop in and out of reverse quickly to check if the guy behind is paying attention.

 

[fake]

Yea I like coasting in neutral, but I've been told it's not the best and if I need to make an abrupt stop in rain sometime it'll come back to me.

 

[IronChefM]

if you're new at stick forget the whole downshifting bit. engage the clutch to slow down and use the brakes. when you come to a stop and put it in neutral only then do you disengage clutch.

good luck. learning stick is well worth it

 

Its your choice.
If you have a long stretch to stop, you could gear down from 4 -> 2 or first and release the clutch fully at every gear along with a little braking. That will slow you nice and evenly.
But down shifting also puts more wear on your tranny then your brakes, and transmission is MUCH more expensive then a set of brakes.
So you could just depress the clutch and brake the entire way and when you get down to reasonable speed and rpm then pull the clutch while in 2nd and continue breaking and slow to a stop, while depressing the clutch before you stall and brake the rest of the way and ease it into 1st at your leisure.

 

[Aenygma]

Todays cars do not need to be downshifted. You are only wearing out your clutch faster.

Only time you need to use it, is when going down a very steep grade.

 

[rlism]

I down shift anyway, just for more control. If you gotta hit the gas for some reason it'll take you that much longer to engage the clutch. It's just habit though, I think either way is okay when taking the driving test, but you gotta leave it in gear? (It's been a while). I always over-roll stop signs in an automatic.

 

[bcterps]

In my 8 years of driving stick, I dont think I've ever downshifted. I just stick it in neutral and press the brakes. Saves the transmission and brakes are much cheaper to service.

--Ben

 

[tweekah]

I downshift only when I need to stop faster. I don't have ABS. Downshifting has saved me from some potential accidents.





<< Parents (both drive stick) say I should be downshifting to 2, engaging engine, slowing, then only at complete stop should I release clutch. >>

Don't be afraid to use the brakes while you downshift.

 

[Cooltech2k]

Best Reccomendation since what speeds will vary from vehichle to vehichle is to just go driver around for a day &amp; try it. Eventually you will find the groove for that vehichle.

Tech

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Keep in mind that it may be a good idea to keep the car in gear - you may need to accelerate quickly to avoid an accident or something.

 

[3615buck]

Always Downshift to 2.
Disengage engine just before it stalls.

 

[gittyup]

I just take it out of gear, unless I am trying to slow down quickly, then I downshift...

 

[holden j caufield]

yeah people always say you should leave it gear just in case but usually when there aren't very many cars around or the situation won't ever require me to accelerate I like to leave in neutral an coast. saves gas and the tranny. good luck

 

[Emulex]

don't downshift to brake, unless you think your brake pads cost more than a clutch job! seriously...

Brake job $50(repco metal masters) + an hour of your time.

clutch job about $300-400...

you decide..

 

[SuperSix]

With a big enough hammer, you can drive any stick.

 

[LordEdmond]

change down its safer be in the correct gear for the speed you are traveling

Here in the UK if you pass your test with a slush box you cannot drive a 5/6 on the floor unless you put on &quot;L&quot; plate again and have somone in the passenger seat

no probs though we have one of each but slush box is in the beamer

 

[3615buck]

OK Emulex, but when you take your driving licence's exam, always downshift to 2 !
Then in real life do whatever you like...

 

[xraymongral]

As others have stated, downshifting just wears your tranny/clutch out faster, and is not necessary. Also, holding the clutch pedal down and coasting produces excessive wear on the clutch preassure plate &quot;fingers&quot;. Downshifting for engine braking can also produce excessive engine(bearing) wear in some engines due to the &quot;reversed&quot; torque the engine is experiancing.

If you still insist on downshifting though, just rev the engine(with the clutch pushed in) a little before you engage the clutch in the lower gear, so that the engine is going the roughly proper RPM's for the gear, this will reduce alot of clutch wear.

Downshifting on a steep down hill is really the only time it is necessary. Or if you want to mimick a semi, whose transmission is built to deal with continuos downshifting.

 

[BenRosey]

Clutch kit --> ~$300
Brakes --> ~$12

I never ever downshift like that.

If you're worried about a fast stop like in the rain I suppose you could downshift but you do need to be quick to be effective. Although I'm not sure it would do much.

Way back in the day the old cars were downshifted, not anymore.

 

[Cyberian]

<< Clutch kit --> ~$300
Brakes --> ~$12

I never ever downshift like that.

If you're worried about a fast stop like in the rain I suppose you could downshift but you do need to be quick to be effective. Although I'm not sure it would do much.

Way back in the day the old cars were downshifted, not anymore. >>



On any slippery surface - you do 'not' want to downshift, upshift, or touch the brakes unless absolutely necessary.


&quot;Way back in the day the old cars were downshifted&quot;
Ben - How long ago was 'the day' ??