Gear Shifting 101

[luxury1]

Thanks for all of the feedback! One more question, when you park you are supposed to leave it in gear but does it matter what gear?

luxury1, there was some good (heated too!) discussions about this a few weeks ago. Maybe do a search. In general, park with the car in gear (1st.) and the parking brake set. Also adhear to up-hill & down-hill parking rules by turing the wheel direction into the curb (downhill) or away from the curb (uphill).

[Perfectlap]

how about this you are approaching a toll booth and its one of those where you don't have to stop just slow down long enough for the lazer to read your toll pass and you slow down almost to a stop but not quiet. I slip it into 2nd gear and roll on accelrating to 40 mph where I go into 3rd.
Is this wearing on the clutch or should I stop completely and start out of first gear?

this is strange, I know that the gearing is different but on a tiptronic it always start in 2nd when automatic is chosen, and i know that on my S 2nd is no problem to start with

[EVOL]

Originally Posted by olly986

this is strange, I know that the gearing is different but on a tiptronic it always start in 2nd when automatic is chosen, and i know that on my S 2nd is no problem to start with

it's no problem if you're only cruising. if you're planning to "mash" on it, or just want a faster take off, i suggest clicking the "-" to downshift to 1st before taking off. that's what i do.
if you have a habit of putting the pedal to the medal in 2nd gear during take off, it might cause a problem in the long run.

[ranbar2]

Perfectlap, I hope your scenario isn't hard on the clutch because I do it all the time. Rolling up to lights that are about to change is another case. You know that you probably won't have to come to a complete stop, but you'll be pretty close. I'll put it in neutral and roll in and if I don't have to come to a complete stop I just put it in the appropriate gear for the speed I am rolling at, blip the throttle to get the revs up and feather out the clutch. Correct me if I am wrong, but if you match the revs correctly it shouldn't have any impact on the clutch.

I know there is a contingent that says to downshift your way to a complete stop. That way you will always be in gear and able to react if necessary and will also be in the correct gear if you don't need to come to a complete stop. I do that sometimes but prefer to just put it in neutral (lazy, I guess). The worst case scenario is my wife, who puts it in neutral but keeps the clutch in. If she comes to a complete stop she keeps the clutch in, puts it in first and waits for the light to change. This is why the only time she drives my car is if we have been out and I have had a couple of drinks.

Btw, I am a "self-taught" shifter who learned in my 40's on my first boxster (may she rest in peace). In fact, my two boxsters (and a couple I test drove when looking for the second) are the only manual trannys I have ever driven. I guess I am spoiled. Anyway, I am sure I have many bad shifting habits and am always looking for advice to do it better, smoother and with less stress on the car. I really enjoy these periodic "shifting" threads and have actually learned quite alot from them.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by EVOL

it's no problem if you're only cruising. if you're planning to "mash" on it, or just want a faster take off, i suggest clicking the "-" to downshift to 1st before taking off. that's what i do.
if you have a habit of putting the pedal to the medal in 2nd gear during take off, it might cause a problem in the long run.

Hi,

The Tiptronic S will shift into 1st gear while in Auto Mode (without selecting 'M' and then '-') if you want it to. When you depress the Accelerator fully, and quickly (Foot on Brake), you activate the Kick-Down Switch which will shift the tranny into 1st while still in Auto Select Mode.

It normally starts in 2nd because with the Torque Converter (which is also a Torque Multiplier) you won't Lug the Engine, so don't really need 1st gear for a normal start, and it gives the Tip S better MPG...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99