is our clutch meant for downshifting?

[phillyb]

our car is difficult to get going off the line. you have to be a master with this clutch in order to pull off decently.

i blame the clutch, and frankly, that's exactly what it is.

does the way our clutch perfoms make downshifting easier? by downshifting, i mean rev matching (rpm, dual clutch, match revs, heel and toe)...

let me know what you think.
why the **** is our clutch such a pain in the rear?

 

[souper]

I actually find our clutch to be pretty easy.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I dont have ANY problems with the clutch at all. I hear a lot of complaining about it but havent had a problem yet. I hate Honda clutches, Ford Clutches and GM clutches are the worst...

 

[MikeHTally]

I have no issues with mine, regardless of up-or down-shifting. It had been a long time since I'd driven a stick when I bought my Speed. I've only bogged it twice in ten weeks.

 

[souper]

I've owned two Hondas and the clutches on both would squeak whenever they were engaged. I don't think there is anything more annoying than a squeaky clutch.

 

[imac]

took a little bit of time to get used to the clutch, being that it behaved so differently from what i was used to, but no i have no problem getting it to do anything i did with the Toyota.

 

[phillyb]

i'm not saying i have a difficulty getting the car in gear. i rarely stall the car, but in order to launch the vehicle well, you have to ease the clutch. IT'S SO ******* TOUCHY.

it got me thinking last night...matching rpms on this vehicle is easier to do than any of my other cars...

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Launching? Is your traction control and DSC off? I turn mine off hold RPMS at 3k and let her rip. No problems.

 

[robin2660]

I have no issues with mine, regardless of up-or down-shifting. It had been a long time since I'd driven a stick when I bought my Speed. I've only bogged it twice in ten weeks.

Does that count popping the clutch out as if, and before you turned off the ignition? That's how I stalled mine the last time.

Note to self when getting out of the car: Turn off ignition, then release the clutch. Or, put it in neutral first.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

LOL... Apply parking brake, turn car off, leave in 1st!

 

[phillyb]

take key out...wait 20 seconds for tt to run down, then take foot off clutch. hahahaha
i don't leave the car in gear, i just yank the brake. back to op please

 

[LukeP]

our car is difficult to get going off the line. you have to be a master with this clutch in order to pull off decently.

i blame the clutch, and frankly, that's exactly what it is.

does the way our clutch perfoms make downshifting easier? by downshifting, i mean rev matching (rpm, dual clutch, match revs, heel and toe)...

let me know what you think.
why the **** is our clutch such a pain in the rear?

The clutch in this car is what I would equivocate to stage 1 or stage 2 racing clutch. It wants everything done fast. Trust me, once you get used to it, regular street clutches feel broken.

For some reason, I find it easier to get the car rolling with really low rpm, barely slipping the clutch enough to get it rolling to like 5 mph, and build rpm from there. You wont leave anyone behind at the stop light, but at least you've barely slipped it at all, and at very slow speeds. I find mid rpm take offs (1500-2000) to bog the engine, like some unforseen force is applying brakes while I'm trying to drive, requiring too much clutch slipping than I like in an everyday situation.

hard launches are smooth like buttah, thats what this clutch likes. It likes it hard and fast. Rev, dump, woosh. The tires complain but what do they know?

 

[J-Villa]

take key out...wait 20 seconds for tt to run down, then take foot off clutch. hahahaha
i don't leave the car in gear, i just yank the brake. back to op please

yeah, I don't leave it in gear b/c i once forgot when i was... yeah.. and almost ran the front end of my car off.

It's not going to roll anywhere in florida... too flat.

 

[ecniemann]

hard launches are smooth like buttah, thats what this clutch likes. It likes it hard and fast. Rev, dump, woosh. The tires complain but what do they know?

That's what she said! (hump)

"Peter, if you say that's what she said one more time......"

 

[happy and angry]

If you are downshifting properly, you are rev matching. If you are rev matching properly, the clutch isn't even necessary, and hardly involved if you even use it.

 

[phillyb]

If you are downshifting properly, you are rev matching. If you are rev matching properly, the clutch isn't even necessary, and hardly involved if you even use it.

i guess, i don't really mean the clutch.

i think rev matching in this car is really easy, i wanted to know WHY. i thought it might have something to do with our hard-to-launch clutch, but i guess not.

 

[happy and angry]

i think rev matching in this car is really easy, i wanted to know WHY.

Oh, well, that's a different question.

I can only speculate, but flywheel weight plays a part. Not entirely sure why it's easy. I don't find it any easier or harder than any other car, frankly.

 

[J-Villa]

it's not that it's easy to downshift in our cars... your just that good of a driver... the stig could learn something from you.

 

[blake_peanut]

it's not that it's easy to downshift in our cars... your just that good of a driver... the stig could learn something from you.

Once you drive the car for a while you will get use to it and know when down shifting should occur. If you hear the engine humming like a banchee when you down shift or the car lurching forward, your RPM's are too high. Although you will/should hear the engine brake "slightly" as this is the whole point of downshifting. I DO NOT want to start an argument with down shifting, rev matching etc. haha! You will not ruin the car/clutch by downshifting, if it is performed properly. Traded in my P5 for the MS3 with 70,xxx kms, not a thing wrong with the clutch. My 'ol mans P5 with 100+ kms on the other hand is quite ******, clutch barely grabs anymore. Diabetes can be a sad thing, little to no feeling in your feet = clutch wear.

 

[J-Villa]

. My 'ol mans P5 with 100+ kms on the other hand is quite ******, clutch barely grabs anymore. Diabetes can be a sad thing, little to no feeling in your feet = clutch wear.

Canadian Humour?