So I went for my second 8 test drive today. I'm not buying for a while, but I got the e-mail for the $25 gift certificate if you test drive, so why not kill an hour and get some free money and drive a nice car. My first test drive was from a dealership that's basically right on the highway, so there was almost no low MPH shifting involved. This test drive was almost all streets and I felt like a stick novice, the car shook nearly every time I shifted from 1st to 2nd, but very little from 2nd to 3rd. 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st were a bit rough also. What am I doing wrong? Letting the clutch out too fast? I was taught to take one's foot off the gas when the clutch is engaged, so I might just be all off on technique. Suggestions? (A step by step walkthrough of an upshift/downshift would be helpful.)

Originally posted by Kamala
Letting the clutch out too fast? I was taught to take one's foot off the gas when the clutch is engaged, so I might just be all off on technique. Suggestions? (A step by step walkthrough of an upshift/downshift would be helpful.)

Could very well be possible. When I went for my test drive (which was pretty lengthy - thanks bored salesperson guy!), I had the same type of issue. My present car (trade-in - to - be) is a 3000GT and is pretty demanding that you give it gas with each low gear shift. Personally, it's probably just a matter of finding that perfect balance. What works well for one car likely won't work with another (my car vs. my wife's old Civic). I had a similar but opposite experience - too much gas on the intial "let-the-clutch-out" for the first couple of times. After a little while, both of us found the sweet spot with regard to the 8's clutch.

Honestly, I wouldn't lose sleep over it. :D

You are right on the mark, it's twenty years since I had a serious stick shift 'mobile, and I almost made MYSELF carsick with the jerky, gnashing shifts. The Borla sorted this for me, now I can hear the revs, and shifting became second nature to me.

Without the auditory feedback I am the worlds worst shifter.

Zoom Zoom,
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doc

I've been driving stick for the last eighteen years straight, and when I went on the test drive, I almost made the car shake apart from not just whacked out shifting but the brake pedal and steering were so sensitive. It took me a good couple of days to get used to the shift point which is a very positive contact about half way up the throw. I'm sure that you'll get hold of it soon.

I've been driving stick for about 12 years now (with 3 different vehicles). I was surprised that by the end of my 8 test drive I still didn't feel comfortable with the shifting. I almost stalled the thing once too.

However, now that I've had it a month, I think the issues were mostly related to the sensitivity of the clutch and brake. Any steering issues I had were related to the wide tires. With my softer winters on, the darting in ruts is gone. I do notice that I need to blip the gas when downshifting from 3rd to 2nd, otherwise the engine braking is very noticeable.

Anyway, I'd say it took me a full week to get accustomed to the shifting -- and that's coming from an RX-7!

There is an almost identicle thread already going on.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15531

Thread Closed.