Have any of you who have been stirring gears for some time like myself notice a change of technique is required? In order to keep the power flowing smoothly I can no longer lift up on the gas when I push the clutch in, but now must keep the loud pedal absolutely frozen while gears are changed. I'm now trying to un-do years of habit, something I first noticed when I bought a C5 Coupe 6speed 2 yrs. ago. Now the S2000 does the same thing. I'm told clutches now are hydraulic, whatever that means. My guess is, tho, that computer engine controls drop the revs immediately upon engaging the clutch, while the older engines were allowed to sort of free-fall slowly from higher revs, covering up any jerky shifting. Any thoughts?

 

I have not observed the need to use your technique nor have I altered my clutch/throttle/shift lever methodology from any other standard that I have driven.

 

The hydrulic clutch is still human powered, fluid and two cylinders replaces a cable.

Your shifting technique sounds abusive. If I understand you correctly, you're not rev matching at all.

Maybe it worked on bigger cars with more rotational inertia in the drivetrain (flywheel, etc.)

 

I thought rev matching was for downshifts. When I upshift I stay full throttle as well. Occasianally I miss second... but I miss second occasionally whether I lift or not.

-Spoon

 

I think that if I did this, my second gear bark would turn into a slide.

I didn't find it necessary to change my driving style either.

 

The throttle lift allows the drivetrain to slow down near the point it needs to be at when it picks up at the next lower gear.

Otherwise, I think you'd be putting high wear on the synchros and heat/wear on the clutch components.

 

I didn't find any need to change my shifting style.

 

I don't think he has an S2K, the revs would go right to the redline and he would hit the rev limiter no matter how fast he shifted. It would really be hard on the tranny, clutch and diff.

 

*scratch head* I haven't changed my driving style either, but that's probably partly because of my other Honda. That just sounds silly just like the other post regarding the question about letting the clutch out 'slowly' when shifting. Rubbish.

A hydraulic clutch to me feels like it's either in or it's out, no in-between (all three previous Hondas that I've had were like this, most especially the Nighthawk). Not sure of the actual mechanics involved (sort of a power assist?). I do find that it is one of the easiest (read: nicest) shifting cars I've owned.

Just for the hell of it, I would love to be able to 'sample' different people's S2000 shifting technique so I could to see how well (or poorly) people treat a clutch (in real life that is).

 

Are you saying that you can no longer let off the gas 'all the way' or 'part of the way' when shifting? You never let off the gas all the way when upshifting so you can rev match.

What's a 'loud pedal'? Mine are pretty damn quiet.