How Do I Downshift Properly?

Bad Boy · 09-13-2014, 01:25 PM

I seem to have trouble mastering the Downshifting...
A lot of times Im driving at 60-70MPH and when I approach a turn I take it at about 20MPH.
The thing is I never seem to downshift/ or know how to, when I approach such curves. I always come up short and end up not shifting all the way to desired gear. I dont want to start downshifting from a long distance and slow traffic down...
Am I supposed to downshift sporadically from 70-20MPH? Wont that waste the clutch?
Someone guide me!

Bad Boy · 09-13-2014, 01:28 PM

TO CLEAR THINGS UP
It seems that when I want to brake fast from 70-20MPH shifting from 6-2nd is a motion of one gear after the other, constant clutching... is that what im supposed to do? or am I doing something wrong?

And how Am I supposed to brake and blip throttle at the same time? The pedals arent exactly strategically placed in my favor. Do I even blip the throttle? or do I just wait to match my speed to proper lower gear?

Super Werty · 09-13-2014, 01:42 PM

I would suggest having someone teach you how to drive in person. Trying to explain it over the internet is not ideal

Bad Boy · 09-13-2014, 02:04 PM

falconfixer · 09-13-2014, 02:23 PM

PM DEpoint50 or kenchan. I believe one of them taught driver's ed and can walk you through the basics but I can't remember who.

DEpointfive0 · 09-13-2014, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falconfixer

PM DEpoint50 or kenchan. I believe one of them taught driver's ed and can walk you through the basics but I can't remember who.

Not me. I can't wait for manuals to die... LOL

1slow370 · 09-24-2014, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Not me. I can't wait for manuals to die... LOL

I was gonna say no way has this guy ever taught drivers ed lol least of all how to drive a manual. No offense here OP really some of us where there once but you really are a noob. As far as daily driving goes you will get better at it eventually, I'm not going to say don't have fun but right now what you should be doing is the basics to get to know your car and get the feel for driving a manual, it is like a bike after a while you don't even think about it and can pretty much do it totally inebriated(not saying you should that sometimes ends very badly). Start with the things that help you be a better manual driver and keep the most embarrassing things from happening to you. A big part of driving a manual is clutch and gas control and switching between them and one of the suckiest things to do that needs this is hill starts, find a REALLY steep incline and stop right on it(find a spot where you can do this without being a nuisance and preferably without embarrassing yourself) the best hills are the ones with signs that say "warning steep grade all trucks check brakes" when you can start up that thing without rolling back more than a foot, without spinning the tires, without using your e brake and without looking differently than an automatic car and you can do it consistently no problem you will have figured out one of the hardest parts to driving a manual. Cornering will be no different from an automatic car so unless this is your first car period, once you can drive a manual normally without thinking about it, this will come naturally.

On a personal note are you duck lipping in your avatar pic?

Bad Boy · 09-24-2014, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

I was gonna say no way has this guy ever taught drivers ed lol least of all how to drive a manual. No offense here OP really some of us where there once but you really are a noob. As far as daily driving goes you will get better at it eventually, I'm not going to say don't have fun but right now what you should be doing is the basics to get to know your car and get the feel for driving a manual, it is like a bike after a while you don't even think about it and can pretty much do it totally inebriated(not saying you should that sometimes ends very badly). Start with the things that help you be a better manual driver and keep the most embarrassing things from happening to you. A big part of driving a manual is clutch and gas control and switching between them and one of the suckiest things to do that needs this is hill starts, find a REALLY steep incline and stop right on it(find a spot where you can do this without being a nuisance and preferably without embarrassing yourself) the best hills are the ones with signs that say "warning steep grade all trucks check brakes" when you can start up that thing without rolling back more than a foot, without spinning the tires, without using your e brake and without looking differently than an automatic car and you can do it consistently no problem you will have figured out one of the hardest parts to driving a manual. Cornering will be no different from an automatic car so unless this is your first car period, once you can drive a manual normally without thinking about it, this will come naturally.

On a personal note are you duck lipping in your avatar pic?

Well this thread is a few weeks old. I have the hang of it now. Like another said, its not rocket science. I can drive perfectly fine, and on hills too.

And no, Im blowing a kiss

JARblue · 09-24-2014, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Not me. I can't wait for manuals to die... LOL

Then send me that sticker and

Voice59 · 09-13-2014, 02:27 PM

Umm...what? I would say the fastest way to brake from that kind of speed is with the BRAKES. But if it was me driving, I'd apply brakes for the desired speed I'd like to take the turn and then put it in the desired gear. Depending on how I want to accelerate out of the turn I generally use 1 gear for every 10's of mph I'm going. So if I'm slowing down to 20mph and I want to quickly accelerate out of the turn I'd go to 2nd gear. Once I get into the higher mph if I want to accelerate quickly out of the turn I use -1 gear for every 10 mph (this is just regular street driving btw). So if I'm going 50 mph then I put it into 4th gear. But that's just a rule I use for myself. Like that other guy said, you should probably have someone show you in person.

Bad Boy · 09-13-2014, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voice59

Umm...what? I would say the fastest way to brake from that kind of speed is with the BRAKES. But if it was me driving, I'd apply brakes for the desired speed I'd like to take the turn and then put it in the desired gear. Depending on how I want to accelerate out of the turn I generally use 1 gear for every 10's of mph I'm going. So if I'm slowing down to 20mph and I want to quickly accelerate out of the turn I'd go to 2nd gear. Once I get into the higher mph if I want to accelerate quickly out of the turn I use -1 gear for every 10 mph (this is just regular street driving btw). So if I'm going 50 mph then I put it into 4th gear. But that's just a rule I use for myself. Like that other guy said, you should probably have someone show you in person.

