the8freak

Some of my friends who drive MT always shift to neutral, release the clutch and brake. My other friends just engage the clutch and brake. Which is the right way? Also is there a correct way to rev? Do you gas it in neutral, or in gear?

thx

blue flash

i press on the clutch the only time i put it in neutral is if im at a long light and dont want to hold the clutch down.i gas in gear redpessind the clutch is just like being in neutral

Chief

Agreed
The only real reason to put the vehicle in neutral is if you plan to not be moving any time soon.

BIMMER5&RX8

My BMW's manual actually says that you should avoid doing that. You should put the gear in neutral only if you are about to come to a complete stop. Using downshift to slow the car down is also a no-no because break pads are much cheaper to replace compared to the clutch.

djmano

you shouldn't have the clutch disengaged for too long (clutch pedal depressed). its actually 'engaged' when you are off the pedal.

reason being is that it wears out your throw out bearing......which has a limited life.

also, i don't feel that engine braking is dangerous to the transmission/clutch if it is done properly. i can blip my downshifts perfectly with this rotary beast.

ArvinC

I was taught this as well...better to use your brakes to slow and stop your car than the engine. Driving straight ahead, I let the engine slow the car a bit, then push on the clutch, put the car in neutral, release the clutch and use the brakes to stop the car. However, having said that, I was taught you should always have a gear engaged during turning, ie. on/off-ramps. Not having the driving wheels engaged on any manual transmission car during a turn is very dangerous if you should need the engine to help correct your line or slow the car. In a turn, engine braking is definately your friend since it doesn't effect the car's balance as much as braking will.

I think you really cannot go wrong with any technique as long as you don't keep the clutch depressed for long periods of time, as other have already stated.

Arvin

Wurmfist

I would like to add that if you are in neutral in a turn you are loosing traction on the tires. Ideally you want to slow before you enter the turn on a delayed apex (please stay inside your lane) and then accelerate when you are into the turn to gain traction on the tires. Doing this really increases your speed that you can corner, or for those that don't like blowing through curves, it improves traction even if you accelerate a little bit. I don't know the case with the RX-8's because their syncros are excellent but I don't advise switching to neutral while driving because I believe there is a chance of damaging the syncros. I've had to replace syncros for this very reason on a different model car.

Atacdad

Ok, my turn to Hijack this thread a bit...in the same direction though...
Its been >14yrs since I last drove a stick on a regular basis. When I shift the 8 I sense a resistance to leaving the current gear and another as I enter the next. It is more pronounced if I try to shift fast. I've the clutch all the way in (to the floor), a couple of inches of travel past the friction point. That helps, but I get the smoothest shifts if I shift(out)-pause-shift(in). Am I missing something or do y'all think will it smooth out eventually (car is new...~200 miles)?

Wurmfist

I go straight into one gear from another pretty fastly I and don't have a problem. One thing that is very critical with these cars though is to make sure everything is warmed up before you really get into it. There's alot going on in these manual transmissions with the extra syncros and what-not. (Not to mention the oil injectors) Actually I think this transmission is pretty nice it's always shifted very smoothly for me without any complaints for the most part.

crumpmd

I think the original question has to do with when you stop the car to gas up. I stop the car, turn off the key, engage the parking brake and release the clutch and the brake pedal and leave the car in first gear.

ArvinC

It's odd that you say this, because as I was researching the 8, I came across an on-line review that mentioned the gearbox was much smoother when a ever-so-slight pause was used between gears. (They were comparing it to their benchmark box, the Miata's!) I have noticed this as well, but in a very minor way. I usually pause for a split second in neutral before selecting my next gear during relaxed/normal driving. Perhaps, as Wurmfist says, it has to do with the multiple synchros for some of our gears.

During "spirited" driving, I've found that being "smooth" doesn't work. A firm hand and quick clutch/accelerator action make the gearbox work better. Man, when you really get on it, you can row through the gears so fast in this car you can easily forget you're already in sixth! I maybe reaching here, but everything about the 8 just flat works better once the Rotor gets above 6000 RPMs...including the gearbox!! :D

Arvin

Atacdad

I believe I read the same review. I'm still taking it easy on the car and not getting into it yet much until I have some more miles on it. I can say I'm getting better/smoother. I think it may just be my rustiness...as I get used to the RPMs (5000 just screams "shift me before I blow up"...old school here ) and can match them closer on shifts, its getting easier.

emailists

I think this was the original question- at a light - clutch in or go to N?

Of course it depends on how long you are going to be waiting- bui tthat being sadi- I have a friend that used to drive stick for many years- he said he never went to N at a light- just clutched in and never had any transmision repairs- I belive it was a Honda.
Of course I usually am in N at a light- but after hearing that- I have been less **** about always being in N- I sometimes clutch in for as long as 30 secs - maybe even a minute sometiimes.

Wurmfist

I always just clutch in and wait in first. Even if it's a long light. I think it's more habit for me than anything else but you never know when you are going to have to get out of the way of something quickly, even at a red light.

RobDickinson

Yes its bad, but not because of any mechanical reason.

Always, always have the car in gear or changing gear unless your stopping.

If its not in gear then you dont have ful control of the vehicle.

You cant accelerate unless the car is in gear.

downshift

It will eventually smooth out, at least for me. It should get smoother around 800 miles or so. I can tell the difference too because I do mostly city driving (mostly 2nd, 3rd gear), my 2-3-4 shifts are smoother now compared to 4-5-6 shifts.