Manual Transmission

[-RJ3-]

Just wondering at what point do you guys shift at...

I\'m getting use to my manual transmission, but I want to maintain its power

I heard that driving low or shifting early loses the engines power in the long run......Any suggestions?

What is the term skipping gears from 1st to 3rd to 5th... Dredd tried to explain it but I still dont get it.

[-RJ3-]

I can\'t believe it my GF cousin\'s husband drove my car..... He drives autocross and showed me his technique.... His feet was too fast to even catch on but he blipped the tach to 5k and downshifted and the freaking car drove out the corner so smoothly.

He also squaked the car at 4th gear!!!!!! I was so amazed and was suprised that my 3 can drive this way.... He told me to drive the car hard that way I can practice downshifting....and not be intimidated.

He actually drifted the car to.... Man those toyo tires suck on grip but is good on drifting

[wtom]

Hey RJ3, I\'m still a newb to driving stick but I usually try to shift around 3000 RPM and since I\'m still granny shifting, the needle drops back to around 2000 and I\'ll have the clutch fully back in place... still shaky when going from full stop to first and from first to second but the higher gear shifts are smooth.

Stalled way more than I\'d like in this brand new car... :(

[Xenon]

I learned to drive stick on a company car.... no wear on my car....

Although this one is tip

[jimdragon8]

WTOM, don\'t worry, I am in the exact situation, I have stalled it more than I would like to but that\'s part of the learning process. I am always worried that I am doing major damage to my car. When you guys have it on 3rd gear, when I accelerate and I have my hand on the shift knob, I feel alot of rumbling, is that normal?

I hope next weekend, I can pick up some tips from you guys on how to take full advantage of the 3 and drive it really smoothly, manual.

:D

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally posted by jimdragon8


WTOM, don\'t worry, I am in the exact situation, I have stalled it more than I would like to but that\'s part of the learning process. I am always worried that I am doing major damage to my car. When you guys have it on 3rd gear, when I accelerate and I have my hand on the shift knob, I feel alot of rumbling, is that normal?

I hope next weekend, I can pick up some tips from you guys on how to take full advantage of the 3 and drive it really smoothly, manual.

:D

take your hand off the shift knob unless you\'re shifting.

if the car feels like its lugging in 3rd when you\'re accelerating, drop down to 2nd (if it is safe to do so which, if it is lugging, it probably is...)

[wtom]

Originally posted by jimdragon8


WTOM, don\'t worry, I am in the exact situation, I have stalled it more than I would like to but that\'s part of the learning process. I am always worried that I am doing major damage to my car. When you guys have it on 3rd gear, when I accelerate and I have my hand on the shift knob, I feel alot of rumbling, is that normal?



Hey Jim, 3rd gear for me sometimes subtly rumbles too and I feel it thru the shifter (I put my hand where I want! heheh).

I\'ve also experience ONCE on a flat surface at a light, trying to push from neutral into first and it wouldn\'t go!! Clutch was fully pressed and I couldn\'t get into first!! Weird... of course after I let go of the clutch, then press again, and try pushing into first, it worked. Very odd. Also, occasionally it FEELS like something is catching when I\'m shifting into third... it goes in okay but not 100% smooth. Hope it\'s just my paranoia again... hehe

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally posted by wtom


Hey Jim, 3rd gear for me sometimes subtly rumbles too and I feel it thru the shifter (I put my hand where I want! heheh).

I\'ve also experience ONCE on a flat surface at a light, trying to push from neutral into first and it wouldn\'t go!! Clutch was fully pressed and I couldn\'t get into first!! Weird... of course after I let go of the clutch, then press again, and try pushing into first, it worked. Very odd. Also, occasionally it FEELS like something is catching when I\'m shifting into third... it goes in okay but not 100% smooth. Hope it\'s just my paranoia again... hehe

i\'m just relaying what i was told at car control school ;)

once i can get access to the factory service manual, or if someone on M3F posts instructions, i wanna change the tranny fluid to synthetic. a few folks in the maxima club have changed to either RedLine or Amsoil and have reported that the shifter is now buttery smooth, especially in the winter in the sub-freezing temps.

[jimdragon8]

WTOM, all the things you have decribed I have gone through as well and as being as paranoid. I guess if someone is experiencing the exact same things, that I don\'t worry as much. My biggest thing is to make sure I am not damaging the car. I guess we will talk about this in more detail Aug 7th!!

Thanks for your help

[dinu01]

A change to redline 90 IIRC is a must for winter