New stick driver....1st???

[will665]

Hey i am recently new to driving stick and I just got and 03 3.0 a4 6spd. Everything is fine with the gears except 1st. When slowing to a stop if i try and put it into 1st while still moving it requires quite some effort. When I am stopped it goes right into 1st like butter (thats what she said)....Is this normal on all manny cars. Sorry for the newb question, but i am just making sure. Thanks

[rxrep]

Normal. Yer not really supposed to go in to first while moving.
It's like the joke "Doctor, it hurts when I go like this".... "Then don't go like that".
Let us know when your clutch is fried.

[kwn23]

Yeah there's usually a safety stop to prevent drivers from downshifting into first at too high of a speed or rpm. I had this issue/safety stop mechanism with my wrx and once in a while with my s4. Nothing to worry about if it's just when slowing and putting into 1st.

[trueno429]

yeah dont put it into first..just go from 2nd to neutral when rolling to a stop..and if your not completely stopped and gana accelerate put it or leave it in 2nd..but from a stop put it into 1st

[Undisputed]

I never put it into first until I'm about to move forward. Always from a stop. If you haven't come to a complete stop before you need to go into first, something is wrong.

[will665]

Normal. Yer not really supposed to go in to first while moving.
It's like the joke "Doctor, it hurts when I go like this".... "Then don't go like that".
Let us know when your clutch is fried.

i know how to drive a stick well, just a simple question...thanks for the info guys....

[ThreePointOhh]

i know how to drive a stick well, just a simple question...thanks for the info guys....

not that well if you're putting it in 1st before you stop... listen to the guys, they're right on the ball.

[JA4]

Is this normal on all manny cars. Sorry for the newb question, but i am just making sure. Thanks

I don't know maybe you should ask "Manny" if it's normal on "many" cars. lol..I just had to.

But no, there is no need to be putting the car in 1st gear when you're coming to a stop. That's like stepping on the brake when you wanna go faster, it makes no sense.

yeah dont put it into first..just go from 2nd to neutral when rolling to a stop..and if your not completely stopped and gana accelerate put it or leave it in 2nd..but from a stop put it into 1st

lol why does he need to go from 2nd to neutral?? Downshifting to the very last gear makes no sense when you're coming to a stop. I guess you're trying to save your pads and rotors by downshifting to slow the car down, but I guess say goodbye to your tranny and clutch if you keep that up.

[B6Lovin]

That's like stepping on the brake when you wanna go faster, it makes no sense.

i hear it makes perfect sense if you drive an evo lol

and i pop mine into first right as im coming to a stop... it doesn't require much more effort. but half the time i'm trying to get through traffic so getting to a stop, putting it in gear, waiting etc etc takes way too long.

i just get up there - pull a cali-roll and keep truckin

[BEESIX]

i Hear It Makes Perfect Sense If You Drive An Evo Lol

Lmfaooo Brake Boosting Ftmfw

[A4natomical]

half the time i'm trying to get through traffic so getting to a stop, putting it in gear, waiting etc etc takes way too long.

i just get up there - pull a cali-roll and keep truckin

exactly. way too much time. its like youre taking your dmv test type of stop.

i hate when i make a U turn in my friends neighborhood. i have to come to (almost) a complete stop, put it in 1st, then make the U turn. it feels so awkward. but if i leave it in second i'd have to do a little slippage. which i dont.

[A4Triple Blk]

lol you guys are madd funny ... ask manny JA4 ... i have to agree with threepointohh as well these guys know their stuff kidd keep asking they're really good with helping. They might rip on u a lil but hey ur a newb it's expected u know. Good luck

[AudiA4Turbo22]

basically the rule is that u shift into first only under 5mph.

[absolutegtr]

You should be able to get into first fairly easily from 15mph and under.

Your motor mounts are probably shot if you are having trouble getting it 1st from a roll.

I know, because when i bought my car, my car had this same problem....i waited a year to change the motor mounts. Boy was I dumb. After changing them, it goes into first Easily at 15mph and a little effort at 20mph

[ThreePointOhh]

You should be able to get into first fairly easily from 15mph and under.

