Just wondering since my 2012 mustang GT is my only car. I often start out in 2nd gear at stoplights and stop signs. Was wondering if there are any negative side effects this will cause or if this is pretty common as first gear is pretty much useless and i only use it when starting from a really steep hill. Also sometimes when i start off and shift into second from neutral it will grind and get stuck in between neutral and second it will only do this when i'm stopped and start pushing the gas.

 

I don't know the technical aspects of it but starting from a stoplight in second doesn't sound normal. The only time I'll start from second is if I'm on a downhill or have forward momentum.

 

I assume he has 3:73's. I have them also, and yes, first gear is useless. I start in second 99% of the time. I've read that it might wear your clutch faster, but no one has confirmed it.

 

Starting out in 2nd gear (or any other gear) does not wear out the clutch, slipping the clutch is what wears it out. Start in 2nd gear all you want, just get your foot off the clutch pedal asap, and never ride the clutch pedal.

 

Hey Vegas,

As long as you are not riding the clutch, you should see no negative effects.

I start out in second all the time in my 2014 Track Pack 5.0, who needs first gear when you have 3.73's .

You have nothing to worry about!

-Will

 

I've got 3.73s as well and my wife can't drive my car unless she starts out in second. This was established when she accidentally did the very first burnout in my car as she put it in first for the first time, lol!

 

Agreed. Though I have been using first more often now, if only to hear my exhaust more!

 

The title is very misleading for this topic.

 

hahaha I'd have to agree

Mine tends to bog if I start in second unless I give it a lot of gas, but I have measly 3.31's

 

As previously mentioned, starting in 2nd (which I do all the time in my unfortunately bumper-to-bumper daily commute on I-35E) by itself will not damage your clutch at all.

It's all about the final ratio created by your transmission's gear and the rear end. With the MT-82 and the 3.73 rear end, I believe 1st gear produces a final ratio of something around 13.65 (which is on the high end for daily driving).

In 2nd, the final ratio should be around 9.06 (which isn't all that much lower than 1st gear in some other stock setups... e.g., the Tremec with a 3.31 rear end has a final ratio of 9.83 in 1st).

Since the Coyote certainly has plenty of torque, for daily driving you could almost eliminate 1st gear altogether (other than starting from a stop on a steep hill).

On a car with less torque, starting in 2nd would become problematic, because the only way to keep from stalling would be to slip the clutch, (which artificially increases the final ratio by allowing the transmission gear to turn a bit more than it does with the clutch fully engaged).

 

I have 3.73s as well, and I honestly don't get why people complain about 1st being useless. It's only about 5mph shorter than in 3.31 car (42mph vs 47 @7k RPM).

I shift into 2nd by 10 to 15 mph usually, but I pretty much always use my 1st gear. That's what it's for

With that said i know I can start from second, but I guess I like shifting too much

 

With that said i know I can start from second, but I guess I like shifting too much
Oh, I love shifting- especially downshifting into a turn (Boss quad exhast popping and grumbling... mmmmmm). However, try 60-90 minutes- 2x PER DAY- of creeping along at 0-20mph in the kind of crap in the picture below.

Jusssst about the time you finally shift out of 1st, the blabbing-on-my-cell idiot pulls his Accord short to stay way behind the oblivious putting-on-my-makeup lady in her Yukon, annnnd you're back to 1st again!

(Now repeat this oh, about 6,391 times...) About the only amusing thing is picking out the teenager who REALLY isn't paying attention and just waiting to see if she finally does hit the Challenger in front of her (watched this happen just last week... people who have accidents while texting should be charged just as if they were driving DUI, IMO).

Eventually, it just gets far easier to leave the car in 2nd and bump along without shifting at all. Ugh... so glad its a SATURDAY!

 

Now that you say that, it totally makes sense. Every time I go visit friends in LA area I think "yeah, I could live here". And then I get stuck in gridlock on the 401 and I think "hell no!"

I'm lucky enough to not have to deal with too much traffic.

 

This ^

 

I can start out in 3rd if I feather the clutch. Wouldn't advise doing so very often but you can.

 

Yup. I did it a couple times when I first got it and wasn't used to the super short throw and close gates.

 

I agree. I have 3.73s and use 1st gear 100% of the time. No offense but a lot of you sound like you need to learn how to drive if you can't use 1st without issue. Starting in second will surely cause more riding on the clutch than normal. It all adds up over time. I'm surprised to read how many do it.

To the OP, with it grinding and locking up it certainly sounds like it's the clutch. Either the plate or disk.

 

I too often start in second. I have 3:55's on mine. I live in NJ and there is considerable stop and go traffic everywere. I am not new to a manual trans, but this is the first car I have ever owned where that transition from 1st to 2nd is almost never smooth unless I'm at a high rpm and close to WOT. I feel like when I shift from around 3k into 2nd I have to feather the throttle a bit in order for it to be smooth. It's hit or miss.

 

this. i do the same w/ my 3.73's

 

This x100!
It's sad when your enjoyment is hoping the cell phone, make-up, or just simply not paying any attention person next to you bumps someone. I can't wait till cell phone use is banned across the US and officers actually enforce it (unlike blinker/signal usage).