Gear down?

[Eye of the Tiger]

How often do you make use of the fan speed knob? A lot/a little/only when absolutely necessary

As little as possible. If I must, then I only utilize the first two speeds, or the third speed if it is an emergency. I NEVER use the fourth speed. I don't want the fan to asplode.

[omicron]

Random factoid - the base Ford Territory without climate control has 14 fan speeds.

[BimmerM3]

... Most people don't even know what rev matching is, and most people don't have problems wearing out their clutches. The clutch isn't really as fragile as you (and a lot of others) think it is.

It's not that I think my clutch is going to explode if I don't rev-match, but slipping causes wear. It's not inconceivable to think that your clutch will wear out faster if you don't rev match, and 140k is more than your average clutch lasts, though that obviously depends on a lot of factors.

[GoCougs]

Yeah, clutches in the average vehicle (i.e., non performance, non towing) should last a long time - pretty much as long as the engine - if driven properly.

[Raza]

Yeah, me too, especially with turns in town. Who wants to clutch in-4th-3rd-clutch out-clutch in 3rd-2nd-clutch out when you could just clutch-4th-2nd-neutral-clutch out?

Yeah.  Generally, I know how fast I'm going in and have an idea of how fast I'll be going coming out.  Mainly, I stick it in second and give it a bootful when I'm clear.

[Rupert]

As little as possible. If I must, then I only utilize the first two speeds, or the third speed if it is an emergency. I NEVER use the fourth speed. I don't want the fan to asplode.

Sure, Teuton.

[Rupert]

It's not that I think my clutch is going to explode if I don't rev-match, but slipping causes wear. It's not inconceivable to think that your clutch will wear out faster if you don't rev match, and 140k is more than your average clutch lasts, though that obviously depends on a lot of factors.

Yeah, so? Like I said, wear parts are wear parts-- you don't want to wear them, don't drive the car.

[Rupert]

Yeah, clutches in the average vehicle (i.e., non performance, non towing) should last a long time - pretty much as long as the engine - if driven properly.

Yup. "Properly" is a pretty broad term, too.

[Rupert]

Yeah.  Generally, I know how fast I'm going in and have an idea of how fast I'll be going coming out.  Mainly, I stick it in second and give it a bootful when I'm clear.

You drive in boots?

[Raza]

You drive in boots?

Only high heeled boots.  And only when I'm not wearing my platform sneakers. 

[S204STi]

If you rev match you won't wear the clutch anyway.  Always downshift.  Putting it in neutral gives you less control if you find yourself in a situation where you suddenly need throttle and you're not in gear.

[Tave]

You can tell when a situation is developing in front of you that you may or may not need to be in gear, even if it's something as simple as approaching a blind corner. Cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, debris, etc...doesn't just fall out of the sky. There's nothing wrong with coasting in neutral when you can tell it won't be a problem.

[MX793]

You can tell when a situation is developing in front of you that you may or may not need to be in gear, even if it's something as simple as approaching a blind corner. Cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, debris, etc...doesn't just fall out of the sky. There's nothing wrong with coasting in neutral when you can tell it won't be a problem.

And what happens if, in a panic, you try to put it in gear and you grab the wrong gear?  What happens if your syncros decide to take a vacation and it fails to go into gear?  Will you have the wherewithal in such a scenario to not panic and remember to double-clutch it into gear rather than choke and freeze up?

It is always safest, when moving, to have the car in an appropriate gear for the speed being traveled and to have the clutch engaged.  If you're coasting in neutral and suddenly stuff it in gear and dump the clutch (or just coasting with the car in gear but the clutch disengaged) without matching revs correctly, you can cause the car to lurch and the weight shift can cause you to lose control if it happens while you're trying to make an evasive maneuver.

[BimmerM3]

I shift down but don't clutch out until I'm ready to accelerate again. 

I think that I usually downshift to 3rd and clutch-out, but then when I downshift to 2nd, I don't clutch out if I don't need to.

[Rupert]

And what happens if, in a panic, you try to put it in gear and you grab the wrong gear?  What happens if your syncros decide to take a vacation and it fails to go into gear?  Will you have the wherewithal in such a scenario to not panic and remember to double-clutch it into gear rather than choke and freeze up?

It is always safest, when moving, to have the car in an appropriate gear for the speed being traveled and to have the clutch engaged.  If you're coasting in neutral and suddenly stuff it in gear and dump the clutch (or just coasting with the car in gear but the clutch disengaged) without matching revs correctly, you can cause the car to lurch and the weight shift can cause you to lose control if it happens while you're trying to make an evasive maneuver.

No, Tave is right. You can anticipate a situation where you may need to be in gear vs. not. He even gave the example of a blind curve to illustrate that such situations are 99% of the time not emergency maneuvers, but there is some tiny chance they could be.

[SVT666]

No, Tave is right. You can anticipate a situation where you may need to be in gear vs. not. He even gave the example of a blind curve to illustrate that such situations are 99% of the time not emergency maneuvers, but there is some tiny chance they could be.

There is a reason they're called emergency situations.  They don't gradually get worse.  They instantly appear.

I never coast out of gear or with the clutch in.  If my car is moving then it's in a gear and the clutch is out.

