"how to drive a stick" question

[sasha055]

Just watched the videos of "heel toe" and double clutching..

Double clutching feels like an overkill can't I rev a bit angine while I press clutch the first time?
"Heel toe" technique should be a sticky page in here.. it's priceless

Sasha

[yelojkt]

The only time that you should heel-toe is when you are driving the car at it's full potential. Race car drivers and people who drive HSTs heel-toe because they wait until the last second to brake for a turn. They never coast. It is gas or brake. And when you are trying to get into a corner fast while braking and shifting you need an extra leg for the accelorator pedal to rev match. So you use your heel. This is an advanced driving technique and should not be used on the street, in most cases.

[ekam]

Originally Posted by yelojkt

The only time that you should heel-toe is when you are driving the car at it's full potential. Race car drivers and people who drive HSTs heel-toe because they wait until the last second to brake for a turn. They never coast. It is gas or brake.

I don't think that's true. You can slow down with your foot on the brake before doing heel and toe.

[tamarsha]

From the experts at NPR's Car Talk.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/stick-shift/index.html

[yelojkt]

Originally Posted by ekam

I don't think that's true. You can slow down with your foot on the brake before doing heel and toe.

Your'e right Ekam I heel-toe on the street to practice muscle memory you just really need to be aware of your driving style while doing it and don't let it get to aggresssive. You can really freak people out when you come off an intersection turn at speed into the lane beside them. Going the same speed they are going in a straight line.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by yelojkt

The only time that you should heel-toe is when you are driving the car at it's full potential. Race car drivers and people who drive HSTs heel-toe because they wait until the last second to brake for a turn. They never coast. It is gas or brake. And when you are trying to get into a corner fast while braking and shifting you need an extra leg for the accelorator pedal to rev match. So you use your heel. This is an advanced driving technique and should not be used on the street, in most cases.

Nonsense. Heel and toe is a perfectly legitimate way to drive on the street. In fact, it's the only way to drive if you want to drive smoothly and in full control. You certainly don't need to be anywhere near the limit to do it or to benefit from it. Heel and toe is not actually about getting into corners fast, it's about matching road speed and engine speed. It also just happens to reduce wear on the clutch.

[husker boxster]

As stated earlier, never, ever coast down a hill in neutral. If an emergency presents itself, you'll lose valuable seconds fumbling to get it back in the proper gear. By that time you could be fender deep in an accident. You always need to drive defensively, and coasting is not defensive driving.

You can also smoothly downshift without H-T, it just takes practice. The good news is you get to practice while driving a Box. Have fun.

[vijen6]

Slightly off topic, 1 constant issue I have is when I'm coasting to a stop in traffic, and the traffic picks up again. I'm at 4-6 mph in neutral. I cant get the gear to first and its too slow for second. This only happen for first gear. I never have this issue when coasting at 12 or 15 and needing to grab 2nd.

Any ideas guys ?

Is it my car or my driving ?

[ekam]

It's not too slow for 2nd... just slowly let the clutch out while gently giving it gas.

[944boy]

Sasha,
You may also want to look into the Porsche club's "skills day" that they hold out in bremmerton. Its a great way to spend the day learning the limits of your Boxster. The instructors are good and its generally a lot of fun. My ex. GF took mine to one of those and quickly outgrew the challenges. But felt far more comfortable driving the car in general.

I agree more people in the US should drive stick, it would help to get cell phones unglued from people ears.

-Greg

[pothole]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

You can also smoothly downshift without H-T, it just takes practice. The good news is you get to practice while driving a Box. Have fun.

If you can't heel and toe, then you can't execute a smooth downshift and brake at the same time. This is a simple fact.

If you are changing down off the brakes / coasting, you'll still need an accurate throttle blip. In fact, I reckon that's the best way to begin learning heel and toe - get completely comfortable with blipping the throttle to match revs on a coastdown change or when changing down for an overtake.

[Spinnaker]

It is illegal to coast in neutral downhill in Seattle also.

Seattle Municiple Traffic Code 11.58.010
(1) The driver of any motor vehicle when traveling upon a down grade shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in neutral.

[Frodo]

Yeah, but how often you suppose THAT gets enforced?? (Right up there with prohibitions against jaywalking and expectorating in public.)

Lotsa pointless, often silly, laws on the books that have been LONG ago forgotten and virtually never enforced.