Manual Transmission - Shifting Gears

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dear Tom and Ray:

When coming to a stop, my wife uses only the clutch and brakes of her 5-speed Honda Accord and doesn't shift until she has stopped. I was taught to slow a car with a manual transmission by downshifting through the gears and then applying the brakes after shifting into second gear. My wife says that either alternative wears out parts of the car and she would just as soon wear out the brakes and not go through the hassle of downshifting. I maintain that the transmission is designed to take the strain of downshifting and that my method will result in fewer repair costs. Who's right?

Mike

RAY: Well, Mike, on behalf of the Board Of Augmented Transmission-related Payments (BOAT-Payments), I'd like to thank you for increasing the number of clutch replacements this year, and in doing so, helping local mechanics keep current on their discretionary installment loans.

TOM: You're right that the engine and transmission really couldn't care less when you downshift, but what you don't realize is that the clutch really suffers.

RAY: So, Mike, as much as we hate to do this in so public a forum, we're going to have print right here in the newspaper that your wife seems to know more about driving than you do. We realize that your pride and reputation were both on the line when you sent in this question, and that because of our answer, you'll probably be saying a lot more "yes, dears" than you would have liked over the next twenty to thirty years, but that's the risk you take when you go public with something like this, Mike.

TOM: When approaching a red light, the first thing you should do is step on the brakes. When the engine speed drops to near idle (before it starts to buck), step on the clutch. Then put the car in Neutral and let the clutch out. If you keep your foot on the clutch pedal while coasting or waiting for the light to change, you're wearing out an important part of the clutch called the clutch release bearing.

TOM: When it's time to move again, push in the clutch, put the car in first gear, and drive away. If you're not sure when to do this, just wait for guy behind you to start blowing the horn.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Arc...January/02.html

Apparently this is a common rift between husbands and wives, and so far the wives are winning.

[scandal 951]

Apparently this is a common rift between husbands and wives, and so far the wives are winning.

I think it may say something deep-seated and genetic.

As in - males need to actively be DOING something (downshifting, clutching). If the clutch and shifter are there, well, I better use godammit! Guys are all about tinker, change, fidget, make trouble....

- females are content to passively NOT DO something, just stay in gear/neutral. Sit still, be content....

Sure, it's a generalization but I think it may come from selective pressures for different adaptations. Nesting instincts for child-rearing, and all that.

There have been studies of market activity with women being better able to passively buy and hold a position while males are compelled to actively trade- typically churning their accounts, incurring extra commissions, mistiming their trades, and overall botching things up.

All to say - when my fiancee finally makes it to the US, I'm all in favor of teaching her to drive, giving her the keys, and letting her do the driving. It'll be nice to have a designated driver too, since I'm the lush in the family and she doesn't usually drink.

[Craneman 2]

Transmissions general do not have syncronizers for first gear, therefore the wil l"grind" when downshifting while moving.

All other gears have sycronizers to facilitate smooth upshifting which in turn allows smooth downshifting, second to first does not have this.

So here i was yesterday, picked up Charles and we were driving to Home Depot to pick up some illegals to help us remodeling the house (jk ). I was on 2nd gear, turning right followed by a complete stop. He says ''go to first gear''.

My first thought is ''he's just finding something to b!tch about as usual, because that's what he does whenever i'm driving, move to that lane, go slower, go faster, shift now''. I said ''are u crazy? #######?'' Then he continued for 20 min giving me a lesson on how to drive stick.

I've been driving stick since i was 14, I'm sorry, but i consider myself an excellent driver and he knows i hate the b!tching. If I'm driving, shut the fukc up!

So he insists that if you're driving under 10mph you should downshift to 1st. Have you ever tried downshifting to first gear while moving and taking your foot off the clutch pedal? (I''m talking about doing the right way, taking your foot off of it very slowly while applying the break). The RPM goes up to 3000 at least and the car does the shaking thingy. I understand doing the downshifting if you're coasting, 1 second from a complete stop and maintain your foot on the clutch pedal until you complete stop and then you start moving, note, i understand but I don't think it's good for the transmission.

A little note: I come from a country where at least 90% of the cars have manual transmission. I've never met a person that would think it's right to downshift while moving. Charles' Camaro has a really fukced up transmission. None of the cars I used to drive on a regular basis in the past ever had a fukced up transmission, which takes me to the:

Question number 3:

Is there a possibility that what he's doing is wrong?

