Downshifting in the S is amazing...
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,543
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From: Mississauga
Originally posted by Guedo512
im a little hesitant on the rev match. i can get a very smooth down shift just by feathering, no bucking at all. ill begin to try the rev match, its just gonna take me some time to get used to the power band and gear ratios i guess.
im a little hesitant on the rev match. i can get a very smooth down shift just by feathering, no bucking at all. ill begin to try the rev match, its just gonna take me some time to get used to the power band and gear ratios i guess.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 819
Likes: 9
From: San Diego, North County
Feather the clutch! But as you get practice, you'll be able to match the revs and engage the clutch almost instantly, yet still smoothly.
I still can't get over how sweet it sounds when you downshift to about 7000 RPMs as you decelerate.
I still can't get over how sweet it sounds when you downshift to about 7000 RPMs as you decelerate.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 481
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From: los angeles
Originally posted by RazorV3
rev-matching also prevents the rear end to break loose(since the engine and transmission are spinning at the same speeds), especially during a turn.
rev-matching also prevents the rear end to break loose(since the engine and transmission are spinning at the same speeds), especially during a turn.
Snap oversteer is not to be taken lightly in this car, if you are in a turn and you don't rev match you will likely break your rear end loose and be seeing the world backwards faster than you can react. Especially if your turn is aggessive (the way I always seem to take them
) Always rev match when downshifting in turns and be careful braking too hard in turns as well. I once had to pay $2500 for that lesson.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
Likes: 45
From: Central Massachusetts
As most have said, feathering the clutch while engaging a lower gear to decelerate is similar to "riding the clutch" while accelerating. It's more wear and tear on the clutch. Please use care when downshifting to be sure you're in the right gear; if you've downshifted 3 gears rather than 1 accidentally, you're gonna' be in a world of hurt if you're quick off the clutch. I recommend against downshifting into a near-redline situation (unless you're racing). It's too risky.
BTW, my feet just aren't built well for heel and toe (I'm massively duck-footed). I'm here to tell you that you can still do clean rev-matched downshifts without heel-toe as long as you don't need to be on the brakes at the same time.
I find with the S that I'm rarely braking mid-turn, so I'm generally completing a downshift as I'm coming out a turn and getting on the gas. Sometimes, I've already got the right gear before entering the turn.
As far as slowing down in a straight line... I like to alternate between applying the brakes and sequentially dropping the engine into lower gears. A properly rev-matched downshift provides some engine braking and a wonderful cacophony of sound!!
Oh, and did I mention I double-clutch every shift!
Mr. Smooth. 
BTW, my feet just aren't built well for heel and toe (I'm massively duck-footed). I'm here to tell you that you can still do clean rev-matched downshifts without heel-toe as long as you don't need to be on the brakes at the same time.
I find with the S that I'm rarely braking mid-turn, so I'm generally completing a downshift as I'm coming out a turn and getting on the gas. Sometimes, I've already got the right gear before entering the turn.
As far as slowing down in a straight line... I like to alternate between applying the brakes and sequentially dropping the engine into lower gears. A properly rev-matched downshift provides some engine braking and a wonderful cacophony of sound!!
Oh, and did I mention I double-clutch every shift!
Mr. Smooth.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 797
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From: Charleston, SC
All interesting advice...I never knew there was so much to downshifting. I'm still kind of shaky on the whole rev match thing but then again I'm a novice manual driver. Maybe someone could provide a really good, hand's on example?