[BimmerM3]

There is a reason they're called emergency situations.  They don't gradually get worse.  They instantly appear.

I never coast out of gear or with the clutch in.  If my car is moving then it's in a gear and the clutch is out.

Okay, but what if you're cruising in 5th, and then have to slow down and make a right turn. Do you actually clutch out in every gear, or just go 5-2, pausing slightly to let get to a reasonable speed for 2nd? Or something in between, say, move the shifter through every gear, but don't clutch-out unless you have to.

[SVT666]

Okay, but what if you're cruising in 5th, and then have to slow down and make a right turn. Do you actually clutch out in every gear, or just go 5-2, pausing slightly to let get to a reasonable speed for 2nd? Or something in between, say, move the shifter through every gear, but don't clutch-out unless you have to.

If the corner really requires 2nd gear, then I would normally drop out of 5th, skip 4th, and go straight to 3rd, rev match, and let the clutch out, and then drop to 2nd.

[Tave]

And what happens if, in a panic, you try to put it in gear and you grab the wrong gear? What happens if your syncros decide to take a vacation and it fails to go into gear?  Will you have the wherewithal in such a scenario to not panic and remember to double-clutch it into gear rather than choke and freeze up?

It is always safest, when moving, to have the car in an appropriate gear for the speed being traveled and to have the clutch engaged.  If you're coasting in neutral and suddenly stuff it in gear and dump the clutch (or just coasting with the car in gear but the clutch disengaged) without matching revs correctly, you can cause the car to lurch and the weight shift can cause you to lose control if it happens while you're trying to make an evasive maneuver.

Tell me again why I'm panicking/making evasive maneuvers on an open road with no cars/pedestrians/obstructions in my way?

There is a reason they're called emergency situations.  They don't gradually get worse.  They instantly appear.

Not really. The only thing that has ever "instantly appeared" in front of me or anyone I know is a deer. When a deer pops out in front of you, you need to brake as much as possible, not gear down.



If the roads were as unpredictable as you guys suggest, we'd all be dead by now.

[Tave]

I never coast out of gear or with the clutch in.  If my car is moving then it's in a gear and the clutch is out.

So say you're approaching a red light. Instead of just braking and then clutch-in before it stalls, or clutch-in as soon as you start to brake and coast, you go through each individual gear on your way to a complete stop in front of the light/sign that you can clearly see approaching?


That isn't saving you from anything.

[Rupert]

There is a reason they're called emergency situations.  They don't gradually get worse.  They instantly appear.

I never coast out of gear or with the clutch in.  If my car is moving then it's in a gear and the clutch is out.

That's fine. Like I said, there is really no singular correct way to drive a stick.

But, again, Tave hit it. If you aren't paying attention, maybe some kid can instantly appear in front of you. If you are paying attention, you will know that you are in a place where there are kids, you will observe that all the parked cars make for a great place for a kid to be hiding, or you will notice the ball that rolls in front of you, and you will take the appropriate measures (maybe slow down, move to the middle of the road, and guard the brake). Kid runs out, you are ready, no kid, fine.

Accidents don't usually happen because one person fucks up. Usually, one person fucks up, and the other person fucks up their reaction (e.g. not paying attention and not reacting fast enough) or their anticipation (e.g. not glancing to either side before going through a green light four-way intersection).

[SVT666]

Take this situation for example.  I was coming up to an intersection in the right lane.  I slowed a little and dropped the car into 2nd gear because the light had just turned yellow.  The passenger door of the car beside me in the left lane was about even with my front bumper.  He decided to turn right...with me in the way.  I floored it and swung to the right and went through the intersection on the yellow.  If I was coasting to a stop on the brakes with the car out of gear, my only option would have been to hit the brakes harder...putting me right into his passenger door.  I'm sorry man, but I could not have predicted that.

[Tave]

A car in front of you turns into you, and you have a better chance avoiding it by accelerating than braking? I don't think so.

[Cookie Monster]

Take this situation for example.  I was coming up to an intersection in the right lane.  I slowed a little and dropped the car into 2nd gear because the light had just turned yellow.  The passenger door of the car beside me in the left lane was about even with my front bumper.  He decided to turn right...with me in the way.  I floored it and swung to the right and went through the intersection on the yellow.  If I was coasting to a stop on the brakes with the car out of gear, my only option would have been to hit the brakes harder...putting me right into his passenger door.  I'm sorry man, but I could not have predicted that.

Yeah but it's not like he would've slammed on the brakes too... if you had slammed on the brakes, he would've gone past you. In fact I think accelerating past the car in front of you turning right is just silly.

[SVT666]

He was turning into me guys.  He wasn't turning in front of me.  His passenger door was even with the front of my car. 

[Rupert]

I've driven a lot of miles, and never once wished I was in gear when I wasn't. I guess I can see the future better than you.

[SVT666]

I guess so.  Unfortunately, most people on the road don't even see it as well as I do, so that should scare the fuck out of you.

[Rupert]

Nope. No accidents, either.

[GoCougs]

Wow, this is a fascinating thread; this level of detail this.

[S204STi]

More fascinating is the idea that coasting out of gear is apparently considered acceptable by some people.  IIRC it's actually illegal here.