down shifting
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 7
From: Winfield IL
I downshift like a madman ALL the time. In fact, I really don't use my brakes much except to scrub speed from a speed run, pulling up to a stop sign, or aggressively diving into corners. As a former motorcycler, I'm very good at blipping throttle to match revs exactly so when the clutch comes out, there's no shock at all. This is why I get so much enjoyment out of the stick shift vs. auto/paddles: this takes practice and tough to pull off. Heel-toe downshifting is this technique taken to the next level to add braking into the throttle blipped downshift. Very fun to practice and do well. Adds much enjoyment to driving! Also, with an aggressive exhaust, the engine music is INTOXICATING.
REV MATCHING is so fun! Do it all the time!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Oh yeah I try my best not to jerk but man does it feel awesome when all that torque just throws you back. Im gonna start practicing on that blipping method. Thanks for all the different inputs..you guys know your stuff. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 1
From: Burlington County NJ
I thought I read somewhere that the A6 has auto blip rev matching just like some of the higher end cars?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Clarksville Maryland
Double clutching is when you clutch to put the car into nuetral, and then clutch again to put the car into gear (depress clutch, shift to N, release clutch, depress clutch, shift into gear, release clutch). In my old truck driving days I used to double clutch every shift, but I've never done it in a car with a functioning clutch. Its used to syncro the gears. Why would you do it in a Vette?
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Springboro OH
Having 4 and 5 speeds all my life I have noticed the close ratio M6 on the C6 kind of throws me off a bit on the downshifting. For example downshift to 3rd and 2nd get more revs than I'm used to. Not a problem, just a matter of getting used to it. On the M6, I really don't see a need for a downshift in any gear lower than 3rd. In 2nd you're almost stopped anyway, unless your on the track or something........
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Germantown MD
Three words... Heel and toe
The gas peddal is not an on-off switch like all the SUVidiots and automatic trans. lemmings think it is. It is a reostat of sorts.
Learn how to rev match and driving will be that much more enjoyable.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html
The gas peddal is not an on-off switch like all the SUVidiots and automatic trans. lemmings think it is. It is a reostat of sorts.
Learn how to rev match and driving will be that much more enjoyable.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/how...2/article.html
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Double Clutching
This is what I do.
6-4 downshift as an example. Cruising along at roughly 65 mph - ~1500 rpm.
Put the clutch in.
Shift from 6th to Neutral.
Pull the clutch out.
REV the engine to 3000 rpm.
Push the clutch in.
Put the car in 4th.
Pull the clutch out.
Single Clutch Downshift
Same scenario as above.
Push the clutch in.
Put the car in neutral.
Rev the engine to 3000 rpm.
Put the car in 4th gear.
Pull the clutch out.
Heel-Toe Downshifting
Heel-toe is a modifier to any of the above techniques - it involves braking while doing one of the above.
While braking, rev the engine for the appropriate speed for the downshift. Use your brain to figure this out. If you have a big foot, you may get away with tapping the gas with the right side of your foot while braking with the left. If you have a small foot, you may have to actually hit the gas pedal with your heel while you apply the brakes with your toe. It's not an easy technique to learn, especially on the street.
Enjoy. Loud exhaust makes the above techniques much more fun.
This is what I do.
6-4 downshift as an example. Cruising along at roughly 65 mph - ~1500 rpm.
Put the clutch in.
Shift from 6th to Neutral.
Pull the clutch out.
REV the engine to 3000 rpm.
Push the clutch in.
Put the car in 4th.
Pull the clutch out.
Single Clutch Downshift
Same scenario as above.
Push the clutch in.
Put the car in neutral.
Rev the engine to 3000 rpm.
Put the car in 4th gear.
Pull the clutch out.
Heel-Toe Downshifting
Heel-toe is a modifier to any of the above techniques - it involves braking while doing one of the above.
While braking, rev the engine for the appropriate speed for the downshift. Use your brain to figure this out. If you have a big foot, you may get away with tapping the gas with the right side of your foot while braking with the left. If you have a small foot, you may have to actually hit the gas pedal with your heel while you apply the brakes with your toe. It's not an easy technique to learn, especially on the street.
Enjoy. Loud exhaust makes the above techniques much more fun.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,064
Likes: 6
From: Pinellas Park Florida
If you own a manual transmission then you can learn the fine art of Heel and Toe downshifting. For me, the C6 does not allow for true "Heeling" of the gas pedal. Rather I roll the side of the foot over to the gas pedal. Technically, there is no "toe" involved, rather the ball of the foot is hard on the brake.
The purpose of Heel and Toe is to provide additional braking via the engine's compression and to put the transmission in to a more useful gear to exit the corner during racing conditions. It has no other purpose in day to day driving other than to reinforce your Heel and Toe skill set. It does cause additional wear on the transmission and clutch; how much depends on your skill set and gear choices.
Use your brakes if you never going to race or travel the high speed curvies like the Tail of the Dragon. However, if you just want that wonderful "Wambaa, Wambaa" sound like Sterling Moss or Phil Hill produced diving deep in to a curve(or offramp
) then Heel and Toe shifting is what you need to learn.
The purpose of Heel and Toe is to provide additional braking via the engine's compression and to put the transmission in to a more useful gear to exit the corner during racing conditions. It has no other purpose in day to day driving other than to reinforce your Heel and Toe skill set. It does cause additional wear on the transmission and clutch; how much depends on your skill set and gear choices.
Use your brakes if you never going to race or travel the high speed curvies like the Tail of the Dragon. However, if you just want that wonderful "Wambaa, Wambaa" sound like Sterling Moss or Phil Hill produced diving deep in to a curve(or offramp
) then Heel and Toe shifting is what you need to learn.