I think your the only one who understood what I was trying to ask!
So your saying if your driving at lets say, 70MPH in 6th, when you approach a turn... you brake to 20-25MPH while in 6th, then switch to 2nd? You dont go through the other gears?

Voice59 · 09-13-2014, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad Boy

I think your the only one who understood what I was trying to ask!
So your saying if your driving at lets say, 70MPH in 6th, when you approach a turn... you brake to 20-25MPH while in 6th, then switch to 2nd? You dont go through the other gears?

You CAN cycle through all the gears and engine breake but if you're looking to slow down quickly on a city street I just don't see that as a viable option. I'm very familiar with the streets where I'm at so I have an idea of what gear I want to be in when I exit my turns. I would (in the scenario you're using) apply brakes and clutch and shift to 2nd simultaneously, upon exiting the turn I'd ease off clutch allow the gears to engage and apply throttle.

totopo · 09-13-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad Boy

I think your the only one who understood what I was trying to ask!
So your saying if your driving at lets say, 70MPH in 6th, when you approach a turn... you brake to 20-25MPH while in 6th, then switch to 2nd? You dont go through the other gears?

just skip all the other gears. No need to even heel toe on the street. Just brake, clutch, shifter in neutral, finish braking, turn, shifter to second, slowly clutch out and a little gas as you come out of turn.

MJB · 09-13-2014, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totopo

just skip all the other gears. No need to even heel toe on the street. Just brake, clutch, shifter in neutral, finish braking, turn, shifter to second, slowly clutch out and a little gas as you come out of turn.

Ummm.. you should never just shift into neutral while the vehicle is moving, let alone during a turn.

olddudesrule · 09-13-2014, 06:05 PM

If you don't have the time for one-on-one lessons, look up manual shifting on You Tube. There's hundreds of videos on there for driving enthusiasts. I agree that you're skills will grow with time, but be careful on the street. There aren't a lot of areas, sans a highway transition, where you should be going from 70mph to 20mph. Don't drive past your skill limit.....makes it unsafe for you and for the rest of us.

I would seriously suggest, like someone on here already has, that you get involved with an autocross club in your area. Guys and gals there would love to teach you everything you want to know, and you can thrash the hell out of your car if you want.

09-13-2014, 01:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bad Boy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando Age: 34 Posts: 295 Drives: 370Z 6SPD Touring Rep Power: 11	How Do I Downshift Properly? I seem to have trouble mastering the Downshifting... A lot of times Im driving at 60-70MPH and when I approach a turn I take it at about 20MPH. The thing is I never seem to downshift/ or know how to, when I approach such curves. I always come up short and end up not shifting all the way to desired gear. I dont want to start downshifting from a long distance and slow traffic down... Am I supposed to downshift sporadically from 70-20MPH? Wont that waste the clutch? Someone guide me!

09-13-2014, 01:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Super Werty Track Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: AZ Posts: 668 Drives: '13 Sport Rep Power: 13	I would suggest having someone teach you how to drive in person. Trying to explain it over the internet is not ideal Shawa and Cbtech like this. __________________ The Build

09-13-2014, 02:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Voice59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Va Beach, Virginia Posts: 1,418 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	Umm...what? I would say the fastest way to brake from that kind of speed is with the BRAKES. But if it was me driving, I'd apply brakes for the desired speed I'd like to take the turn and then put it in the desired gear. Depending on how I want to accelerate out of the turn I generally use 1 gear for every 10's of mph I'm going. So if I'm slowing down to 20mph and I want to quickly accelerate out of the turn I'd go to 2nd gear. Once I get into the higher mph if I want to accelerate quickly out of the turn I use -1 gear for every 10 mph (this is just regular street driving btw). So if I'm going 50 mph then I put it into 4th gear. But that's just a rule I use for myself. Like that other guy said, you should probably have someone show you in person. SilverValk01 likes this. __________________ Amuse//GTM//Stance//Z1//ONEighty//Defi//VolkRacing//FLy1Motorsports Seibon//FastIntentions//Zspeed//Mishimoto//EBC//Innovate//Defi//Ichiba Quaife//RJM//Galeforce//ShineAuto//TWM//IG @n0w_u_z_me

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09-13-2014, 01:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bad Boy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando Age: 34 Posts: 295 Drives: 370Z 6SPD Touring Rep Power: 11	TO CLEAR THINGS UP It seems that when I want to brake fast from 70-20MPH shifting from 6-2nd is a motion of one gear after the other, constant clutching... is that what im supposed to do? or am I doing something wrong? And how Am I supposed to brake and blip throttle at the same time? The pedals arent exactly strategically placed in my favor. Do I even blip the throttle? or do I just wait to match my speed to proper lower gear?

09-13-2014, 02:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bad Boy Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Orlando Age: 34 Posts: 295 Drives: 370Z 6SPD Touring Rep Power: 11

09-13-2014, 02:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
falconfixer Track Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 10aC Posts: 978 Drives: Taco Rep Power: 77	PM DEpoint50 or kenchan. I believe one of them taught driver's ed and can walk you through the basics but I can't remember who.

09-13-2014, 06:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
olddudesrule Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 252 Drives: 2012 Nismo Rep Power: 12	If you don't have the time for one-on-one lessons, look up manual shifting on You Tube. There's hundreds of videos on there for driving enthusiasts. I agree that you're skills will grow with time, but be careful on the street. There aren't a lot of areas, sans a highway transition, where you should be going from 70mph to 20mph. Don't drive past your skill limit.....makes it unsafe for you and for the rest of us. I would seriously suggest, like someone on here already has, that you get involved with an autocross club in your area. Guys and gals there would love to teach you everything you want to know, and you can thrash the hell out of your car if you want.