Driving a stick shift
 

1. RPM's: I'm a pretty good shifter but not perfect and want to improve. Is there an ideal rpm to shift at before going from 1st to 2nd and so on? I can shift with almost no jerk everywhere except going from first to second. I have sen guys comment that they rev up to 3000 before shifting. This seems high to me.

2. In regular street traffic, should I leave foot off accelerator until the clutch has been completely released? I formed a habit in the 60's of resuming accelerating simultaneous with re-engagement (release of pedal) of the clutch. I don't remember jerking as much then as I do now. Maybe the gear ratios were more forgiving.

3. I notice it shifting more smoothly if I gradually let out the clutch after the higher gear is selected, but I don't remember having to do this in the 60's with the trucks and jeeps I drove, and I wonder if I am needlessly stressing the clutch.

I appreciate any and all tips, and mods feel free to move this if there is a better place for it. Thanks,

Rob

Driving a stick shift
 

I'm not sure what you're driving, but I assume it's a late model. I recommend you try the "fuel economy" shift points published in the manual as an experiment. Try them under light and heavy acceleration; if you still are too jerky, it's either your technique, mechanical, or both. Regarding technique, see below.

OK, I feel your pain. I have a 2014 and this is my first manual with a drive-by-wire throttle. I've come to the conclusion that the position of the accelerator pedal may or may not correspond with reality depending on the engine calibration.

It isn't crazy to rev much higher than you'd expect, because it seems like the computer kinds of takes over and adjusts the throttle to what it thinks you're trying to do.

When I use the TracKey calibration the car behaves much more like a traditionally operated throttle.

There's just no comparison to the 60's and 70's clutches. They are different animals. An old 60's Corvette required the driver being able to leg press over 200 lbs it seems :lol3: I also remember an old '73 Fiat 4 speed I owned that had a simple clutch cable that used to wear out after about 10,000 miles. The clutch feeling was just night and day compared to our modern machines.
I also have a tendency to jerk my GT going into 2nd gear. You really have to concentrate to smooth it out with gradual easement of the clutch. I do find that higher RPM's help the transition. The other gear shifts are generally smooth no matter what speed or RPM. I just accept it for what it is. I'm like you and don't remember the old cars being so sensitive. I doubt I'm hurting the clutch. Hopefully not but I only have 25,000 miles on the car.

Yes, that's me as well. Exactly. I will do some experimenting today and report back. Thanks guys.

The smoother you transist from in and out of gears just adds more wear on your clutch anyways.


I typically rev a little bit higher, around 2,500 - 3000RPM's to allow you to shift smoother and not have to ride the clutch to get the smooth shifting experience.

JoeMidnight, that sounds logical to me too but each manufacturer is so different when it comes to the quality of clutches, and things change over the years. I wonder how long our current Mustang clutches last for 'on average'? Are they even made well? I think they probably are made well as I've owned two other Fords with clutches in the past. An '82 Mustang GT with a 4 speed never failed after 60,000 miles of use between both my wife and I (different driving styles). We even had a Ford Escort GT back in the early 90's and the engine quit before the clutch did. We won't talk about that crappy Mazda engine in there :shame:
I'm thinking positive for our current 5 speed. I hope so anyway.
How ya doin robjh22??

So you would let it out fast to save wear at the expense of jerking? I'm not criticizing, just asking what your shifting style is.

Apparently that is what he does but I'll let him speak for himself.
I don't. I like a smoother transition. I went to a car show yesterday and over the 100 miles of travel I really concentrated on the 1st to 2nd shifting since you now brought this to my attention. :hmm: I still found the higher RPM's better when shifting but I also shifted around 10 mph just for grins after I came to a few stop lights. It was quite smooth if you ease up slowly. I just have to get in that habit more when I have a passenger. I seriously doubt this slow easing will cause premature wear on the clutch unless you are constantly in stop and go traffic or using this method through all 5 gears (which isn't necessary). Heavy traffic will kill clutches fast anyway.
** I talked to another Mustang owner at the show and asked him about his 5 speed (he had an '06 GT) and he fell in the same boat as us, really not thinking about it until I brought it up. He agreed about the 1st to 2nd jerkiness. It's just one of those things apparently unless you make a concentrated effort to smooth it out.

Well, yesterday I blended two suggestions here -- shift at 3000, and let out slowly, but not extremely slowly -- and it was smooth as buttah. Will keep experimenting. Letting it out fast going in to second is just not going to work for me.

Thanks for the feedback! Let's keep talking. Interested in all suggestions.

Driving a stick shift
 

On a less serious note, but still true...

If you don't want to choose between jerkiness and clutch wear you could always choose tire wear instead... :chirp: