The Death of Heel and Toe
#1
road warrior
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The Death of Heel and Toe
I know we already have a billion new threads on the 370Z, but I feel Dan Neil's prose in this article is just wonderful and this isn't so much 370Z specific as it is probably an indication of the future of all automotive manuals, the ones with a clutch pedal at least.
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...,3623022.story
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...,3623022.story
#3
幹他媽!
there was also an article on this re: the new CTS-V... namely that the auto is faster and more efficient than any manual rendition of the car could ever be- due to the new "smart" auto transmissions they've developed...
#4
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(Cross posted on miata.net, a bit tongue in cheek)
I'll admit, I don't like this, but I'm going to be honest here. I don't like this because it takes away one more thing about driving that allows me to feel superior to the average masses slogging away on their morning commute while trying their hardest to make the time go by a little faster by talking on their cellphones and sipping their lattes in their automated living rooms. Heel and toe is a skill you learn, a skill so often bypassed by most people in America and even the rest of the world that knowing it allowed you to feel like a part of an exclusive club. The club's members were all the world's serious drivers and the membership card was a perfectly smooth 3-2 downshift under braking with the engine wailing at speeds normal drivers would cringe at because it was too loud. I could observe normal drivers in their automatics because they don't know how to just a clutch, or the posers in their manuals with the jerky shifts and think, "Ha! But I know how to drive!" I took the time to learn the skill, working through the hazings of mismatched shifts, to become a member of this exclusive club and now it feels like the club's relaxed its membership requirements and anyone who can operate a manual can join. It's like that time Facebook decided to open itself up to all colleges instead of being Ivy League only.
I'll admit, I don't like this, but I'm going to be honest here. I don't like this because it takes away one more thing about driving that allows me to feel superior to the average masses slogging away on their morning commute while trying their hardest to make the time go by a little faster by talking on their cellphones and sipping their lattes in their automated living rooms. Heel and toe is a skill you learn, a skill so often bypassed by most people in America and even the rest of the world that knowing it allowed you to feel like a part of an exclusive club. The club's members were all the world's serious drivers and the membership card was a perfectly smooth 3-2 downshift under braking with the engine wailing at speeds normal drivers would cringe at because it was too loud. I could observe normal drivers in their automatics because they don't know how to just a clutch, or the posers in their manuals with the jerky shifts and think, "Ha! But I know how to drive!" I took the time to learn the skill, working through the hazings of mismatched shifts, to become a member of this exclusive club and now it feels like the club's relaxed its membership requirements and anyone who can operate a manual can join. It's like that time Facebook decided to open itself up to all colleges instead of being Ivy League only.
Last edited by LionZoo; 12-08-2008 at 02:23 AM.
#5
Pew Pew Pew
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Sounds like you could write a thesis on it. I definitely know what you mean. Anyone can drive an automatic. A lot of people can drive a manual, but how many can drive one well? Being part of an exclusive group does make something much more meaningful. All the other people just cruising through life don't know what they are missing. It just gives so much satisfaction to be able to feel truly connected with the car.
Last edited by J8635621; 12-08-2008 at 02:27 AM.
#7
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I cant say if I like it or dislike it... as long as we still have an option, I really wont care. If it becomes stuck one way or the other, then I'll have to form an opinion... but I cant really judge the idea until I drive one anyways. It takes out a lot of driver errors... which is good and bad. Means less accidents or damage to the cars, but also means that there's one less element of individual skill between drivers.
So currently, here's what's left up to the driver with these types of cars:
-driving lines
-braking control
-throttle control
So I wouldn't say that competition is dull yet, but it does kind of feel like some "fun" factors are being removed.
#8
Another sodden blanket of technology has been thrown between me and the road. Another window opened to the klutzy, unweaned poseurs. More enabling of the inept. Progress.
In some respects this is a great piece of technology. I agree that it will lead to transmissions lasting longer and an overall more enjoyable driving experience for people who want to drive a manual. However, is there something to be said about computerization of cars being a bad thing?
One thing I'm glad about with my RX8 is I have no traction control and no DSC. Sure I have ABS, but no electronic nannies to get in the way of my driving. I've seen such nannies get in the way of people learning their limits in vehicles like the Evo where rookie drivers advance quickly only to find themselves over their head and sometimes in the wall.
Maybe that's progress? Natural selection of the car world?
Heel-toe shifting is not only a very difficult skill to learn it also makes you more connected to the vehicle and adds that human element to driving. Remember its supposed to be about the driver and not always the car!
Instead we've got paddle shifting transmissions, launch controls and all kinds of technology designed to take a normal, inexperienced driver and allow them to drive beyond their limits.
Technology and progress are good things but there's still something about rowing gears that makes me smile. I would shed a tear for the day THAT comes to an end.
#10
The Slow and the Serious
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I don't drive 3-pedals for speed. FFS, who lives their normal life trying to get from 0-60 in 5 seconds? Race cars are for race drivers, yet everyday people treat numbers like a religion. I drive 3-pedals for fun. It brings the maximum enjoyment out of driving for me.
People can quote numbers until they're blue in the face, but in the end it's all just dumbing down for the masses. Someday all we will do is push a button, speak into a microphone where we want to go, and sleep/read newspapers/talk on the phone until a voice tells us that we have reached our destination. And you know what? People will still call it "driving." That's what is really sad about some people's vision of "progress."
People can quote numbers until they're blue in the face, but in the end it's all just dumbing down for the masses. Someday all we will do is push a button, speak into a microphone where we want to go, and sleep/read newspapers/talk on the phone until a voice tells us that we have reached our destination. And you know what? People will still call it "driving." That's what is really sad about some people's vision of "progress."
