New member from Michigan

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MIblackS5
Junior Standardshifter
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 02, 2013 9:26 pm

New member from Michigan

Post by MIblackS5 »

Hello to everyone,
I have had my 2014 Audi S5 with a 6speed MT for 6 weeks and am really enjoying it. My launches and most of my shifts are fairly smooth, but I'm still struggling with the infamous 1 to 2 shift, especially at an RPM level above 2500. I've tried a lot of the suggestions on this forum and they have helped me to achieve a smooth shift in some cases, but other times I experience a really jerky 1 to 2 shift. If anyone has specific suggestions relative to my vehicle, they would be very much appreciated!! thanks
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AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by AHTOXA »

Welcome and nice car!

Nothing specific to your vehicle because your shifts will depend on when YOU want to shift. So try different tactics as you have been doing, it seems, and see what works best. Consistency will come with practice.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
ClutchDisc
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 755
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 1:50 pm
Cars: 2009 Mazda 5 2.3L 5MT
Location: Detroit area

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by ClutchDisc »

Welcome from a fellow Michigan member! Where are you at in MI?
09 Mazda 5 2.3 5-speed manual 171k
11 Subaru Forester auto :( 113k
92 Ford Mustang LX 5.0 5-speed manual 151k
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ClutchFork
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1935
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:55 pm
Cars: 2008 Fusion 2.3L manual
Location: Detroit MI

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by ClutchFork »

Welcome! Keep the 1-2 shift below 2500 for now (except where you have to go higher for safety like freeway ramp) and try moving it up slowly. It is probably a matter of more practice and so eventually you'll be handling a 5000+ rpm 1-2 shift with ease--no, with joy! :D

But perhaps you let your foot off the accelerator too much on the shift. Is it jerky in that you jerk slower as you engage in the next gear? if so then you are letting the gas off too much. Is it jerky in that the car lurches forward as you engage the next gear, then you may be keeping your foot too much on the gas (power shift sort of). But again, it will come naturally in time.
Stick shiftin since '77
theholycow wrote:Why in the world would you even want to be as smooth as an automatic? Might as well just drive an automatic...
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zenfiz6
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 200
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2013 3:40 pm
Cars: 2011 Audi A4 6MT
Location: Newport News, VA

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by zenfiz6 »

MIblackS5 wrote:Hello to everyone,
I have had my 2014 Audi S5 with a 6speed MT for 6 weeks and am really enjoying it. My launches and most of my shifts are fairly smooth, but I'm still struggling with the infamous 1 to 2 shift, especially at an RPM level above 2500. I've tried a lot of the suggestions on this forum and they have helped me to achieve a smooth shift in some cases, but other times I experience a really jerky 1 to 2 shift. If anyone has specific suggestions relative to my vehicle, they would be very much appreciated!! thanks
Welcome to the forums. You'll get great advice and banter here.

I'm a very happy A4 owner, but I have to admit an S5 would be nice. And you should meet Shadow as well. He has an A5.

My epiphany has been rev-matching. I'll take the A4 to about 4k RPM in first (20MPH) and then push the clutch in, wait until the revs are at 2k, and then stick it in 2nd. Most of the time, that's a smooth shift. But I haven't figured out if you need to catch it a bit early (so a tad high) or late (a tad low).

My guess: err on the high side.
2013 -- Present: 2011 Audi A4 6MT (45k---???)
2001 -- 2013 .... 1999 Honda Accord AT (RIP 239k)
1999 -- 2005 .... 1987 Acura Legend 5MT (RIP 174k)
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Squint
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3390
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:44 pm
Location: KY

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by Squint »

Welcome and nice car!

Driving a stick, to a certain extent, is about repetition. Every car can be a little different, so it's hard for me to compare my Ford Fiesta 5 speed to your S5 6 speed ( :lol: :lol: :lol: ) in terms of shifting. If you understand the basics of it, practice will be your best friend at eventually smoothing things out so you aren't a bobble-head/in a neck brace.
'15 Mazda 3 iSport Hatch 6MT
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi

For Pony!
tankinbeans
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 4029
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
Location: Shakopee, MN

Re: New member from Michigan

Post by tankinbeans »

What squint said. My Focus is different than the Kia I had, is different than my friend's Jetta. I usually wait a split second before letting off the clutch for 1-2.

Heck, my Focus is different than my dad's Focus. There are two model years' difference and a generation change.

Welcome to the board.
17 Mazda6 Touring
18 Mazda3 iSport
InlinePaul wrote:The driving force of new fangled features to sell more cars [is to] cater to the masses' abject laziness!
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