slowing down for a turn and then what?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,731
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, AB
Lets keep it simple. Before you go into a corner, push the clutch in, select the lower gear, and slowly let the clutch out.
Apply brakes before or after downshifting, whichever you're comfortable with. Go thru the corner, accelerating after you are half-way thru, get back to cruising speed, clutch in, select higher gear, clutch out (no gas required).
That is the newbie way to do it.
Practise this, then go onto this step:
Do what you did before, but this time, push the clutch pedal in, select the lower gear, now, before you let out the clutch, "blip" the throttle, raising your engine speed about 1000 RPM. Let off the clutch reasonably fast (not as slow as you normally would). This will speed match your trans. components, for a smoother (and faster) downshift, and it will also prevent some wear on the components.
Once you are good at blipping the throttle on a downshift, then move onto heel-toe... but I won't explain that yet.
I taught my little brother how to blip the throttle on just his second experience in a manual tranny car... and now he owns an '04 Mazda3 5 speed, which I have now taught him how to heel-toe on, and he's doing great after barely 900 miles on the car.
practise makes perfect.
Apply brakes before or after downshifting, whichever you're comfortable with. Go thru the corner, accelerating after you are half-way thru, get back to cruising speed, clutch in, select higher gear, clutch out (no gas required).
That is the newbie way to do it.
Practise this, then go onto this step:
Do what you did before, but this time, push the clutch pedal in, select the lower gear, now, before you let out the clutch, "blip" the throttle, raising your engine speed about 1000 RPM. Let off the clutch reasonably fast (not as slow as you normally would). This will speed match your trans. components, for a smoother (and faster) downshift, and it will also prevent some wear on the components.
Once you are good at blipping the throttle on a downshift, then move onto heel-toe... but I won't explain that yet.
I taught my little brother how to blip the throttle on just his second experience in a manual tranny car... and now he owns an '04 Mazda3 5 speed, which I have now taught him how to heel-toe on, and he's doing great after barely 900 miles on the car.
practise makes perfect.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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Originally posted by [ llcrayonll |>
i don't think you should be worrying about heel and toe just yet... you might get confused and panic, which won't be good. if you want a really really simple way to take a corner for daily driving, just do this:
as you're coming to a turn, just throw the car into neutral and use your brakes to coast into the turn. take the turn at a comfortable speed, say 15-20 mph. once you've made the turn, or maybe during the turn, put the car in second gear and you're done.
i don't think you should be worrying about heel and toe just yet... you might get confused and panic, which won't be good. if you want a really really simple way to take a corner for daily driving, just do this:
as you're coming to a turn, just throw the car into neutral and use your brakes to coast into the turn. take the turn at a comfortable speed, say 15-20 mph. once you've made the turn, or maybe during the turn, put the car in second gear and you're done.
Doing it at 15-20 mph where he might get away with it is teaching him incorrect principles of driving and one day he might try it at 50mph and end up wrapped around a post.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 308
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From: ATL
i agree also, muz. i'm not suggesting he should continue to drive like that, just trying to find a way to minimize any thought out of it. but the way you put it, i realize that it is bad advice. probably be best to just shift into 2cd gear at the appropriate speed BEFORE the turn, just because i'm concerned he's not ready to shift and turn at the same time. not something to learn on the open road.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: North Providence
not totally sure but i think you guys are looking farther into the question then he wants 
im guessing what you want to know is if your moving, not giving it gas and have the clutch in, can you let off the clutch without gassing it(?). not sure if i would recommend it because it may be un-needed stress on the synchros. but as long as your going say, 30 in say, 3rd gear (not too too sure of s2000 gear ratios so bear with me) you should be able to let off the clutch without gassing it and just sorta coast thru the corner while still have power on demand
im guessing what you want to know is if your moving, not giving it gas and have the clutch in, can you let off the clutch without gassing it(?). not sure if i would recommend it because it may be un-needed stress on the synchros. but as long as your going say, 30 in say, 3rd gear (not too too sure of s2000 gear ratios so bear with me) you should be able to let off the clutch without gassing it and just sorta coast thru the corner while still have power on demand
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,962
Likes: 7
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Jeez, give the guy a break. The S2000 is my first (manual RWD) car and I don't drive it like a madman. Learning is half the fun as long as you don't get too cocky.
Not every new driver is out to jack up your insurance rates.
Not every new driver is out to jack up your insurance rates.
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