#11
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Sigh, heel-toe is something I look forward to on my drives. I really think I'd just consider going straight automatic if all I'm going to be able to do is upshift. I don't give a crap (and never have given a crap) about numbers, I drive for the sake of driving. I drive because I love teaching myself all these skills, even if they're not the fastest thing possible - they're plain FUN!
Last edited by Rhawb; 12-08-2008 at 12:40 PM.
#12
05-08 SCCA BS Natl Champ
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Interesting how times change.... There was a time when "real drivers" did not need ABS brakes, yet they are common place - and desired - by many racers. Traction control proved very effective in F1, so much so it was banned. No-lift shifting has been in race cars for years, and now the Cobalt SS has it in street trim. No clutch shifting (dog-ring transmission), removing the need for heel-toe, have been around even longer in racing.
It is all progress.
It is all progress.
#13
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^Racers are in favor of anything that will shave time within the rules of competition. But it takes a lot of the pride out of it when so much is done for you... the skill set required to be fast gets narrower, and narrower. Before ABS, braking at the limit of the car's potential was a skill... now you can get away with crushing the pedal and not worrying about it. It's progress in terms of technology, and laps times, and drivability for the masses certainly... but a part of me is sad that something that I can do well that many other people can't is now a non-issue; there is no reason to be proud of a useless skill.
#14
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I don't drive 3-pedals for speed. FFS, who lives their normal life trying to get from 0-60 in 5 seconds? Race cars are for race drivers, yet everyday people treat numbers like a religion. I drive 3-pedals for fun. It brings the maximum enjoyment out of driving for me.
People can quote numbers until they're blue in the face, but in the end it's all just dumbing down for the masses. Someday all we will do is push a button, speak into a microphone where we want to go, and sleep/read newspapers/talk on the phone until a voice tells us that we have reached our destination. And you know what? People will still call it "driving." That's what is really sad about some people's vision of "progress."
People can quote numbers until they're blue in the face, but in the end it's all just dumbing down for the masses. Someday all we will do is push a button, speak into a microphone where we want to go, and sleep/read newspapers/talk on the phone until a voice tells us that we have reached our destination. And you know what? People will still call it "driving." That's what is really sad about some people's vision of "progress."
#16
It's sad to see... but progress is one of the best things in our world of cars. Just think about how far everything has come in the last 30 years. Granted, things like flappy-paddle gearboxes sure make things look dismal but take the tesla. Without that car, we would have no benchmark for what electric cars could do. Even though some of the progress sucks, a lot of it opens new doors.
Let's just fuel efficiency standards don't change anytime soon or we're all royally screwed.
Let's just fuel efficiency standards don't change anytime soon or we're all royally screwed.
#17
It's a Cavalier
I'm looking forward to test driving the 370z and seeing what the downshift blip does...
I'm very proficient with heel-toe and rev-matching, and my Dad taught me how to do it 20 years ago. Been practicing and working on it ever since. I want to see what this system will do.
Oh, and f' braking with no ABS. Who wants 20+ feet added to their 60-0 mph braking? No me. Theres NO WAY a human being can modulate the braking as efficiently as ABS.
The auto blip downshift is a little more subtle. The advantage you get from it would only show as a few tenths on a road course, and won't show up as a measured statistic in magazines, so not many people will notice. Well, okay, I'm sure the Nissan fanboys will have a field day about it.
I'm very proficient with heel-toe and rev-matching, and my Dad taught me how to do it 20 years ago. Been practicing and working on it ever since. I want to see what this system will do.
Oh, and f' braking with no ABS. Who wants 20+ feet added to their 60-0 mph braking? No me. Theres NO WAY a human being can modulate the braking as efficiently as ABS.
The auto blip downshift is a little more subtle. The advantage you get from it would only show as a few tenths on a road course, and won't show up as a measured statistic in magazines, so not many people will notice. Well, okay, I'm sure the Nissan fanboys will have a field day about it.
#18
75shot55fueljets=GOBABYGO
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Driving an automatic is like sitting on the sofa and pushing petals, personally i like sitting in my rocket ship chair and shifting through the gears its more of a rush and you feel like your one with the car, telling it when to shift rather than some effin comp changing gears mid rev to save mpg... BS
#19
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As long as there is demand for it, someone will build it. Even if it's just a niche thing. You can still get engines with carburetors, after all.
I'll take a third pedal and a **** any day of the week. They're simply more fun.
I'll take a third pedal and a **** any day of the week. They're simply more fun.
#20
05-08 SCCA BS Natl Champ
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The auto blip downshift is a little more subtle. The advantage you get from it would only show as a few tenths on a road course, and won't show up as a measured statistic in magazines, so not many people will notice. Well, okay, I'm sure the Nissan fanboys will have a field day about it.
#21
05-08 SCCA BS Natl Champ
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Yet another hack that does not know how to use a clutch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icn_u_XNm3k
Anyone that thinks they are only one of these drivers aids (TC/ABS/sequential gearbox) away from competing at that level is kidding themselves.
#23
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No, but the more difficult something is the more pride you can take in being the best at it. The limit has to be somewhere (I'm not saying we're there already), or eventually there will literally be no driver needed.
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i would say this feature might come in handy more in daily normal driving. like when downshifting to go around a turn normally, it will make it all alot smoother.
but i also agree, knowing how to heel toe and doing it well really gives you a since of pride, and makes you feel better than the rest of the guys out there.
but i also agree, knowing how to heel toe and doing it well really gives you a since of pride, and makes you feel better than the rest of the guys out there.