Downshifting to 1st gear for AX

In all the years I autocrossed the FX16, I always used 1st gear for slow speed corners.  This car has no guts until 4,400 rpm.  The trick is to accelerate coming out of the turn.  Never used 1st to decelerate, you have brakes for that.

Now that I'm in the Type R, I leave it in second.  Too much torque to use 1st in this car.  1st just ends up spinning.

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Still salty eh?

trucke said:

I all the years I autocrossed the FX16, I always used 1st gear for slow speed corners.  This car has no guts until 4,400 rpm.  The trick is to accelerate coming out of the turn.  Never used 1st to decelerate, you have brakes for that.

Now that I'm in the Type R, I leave it in second.  Too much torque to use 1st in this car.  1st just ends up spilling.

And this is the exact reason I leave it in second during rain events. A lot more control with no torque in the rain. 

Streetwiseguy said:

Back in the olden days, when my 82Camaro was stock other than a cam and intake, it was the very rare course that had me shifting to second...  305 with a th200 and 2.93 gears and 6200rpm gave me roughly 45mph in first.

So, at least to a certain extent, it depends on the car.

My Golf was the same way, with its 3.67 final drive.  It did not have enough power to get enough speed to need second gear.

Defined motorsports said:

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Still salty eh?

Nah, just waiting for your next melt down so we can have a couple months without these ridiculous threads every two days.

I'd say it completely depends on the amount of torque you've got on the input side of the transmission combined with your gear ratio.  For RallyX, I used to launch in first, shift to second, and every great once in a while, I might shift up to 3rd.  Mainly because my shift cables got out of whack and I was too lazy to go fix them, I started having problems getting it into gear, so I started just launching in 2nd and just leaving it there.  Way faster.  I don't get as much wheelspin on the start, I don't lose the little bit of time making my 1-2 shift, and in 2nd gear I can power out of any corner on the course.  Honestly, in any kind of loose surface - dirt, snow, rain, more than three grains of sand on the pavement - first gear is basically useless for anything other than percussive rev-limiter usage and spinning wheels.

In reply to kb58 :

Exactly......my 2003 MINI JCW was good for 50 mph in 1st gear, fortunately 2nd was fairly close ratio but I really had to stiffen the rear bar to get it to bite coming out of a sharp turn. Point being I could use first only for some courses, 1st and 2nd for others.

Dead_Sled said:

Defined motorsports said:

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Still salty eh?

Nah, just waiting for your next melt down so we can have a couple months without these ridiculous threads every two days.

Oh get a therapist ya whining little child. I don't have meltdowns. You have mental issues. At least I'm adding to this forum instead of watching it slowly die of boredom. What have YOU contributed today, ya troll? 
 

this is one of the first lively discussions I've seen on this board in the last few weeks. And, thankfully, I alone made it happen. I take breaks from this forum because of dickheads like you. I slowly come back to enjoy this forum for what it is, A place where we talk about cars, and not whine about someone's meaningful, insightful, and genuine posts. 

^^^ you. 
 

there. You want an "outburst". Here's your "outburst". Oh, and it won't be my final. I'm here to stay. Perhaps YOU should find another forum to troll. 

In reply to Defined motorsports :

Yup, I totally missed the mark on that one.  I'm sorry for disrupting your lively discussion.  

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Did you expect a different response? Anyone here would react to such abuse and bullying. Just remember: I'm not going anywhere. We stand up to bullies like you. 

Defined motorsports said:

Oh get a therapist ya whining little child. I don't have meltdowns. You have mental issues. At least I'm adding to this forum instead of watching it slowly die of boredom. What have YOU contributed today, ya troll? 
 

this is one of the first lively discussions I've seen on this board in the last few weeks. And, thankfully, I alone made it happen. I take breaks from this forum because of dickheads like you. I slowly come back to enjoy this forum for what it is, A place where we talk about cars, and not whine about someone's meaningful, insightful, and genuine posts. 

^^^ you. 
 

there. You want an "outburst". Here's your "outburst". Oh, and it won't be my final. I'm here to stay. Perhaps YOU should find another forum to troll. 

The problem is that your response changes every time I reload the page.  I'm sick of the cycle of post whoring to make the new name seem legit, then eventually melting down and saying inappropriate things.  That's then followed by editing or nuking the offensive posts. 

Next comes 2 months in the basement trying to come up with a new name, and then we get amazing threads like "how many times do you shift on the dragstrip?"  And "if you're going into a corner too fast, should I brake more or less?"

In the heyday of metro detroit autox scene I would compete in highly variable events. 

Corvette Club of Michigan:

1995 dodge neon would never use 1st gear. Biggest debate was whether to sit on rev limiter in 2nd or shift to 3rd for 2 seconds then back to 2nd.

Alfa Romeo Club of Michigan:

1995 Dodge Neon would often have to heel toe downshift to 1st multiple times per run. 

I think the key is as was stated in other posts. If your specific car is falling too far out the best powerband it pays to shift to 1st if the gearbox and your skills can handle it smoothly. 

If you can't play nicely, just leave. 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

The problem here is I was playing nicely. I haven't had any problems here until whiny Mcbitchface decided to start E36 M3. Again. It's always him.  Make an example of him. 

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Your opinion matters so little. 

Defined motorsports said:

In reply to David S. Wallens :

The problem here is I was playing nicely. I haven't had any problems here until whiny Mcbitchface decided to start E36 M3. Again. It's always him.  Make an example of him. 

Lol

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Keep it up. 

Defined motorsports said:

In reply to Dead_Sled :

Your opinion matters so little. 

Exactly, you're making my case quite nicely, thanks! 

And locked.