This is just another manifestation of "rollover." At stoplights, I frequently let my clutch out w/ the transmission in neutral. When the light is getting ready to turn green (or if I get "caught by surprise"), if I put the clutch in and don't wait a second or so before I shift back into 1st, I get the little "thunk." If I give the gears & synchros time to spin down, voila! - no thunk.

Same thing goes if you roll up to a stop and disengage the clutch. Before you shift back to 1st, give everything some time to settle down after you come to a stop and the thunk will disappear...

I think it's just the sound of the syncrhos engaging. Doubt it's anything to worry about, but I try to avoid it. Mine's had the same behavior since day 1.

 

It is a normal thing in a lot of manual cars. It happens in my RX, and did the same thing in my previous SE-R Spec V, it is just the synchros. Be glad that you have synchros, I drove a Fiat with no synchros and you get grinding if you don't come to a complete stop. So I rather have a thunk once in a while than grinding.

 

Mine does it to . I have only had the car for a month so, I was worried. HAs anyone acctually taken their car back to the dealer for this??
If you did, what did the dealer have to say about this?

 

My 8 has made that "Thunk" sound since the first day I bought it. I've been told it's natural and nothing to worry about.

 

KeithL nailed it; if you wait a bit after depressing the clutch before shifting to 1st, you won't get the thunk. The synchros just take a bit longer to spin down.....

 

This is true. Mine does it too, but usually only when I am pressing the clutch and putting it in first at the same time. If you push in the clutch, and wait and then put it in gear it doesn't happen as often.

 

Mine also does "thunk" but only after the engine/transmission is properly warmed up.