hokiegl

First, I’d like to say Hello. I just joined this forum and my RX-8 has been in my possession for only a week.
So, now, to my question.
I’ve only been driving stick for a week now, and I would like someone to answer a question about downshifting and the synchros. Whenever I try to downshift, it takes way too long. About 2-3 seconds. As I pass through neutral and try to put it in the lower gear, the shifter resists (I don’t fight it of course), and then after 2-3 sec, it slides in easily. I guess the long wait is for the synchros to speed up the lay shaft (is that what its called?). The only way that I have found to perform a quick <1 sec downshift is to double clutch. I guess manually speeding up the lay shaft is faster then using the synchros.

Am I doing something wrong or is this normal? Basically, without double clutching are downshifts supposed to be a bit slow?

wakeech

i dunno about 2-3 seconds, you could try suggesting it into gear a little harder (i never drive manual on the street, except in the RX-8's of some of the people i've met from this forum). also, you don't need to shift down through every gear when you slow down, especially if you know you're going to come to a stop.

just remember that there are no rules on shifting, you can skip gears on the way up or down. other'n that, it sounds like you're really intent on learning to drive well, so just keep at it; it's an art more than a science.

truemagellen

I'm not sure what is going on...maybe you are just not used to the resistance...check out
http://www.standardshift.com/index.html which I red religiously to make sure I was a great shifter before I picked up my 8 since I had driven piece-o-craps before and could've cared less if the car blew up on me let alone if the tranny had turned into shrapnel

make sure to look over the forums here and especially on the standardshift website as there are many race car drivers who post their insite on this site and that site.

ONE THING TO NOTE...make sure to account for the fact our car revs to 9300 (or more since lots 'rules' don't apply to our car (especially downshifting)...I drive to work and instead of coffee in the morning I downshift from 5 or 6 to 4 for a single cup or skip 4 and straight to 3 for the entire coffee pot...now this is when I am already going about 50 to 65 mphs (sometimes more sometimes less)...a non-rotary engine would blow its seals doing this and blow the engine and blow several thousand of your hard earned dollars... in other words...this is why there are entire fan clubs and people who worship the rotary engine (including me...and soon hopefully you)

DONT TRY the downshifting to 3 till your comfortable with the car (especially shifting!)...if you don't have DSC and TSC on (or don't have one of them install) you may lose control of the car...which is really bad going over 75mph...but once your comfortable this is easy as pie

DemonRX-8

In normal driving, try blipping the throttle during the downshift to match the engine and transmisison speed, then it should slide smoothly into gear. You'll be heel-and-toeing in no time after that!

kristopher_d

Ummmm, ditto.

truemagellen

right on Demon...
you've got to give it gas while you are downshifting for the powershifting goodness of downshifting... (sorry forgot to type that in my last response)

if you are downshifting to SLOW down though...dont give it gas, instead use the clutch like a brake for a smooth slow down...letting it down just a bit, smoothly and slowly

RX-8 friend

Remember your trasmission is new - not "broken in". It may take a few thousand miles for the parts to fully machine themselves for a good match/fit. Syncros especially. The way they work is they have a "clutch surface" that rubs and speeds up/slows down the next gear. This surface will not work optimally until it has full engagement - in other words until the surface is worn to match the one it engages with.

Be patient, it'll get better.