StandardShift.com

Hi, I'm new here. I just purchased an '02 VW Jetta TDI. I have been driving for about a week. This is the first stick I have ever driven and I am doing pretty good getting around town.

The question I have is how do you downshift going uphill? I was driving up a very steep and busy hill at 50mph in 4th when my car started to slowdown to approx. 20. People were honking at me so I tried to upshift but this made things worse. lol. I didn't really understand how a standard worked until I read the Faqs. So, I guess I am wondering how to downshift going up hill?

I understand that this probably seems elementary so thanks in advance for your reply.

downshifting uphills is alot like downshifting on flat road; only alot more faster.

clutch in
downshift
rev-match
let out clutch
go go go

Thanks. This was a tough one for me because I came around a tight corner at 3rd then had to quickly gain momentium to get up the hill. Traffic was travelling pretty fast behind me so I gave it gas, put it in fourth and got upto 50 before the car started to slow. I wasn't sure if I had to gas it while shifting down, I was having a difficult time rev-matching it because the way it was slowing down in fourth so quickly. When I finally got in thrid the turbo lag really kicked my butt.

Probably the most embarassing moment in the past week. I had to pull onto a side street at the top of the hill and figure out what I did wrong.

What you should have done was, when taking tight turns, downshift to the appropriate gaer (usually 2nd) before entering the turn. That way, you can power through the turn if needed and keep power while going up the hill.

Whenever you feel as if teh car does not have enough power, always downshift. Never upshift. The main point for upshifting is to keep gas consumption low.

I totally got ya.

Thanks.

not sure if this was mentioned, but try to shift down when you're at the base of the hill rather than on the way up already

+1 on that, JVF. Predictive driving (and shifting) will help you foresee many potential problems rather than attempting to deal with them through the situation.