Originally Posted by Intrepid175,Mar 16 2006, 08:23 PM

Generally correct but to do it properly, it needs to be a fluid motion. When you're shifting gears, you don't, or shouldn't, spend any significant time in neutral. The shift lever just travels through the neutral gate while on it's way to the next gear, whichever way you happen to be going.

One of the problems I had when I first got my S2000, is that I was not accustomed to how fast the engine would rev when I blipped the throttle in an attempt to rev match on a down shift. That, coupled with the fact that the transmission gear ratios are a lot closer than any other manual transmission I had ever driven made it "very" hard to properly rev match. If I pushed the throttle, any at all, during the downshift, I'd overdo it and get a jump when I let off the clutch.

What I do now is, leave the throttle in what should be a steady pace position. That is, have it in a position that it would be in if you were simply holding speed on a level road. Then, when it's time to downshift, just hold the throttle where it is (don't push any extra), push in the clutch, make the gear change and let off the clutch. If you time it right, and it does take practice, you'll be letting off the clutch about the time the rpms get up to where they need to be for the next lower gear and the car won't lurch at all as the clutch engages. The technique is easy enough to practice. Just get it up to 50 mph or so in 6th on a level road. Hold just enough throttle to maintain speed and hold that position with your right foot. Then do a 1, 2, 3, push in the clutch, shift from 6th to 5th, let out the clutch, and see if you can time it so that the engine speed is just coming up to where it needs to be for 5th gear at the 50 mph. The deal is, if you're holding enough throttle to maintain speed, the engine will naturally speed up when you push down on the clutch and take the load off the engine. The key is to not move your throttle while you're doing it. You can also do a 4th to 3rd downshift in the 30 to 35 mph range. It works the same. As you get more used to it, you should be able to do the same thing at just about any speed you want so long as it's within the range of the gear you're downshifting to. It's worked for me anyway!

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

Originally Posted by chuhsi,Mar 16 2006, 10:33 PM

For all you downshifters that run through all the gears..do you brake the whole time?

What I've found is that a lot of people behind me don't realize that I'm slowing down unless they see my brake lights since automatics can coast for much longer...kinda dangerous.