newb ?

[cbell77]

i only recently got my eclipse and it is manual and i had to learn how to drive it. So i have only been drivin manual for about a month. I hear people on here always taking about when someone flys by them on the highway/free way so they downshift into like 3 to catch up. Well i was wondering if there is anything specail you have to to do to down shift to such a low gear going so fast like for example 60mph. In short i just want to know the procedure in which to downshift.

[eclipsefan98]

i was wondering about that too...i dont see how it wouldnt hurt the tranny. by the way ive got a '96 Talon.

[10sec-Hopeful]

Well, I just got my own first car, but I've driven manuals since 14. Anyhow, downshifting basically means you are trying to reach higher RPMs, but with a lower gear. You could be doing like 70ish in 4th at about 4000 RPMs, and want to try to get past someone, and if you downshifted to try to do it, you would be doing 70ish in 3rd at like 6000+, which would put MASSIVE wear and tear on your engine. You could fry some piston rings or throw a rod or something.

I wouldn't downshift if I were above 4000 RPMs, maybe at 3000, but even still, your RPMs in a lower gear will shoot up like 2000 or so...bad for the engine.

All you have to do is put in the clutch and shift backwards, and you have successfully downshifted. I would only do it if I was neck and neck with someone, and needed that little bit extra to help win. The problem is, if you don't have a lot of torque, or your top-end isn't too good, you could actually slow down, while making your engine scream. Not a good thing. It's not a good idea to downshift unless all cars are stopping, and you are like in 4th, then you could slow down to 3k, downshift, slow down to 2.5-3.5k, and downshift again, and just put it in neutral. Otherwise, don't even listen to people...

[Thourun]

This kind of specific stuff should be in the eclipse forum, there are alot of guys (and girls) over there that will be able to help you out alot with where to shift safely with your speciffic trannys.

[BullDog71ss]

He did ask it in street racing form tho..."I hear people on here always taking about when someone flys by them on the highway/free way so they downshift into like 3 to catch up." haha.

Downshifting is important for operating a manuel tranny. Racing or not, it's usefull knowledge to have. Say your in 5th on the freeway doing 65 and you need a little boost to get around a car for whatever reason. Just take your foot off the gas (I leave my foot on to build some rpm whilst I'm moving the stick. But for your sake take your foot off the gas) then clutch in and shift down to 4th, doing this as smoothly and quickly as possible. the let off the clutch and floor the gas. There's your down shift. Try it on the road doing like 40 mph in 5th, back down to 4th, the high gear at low speed should keep you from accidently hurting your tranny.

[youngvr4]

if you live in an area were there is traffic, you WILL downshift all the time, its apart of driving

[samandiar]

I hear, though I've never had a need to try it, that double-clutching helps smooth out a downshift, say a 5th-3rd at 60mph or so. I dont do much passing or highway racing so I dont do dramatic downshifts and havent tried it, but thats what I hear

[Ghost96Gt]

What I do depends on the situations in traffic slowing down to a stop light in 3rd gear i bring it into 2ed and let the clutch out kinda slow. in a situation where i wanna accelate lets say i am in 4th at 2.5 grand as i shift to 3rd i rev match (bringing the engines rpm to the rpms used at the speed ur traveling for that gear) pry 4000 rpms and let the clutch out and go.

[89tracerman]

does it help if you keep tapping the clutch while flooring it. (on a gear) not down shifting but racing

[tha_new_guy]

How would that possibly help? When you depress the clutch, you disengage the engine from your transmission...your not putting the power to the wheels.

That and your clutch will never forgive you. It will burn!!

[89tracerman]

i smoked an auto 240 sx with my crapy tracer this way. (since the revs go up it gives the tires a little push dont it? http://www.cardomain.com/id/evilmexican

[89tracerman]

^^^ and a tracer has like 90 HP^^^ thats why i decided to buy an RX7 (nice)

[nissanfanatic]

Downshifting (for racing) is basically putting the transmission into whichever gear will put the engine back into its powerband. Hypothetical situation: You are going 65mph in 4th gear at 2500rpm and you want to accelerate quickly. This would be the appropriate time to downshift to 3rd. You would want to rev match(press the gas while the clutch is in and bring the rpms up) while downshifting so you don't get a braking sensation. But lets say you are doing 110mph in 4th gear at 4500rpms. You are already in the engines powerband(unless you have a S2000 or a sport bike) so downshifting is useless and harmful. Go to the technical forums under racing.

Originally Posted by 89tracerman

does it help if you keep tapping the clutch while flooring it. (on a gear) not down shifting but racing

The only thing I can possibly relate this to is powershifting. Powershifting is when you shift while keeping the gas floored. Not a good idea if you don't know what you are doing and/or your transmission isn't in good shape. It is only useful in all gears if you have a low powered car. Try it in something with a little power and you will lose et shifting to second and possibly third. I can get 1-2 second sqeals in second and pretty good chirps in third. I don't do it going to second while racing.