Apparently you shouldnt downshift?
#11
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ravenwerk
[B]For over thirty years now I've been under the impression that "being smooth" is a goal that most drivers attempt to achieve at some point with their skill.
[B]For over thirty years now I've been under the impression that "being smooth" is a goal that most drivers attempt to achieve at some point with their skill.
#12
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Daveg27,
Point well taken. I stand corrected.
I was (of course) referring to drivers that are concerned with improving their ability to become "one with the machine" but your clarification is (sadly) too true.
Point well taken. I stand corrected.
I was (of course) referring to drivers that are concerned with improving their ability to become "one with the machine" but your clarification is (sadly) too true.
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Originally posted by Ravenwerk
If you would sir, please enlighten me with your source of info on this point.
If you would sir, please enlighten me with your source of info on this point.
For over thirty years now I've been under the impression that "being smooth" is a goal that most drivers attempt to achieve at some point with their skill.
I may be wrong in assuming that the S was made specifically for "enthusiasts" but I would consider their opinion of a higher caliber than someone who doesn't know the meaning or understand the simple concept of "rev matching".
This I can relate to. But finesse in shifting skills is greatly desired by those in the know and "rev matching" is certainly part of that.
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I was (of course) referring to drivers that are concerned with improving their ability to become "one with the machine" but your clarification is (sadly) too true.
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btw when a person downshifts and the car does not jerk around and is very smooth, you know you did an excellent downshift, almost like an automatic transmission. well atleast thats what my passengers tell me.
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I'm no expert... but dont cars have a synchronization sorta thing going in them now that rev's the engine up for you if you downshift?
Now putting a car from 3rd to 2nd and dropping the clutch suddenly is, I'm sure, a no no. But I think doing that and slamming brakes is better than hitting a car infront of you.
Though to keep in mind, if you're using that sort of technique to brake at every street light, you're causing more wear than the car was designed for...
Again tho... I have no idea what the heck I'm talking about, just hearsay and speculation on my part =)
Now putting a car from 3rd to 2nd and dropping the clutch suddenly is, I'm sure, a no no. But I think doing that and slamming brakes is better than hitting a car infront of you.
Though to keep in mind, if you're using that sort of technique to brake at every street light, you're causing more wear than the car was designed for...
Again tho... I have no idea what the heck I'm talking about, just hearsay and speculation on my part =)
#17
There are a few things going on here.
First (aside from smoothness), rev-matching is done primarily to reduce wear on the synchros, which are very expensive to replace. Yes, it saves wear on the clutch, too, but that's a comparatively easy/cheap repair since it's a wear item anyway.
Second, using lower gears to slow the car down is age-old advice intended for big ol' 50's and 60's American cars with teeny drum brakes and huge OHV motors. When, say, going down a mountain, those cars ran a real risk of burning up their brakes, so staying in lower gears to control speed was well advised. By contrast, you'd be hard-pressed to overwork any modern car's brakes in that sort of scenario.
With those things in mind, the risk of over-revving the engine becomes the main concern with downshifting, especially when considering the average skill level of everyday motorists. There may also be some merit to the simple idea of increased wear on the motor when engine-braking, compared to letting it just fall to idle in neutral.
So that's probably why you heard you shouldn't downshift.
First (aside from smoothness), rev-matching is done primarily to reduce wear on the synchros, which are very expensive to replace. Yes, it saves wear on the clutch, too, but that's a comparatively easy/cheap repair since it's a wear item anyway.
Second, using lower gears to slow the car down is age-old advice intended for big ol' 50's and 60's American cars with teeny drum brakes and huge OHV motors. When, say, going down a mountain, those cars ran a real risk of burning up their brakes, so staying in lower gears to control speed was well advised. By contrast, you'd be hard-pressed to overwork any modern car's brakes in that sort of scenario.
With those things in mind, the risk of over-revving the engine becomes the main concern with downshifting, especially when considering the average skill level of everyday motorists. There may also be some merit to the simple idea of increased wear on the motor when engine-braking, compared to letting it just fall to idle in neutral.
So that's probably why you heard you shouldn't downshift.
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Originally posted by SuperDyu
I'm no expert... but dont cars have a synchronization sorta thing going in them now that rev's the engine up for you if you downshift?
I'm no expert... but dont cars have a synchronization sorta thing going in them now that rev's the engine up for you if you downshift?
There is computer controlled rev matching but you only find that in cars like Ferrari's and BMW's equipped with SMG type transmissions. These are NOT at all like the "manumatic" transmissions available in most cars nowadays however.
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Originally posted by Ravenwerk
I may be wrong in assuming that the S was made specifically for "enthusiasts" but I would consider their opinion of a higher caliber than someone who doesn't know the meaning or understand the simple concept of "rev matching".
I may be wrong in assuming that the S was made specifically for "enthusiasts" but I would consider their opinion of a higher caliber than someone who doesn't know the meaning or understand the simple concept of "rev matching".