Before starting to drive my new MCS a couple of months ago, I had never owned a standard transmission car. Although I have had considerable motorcycle experience, there are some significant differences. In browsing the Internet, I have found two different seemingly authoritative sites that give very different advice on the best way to move the shift lever. This is for plain ordinary street synchromesh shifting, nothing fancy like double declutching. I am interested in input from anyone who knows which of the following two approaches is best for the MCS Getrag transmission.

Recommendation number one:
“When shifting across the H such as between 2nd and 3rd gears, do not try to make a conscious jog in your hand movements. The linkage needs very little input to make the diagonal path across neutral. Your shift should almost look like a straight diagonal line. Making a distinctive zig zag through neutral is strong-arming the shifter and will slow the shift down.”

From: http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving...shifting.shtml

Recommendation number two:
“i) All the ‘Stick’ movements have to be consciously ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’. This where most people go wrong.
ii) Getting from one position to another has to be the ‘slotting’ way and not the ‘hammer-blow’ way.
iii) While shifting from one gear to another, give it a brief pause in Neutral EVERY TIME and then ‘slot-over’ to the next. NO drag-like move is to be made from one gear to another in a ‘single-stroke’ but always in two ‘slotting’ ones as above.”
From: http://www.indiacar.com/index2.asp?p...ftinggears.htm

(Part II, Page 2)

 

the MCS's stock shifter is sloppy enough that you can do a diagnal shift from 2-3 4-5, etc.

on my other car where the shifter comes with a very short throw on top
of a short shaft, you have to follow the H pattern to get to the next
gear.

either way, go gentle and slow, never force it.

 

I agree with Kenchan for Normal driving. But i do have to add one little thing and thats more of a Preference. is that before going into gear and letting out the clutch try to get the engine reving at the expected same speed for when your in that gear. wheter your upshifting or Downshifting. Main reason for this .. Driven to many cars without syncro's and if you dont do it .. it wont shift

 

I generally use the first advice. Push it forward with very little effort and it will go. Don't force it like Kenchan said!

-Cody

 

And in the spirit of the most important modification of all - tightening the nut behind the wheel... anyone have any other reputable online sources for info on this and other driving techniques?

DD

 

Another vote for the first approach/advice. If you have to force the shift lever into place, you have a problem with the transmission (or haven't fully disengaged the clutch).

 

I also use recommendation #1, and I've owned manual trans cars all my life.