How far do you press MS3 clutch to shift?

[sfalexi]

Well, I have a very new MS3 (have 2000k on it) and it's my first stick vehicle. I've driven stick UPS trucks for a few months and a stick bus (very small one . . . like the kind a rental car company might have to get to/from airport) for the last year, and then I finally bought an MS3.

It was touchy at first (VERY much so), but now I think I've broken it in a little and it's broken me in a little.

I don't get any lurching and most of my shifts seem very smooth. I try to shift so I don't feel any difference in gears and try to make it seem like a smooth, constant acceleration. Now comes the actual question . . .

Q: How far do you press the clutch in? From a standstill, I typically fully engage the clutch. Press it pretty darned far down. But while shifting to 2nd on up, I barely press the clutch. I haven't ground any gears, and it feels and sounds fine, but am I doing any undue damage? I would think that being a sporty, racey car that the clutch would be designed for quicker shifts, and so it would not NEED to be pressed so far down in order to shift gears. Am I wrong?

Alexi

 

[3.slow]

I put my foot to the floor every shift. I get a little jerkyness sometimes and don't worry because I am not trying to impress.

 

[Retrobmx63]

Yeah, the clutch seems fully engage real quick and pretty high up on the travel. I doubt you're doing damage.

 

[Betelgeuse]

If it works for you, fine, but the general consensus is to put the clutch to the floor.

 

[2ManyCars]

All the way to the floor - every shift.

 

[~JoJo~]

All the way to the floor - every shift.

+1

It's a good practice because I find it less likely to stall if I push it all the way in.

 

[cybergdog]

the only time I go all the way to the floor is when am at a dead stop before take off. After that it never touches the floor, why, because you really dont need to touch the floor, the clutch grabs not even half way to the floor, and it is a much quicker and smoother shift that way too. Or atleast for me. But there is no harm in putting the clutch all the way to the floor. everyone does it different, and plus the car is built tough enoug that it can take some pretty hard shifts anyways.

 

[3.slow]

I don't know now. I went to the track and my clutch was stinking sooooOOOOOOOO bad. Anybody else get this. . . ?

 

[Falconx84]

til I feel it grab (honestly, I really don't know for sure)

if you're getting the dreaded 1-2 lurch, I recommend an upgraded motor mount. It helped me a lot

 

[Protephile]

All the way to the floor. It's a good habit to get into, as all cars are different.
I've 90k+ on my Protege, the clutch is still strong. My previous car I had
over 160k with the original clutch before I traded it in.
I don't race it, but I do drive it pretty hard for a daily driver.

 

[Ben Nast]

I don't know now. I went to the track and my clutch was stinking sooooOOOOOOOO bad. Anybody else get this. . . ?

That means you are abusing the clutch.

 

[3.slow]

That means you are abusing the clutch.

Ya I know. I slipped the clutch to launch and that was it. the rest of the shifts I tried to do at lightning speeds, but I still ran slow.

 

[clos561]

to the ground, get serious mang(uhm)