I've recently bought a new Roomster 3 1.6 manual and although I'm really pleased with it I've noticed that if I change down from 2nd to 1st while moving, say at a roundabout, unless I've completely stopped or barely moving I get a grind/judder from the gearbox. Is this normal? I never had this on my old VW Polo and wondered if someting is wrong with the syncromesh or if it's my driving style that needs to change for this car. If I go from 1st to 2nd there's no problem and all the other gear changes are really smooth in either direction. Maybe it's because the Roomster is shorter geared than the Polo - could do with a 6th gear for motorways but that would push the price up no doubt.

Apart from those 2 things which I'm sure I'll get used too it's a great car for the money and the dogs well chuffed with the boot space. You should try getting a greyhound in a Polo!

:confused:

Why use 1st unless you've stopped, would be my suggestion- that's how I was taught, and TBH 2nd should manage all the way down to walking pace, especially if the gearing is short. In times gone by, gearboxes didn't have synchro on 1st, so unless you double-declutched, you couldn't.

I take it it goes into 1st/reverse OK when stopped?

I've recently bought a new Roomster 3 1.6 manual and although I'm really pleased with it I've noticed that if I change down from 2nd to 1st while moving, say at a roundabout, unless I've completely stopped or barely moving I get a grind/judder from the gearbox. Is this normal?

I'll have a go with my 1.6 manual when it arrives this week and let you know. Regardless of driving style, if there's a fault, I'd like to know too...

You should try getting a greyhound in a Polo!

What about a Wolfhound in a Glacier Mint ?

Much appreciated. I suspect I'll just have to avoid going into 1st unless completely stopped but old habits are hard to break. It only happens when a gap suddenly becomes available in traffic and I instinctively to put it into 1st as I'm rolling up to a junction maybe at 5mph. I'll certainly be intersted to hear if other 1.6 manuals do this too

BTW the dog said your joke was 'ruff'!

Why use 1st unless you've stopped, would be my suggestion- that's how I was taught, and TBH 2nd should manage all the way down to walking pace, especially if the gearing is short. In times gone by, gearboxes didn't have synchro on 1st, so unless you double-declutched, you couldn't.

I take it it goes into 1st/reverse OK when stopped?

Yep no problem getting into reverse or 1st when stopped, just 1st when moving. Ironically the Polo had problems getting into reverse from time to time. Maybe each car just has it's own 'features' (I think that's what the manufacturers call them, rather than faults).

Yep no problem getting into reverse or 1st when stopped, just 1st when moving. Ironically the Polo had problems getting into reverse from time to time. Maybe each car just has it's own 'features' (I think that's what the manufacturers call them, rather than faults).

No reason why you should not be able to select 1st whilst moving; if you want to. I understand your reasons why and on certain junctions I will do this myself to be sure of being able to 'Go'.

Couple of points to suggest you consider;

1. Are you fully depressing the clutch? It is a habit of modern drivers to sit back too far from the pedals/steering wheel, meaning you then have to fully stretch your left leg to depress the clutch. Try moving your seat forward a notch or two; to then be sure you are depressing the clutch pedal fully.

2. Rather than, perhaps, forcing the gearchange (2nd to 1st) through, take a pause with the gearlever in neutral and then let it snick through to 1st with least resistance i.e. when the syncromesh has done its job of match the speeds of the cogs.

I hope this helps.

Yeah, try as bahnstormer has said, or double-declutch, should work fine

Yeah, try as bahnstormer has said, or double-declutch, should work fine

Didn't want to mention double-declutching as few drivers today have heard of it; let alone know how to do it!

Didn't want to mention double-declutching as few drivers today have heard of it; let alone know how to do it!

It's true... most passengers I have give me funny looks for doing it!

It's true... most passengers I have give me funny looks for doing it!

Problem is; that to double declutch properly in conjunction with heel 'n' toe braking you are generally driving too hard to be doing it sensibly 'on the road' - more for use on track days!

Problem is; that to double declutch properly in conjunction with heel 'n' toe braking you are generally driving too hard to be doing it sensibly 'on the road' - more for use on track days!

True... but even when driving normally I'll double de-clutch then brake when coming to a corner/roundabout/etc so I'm in a low enough gear to accelerate away

True... but even when driving normally I'll double de-clutch then brake when coming to a corner/roundabout/etc so I'm in a low enough gear to accelerate away

.... but you should do it the other way around;-

Brake then change gear (double de-clutch)

We are getting somewhat off-topic and ought to reign back in to the point in question.

However, for those that want to read more about double declutching and heel 'n' toe gear changing, see here;- http://briskoda.net/racing-advanced-driving-techniques/heel-n-toe/78180/

Enough said.

No problems with my Roomster 3 1.6 manual. had it nearly a year and no probs what so ever...........love it!!

Thanks for the tips, I'll certainly try pausing to let the syncromesh sort itself. Not sure about the double declutch. I've heard of it but sounds like I'd probably mash the gears trying to do it. I've had motorbikes with strange gear problems before and just adapted to them. Sounds like it's not a known fault anyway which is good news, just my driving.

Vaguely off-topic - I learned to double-declutch quite quickly in my first car as it had the same kind of problem. Admittedly, it was a 1968 Triumph Herald & this was in 2005...

Vaguely off-topic - I learned to double-declutch quite quickly in my first car as it had the same kind of problem. Admittedly, it was a 1968 Triumph Herald & this was in 2005...

Not a 'problem' but perhaps just the 'fact' that it didn't have syncromesh on 1st!?

Must have been quite a joy to drive, I guess.