Look folks, Clutchless gear changes are possible but it's not smart and it's not clever so why not go back to the discussion on 'Driving a diesel properly and quickly'. Either that or rename the thread 'Driving your car without using the clutch pedal'.

Am I right in thinking that official 0-60 times are done with clutchless gear changes?

No youre wrong

I had mine timed by my mate with a stop watch sitting in the passenger seat. It did 8.0 dead, 7.7, 7.4, 8.4 and a crap 9.1 (UNMAPPED !!) Very dry flat road. I reckon the times vary due to the starts.

Its actually 0-62 though isn't it, or 100 Kph No wonder your times were so much quicker! :P

No youre wrong

I had mine timed by my mate with a stop watch sitting in the passenger seat. It did 8.0 dead' date=' 7.7, 7.4, 8.4 and a crap 9.1 (UNMAPPED !!) Very dry flat road. I reckon the times vary due to the starts.[/quote']

Did you find the gentlest start gave you the quickest run? I did a few, averaging 8.3 seconds, they surface was not clean and wheelspin was a problem in 1st and 2nd. Reckon it should go to a consistent 7.8 with a clean dry surface. I found my best run was done just hitting the gas from idle and holding revs down to 1800 with the clutch until it was fully engaged.

Chris

Gentle to start with then hammer the gear lever into third as quick as poss

Not sure in cars, bet clutchless changes work sweet on bikes, small dip in power and change, then back onto power.

Hi,

In advanced driver training I think if I remember correctly its called sustain rev gear change, the idea being to match engine speed to the gear you are selecting. The general principle is it makes for smoother driving.

It does take practice and it actually slows your gear changing down.

To change up a gear e.g 3rd to 4th as you engage the clutch you lift off the accelerator slightly (not completely) and let the revs drop to the require revs at the same time take the car out of third and pause in neutral to allow the revs to equalise and then put it in 4th and release the clutch.

To change down a gear e.g 3rd to 2nd, as you engage the clutch you hold the accelerator in the same place and take the car out of third and pause in neutral to allow the revs to climb and then put it in 2nd and release the clutch.

It does take practice and you have to allow more time for your gear changes so you need to think ahead and plan them (which all part of the "system"). I personally found it hard and still screw it up but it does make for smoother driving if done properly.

Regards

clutchless gear changes , that brings bake memories, used to have to do them all the time in my old landrover, as the clutch was a dodgy..... slightly worse than my furby one is just now... lol

they are pretty easy to do after a few tries, its all about getting the revs right just to slip it in.

I just got a new clutch to cope with my car's new found power.... I'm certainly not going to stop using it now.

I say get a diagram of your car's power on a RR, and try to base the driving on that. For me, this means keeping the car between 2500 & 3500 rpm, where peak power and torque is found. Its not bad at other rev ranges, it just peaks here.

To change down a gear e.g 3rd to 2nd, as you engage the clutch you hold the accelerator in the same place and take the car out of third and pause in neutral to allow the revs to climb and then put it in 2nd and release the clutch.

You soon get used to it - makes a huge difference in smoothness (though mpg suffers slightly) and I reckon it'll make the clutch last longer, as the difference between plate speeds is less.

You soon get used to it - makes a huge difference in smoothness (though mpg suffers slightly) and I reckon it'll make the clutch last longer, as the difference between plate speeds is less.

Thats also why racers blip the throttle on down changes!!

proper racing drivers that is - not the boy racer d1cks who do it because they think it sounds cool in their 1.0 :confused: but dont actually know why their doing it!!

Err surely the idea of blipping the throttle is to have the clutch up at the time so the gearshaft speeds are matched before you put it into gear? My first car never had syncromesh, so had to learn this the hard way.

"Double de clutch" as it is known. I only use it to get into first myself and let the syncromesh do the work for me for other gears.

Chris

Bottom line then: What do you actually have to do "blip" on downshifts. I have tried, but it doesnt quite seem to have the desired effect so i must be doing it wrong.

Have you tried an Auto?

Bottom line then: What do you actually have to do "blip" on downshifts. I have tried, but it doesnt quite seem to have the desired effect so i must be doing it wrong.

For a double declutch into 1st from 2nd while rolling at a speed that will be highish in 1st:

Depress clutch pedal when in 2nd

Change from 2nd to neutral

Raise cutch pedal

Blip throttle to speed up gearbox input shaft to match road speed

Depress clutch

Change from neutral to 1st

If you get it right the gear just glides in with no pushing required.

