Not in the stang I don't but my dad had a Dodge 2500 4x4 with a manual and I used to drive it all the time, you pretty much had to start in 2nd because 1st was geared so low (it was a diesel). You would be shifting into 2nd before your rear tires cleared the stop line at stop lights if you started in 1st.
I did pretty much every time when I had 4.56s. My mother has an 03 v6 stang, and she takes off in second almost every single time. I let her drive my last 'Stang with the 4.56s, and I told her to take off in first with some authority. She did, then promptly looked at me and said "Are you kidding me?"
well, i dont know if it hurts anything. i tought it be bad for the clutch or the tranny.
however, when i saw this, it got me to thinking maybe ill do this.
i would only do it after i got the blower because 1st would be so useless and it just wastes time to shift.
i figure to solve this a t56 tranny with a longer first gear would be good eventually.
i just feel like im loseing major time burning tires in first and then shifting. the car next to me is pulling while im doing this. i cant imagine with the blower.
With the 3.73s I have been trying it on occasion, just to gauge how it will feel when the 3.27s go back in LOL. I just give it a little gas and come off of the clutch. I dont ride it. Takes right off, and I have a spec stg 3....so you know im not riding it too much
Just sluggish...my car runs WAY better taking off in 1st. I dont spin at all in gear, and just get a VERY LITTLE spin sometimes on the 1st-2nd shift. Nitto DRs FTW!
I'll start off in second alot in the winter when im using snow tires. The funny thing was that when i put the summer tires back on, it snowed here on easter (just a little dusting on the road really) and the tires were spinning like crazy in 3rd (yes 3rd) gear! Its probably not going to hurt anything but starting off in such a low gear, at least with the stock rear gears, puts more load on the engine.
I can't ever remember starting in 2nd with stock gears but, as soon as i changed to 3.90 i started in 2nd all the time. 1st gear is useless. The more power you get, the more 1st gear jerks the heck out of you and its way too short to even bother with. I've never heard that it can do damage but, maybe I've been told wrong.
I'm no expert...just giving my opinion...
But I would think that it would be pretty bad for your clutch. And I would never start in 2nd if starting out uphill, it could put too much load on the engine... why risk it?
I changed my clutch when I got the Kenne Belle put in and they said that my clutch was in awsome condition. It was the stock clutch from a 2001 Gt with about 55k on it. For about 20k of those miles I started in 2nd when I had my gears changed. I don't think that it does damage to the clutch. At least it didn't to mine. I don't know about the engine, I have never had a problem with my car whatso ever mechanically. Great now I just jinxed myself.