Starting in 2nd gear?

[Ghostface]

Hey everyone, I've only been driving manual since I got my '00 GT in January. I wanted to know if it's O.K. to start on 2nd for daily driving. Starting on 1st just seems like an immediate quick shift to 2nd and pretty useless unless your trying to race someone or see how fast you can waste gas.


Are there any negatives to starting on 2nd, like damage to the drivetrain or faster clutch wear? Thanks for answering such a newbie question.

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

if your car was at complete stop and you started at 2nd all the time yes, there will be excess clutch wear. But if you're car is moving and you start in 2nd you'll be fine. I'm assuming you have stock gears too.

 

[ZaC851]

with 4.10s it was NO PROBLEM starting in 2nd. but if you have stock gears i wouldnt do it.

 

[03redfiregt]

Def not good for your clutch!

 

[4.6_02_Black_GT]

...Just got my 4.10s a few weeks back...lovem

Yes you can start out in 2nd with stock gearing but as mentioned you are going to slip you clutch a little to prevent the car from bogging down, so cluch wear would be an issue.

After I go my 4.10s they are great I can start out in 1 or 2nd without slipping the clutch. 2nd gear is by far the funnest gear now, then 3rd is really cool too. So get new gears and then you can start in which ever one you like.

 

[Jesus]

When my Grandpa drove my car (long story) he started in 3rd by accident several times. I was surprised, the car didnt even bog or do anything weired. Of course I was pissed that he kept doing it. By the way, I have 4:10's incase you dont read sigs.

 

[triggz]

heh i tend to drop my car into 2nd if im in slow moving/stop and go traffic. damn gears and j-mod gets annoying bumping you every 10 seconds in D.

not really relative here though

 

[Mustang5L5]

I usually start in 2nd gear if i am barely rolling along or if i am facing down a hill. It's easy to get going in those situations. Also, 2nd isn't as sensitive as 1st when it comes to hitting potholes and bumps causing the car to jump around. That's why i prefer to use 2nd at traffic intersections facing downhill. When i hit the bottom of the hill after starting out in first, i will bump forward onto the gas pedal and that will start thejerking back and forth rhythm. 2nd helps prevent that.

 

[Joel's98GT]

with 4.10's second gear is has nearly the same tourque multiplication as 1st gear with 2.73 gears in the back. not a problem.

in the winter time and 4.10's 2nd ger is a must

 

[Modular2v]

i love starting in 2nd with my 4.10s

 

[KaPPaBaLL]

4.30's > 4.10's

 

[5.0's 4 ever]

I only use 1st gear when starting from a dead stop in either of my cars. I have 4.10s in the 88 and 4.30s in the 96 and have no problem starting in 2nd. By accident I have started off in 3rd gear also a couple of times with no problems except a little bog.

 

[HIGDON]

I use second nearly 100% of the time. first is as useless as it gets