Shifting Tips?

[JoeDogInKC]

Up until literally today, I was having an issue just getting started in 1st gear (or reverse) without some clutch shudder. It seems that the clutch just needed some break-in time and it's now smooth as silk. I still occasionally have a slight "clunk" going from 1st to 2nd, but that is even getting better. This clutch is just a different beast from my 2004 Mach 1 and 2011 GT. It seems to require a little bit more slippage than I'm used to for a smooth takeoff in gear. I'm getting more and more used to it though.

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[Tony Alonso]

Up until literally today, I was having an issue just getting started in 1st gear (or reverse) without some clutch shudder. It seems that the clutch just needed some break-in time and it's now smooth as silk. I still occasionally have a slight "clunk" going from 1st to 2nd, but that is even getting better. This clutch is just a different beast from my 2004 Mach 1 and 2011 GT. It seems to require a little bit more slippage than I'm used to for a smooth takeoff in gear. I'm getting more and more used to it though.

Ditto. This is my first experience with the MT-82. I have been used to Tremec T3650s since 2000. Felt like a newbie pulling out of the dealership yesterday!

 

[H1 GT]

I'm really not liking the shifter. I have to be deliberately slow to be sure it's in the right spot. I do a 2-6 shift more than I want.

My shifting has gotten much better since I started slowing down the clutch release. I still feel like it's grinding though. I'll keep practicing! I guess I'm too used to a truck like clutch haha

I really hope that was a typo and you meant 2-5..?

I have yet to drive a 2015, but I thought the manual 2014 I drove felt pretty good and I had no such issues.

 

[Patrick S]

Ditto. This is my first experience with the MT-82. I have been used to Tremec T3650s since 2000. Felt like a newbie pulling out of the dealership yesterday!

I told the sales guy as i was leaving "Don't laugh, i have not driven a stick in 10 years"

yes, i was nervous :help:

no, i did not stall the car :clap2:

yes, first to second felt like i was on a very aggressive rocking horse :headbonk:

yes, after the couple of days driving her, everything is smooth as silk. it all came back to me really quick!

 

[Ruin]

I really hope that was a typo and you meant 2-5..?

Oh I wish it was. I unfortunately make it shutter and drag haha

 

[moto vudu]

It took me a while to get used to the clutch as well. Almost all my cars have had a manual and I traded my Focus ST for the '15 GT. I initially found it difficult to shift smoothly because like others have said the new '15 don't seem to like the clutch to be released quickly. Now I "slip" the clutch with a slower release and the shifts are very smooth. Previously I've always tried to release the clutch as soon as possible as that's supposed to help prevent clutch wear... just doesn't seem like these new Mustangs like that technique and will jerk if you come off the clutch too quick.

 

[wjones14]

Hey Cam,

I just test drove a GT with a manual last night. I'm not really sure where the issues are coming from. I absolutely loved it! Nothing seemed out of place; no rev hang or rev drop that felt out of the ordinary. The shifter felt nice and notchy and went right into its gates with a light guidance with maybe a finger or two. If things go well, I'll have a car just like the one in my signature in the next week or two.

Yes, this... I test drove the 2015 GT two weekends ago, and it just felt natural to me - not really much different than my '05. All clutches and shifters are slightly different from car model to car model. The 2015 clutch is definitely lower effort than the '05, and when it's brand new like that, it's kind of "springy" - that is it wants to pop up right near the point where it starts to grab. Another thing that makes the 2015 clutch somewhat tricky to be smooth with is that it just grabs instantly at a certain point. My '05 clutch is not as grabby, at least not now with 77,000 miles on it.

That said, after only a 1/4 mile or so, the '15 GT felt totally natural and great to me. As others have said, there's an art to smooth shifts, and it basically just takes practice. I typically don't add throttle between shifts until the clutch has started grabbing, and this was no different.

If starting in 2nd gear is easier/smoother for you because you avoid the 1-2 upshift, then go for it. At least for now. But, it is certainly possible to be smooth starting in 1st and not skipping gears. I sometimes skip gears, but not to be smoother.

I would say this - a car with the power of a Mustang GT is not the easiest car to learn to drive a stick with. Or to learn to drive a stick smoothly. A car with a lot less power (like my Mini Cooper) is a LOT easier to drive smoothly. It has so little power that giving it too much gas doesn't really do anything.

Just go with it and don't be self-conscious about the rough shifts. Smooth shifts are going to come very quickly, and then you'll be giving others tips!

 

[souprmage]

OMG, this thread is funny. Not funny because you're all Noobs, but funny because I had the exact same issue driving mine off the lot today. As I got in the car with the salesman today, I said "this should be fun, I've never driven a manual transmission before". Of course he knew better. But damn, after a few miles, I bet he was beginning to wonder.

I drove the car to their station to fill it up, and was definitely getting some buck. I think the key reason for me, was twofold. One, the pedal is very linear. You can't feel the bite point at all. Two, when it bites, IT BITES!!!

It's just going to take a few miles to get the muscle memory of where it bite is, and possible seat the clutch in a bit so it's not quite so grippy.

But OMG, that tranny is SAAAAWEEEEET. I've never driven a performance car before in my life. I've driven a number of manual transmissions, but never one who's only goal was to plow through the gears as quickly as it can. It's very tight and easy to pick the gear as long as you're deliberate in your actions.

I put very few miles on it so far, but I'm definitely impressed. I won't really get to spend much time with the car until next week, and it's going to be painful. However, there's no way in hell I'm driving it to work tomorrow and try to park it in a parking garage. I need to get a lot more comfortable with the car's size and dimensions before I delve into a parking garage. I may have to set up some hay bales in the yard and practice. What a noob.

 

[JoeDogInKC]

The more I drive this thing, the more I love it. It simply reads my mind and does exactly what I want it to do. It's seriously like telepathy or subconscious movement on my part. I'm not sure if the car itself is making me a better driver or if my instincts are right to tell the car what to do and it's reacting correctly to my inputs. Now that I have a little clutch break-in, it's much better.

I used to hate to run errands, now I'm making excuses to go do them.

 

[w0ss]

I am having the same issue. If I shift at high RPM it is fine. But when I shift at 2500 rpm driving around town it doesn't seem to like it. It almost feels like a "clunk" as it goes into gear.

 

[fionic]

why are you guys shifting at 2500 anyway? that's no fun

 

[w0ss]

I live in a quiet residential neighborhood and drive pretty late at night sometimes so I don't want to be "that guy".

 

[Ferdelance]

I am having the same issue. If I shift at high RPM it is fine. But when I shift at 2500 rpm driving around town it doesn't seem to like it. It almost feels like a "clunk" as it goes into gear.

You should shift around 3000/4500 rpm.

 

[fionic]

I live in a quiet residential neighborhood and drive pretty late at night sometimes so I don't want to be "that guy".

As long as you keep your throttle controlled, you can get up to 3-4k without making such noise.

 

[Potrillo]

You should shift around 3000/4500 rpm.

I am playing the, "how high can I get my MPG?" game. Which I then lose when I find a good, open stretch of street.

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