Chris

As above but when double clutching, you should only let the clutch out to the bite point. Not fully. This should never need to be used when driving on road, even spirited driving. It is to stop a race car unsettling. And if you are driving your car that fast that you need to do that, then you need to slow down a bit!

As above but when double clutching, you should only let the clutch out to the bite point. Not fully. This should never need to be used when driving on road, even spirited driving. It is to stop a race car unsettling. And if you are driving your car that fast that you need to do that, then you need to slow down a bit!

I have only ever used it in the Fabia when in traffic to go to 1st if I see a need to be in 1st at a speed of say 8 to 12 mph where a quick getaway will be needed. The Syncromesh on 1st is having to accomodate a big shaft speed difference when the car is moving at 10mph and the double declutch and a blip up to 2000rpm or so makes the gear just slide in with no resistance. It just feels mechanically more sympathetic.

My old mini (in which I learned o drive 4 wheelers) had no syncromesh on any gears, so all gearchanges involved shaft speed matching. Definately a good way to learn. Cant see why you would need to only come up to the biting piont? As long as there is clutch engagement enough to spin the shaft up, why worry about bite point?

When racing and coming down the box, heel and toeing is a better way to achieve the required reduction in engine braking uptake. You dont need to double declutch to do that, just put it in gear and use the throttle to match engine speed to road speed as the clutch comes up. Not for the road and not for the Fabia vRS (the fuel is cut when you are on the brakes).

Chris

I give the throttle a blip on quick downshifts, and I don't double declutch. Thats the joy of a synchromesh gearbox. I blip just to save the gearbox any undue stress.

Chris, we're not talking about double declutching, just giving the throttle a blip between gears on downchanges to smooth out the ride (heel & toe).

You must be an old fart to be driving cars that don't have synchromeshes

Edit: I should have read the whole post.

Chris' date=' we're not talking about double declutching, just giving the throttle a blip between gears on downchanges to smooth out the ride (heel & toe).

You must be an old fart to be driving cars that don't have synchromeshes

Edit: I should have read the whole post.[/quote']

Hi Steve

The heel and toeing dont work on the Fabia. I tried it and left foot braking but got no throttle response. When the brake light is on, the fuel is cut to idel maintenance only. Probably just as well for the brakes.

Re the ancient mini, the CAR was an old fart not me, but that was 20 odd years ago:O

Chris

My vRS heel and toes a treat.

I don't think the 05 on models has the cut throttle safety feature...

And when you have mastered that try doing it with your foot on the brake and rolling the right hand side of your foot on to the gas pedal to do the blip.

Been practicing it for about 2 years now, and still get the Kanagroo juice on if i get it wrong. It is easier if you are braking hard, but if you arent you can inadvertantly push the brake down a bit harder without meaning to.

Cheers

Lee

For a double declutch into 1st from 2nd while rolling at a speed that will be highish in 1st:

Depress clutch pedal when in 2nd

Change from 2nd to neutral

Raise cutch pedal

Blip throttle to speed up gearbox input shaft to match road speed

Depress clutch

Change from neutral to 1st

If you get it right the gear just glides in with no pushing required.

Chris

And when you have mastered that try doing it with your foot on the brake and rolling the right hand side of your foot on to the gas pedal to do the blip.

Been practicing it for about 2 years now' date=' and still get the Kanagroo juice on if i get it wrong. It is easier if you are braking hard, but if you arent you can inadvertantly push the brake down a bit harder without meaning to.

Cheers

Lee[/quote']

I've been able to heel & toe since I started driving, something to do with my first car being an Alfa Romeo I guess!! (pedals perfectly placed)

However it is not possible in the Superb due to the stupid difference in hight between the brake and accelerator pedals :( I actually think the hight difference is dangerous as when going for the brakes your foot hits the side of the brake pedal - lethal if your not used to the car. and just one more reason why i'll probably not buy another Skoda, their designers are sh*te.

However it is not possible in the Superb due to the stupid difference in hight between the brake and accelerator pedals :( I actually think the hight difference is dangerous as when going for the brakes your foot hits the side of the brake pedal - lethal if your not used to the car. and just one more reason why i'll probably not buy another Skoda' date=' their designers are sh*te.[/quote']

I've found that with quite a few cars. Thought it was just me but certain cars just seem to be better suited to it. I miss it.