Lets talk about shifting techniques.

Why not powershift, I do it all the time at the track with the weak T5...

I preload the shifter for the next gear, and hit the clutch just enough to get it in. I wouldnt say its any harder than a hard shift where you let the RPM drop.

I only downshift around people, and rarely to slow the car down, more so to "feel" cool. Usually its neutral.

I have the same problem with pushing on two pedals... running shoes are fine or any kind of narrow shoe (no dress shoes, boots, etc) and honestly something that's pretty soft works well, if your shoe doesn't give it just feels weird. I can't believe I'm still talking about shoes.

Anyway, shifting... the next best thing to powershifting is just to do it quickly! WOT, gas out and clutch in, shift as fast as you can, gas in clutch out. There's no science. Since you're WOT you don't need to regulate the clutch, it just goes. Also if your motor is mostly stock, don't shift at redline all the time... still getting used to driving my car, but you can tell that sometimes shifting at a lower RPM into next gear you'll still pull harder, since stock it's not very good top end.

Heel and toe shifting is a little hardcore for the street, imo... I do rev-match though... downshift, rev the engine and push it into gear.

If you're coming to a stop, depending on your gearing I wouldn't bother past 4th or 3rd. You can accelerate in 3rd if you're rolling..

Not sure why Im talking about this so much. Probably because I'm at work and all I want to do is drive my car

Anyone match RPM's with the syncro to slide into gears without using the clutch? That is fun sometimes when I feel lazy....

I always hard downshift my car if I am in a hurry. I've never had any problems with it.

I don't powershift, I don't need to.

I would down shift to stop only if the brakes have failed, other than that it's neutral for me. And no the brakes haven't ever failed so I guess I don't ever down shift to a stop

Going around corners in town or on the back roads? In town it's 3rd gear if I am trying to be quiet or 2nd gear if I am going slow enough. In the country, I find 3rd gear and high RPM's help plant the car through corners (lot's of gas pedal!).

88 Fox GT said:

So what do you guys do when you have to slow to turn a corner?

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I do the old heel and toe downshift routine when I`m not feeling lazy.

If you have to drive your car everyday, I wouldn't powershift your t5.

Mustang5L5 said:

I downshift now and then, but i only do it rev matching. I've gotten pretty good at rev matching. I can even estimate my speed and know what RPM i should be at in what gear so that if i were to roll in nuetral and then pick a gear, i can instantly blip the throttle to the right rpm and release the clutch without having a change of more than 100-200 RPM.

My goal in shifting is to shift (either up or down) in such a way that you can't even feel the shift. I hate riding with people that just pop the clutch up in every gear and you just crack your neck back and forth on each shift.

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Then dont drive with me. I let the clutch out fast, because I cannot stand riding it. Its not bad, or jerky too much, but I just cant get myself to ride the clutch out. If I wanted to, Id drive the car smooth as silk, but I personally dont like the feeling.

Also for a DD I wouldnt powershift it, or even beat on it much (if you have NO other transportation). But if you have access to another vehicle, pound that car into the ground...

25thmustang said:

But if you have access to another vehicle, pound that car into the ground.

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That is what these cars were made for! I'm not too hard on it, but I like to have fun you know.

I always rev match down to 2nd then roll to the stop. I love the bark sound when I rev match, an it seems to be easier on the clutch since your not "pulling" the engine up to speed.

I have a size thirteen and I use my toes on the pedals, so my feet never hit the other pedals.

When up shifting I can time it perfectly so I can drop the clutch fast right at the point where speed an rpm match up in the next gear.

its hard to explain how to shift in town. You just get your own technique. but some things to remember, dont slip the clutch, when downshifting, be sure to match the rpms, dont let the clutch and tranny pull the engine up. thats hard on it.

shifting fast w/o powershifing, you cant really be taught, you just get your own thing, just be fast, firm and accurate. Dont concentrate to much, thats when you miss gears, just get a flow and row em out fast.

lately when i am just playing around, i just make a smooth, slower shift. used to i would bang gears hard... changed my mind.

i dont powershift in town, only at the track, powershifting on the street is only good for smoke and getting sideways.

When you really get to know your car you can rev match by sound. I know exactly where my RPMS should be for gear and speed in my civic (don't drive the stang around enough) and what it should sound like. So I rev match on just about any down shift (except for 5-4). I almost always do a double clutch, though. I dunno I have tried to match it on one shift but I can't do it. Two left feet I guess. But I'm still pretty smooth and fast with it. You don't feel the shifts, u just hear the engine get louder. I remember the first time I got it right. It felt so smooth the shifter practically fell into gear.

I had to learn this cause the bozo who owned the car before my wore the syncros down on 2nd and messed up 5th. But its allowed me to get around in it for a year while I save up for the rebuld.