Noob Question: Smooth up-shifting.. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

2.7boxer6 · 03-15-2010, 12:51 PM

Hey guys,

Just getting the hang of driving my boxster but have a question about up-shifting.

My current shifting practice when up-shifting is:

1. get off the gas
2. engage clutch and switch into the next gear
3. come off the clutch with a tapering speed (slower as i get closer to the end)
4. ever so slightly depress the gas
5. finish coming off the clutch

My question is about getting on the gas before coming fully off the clutch. It makes it a lot smoother for me but I am wondering if an even smoother and quicker clutch movement would negate applying any gas?

Thanks.

rick3000 · 03-15-2010, 01:33 PM

You should be doing 1/2 and 3/4/5 at the same time. For 3 a constant speed or tapered speed is irrelevant. You just need to make sure that you are depressing the clutch and letting of the gas / releasing the clutch and pushing in the gas at the same time. The key to smooth shifting is to rev match, then you don't jump from say 3k RPM to 4k RPM causing the car to 'kick'. Speed really nothing to do with being smooth, once you master smooth shifting, then you can easily start shifting faster.
Play around with it. Practice makes perfect!

fusionist · 03-15-2010, 04:38 PM

In the Boxster especially I find that you don't need a tapered speed when letting out the clutch. You are already in gear when you are doing this. In other cars you need to feel it into gear more.. but something about the linkage in the boxster doesn't require this at all. When you catch yourself doing this, try just letting go of the clutch.

Daniel R · 03-15-2010, 11:59 PM

Practice, practice and practice. The 3 secrets to a smooth change. It is really as simple as matching the engine speed to the road speed for the given gear. If you can do it perfectly then it is possible to change without a clutch, and completely crunch and clunk free.

stephen wilson · 03-16-2010, 03:35 AM

I also have noticed the "soft" engagment when shifting, I assume it's due to the dual mass flywheels cushioning effect.

vipola · 03-16-2010, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel R

Practice, practice and practice. The 3 secrets to a smooth change. It is really as simple as matching the engine speed to the road speed for the given gear. If you can do it perfectly then it is possible to change without a clutch, and completely crunch and clunk free.

Hish..

-1 :P lol