Hello again! I got great feedback on my last thread (thanks all!) and thought I'd throw out another one to the forum here.

I've been practicing my rev-matched downshifts, usually only a gear at a time (6-4, 5-4, 4-3 usually). I've read a bunch of the threads here on the A) how and B) why's. It's weird, but it seems like some days I nail my downshifts 100% and everything just clicks into gear. But days like today I'm waaaay off I have a new appreciation for how my previous DSG equipped GTI rev-matched for me I suppose I don't *have* to downshift so much, but I like to, and I'd like to be able to do it well

Okay so, the part I'm having trouble with is the correct "blip". Right now I'm going:

1. Off gas, clutch in
2. Move to the next gear
3. Blip <---- danger!
4. Quickly (faster than my upshift) let clutch out

By the time I hit step 3, my revs have usually fallen quite a bit (especially now with the A/C on). The problem I have is either I'll "under blip" and barely move the needle, then fudge around re-blipping trying to get it where I want it (and sounding like a doof). Or I'll "over blip" way past my mark and have to "catch" it at the right spot as the revs fall.

I'm wondering if I could change up my technique a bit to make it easier to hit my target RPM (or at the very least, get closer to it). Instead of getting off the gas completely and letting the revs fall to the floor, could I instead hold the throttle to maintain steady RPMs while I clutch in? That way I'm already near my previous gears RPM, and a slight motion to increase it to the next gears RPM is all that's required.

I've read that you should always have 0 input on the throttle when disengaging the clutch. But a few threads around here seem to suggest otherwise, but perhaps I'm taking them out of context...so, do you all think a steady throttle is a good way to improve my blipping accuracy, or would I be causing more harm than good?

I appreciate all of your input, it's been great! Thanks!

Are you doing each of those steps concurrently? The reason I ask is because there should be some overlap. In other words, you can be disengaging the clutch, releasing the accelerator, and even beginning to move the shift lever in the same motion. Your accelerator blip can occur at the same time you're finishing movement of the shift lever, and of course then you'd re-engage the clutch. All of these steps overlap with practice.

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One other thought-- Have you learned to complete a heel-and-toe downshift? That's where you are braking and downshifting at the same time. Since we only have two feet (and three pedals), it would be difficult to brake and downshift at the same time when we want to blip the throttle for a smooth shift into a numerically lower gear. If you practice doing that, then you should have no problems with a simple throttle blip when downshifting to accelerate.

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No, I haven't even attempted to heel-toe downshift . I've always thought that was a track move, for taking corners and such. I'm speaking strictly for keeping up in traffic, or downshifting to pass someone. Someday I'll give that a go, but I wanted to get the basics down first

Side note: I don't think "throttle" is the proper word, unless VW has inexplicably slapped a throttle on the TDI (stranger things have happened). "Accelerator" is an appropriate name for the pedal either way.

For a single-gear downshift, I am a fan of the steady-right-foot method, never letting go of the accelerator in the first place, just as you asked. It's harmless; go ahead and do it. It's less clutch wear than a botched or non-rev-matched downshift.

You could also consider a more gentle, steady operation of the go-pedal instead of a stab-and-release blip. Just press and hold the pedal at an appropriate level for the target RPM. You may want to practice revving in neutral in the driveway in 500, 250, and 100RPM increments to train your foot.

My VW's drive-by-wire throttle was wacky and unpredictable, and many VW owners feel the same (with those who have had aftermarket tuning done reporting major improvement). It is possible that they haven't programmed the TDI any more pleasantly. I did eventually get pretty good at it, my foot stabbing the pedal for a usually-accurate blip by how long the pedal is held down rather than by how deep.

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1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig

Ah, that might help quite a bit actually. I was under the mindset the blip had to be a quick jab to the necessary RPM, then a complete release of the accelerator (you're right, not a throttle at all was necessary before re-engaging the clutch.

I'll give this a shot over the next couple of days and see how it goes....thanks!

The jab-and-release, or blip, is popular on this site. When I arrived here I preferred the more steady rev-match concept over the more dramatic blip/pedal stab, but in desperation trying to get control of the VW I got in the blip habit and now I can't seem to lose it. Both are valid, and the desired result either way is for the engine to be at the same speed as the clutch when your left leg comes up.

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1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig

It's definitely not just a track move. Any time you are braking and downshifting, a heal-and-toe downshift is useful. Think about it....how else are you supposed to downshift while braking without using the clutch to "absorb" the engine RPM? Of course if you're downshifting to accelerate, there's no need to touch the brake pedal. In that case, a simple blip is all that's needed. I wouldn't recommend holding the throttle because it seems a bit amateurish.

Trust me, if you take the time to learn how to heel-and-toe downshift, blipping the throttle to the correct RPM will be a piece of cake and soon become second nature.

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Heel-and-toe is something nice to know, but don't think it's something you need to know for normal everyday driving. I never bothered to learn it.

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All information given in good faith but not guaranteed!

Well, that's true. You don't ever need to downshift while braking either. You can just brake in gear and pop the trans into neutral when the RPMs drop too low. But if you enjoy the art of driving a manual transmission like I do, you'll occasionally want to heel-and-toe while you're downshifting and braking at the same time. Is it necessary? No. Is it fun? Yup.

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That's true as well. However, I wouldn't necessarily bring it up when someone is still struggling with the basics. People might start to think it's normal.

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All information given in good faith but not guaranteed!

If you're having problems with accuracy, I'm with Cow for new drivers. Stick with the foot-on-the-gas-constantly method rather than blipping the accelerator. It's much easier to make sure you're where you want to be in terms of RPMs. Now, if you get good and want more? Sure, do couple clutch heel-toe shifts.

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'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5-MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4-AT

For Pony!

I learned (actually taught myself) to heel-and-toe at the same time I was still learning how to drive a manual transmission. To me, it just seemed like something that I should know how to do at the time. I always downshifted into 2nd gear while braking to turn on to the street that I lived on at the time, so braking and downshifting at the same time kind of came naturally.

Of course some people downshift after they complete a turn, but that's the opposite of what I like to do. I'd much rather downshift before I turn and then be able to accelerate through the turn. And that's why I was interested in learning heel-and-toe in the first place. Still though, I'm well aware that there are many drivers who don't bother with shifting while braking, so it is a personal choice.

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Shadow, I don't see what's more amateurish about this than any other down-shift rev-matching technique.

Cheers,

I see it as being similar to holding the revs up while engaging the clutch to start from a stop. That's typically something that an inexperienced driver would do. That said, nobody should take offense because its just my opinion.

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