hey i'm new to manual. getting really good which is nice=) but my friend told me when coming to a stop at say a light its best to downshift through the gears. i've been doing this but its quite annoying.

he says gives the tranny longer life, i see it as burning out my clutch easier.

so is this good? or just keep it in 6th untill it starts bogging and put it into neutral?

 

You should rev-match while downshifting. i.e. 4th gear--clutch down--slight 'blip' on gas pedal--shift to 3rd gear--clutch up-- foot off gas. All of this should happen smoothly and nearly simultaneously. Shifting more in no way makes the transmission last longer, downshifting incorrectly (without rev-matching) will increase clutch wear. Hope that helps.

 

Here is my two cents.

Every shift, even a good one, causes some wear on the clutch. If you can shift well, than this wear is minimal. I don't see how downshifting would cause the tranny to last longer. Here is what I would suggest.

When approaching a stop light, stop sign, traffic; anything were you know you are going to stop, regardless of gear, shift to neutral and release the clutch. Only do this when you know you will be stopping or slowing a lot. I'm assuming you are in good weather conditions and/or not driving hard and the sudden loss of torque won't cause a problem.

When sitting at a light, etc. leave the car in neutral. Do not sit in gear with the clutch depressed for any length of time. The default position of the clutch is to engage and if you have the clutch disengaged, then the hydraulics are pushing the plates away from each other. This will apply extra force to your bearings in the tranny, causing increased heat and wear.

The only time I downshift is:
1. I feel like practicing for harder driving/learning shift points
2. I am having fun and want to hear the car rev
3. I have reason to think I will be accelerating before coming to a stop.

Do what you will...just my thoughts.

 

absolutely what I do too

 

I think the correct way to drive your car is to ALWAYS downshift. You maintain control when the car is in gear not neutral.
Increased clutch wear using the downshift method? Maybe, but also decraesed break wear since the engine is slowing the car for the most part.
There is no way to drive any car without incurring some wear and the clutch in a manual shift automobile is designed for and intended to be used. Use it purposefully and forget about it. Find other ways to save on clutch wear such as accelerated starts Consider replacing the CDV which is designed to slip the clutch. Not a good Honda idea IMO.
Enjoy your six-speed by using it and downshifting is as much fun as up-shifting .

 

 

 

The minute you start getting overconfident, you're going to fumble.

Not that mine comes close, but watch some Best Motoring vids where they have the "foot cams" to see what some good manual driving is like.


IMHO:
Beginner:
1. sliiiiips the clutch out in first
2. lets revs tumble down between shifts
3. keeps the clutch depressed around corners
4. upshifts during corners
5. doesn't downshift before corners
6. doesn't heel-toe or trail brake (goes with #5)
7. doesn't rev match and "lurches" when downshifting at a constant speed

IMHO the overall goal is to anticipate and plan ahead for the speed and gear changes ahead to put you in the power band you'll need... without upsetting the balance of the car. Powershifting and feeling the car "kick" is fun, but the goal is to be smooooooooth.

 

I disagree, brake's are cheap. A clutch job starts at $500 and just gets worse. Most people can't get a new clutch installed for less than a grand (especially if it's at the dealer).

I could see how it'd be tough to maintain control if the driver were in neutral and taking a fast turn but c'mon, we're talking about slowing down softly when approaching a light (or some other similar instance in which you are trying to just bring the car to a soft stop). Obviously, each instance is different but I think it'd be annoying and also stupid to be in your S2k downshift rev-matching every single time when you were coming to a stop. That's completely unnecessary and for what it's worth, I have yet to spin out when slowing down in a straight line with my car in neutral.

Save the rev match down shifting for when you want to have fun or when you're on the track. Otherwise, I'm also of the opinion that it will cause excess drive train wear, on your clutch and your transmission.

 

staying in gear = safe. i dont care if it puts some wear on my clutch, or tranny, if an incident comes when i have to avoid a major accident (saving my life maybe?) its worth more thne the car itself, let alone wear on clutch.