nenglender

Do you always start in first, or do you ever start in second, and I don't mean when facing down hill?

I occasionally start in second just to get away more smoothly (usually when 'er indoors is with me) but I am concerned in case this is harmful long term.

Any views please? Thanks.

Kobe

depends if you are slipping the clutch in order to get away smoothly...I notice on hill starts that you can't slip the clutch for more than a few seconds before it starts to stink.

xviper

A standing start from 2nd gear requires more input of power, torque, clutch slippage, or a combination of some or all of these. No matter how careful or smooth you are, logically, you are putting extra stress & wear & tear on the cars components even though it may be minute. If one day you forget you are in 2nd and have the need to take off more quickly, you may do more wear & tear than you'd like.

Tonky

Yes.. I use 1st. every time. This clutch is designed to be hammered at the top end..... not the bottom! My son works for a firm that do small precision engineering jobs. They do a lot of work for a guy who wants alterations to flywheels and clutch housings etc. to fit into various racing and rallying cars. This guy is very knowledgable about car engineering. On the subject of the S2000 he says he is mystified as to how Honda have achieved a clutch that revs to 9000 revs as clutches tend to disintegrate at much beyond 8000 revs.

sousleau

as clutches tend to disintegrate at much beyond 8000 revs

Formula 1 (before auto clutches and what not) went well beyond 8000 RPM.
Commonly available motorcycles go beyond 8000 RPM.

The high revving auto is ably represented by the S2K.
It just took a racing and motorcycle company to bring the high revs to the production auto.

Nick Graves

It takes ages to reach 6K in 1st.

It would take forever starting in second - why bother