This is a 2 Part Question.

A fellow NAMer posted a link to this video as part of a "how to drive manual" thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Upt0...eature=related

Part I.
I actually picked up good info. on this video, because I haven't been letting off my clutch as soon as I can. But as I tried this for about a week now, here's what I noticed. Upshifting from 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, I can give gas and get off the clutch very quickly and it is a very smooth transition. No jerking, no stumbling. However, when ever I shift from 1st gear to 2nd, which is right before 3000 RPM, around 2800 RPM @ about 17 to 18 MPH, I can never release the clutch smoothly and quickly. I always have to release it half way, let it engage, and then let go all the way. If I release the clutch too fast on 2nd gear, like I do on the other gears, my car would jerk very quickly. It doesn't feel like a slip but maybe I could be wrong. (2004 MCS with 63K miles) Am I doing something wrong? Or is it mechanical?

Part II.
I also notice the same thing when I'm doing my heel + toe technique. When I heel + toe, brake, downshift from the higher gears to the next lower gear, it's a easy transition, just blip and release clutch, while breaking, very smooth, no jerk. But when I heel toe from 3rd gear to 2nd gear. I sometimes get a sudden engine breaking feeling...maybe because I'm blipping the throttle too much? or too little? or maybe I'm going too fast for the gear? I usually downshift to 2nd from 3rd at around 17 to 19MPH for turns and etc. Should I downshift at a lower speed? Or just perfect my technique?

 

Part 1. Try shifting into your next higher gear at 3k or higher.
Part 2. Try down-shifting to 2nd at a little higher speed (25 to 30) slowly.
Do that well, then work on doing it a little faster.
It's all about matching engine revs to road speed.
Or, in other words, perfecting your technique.

 

1. Just rev it up a bit higher, I get the same thing and that seems to be the ideal solution if you dont want to do what you are describing with the clutch. I have to go to just a bit over 3200 if I want to be smooth, but in my Dads Accord 5 speed I end up going to close to 4k.

2. Probably need to rev the engine more. As you start to reach lower gears the ratios spread out, this is why it is very hard to shift from 2nd down to first while moving. Generally when down shifting it's better to over rev, allow me to explain. If you dont rev up enough when you start to let the clutch in you have the engine trying to slow the car down to it's speed, which wont happen because the engine has very little mass to slow the car down with. On the other hand if you over rev you have the car slowing down the engine which is a lot smoother for basically the opposite reason I described above. True not matching it perfectly wears your clutch some, but it is worth pointing out that unless you utterly dump the clutch on your shifts you still have the clutch plate spinning against the flywheel for a period of time whether you have over or under revved.

I have been doing the whole heel toe thing for about 1.5 years now and I still dont have it perfect, so just be patient, you'll learn.