He says maybe that's an American thing, so'here's the poll.

[Craneman 2]

With the clutch pushed in you will not wear off the clutch, but you will wearout the throwout bearing.

If you are in 1st gear, your car will absorb most of the momentum of the collision and either avoid hitting the guy in front, or at least make it a less severe impact. Just basic physics.

Hmm interesting, never had though about that one. I drive the Mini sometimes and I use to have the car on 1st gear when I'm at the stop sign, for instance. But at the lights I usually shift to neutral because I don't want to 'wear off' the clutch. I keep my eyes in the rear mirror at ALL TIMES though. You never know what is coming from behind

[Precious 2]

With the clutch pushed in you will not wear off the clutch, but you will wearout the throwout bearing.

If you are in 1st gear, your car will absorb most of the momentum of the collision and either avoid hitting the guy in front, or at least make it a less severe impact. Just basic physics.

Hmm interesting, never had though about that one. I drive the Mini sometimes and I use to have the car on 1st gear when I'm at the stop sign, for instance. But at the lights I usually shift to neutral because I don't want to 'wear off' the clutch. I keep my eyes in the rear mirror at ALL TIMES though. You never know what is coming from behind

Thanks Craneman. That's what I thought. So I might as well have it neutral at the stop sign too. Husband will be glad

[amberdima 6]

i always downshift---but never down to first. 5-4-3-2-neutral. never had transmission problems.

[Nessa 23]

brother charles is correct...

*slaps*

if under 10 mph, going to 1st gear does not cause the car to shake.

i guess i'll have to show you...

i think it's not 10 mph that you may do that, as i upshift it from 1st to 2nd at 15 mph. i've downshifted it many times to 1st when under 10 mph and never had an issue.

don't argue with wifey. wifey is right.

Dear Tom and Ray:

When coming to a stop, my wife uses only the clutch and brakes of her 5-speed Honda Accord and doesn't shift until she has stopped. I was taught to slow a car with a manual transmission by downshifting through the gears and then applying the brakes after shifting into second gear. My wife says that either alternative wears out parts of the car and she would just as soon wear out the brakes and not go through the hassle of downshifting. I maintain that the transmission is designed to take the strain of downshifting and that my method will result in fewer repair costs. Who's right?

Mike

RAY: Well, Mike, on behalf of the Board Of Augmented Transmission-related Payments (BOAT-Payments), I'd like to thank you for increasing the number of clutch replacements this year, and in doing so, helping local mechanics keep current on their discretionary installment loans.

TOM: You're right that the engine and transmission really couldn't care less when you downshift, but what you don't realize is that the clutch really suffers.

RAY: So, Mike, as much as we hate to do this in so public a forum, we're going to have print right here in the newspaper that your wife seems to know more about driving than you do. We realize that your pride and reputation were both on the line when you sent in this question, and that because of our answer, you'll probably be saying a lot more "yes, dears" than you would have liked over the next twenty to thirty years, but that's the risk you take when you go public with something like this, Mike.

TOM: When approaching a red light, the first thing you should do is step on the brakes. When the engine speed drops to near idle (before it starts to buck), step on the clutch. Then put the car in Neutral and let the clutch out. If you keep your foot on the clutch pedal while coasting or waiting for the light to change, you're wearing out an important part of the clutch called the clutch release bearing.

TOM: When it's time to move again, push in the clutch, put the car in first gear, and drive away. If you're not sure when to do this, just wait for guy behind you to start blowing the horn.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Arc...January/02.html

[john & jean 37]

[Nessa 23]

[john & jean 37]

NESSA / CHARLES!

[almaty 19]

nessa is the winner...

[john & jean 37]

nessa is the winner...

WE DO NOT NEED DR. PHIL, OR JERRY SPRINGER TO SETTLE THIS ONE...

[Nessa 23]

[Saddle Bronc 124]

apparently my personal experience does not count with you, as i've put 110k on that car doing exactly what was described.

back to you!

:bonk: :bonk:

Last I checked 2.25 is more than twice 1.10; let's discuss it after you've done another 1.15!

(the unit I used was lakh--universal-desi for 100,000--miles)

[Amby 490]

I don't even have to give my opinion because Steven shot Charles down. Steve likes to help the pregnant club

Edited March 18, 2009 by Amby