how to downshift when going fast?
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
how to downshift when going fast?
I've heard people say that you should downshift on the highway when you want to pass someone. How does one do this without a big jolt? I've I'm cruisin' along at 55 in 4th or whatever and I need to pass someone, should I really throw it in 3rd to get more acceleration??
If so, how do I do this smoothly? I've never been in a situation where I needed more oomph to pass a car, but I thought I would find out just in case I do.
Thanks all,
Marcus
If so, how do I do this smoothly? I've never been in a situation where I needed more oomph to pass a car, but I thought I would find out just in case I do.
Thanks all,
Marcus
New Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
You need to match the revs
I think there's a longer discourse on this elsewhere on the forums, and I know there are better drivers on the forum than me, but...
When downshifting you need to hit the throttle just before and during release of the clutch, to bring the revs up to where they should be for the lower gear. A side benefit of this is you can release the clutch much faster if you have the RPMs where the lower gear "expects" them, giving oyu a faster shift.<p>'00 1.8TQS Tip, no chip (yet...)
When downshifting you need to hit the throttle just before and during release of the clutch, to bring the revs up to where they should be for the lower gear. A side benefit of this is you can release the clutch much faster if you have the RPMs where the lower gear "expects" them, giving oyu a faster shift.<p>'00 1.8TQS Tip, no chip (yet...)
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Re: You need to match the revs
Hrmm.. so if I'm at like 3000 rpm, say, and I want to jump to 3rd to get some more power, I clutch in, physically move stick to 3rd, give it some gas to 3000 rpms and keep the gas at 3000rpm as I lift up clutch?
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,480
Likes: 1
To avoid the jolt, rev the engine while out of gear...
What you want to do is try to match the RPM that you think the engine will be at when you engage the lower gear.
This is a rough example, but if I were cruising along in 5th gear at, say 2500 RPM, then I would do the following:
1) press the clutch pedal in and take the car out of gear (into neutral)
2) press the gas pedal quickly to rev the engine up to where I want it (perhaps 3000+ RPM)
3) put the tranny into the new gear (4th) and let the clutch pedal out
If you are lucky (or skillful) you will have closely matched the engine RPM's for the lower gear and you won't get the big jolt that you are familiar with.
The key is doing this all very quickly, and also knowing relatively what RPM your engine turns for each given speed and gear. Truthfully, I don't watch the RPM's as closely as this sounds. I go to neutral, blip the throttle, and then drop into the lower gear and it tends to work out. The more you do it, the better you will become at it.<p><b>Drew S.</b> <a href="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/audi/" target="drewinva"><img src="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/images/98.5.jpg" border="0" align=center></a> <b>98.5 A4 2.8 qm</b>
This is a rough example, but if I were cruising along in 5th gear at, say 2500 RPM, then I would do the following:
1) press the clutch pedal in and take the car out of gear (into neutral)
2) press the gas pedal quickly to rev the engine up to where I want it (perhaps 3000+ RPM)
3) put the tranny into the new gear (4th) and let the clutch pedal out
If you are lucky (or skillful) you will have closely matched the engine RPM's for the lower gear and you won't get the big jolt that you are familiar with.
The key is doing this all very quickly, and also knowing relatively what RPM your engine turns for each given speed and gear. Truthfully, I don't watch the RPM's as closely as this sounds. I go to neutral, blip the throttle, and then drop into the lower gear and it tends to work out. The more you do it, the better you will become at it.<p><b>Drew S.</b> <a href="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/audi/" target="drewinva"><img src="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/images/98.5.jpg" border="0" align=center></a> <b>98.5 A4 2.8 qm</b>
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 18,480
Likes: 1
Oh yeah, once you think you've mastered this, you'll want to try double-clutching!
<p><b>Drew S.</b> <a href="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/audi/" target="drewinva"><img src="http://members.aol.com/drewinva/images/98.5.jpg" border="0" align=center></a> <b>98.5 A4 2.8 qm</b>
New Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
Re: You need to match the revs
If you're at 3000 in 4th, then when you give it gas you probably want to get to about 3800-ish - that's where 3rd will want to be at the same roadspeed.<p>'00 1.8TQS Tip, no chip (yet...)
Trending Topics
New Member
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
Re: how to downshift when going fast? - great online resource
Great resource for understanding performance shifting...
answers heel/toe, double clutching, and how to learn,
Highly recommended...
http://home.earthlink.net/~rponiarski/shifting.htm
Regards
FrancisB
answers heel/toe, double clutching, and how to learn,
Highly recommended...
http://home.earthlink.net/~rponiarski/shifting.htm
Regards
FrancisB
AudiWorld Stories
Bringing Audi to Life for Audi Fans
10 Strangest Audi Designs That Actually Made Production
Joe Kucinski
2027 Audi Q7 and SQ7: Audi Upgraded EVERYTHING!
Michael S. Palmer
Audi Unveils Absurdly Cool New Supercar: 10 Things You Need to Know!
Verdad Gallardo
The Highs & Lows of Every Audi C-Class Generation
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Audis Ever Sold on Bring-A-Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Audi Features & Options We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Audi Recreates Crazy-Looking Speed Record Breaker From 1935
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilder Recreates the 1995 Audi TTS Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Every Audi V10 Car Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,736
Likes: 0
i keep the gas pedal pressed for a split second as i clutch and down-shift ...
this revs the engine up to the approx revs as i release the clutch in a lower gear. it takes a little practice .. smooth as silk once you get used to it.
.<p>99.5 1.8tqms apr and stuff
-jasyn
.<p>99.5 1.8tqms apr and stuff
-jasyn
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
