my car went into 1st at a pretty high rate of speed once... actually locked up the rear tires when i let the clutch back in

... i wasn't trying to do this on purpose though

 

Well, while going home today, I had a few chances where I needed 1st gear, and it went in okay. I'll try to pay attention the next time I have problems going from 2-1.

 

A little bad, but you hardly need to do it often. And maybe not so bad with double clutching and rev-matching, if I do it right, there is really not too much resistance at 15 mph or so. Slipping the clutch at 4500 rpm or higher is sort of bad too but people do it.

 

Sounds like your synchro is fuchhhed, and yes.. just double clutch!

 

???? I'm confused. When coming to a stop sign I usually downshift from whatever gear i'm in and put it into first but I still keep the clutch pressed. Are you folks saying that the shifter won't even let you downshift into first even if you have the clutch pressed?

It does more effort to throw it in there but it can be done. And I hear this whirring of the synchros whenever I do it.

 

Yes, the syncro prevents the gear from slipping in. Gladly, and incredibly.. I don't have that problem - 30mph into 1st = no problem for my gearbox.

 

Yeah same here. Like if I'm coming to a stopsign at 25mph and I know that once I stop I'll need first to get go I just press the clutch, downshift into first, hold the clutch, come to a stop, and then go. I haven't felt this "safety gate" thing.

Maybe our gearboxes are defective Bart?

 

I went out and tested mine last night, I was able to smoothly put it into 1st from second at 28 miles per hour.

 

What I'm saying is that it is quicker and less work to just hit the brakes if you need to stop quickly. In second @ 30ish the time and effort needed to hit the clutch, shift the 8, and hit the brakes would result in an equal or slower stopping time than just braking.

Downshifting to 1st is just something I have never done before, and really haven't tried in this car. It just seems to be unnecessary wear.

 

You can shift while braking, ya know. What foot are you using your clutch with?

 

why would you WANT to shift into 1st at 30 mph, yeah you can shift while braking but if you're going to do it at 30 mph, you need to heel-toe and it's not something most ppl know how to do.

I agree with you DMC, just unnecesary wear for no real gain.

 

Quit using the 30 mph model, as I was just saying it is possible to do it. The subject of this thread (and pretty much every post on page one) has to do with people not knowing how to shift from 2 - 1 unless they are doing under 10 mph. It doesnt change the fact that those having issues with that either have serious problems with thier synchros or need to practice driving.

It kills me how so many people refuse to suck up thier pride and and instead come up with nonsense about heel-toe driving and double clutching being too slow. The fact is, it can be done. Get over it.

 

Settle down, stud.
Your answer =
My answer = And I interpreted your statement "Going down steep hills and having to slow quickly, I use the 2 - 1 downshift to help." as 'when needing to stop quickly, double clutch & downshift into first' (w/ braking, I assume). Do you think this is a quicker method than just braking using *gasp* the brake? BTW, what other "mph Model" is there to use? Do you also downshift to 1st at speeds higher than that?

 

Yes... yes, downshifting will assist in slowing your car. The gear ratios work that way, so yes, it is better to downshift while braking.

 

I just can not imagine having to down shift 2nd to 1st. Them guys in Japan thought to put Huge brakes on the car. Slowing down for hills and stuff should be done with BRAKES.
2nd gear is plenty low enough to roll on the throttle from 10 MPH or so.
I suspect if you continue to down shift from a high speed you will soon need new driveline parts. "Engine braking" is really ENGINE BREAKING.

 

+1 for not having a problem downshifting into first. Not sure if I'm "double clutching" in the traditional technical sense....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to double clutch means you depress the clutch and place the car into neutral, then release the clutch (while still in neutral) and blip the throttle to raise RPM as necessary, and then depress the clutch again and downshift to whatever gear ur downshifting to...?

If that is the case, then I don't do that. I just blip the throttle as I've got the petal depressed while moving the shifter from gear B to gear A...

oh well...