Confusion on Driving a Manual Transmission

StickMon · 05-27-2015, 05:56 PM

I never learned how to heel-toe.

But I can tap-dance from the brake to stab the gas, nail a blip downshift and be back on the brake pretty darn smooth and fast.
I always engine brake down to 1500-2000 rpm in third if I'm coming to a stop.
Used to go down to 2nd all the time, but figured I'd trade some clutch|bearing|synchro wear for some brake wear. Tired of getting 80,000 miles from a set of pads.

I drive in stop-n-go traffic a lot of the time. Like Hack said it can be done with very little clutch or brake use if you leave some space in front of you and just run up and down the range in 1st or 2nd.
Drives the people behind you bat-snot crazy.

itdnwiwbp · 05-27-2015, 06:58 PM

Hack, I think we're getting our signals crossed. I agree with what you just said. I thought people were saying that engine braking should be used in lieu of braking to save brake pads. I'm gonna stay out of this from here on out...

StickMon · 05-27-2015, 07:07 PM

I think I engine brake to:
a) always be in the right gear with my engine in it's "happy zone" and ready to punch it if the light turns green or I need to take evasive, or, of course, at the apex of a turn
b) blow out some carbon
c) it makes a great noise with aftermarket exhaust
d) because racecar

yousefnjr · 05-27-2015, 07:22 PM

Heel toe is life. All it is is a rev-match while braking. It's almost always from 3-2 for me (public roads...). Usually when hauling ass coming up to a turn, I'll be at the top of 3rd, hard on the brakes, clutch in, shift to 2nd while I roll foot over and whack the throttle with my heel, clutch out and GAS

What helped me a lot was not trying to be too precise with the throttle blip. I was focusing too much on trying to get the revs exactly where I wanted, but it's easier to just boot it and try to be in the neighborhood. It'll upset your balance if you're way off, but +/- a few hundred revs is fine. Eventually you get a feel for it, and that extra brain bandwidth helps with managing everything else.

Agreed with engine braking in traffic and it pissing people off behind you. I think the aggressive engine brake without the brake lights going off can catch some people off guard, had a few scary moments with SUV's behind me...

The HACK · 05-27-2015, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itdnwiwbp

Hack, I think we're getting our signals crossed. I agree with what you just said. I thought people were saying that engine braking should be used in lieu of braking to save brake pads. I'm gonna stay out of this from here on out...

Yeah, probably. It wouldn't be the first time I bit someone's head off that actually agrees with me.

And I don't mean to imply that if you don't know how to heel-toe you don't know how to drive a manual. I get sick and tired of my friend(s) that grew up on old school, non-synchro'ed manuals that tell me if I don't double clutch downshift then I'm not really driving a manual too.

What I meant to imply, is that if you drive a manual and don't heel-toe, it's a great skill to learn and have.

itdnwiwbp · 05-27-2015, 08:02 PM

Agreed. I wasn't being very detailed with my responses so I probably should have just stayed out of it.

inTgr8r · 05-27-2015, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

".................. I get sick and tired of my friend(s) that grew up on old school, non-synchro'ed manuals that tell me if I don't double clutch downshift then I'm not really driving a manual too.

Lol, that brings back memories.
It took the LOOOOONGEST time for me to unlearn that.
Learned on an old 3 on the tree pickup

seank · 05-27-2015, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

Yeah, probably. It wouldn't be the first time I bit someone's head off that actually agrees with me.

And I don't mean to imply that if you don't know how to heel-toe you don't know how to drive a manual. I get sick and tired of my friend(s) that grew up on old school, non-synchro'ed manuals that tell me if I don't double clutch downshift then I'm not really driving a manual too.

What I meant to imply, is that if you drive a manual and don't heel-toe, it's a great skill to learn and have.

Now you are making "Hack sense."

mcoupe5/6 · 06-08-2015, 12:45 AM

What are the thoughts on going from in gear... Say coming off the freeway to a light and sliding into neutral as I let off the gas? I do this sometimes to coast...by timing it correctly it moves right over and doesn't seem to upset anything, but who knows.

05-27-2015, 05:56 PM	#23
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	I never learned how to heel-toe. But I can tap-dance from the brake to stab the gas, nail a blip downshift and be back on the brake pretty darn smooth and fast. I always engine brake down to 1500-2000 rpm in third if I'm coming to a stop. Used to go down to 2nd all the time, but figured I'd trade some clutch\|bearing\|synchro wear for some brake wear. Tired of getting 80,000 miles from a set of pads. I drive in stop-n-go traffic a lot of the time. Like Hack said it can be done with very little clutch or brake use if you leave some space in front of you and just run up and down the range in 1st or 2nd. Drives the people behind you bat-snot crazy. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-27-2015, 06:58 PM	#24
itdnwiwbp Major 78 Rep 1,443 Posts Drives: 330iZHP Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Hack, I think we're getting our signals crossed. I agree with what you just said. I thought people were saying that engine braking should be used in lieu of braking to save brake pads. I'm gonna stay out of this from here on out... __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-27-2015, 07:07 PM	#25
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	I think I engine brake to: a) always be in the right gear with my engine in it's "happy zone" and ready to punch it if the light turns green or I need to take evasive, or, of course, at the apex of a turn b) blow out some carbon c) it makes a great noise with aftermarket exhaust d) because racecar __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

05-27-2015, 07:22 PM	#26
yousefnjr salty cowboys fan 6155 Rep 3,402 Posts Drives: ‘06 Z4MR, ‘20 X7, ‘22 M4x Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	Heel toe is life. All it is is a rev-match while braking. It's almost always from 3-2 for me (public roads...). Usually when hauling ass coming up to a turn, I'll be at the top of 3rd, hard on the brakes, clutch in, shift to 2nd while I roll foot over and whack the throttle with my heel, clutch out and GAS What helped me a lot was not trying to be too precise with the throttle blip. I was focusing too much on trying to get the revs exactly where I wanted, but it's easier to just boot it and try to be in the neighborhood. It'll upset your balance if you're way off, but +/- a few hundred revs is fine. Eventually you get a feel for it, and that extra brain bandwidth helps with managing everything else. Agreed with engine braking in traffic and it pissing people off behind you. I think the aggressive engine brake without the brake lights going off can catch some people off guard, had a few scary moments with SUV's behind me...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-27-2015, 08:02 PM	#28
itdnwiwbp Major 78 Rep 1,443 Posts Drives: 330iZHP Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Beach, CA iTrader: (10)	Agreed. I wasn't being very detailed with my responses so I probably should have just stayed out of it. __________________
	Appreciate 1 Quote

06-08-2015, 12:45 AM	#31
mcoupe5/6 Private First Class 8 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 08 M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: houston iTrader: (0)	What are the thoughts on going from in gear... Say coming off the freeway to a light and sliding into neutral as I let off the gas? I do this sometimes to coast...by timing it correctly it moves right over and doesn't seem to upset anything, but who knows.
	Appreciate 0 Quote