Don't confuse the poor boy....
He's not driving a semi...

 

I always double clutch to downshift. As for the rev match just watch your tach and your shift points closer and learn them. (At first I over rev a bit so I don't do the 'clunky brake'. LOL) Soon it will become second nature by the sound of the engine revs.

 

I use the engine to help me brake when downshifting. It's gotten to the point where it's pretty automatic.

 

Double clutching... i remember hearing this in the fast and the furious (best one IMO)

 

Seriously...why?

You're either 100 and its habbit....
...or you are deathly afraid of synchros

 

Cause Steve McQueen did.





LOL. Out of habit (years of nursing a weak tranny in a British roadster), the fact I have 250k on my F150 without any clutch or tranny probs, not wanting to push the problematic TR3650 (thankfully mine didn't need the TSB); but mostly having the engine revs up in the power zone ready for the gear as I dive into and woosh out of the turn...

 

You'll get the hang of driving a manual. It's a piece of cake and will become second nature to you. I had a field truck when I was 13 which was a 5 speed and I completely taught myself to drive it. You'll learn to appreciate a manual and will never want to go back. I've had one automatic for 4 years in my 17 years of driving and couldn't wait to get rid of the thing to go back to a manual.

 

This I would disagree with. Stopped at a red light while holding the clutch fully disengaged will not hurt it. I drive a lot of miles cars and motorcycles and have never had to replace a clutch.

Even if it does the risk of sitting at the light not be able to quickly get out of the way if you need to would not be worth it to me. I have seen and heard to many stories of people getting creamed from behind because they were not able to get out of the way in time. I know it has saved my bacon on more than one occasion.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Not the clutch surface...puts more uneeded wear on the throwout B.
Not saying you'll destroy it before you have to replace the clutch... but it increases wear.

Realistically if you're watching your mirrors, or anticipating... it takes a fraction of a second to pop it in 1st.

 

what about us new folk who can't take off that quickly?

 

And that could be the difference between getting creamed and not. Lots of loonies around here.

Just a different philosophy. Based on ones life history either way is probably fine.

 

Then you're probably getting hit regardless.

I'm just explaining 'best mechanical practice'

If you feel more comfortable keeping it in gear ... by all means... go ahead.
Just be educated.

 

Point taken

 

Nevermind I see where you edited your post.

 

If you just missed a light, you will keep the clutch pedal depressed the entire time? Even if it's an intersection that could take 2-3 minutes for your light to turn green? Definitely not good on the throwout bearing.

 

Hey guys. Short light and lots of traffic, leave it in gear. Be ready to go or jump out of the way if trouble happens. Long wait and/or no traffic around, leave it in neutral, foot off the clutch for less wear. Be flexible. Have some situational awareness of the other drivers and watch that rear-view mirror whenever you need to stop. The harder you brake the more important this is.

Most people carry out rev-matching downshifting only to be ready with the new lower gear and not for braking purposes. Saves wear and tear so I'm told. I'll do it out of 6th and 5th, but that's it if I plan on stopping.

Cheers.

 

I don't know about the throw-out bearing, but putting it in neutral at stop lights sure saves wear and tear on my left leg

 

I agree. I have always stopped in gear with foot on clutch except when I knew it would be a long wait (train crossing, etc.) and then I put it in neutral more to save my left leg than from worry about parts wear. In 40 years of driving I have never had a throwout bearing go before the friction materials (and of course the bearing always gets replaced when the rest of the clutch is done).

Yes, I'm sure that leaving foot on clutch adds wear to the throwout bearing but in my experience it's not enough to worry about.

 

So since we're on the subject of downshifting, I have some questions.

First, more basic. When is it most appropriate to downshift? If you're slowing down is it better to just use the brakes? For most situations when you are slowing down (not going to a complete stop) you are either 1) in low enough gear that you can stay in the same gear when you pick back up in speed 2) or if you are going to stop completely so you'll have to start back in a low gear again anyway -- so braking or putting in neutral, cruising to a stop then starting in 1st again would be fine.

So when is it best to downshift? Can you guys shed some light on this for me?

 

Pad replacements are cheaper than clutch replacements