QFT!

I'd rather wear out my brake pads than my tranny. I hardly ever substitute breaking with down shifting (for entertainment purposes only). But I do like to down shift while in traffic because I want to be in the right gear in case traffic start moving again.

 

Down shifting works when done properly. You have to rev match. Heel/toe downshifting (braking while rev matching) will slow you very quickly and position you for quick acceleration. If your new the manual transmissions, learn it the right way from the beginning. Old habits are hard to break.

 

To answer this correctly, downshift while braking. Use the brakes to slow your vehicle. That's what they are for. Learn to rev match and shift as the brakes slow you though your match RPM. If you not going to be on the throttle right after braking, I.E. racing, sprinted driving, emergency. Use the brakes to slow you. they are much cheaper than any tranny for a Subaru.

 

i'm confused about exiting the freeway. lets say, the exit is followed by a banking off ramp, where the recommended speed is 35mph. when would u start to slow down for the turn? should i shift down to 5th before exit, and then downshift again to 4th to take the turn, or do u just brake unti i'm at 35mph, and just take the offramp in the same gear as i was driving on the freeway?

also when reversing (when parallel parking, or backing out parking spots), do you guys use the gas? i noticed that when i release the clutch till it starts to catch, the car will roll backwards on its own, is that bad for the car? i'm not used to applying gas in reverse from my old 4EAT habits...

 

by the time i downshift i've already let off the gas and have slowed down enough to rev match. rarely do i ever get over 4000rpm

 

I would slow exitiing.
Let's say I'm traveling 75mph in 5th gear. I am about 3800 rpm(RA gearset). As I approach the exit, I slow down(braking in gear). As I continue to decel my RPMs will drop. At About 3300-3500 I clutch in, blip the throttle with my heel while braking to about 4500Rpm shift to fourth, realease the clutch. continue braking. repeat except this time shift to third. So on and so forth.
I can't remember how to drive without rev matching and heel toe downshifting. Once you get this skill, you'll never drive stick like a noob again.

 

Oh your one of "those" Sti drivers...

When you rev match while down shifting you need to increase engine RPMs.

 

Here you go Vapor. Pay close attention. Gary Sheehan has been racing the subies for quite some time. You may notice his double clutch technique. This can be done without double clutching. Just watch what he does.
I have no idea how manytimes I have watched the video. Study it.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/c...db3f41d4d1.htm

 

at 35 youll be in 3rd, i dont think you can shift down to 5th haha unless youre going 100mph in a 6 speed.
i only use downshift to slow before a turn, stop signs are all brakes.

-----------Heres a good question i think.
So rev matching a turn where you dont slow, just wanna be in the right gear, you rev match 100%

a turn you want to greatly slow down in the straight before turning
***do you guys only half blip 50% so the clutch still catches some drag?***
like 0% would be no blip of throttle at all (how non-drivers downshift), which feels like crap, but i 50% blip and catch some clutch and really lunges backwards and slows down alot

so 100% would be 5000 rpm seamless match
I would only blip to around 2500 to catch some clutch

But when you say "rev match" aka seamless downshift, it doesnt really slow me down, just gets me ready to exit at right rpms

 

I personally feel that unless you are performing a "seamless" rev match you are doing it incorrectly. Rev matching does a few things:
1. Limits drives line shock
2. Maintain Stability of the auto (weight transfer)
3. Assists with braking

Number two is the most important. Keeping you auto stable and in control is very important upon corner entry. It will make the path you tavel through out the entire corner more predictable. There are enough things that can go wrong in a corner, a suprise shift in weight transfer due to incorrect shifting can be avoided. Engine braking can be accomplished most effectively while braking. While driving hard I try to keep it in my mind, you either throttle or brake. Coasting is for chumps.

 

this thread is so educational!
i experienced my first leg cramp last night practicing starting on an incline.
how do i know if i ruin the clutch, will it be very obvious?

 

You smell something I like to associate with the scent of burnt hair. When you smell that, take a brake and let the clutch cool off for a while and try again later.

An incline start is especially hard to learn for the first time in a WRX becuase it requires very good coordination between the position of the clutch pedal, the amount of throttle you give, and the amount of time you need to let the clutch slip. All of that lies in a very small window. Not to mention you don't want to screw up and roll back into the car sitting 5" from your bumper. Most people don't anticipate a slight backwards roll from the car in front assuming everyone drives automatics.

I'm going to have to find a huge empty parking lot to practice some heel/toe shifts. It feels very unatural when I try and do it. My mind either focuses completely on the brake portion or the throttle blip. I'm having a rough time getting a feel for doing both simultaniously.

 

a seamless rev match doesnt slow me down at all, but when i catch some drag (dont blip the throttle enough, just a little...so about 1000 rpms too low from the "match") it will throw me forward in the seat and i can feel it helping me stop.

I guess thats why i need a track day so someone could tell me if im using my cars most potential while theyre watching in the passenger seat.

 

They could probably write a book on my mistakes if I made it to a track day I should probably bring extra pens and paper.

 

I agree that Subaru's probably have a clutch that's more difficult than let say, a Honda. The problem if you try to practice in a Honda is their pedals are not positioned as well as the Subaru. I suggest you try to find someone that knows how to drive a manual and have them coach you. Once over the hump of 1st gear, go to the more technical stuff.

I also agree with ipozestu - Coasting = :thumbsdown: