Downshifting

Ev0 said:
I find it easier to do in my work shoes as they are a bit wider so can hit the accelerator better :)
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About 2 years I couldnt do it but I spent so long in my Zaffy and there isnt much speed in a 2ltr DTI zaffy (100bhp) Any speed gains where welcome.
 
growse said:
I'm only learning still, and this is something I've found invaluable. I've still relatively little experience, but have always found that a quick nudge of the accelerator whilst braking and shifting down stops the car going all juddery. Being a polo, the pedals are nicely positioned for doing this.

My only problem is that the outside of my right foot isn't very sensitive and I've not yet got to the point where I can always give it the right amount of nudge.....
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That's the problem when I've tried it. When I actually catch the throttle right, I tend to slightly over do it. Guess I just need to practice :).
 
I usually just slow down with the brakes then change down when i need to. Is this not the correct way to do it?, this is how i was taught.
 
Mark A said:
I usually just slow down with the brakes then change down when i need to. Is this not the correct way to do it?, this is how i was taught.
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Going sequentially down through the box means you're always in the right gear to boot it away when the opportunity arises. It also helps keep the car balanced. Clearly that's not a priority when you're learning to drive.

I always go through the box so I can pretend I'm a rally driver... in my diesel German saloon :(.
 
Pedals in a Focus are god awfully bad for Heel and Toe so never had a chance to practice it. Although to be fair unless you are absolutely caining it you can more than get away with releasing the brake, blipping and getting back on the stopping when needed.
 
CS||nuTs said:
Not failed for at least 3 months now :) and engine* gearbox is covered for a few more miles yet.
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A new record :D

To think, I passed on a silly speed 147 because of silly speed problems, and ended up buying a 156 that needed a new engine within a month :(
 
Rev matching is certainly good for the drive line, get it right & you won't need to bother with the clutch in many vehicles. :)
 
It also depends on the car you are driving as well. Even though it's the industry standard to have 3 pedals. Their position is not. I found it a right pita to heel toe in my 306 because all 3 pedals were evenly spread yet in the primera you have the clutch, a gap, then the brake and accelerator right next to each other. Making heel-toe a lot easier to do. Left foot braking is a lot easier to do as well.
 
I try to in the Clio, 3rd to 2nd from 40mph leaves me at about 5000Rpm so still in power, it's still quite difficult to do though.

Edit: When is the best time to do it though? Or is this all dependant on how good your brakes are? I think I do it a bit too early, but i've seen others do it right before a corner and use very little brakes.
 
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Do it enough and you will be able to smell the clutch plate friction, you would have to be using the friction to brake a lot for that normally though
 
not really dependant on how good the brakes are, but it is much easier to pull off when you are hard on the brakes. If you are light on the brakes you can find yourself accidently stamping down on the brake as you blip the gas which is the last thing you want. I leave heel/toe for when i'm pressing on where it works beautifully, it's pointless when dawdling around. Does take a fair amount of practice to get it right, but I started trying to day I passed my test and has become normal practice now. I always try to rev match when downshifting off the brakes too because i'm a cheapskate and want to reduce wear on the clutch and baulk rings.
 
ive been doing it for so many years it is basically just part of normal driving for me. pedal spacing does help a lot though

i was out last night as a passenger with a friend on a b road run. it was nasty how when she was changing down whilst approaching a corner, the revs would be dropping and then being dragged up as she brought the clutch up.

driving fast without H&T is not proper car control IMO. the brakes are for stopping, not dragging the revs up with the clutch
 
Should really be changing down before the corner so its not really going to be an issue if you heel or toe or dont bother really. Your not going to lock the front wheels by not doing it. 99% of the time i dont bother, ill give the throttle a bit of a blip if im in the van but thats it.

I cant believe everyone on here heels and toes at every available opportunity, its just pointless.
 
Done it when my clutch was starting to slip, managed to nurse the cltch for a few months before deciding it really needed doing.

H&T driving isnt that hard to get used to. i learnt on a B road last summer and it caught me out a lot at first (nearly ditched the car as my foot slipped off the brake), but i can do it without thinking now, and surprised my instructor when i went on a track day and started doing it into the hairpin at croft.
 
I did my first successful heel and toe downshift today, only got it right once though. My accelerator seems to be quite a bit lower than the brake pedal so its pretty hard to get the hang of.
 
kieranv said:
I did my first successful heel and toe downshift today, only got it right once though. My accelerator seems to be quite a bit lower than the brake pedal so its pretty hard to get the hang of.
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Thats the case with all cars as far as ive driven, and it physically impossible in an old 911 turbo, ive got size 11 shoes and couldnt get my feet across both pedals.

Once your used to it youll do it without realising youve done it.
 
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