Gear changes

golf_driver · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 40

Hi all,

I'm new to the forums and I certainly can't be classed to be an advanced driver of any kind yet, although I'd like to be, hence why I'm here. I'm just reading through Roadcraft at the moment and trying to apply the system as I drive prior to going ahead and starting IAM or something of that nature.

As a novice to the advanced driving school of thought (I've been driving about five years up to now, with one big off in the ice) I'll probably have some stupid questions, please bear with me Wink

Since I started driving I've always had a car that will match revs easily, i.e. whilst downshifting I can blip the throttle quickly and lightly and I'll be about right to take my foot off the clutch and come back onto the power as required.

Since I got my Golf Mk IV a year ago I find there's some latency between blipping the throttle and the revs increasing, because of this I almost always end up pressing the throttle harder and have to wait for the revs to fall before I can match them to the gear properly rather than catching them on the 'upswing' as I used to. It also means that gear changes take longer than they used to.

Any advice?

Cheers,

golf_driver

MikeG · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Gear changes

Hi golf_driver,

It seems as though you are basically doing the right thing. On a down change have you tried 'sustaining' the revs' by keeping some pressure on the accelerator rather than a blip? It just needs practice to match the speeds for each gear. Is the MkIV a 'Drive by wire throttle'? that could possibly make a difference

jont · Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 710 Location: Bristol

Big Err · Joined: 02 Jul 2006 Posts: 566 Location: Kinross, Scotland

ScoobyChris · Joined: 01 May 2006 Posts: 969 Location: Andover, Hants

One suggestion that was made to me when I was having issues with this was to squeeze the throttle rather than do a stabbing blip and being at the mercy of where the revs land. That way you have more control over where the revs are waiting and can easily make minor adjustments. Because the right revs are dialled in also means you're not restricted to making a gear change in a specific window and you can either do a nice quick gear change or you can take your time (eg 5 seconds) and provided you haven't lost much road speed, the gear will just slot home.

Chris

daz6215 · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 76 Location: Newcastle

yeah would agree with what the other guys are saying try sustaining the gear change instead of the blip!

Red Herring · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 478

Just try to be smooth and allow yourself time to get the gear home without having to rush. The secret to a good change is that it should appear effortless yet efficient. People go on about what makes a good driver and we talk about observation and anticipation, but one of the first clues that they have neither is when they find themselves in the wrong gear for a situation and end up making a hash of the change.

MikeG · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Gear changes

dth · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 379

Oddball · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 46 Location: West Wilts

I found this when I went back to my instructor's Clio for Pass Plus. After driving my 'real' (I suppose) throttle, going to the 'fly-by-wire' system was weird - trying to match revs on the downchanges wasn't happening.

I always wondered why. Very Happy

golf_driver · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 40

Hi all,

Thanks for the great advice. I've spent most of the last couple of days while I've been driving trying to sustain the revs rather than the blip I had been doing.

It's taken a bit of getting used to, but as Chris said I've found it a lot easier to dial in the small adjustments to get it just right. Because it's been taking me longer to get used to the correct pressure required I'm probably taking a bit longer over the gear changes but I can see how it'll improve with practice hopefully!

In terms of the correct technique then, assuming say you're positioned for an overtake of a slow moving vehicle from a 40mph zone to the national speed limit and wish to engage a lower gear (4th to 3rd) to give you better acceleration as you cross into the national zone... do you come fully off the accelerator, on the clutch pedal, shift through netural whilst coming back on the accelerator to sustain revs, and then into 3rd and gently off the clutch... or do you do pretty much the same, but you don't really have to come off the accelerator to start with, just ease up on it to the point where you have the correct pressure for the sustained revs... or is it something different altogether! Forgive the stupidity Wink

Cheers,

golf_driver

Gareth · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 1078 Location: Berkshire

waremark · Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 573

MikeG · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

Renny · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 346 Location: Fife, Scotland

Rushed changes are often the cause of a poor gearchange. It sounds like you are getting the technique sorted out. I find that treating a gearchange as three distinct phases works.

This has the affect of slowing the change down.
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