A question

"norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback" (norskracer98)
08/14/2014 at 23:46 • Filed to: None

When downshifting in a car with three pedals is it do you always have to heel toe or are there other ways to do it? I kind of know how to drive stick but don't know 100% how to.

DISCUSSION (11)

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 23:49

You don't have to heel-toe at all!
You press the clutch and move the stick in to the gear lower than the one you're on (3 to 2 for example) If you're slowing down, just press the brake with your right foot!

Also, taking your foot off the clutch results in engine braking, which helps slow you down further! just... don't release the clutch too fast

huayra207 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 23:49

You could always double de-clutch. Just google it; much easier than heel-and-toe. After mastering that, then you could start learning about heel-and-toe.

FireSpittingV12 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 23:51

If you are slowing down for a red light, just pop it into neutral. Heel-toeing is to match the engine speed to the transmission speed. Ever trying downshifting a paddle shifted automatic that doesn't rev match? The car dive slightly and engine brake of sorts to match to the transmission speed. Heel-toeing avoids this.

To answer your question, there is no other way to heel toe, unless you have a 370Z, C7, 911 or F56 Cooper S. All those cars have manual transmissions with rev-matching built in.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
08/14/2014 at 23:51

Thanks man! It's something that has been in my mind for a long time and just decided to ask, I know how to go up through the gears but never really knew how to go back down.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > FireSpittingV12
08/14/2014 at 23:55

I meant more in having to heel toe on every down shift or if there were other ways to go down through the gears.

thebigbossyboss > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/14/2014 at 23:59

It's sort of rare to go through every gear going down.

If I am slowing down from 70 mph to stopped, I might go 5-3 (at about 35 mph) -N.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/15/2014 at 00:00

No problem man! glad I can help :)
but yeah, same as upshifting, but you're moving the stick the other way! you'll see, it's a blast to do as well!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/15/2014 at 00:01

I personally heel-toe when down shifting and NOT coming to a stop. I believe when you rev match (to the road speed); you make smoother downshifts, which is easier on your clutch. Some cars actually have auto rev match, like the 370z. If I am coming to a stop I usually leave it in its current gear, until I shift to neutral just before the car would begin to stall.

KirkyV > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/15/2014 at 00:02

No, you can change down without—it just won't be as smooth, unless you feed in the clutch gradually. And if you're changing down to overtake, or to engine brake, you wouldn't have your foot on the brake, anyway. I only heel-toe when I feel like it. I generally try to run through all the gears on the way down, for the sake of engine braking, but you don't have to.

*European, had to learn to drive in a manual to get a full driver's licence - heel-toeing wasn't covered - and have driven one for two years.

FireSpittingV12 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/15/2014 at 00:09

Oh I understand. You don't have to heel toe, but it's easier on the transmission.

BKRM3 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/15/2014 at 07:16

You don't EVER have to heel-toe unless you're downshifting while a) braking and b) in a situation where it's critical for balance/weight transfer reasons to match the engine speed with the transmission speed. This is really only an absolute requirement on a race track. Even when I try to practice on the street it is never as smooth as on track because the braking pressure applied on the street is so different.

Of course, most street driving downshifts are not done under braking at all (like if you find yourself going up a hill and the gear you're in is too tall, or if you're gradually slowing down and want to use the engine to help you decelerate). In that case, you just need a normal blip to rev match. As others said, if you're coming to a stop light you can just brake until the car is about to lug, then clutch in and stop. It's very intuitive actually.

TL;DR don't worry about heel toe unless you plan to track a manual car.