Your motor mounts are probably shot if you are having trouble getting it 1st from a roll.

I know, because when i bought my car, my car had this same problem....i waited a year to change the motor mounts. Boy was I dumb. After changing them, it goes into first Easily at 15mph and a little effort at 20mph

why would you go into first gear at 20mph?

[turboSpartan]

YOu aren't supposed to downshift into first EVER if you are moving (unless its less than like 5 mph, but that still isnt "good").


the reason is... as I was told, that the first gear does not have a synchro... so when you are moving it can actually mess stuff up if you shift into first a fairly high rate of speed... anything over 5 mph.


I had done this a few times and asked the board (AW) why i was hearding a "thud" when downshifting to first coming up to a stop sign.

Just wait till you get to the stop to put it into first, either that or just roll through and keep it in 2nd. Like someone said.... brake pads are a LOT cheaper than a new transmission

[absolutegtr]

I actually do not, put it in forst at anything over 10mph, which is perfectly fine, but I have noticed that I am able to put it in first at 10-20mph.

What i was trying to say to the OP and the others who posted....if you have to come to a stop before you can put it in gear, there is a problem

[Great White]

why would you go into first gear at 20mph?

If I'm coming to a U turn on 2nd gear and I know I'll be coming too slow on the other side to keep on 2nd, I just rev up and put on first so I can come out fast on the other side.

Bu other from that I don't see a reason to engage 1st while you're moving.

[absolutegtr]

Another method you can do to get into first (for those who cant, lol) is:

Say you are in second and need to go to 1st (the U-turn scenario) disengage clutch (pedal up) and put in neutral rev up to say 3K (depending on speed) and, push pedal in and go to 1st....double clutching...takes practice but makes shifts super smooth if you get it right

[Ill 3.0]

might be a little different on the 6 spd too, I can't put it in 1st over 5mph either. Maybe if I really rev'd the engine, but not the best idea. It's possible the 5 spd allows for this 10-15 mph engagement absolutegtr mentioned. Though I'm positive I need new mounts so...

[$4c@b]

until you have a lot of practice, don't mess with first gear when slowing down. You could do some expensive harm, and there's little if ever a reason to.

Once you have some experience with your clutch / tranny, then give it a try.

my buddy race-car Jimmy told me "never force anything in the tranny. If it doesn't go in nice and easy, it shouldn't be there."

have fun...real drivers drive stick too

[absolutegtr]

Perhaps, the 6spd is different.

At what mph can first gear take you (6spd)?

[DELUX]

I would make sure when you're downshifting that you're matching the RPMs first and not just dropping the gear in and letting the clutch slip to match. That WILL kill your clutch in about 10k miles if it's a brand new clutch. I would stick to slowing to a stop in neutral for now until you have more practice.

[Papachristou]

i drop mine in first as i am coming to a stop, but only when i plan on stopping. if i am going to do a rolling stop, i hit second. (six speed) i try avoid first gear with the six speed, it sucks! its too short and the car has no power

[A4Triple Blk]

^^ agreed

[PCYC]

to hit 5 k come on haha

[smarrick]

i drop mine in first as i am coming to a stop, but only when i plan on stopping. if i am going to do a rolling stop, i hit second. (six speed) i try avoid first gear with the six speed, it sucks! its too short and the car has no power

So you just sit there at a light with cluch depressed? Because if you leave it in neutral nothing is moving there (well the trans is spinning in neutral but nothing is to wear.) When you have the clutch depressed you are putting wear on throw out bearing.

May not be an issue on these cars but anyone that has VW clutch exp. knows that the pushrod will bore a hole through the thrust plate. LOL

Just leave it in neutral at stop then put it in first when you leave.

[Papachristou]

So you just sit there at a light with cluch depressed? Because if you leave it in neutral nothing is moving there (well the trans is spinning in neutral but nothing is to wear.) When you have the clutch depressed you are putting wear on throw out bearing.

May not be an issue on these cars but anyone that has VW clutch exp. knows that the pushrod will bore a hole through the thrust plate. LOL

Just leave it in neutral at stop then put it in first when you leave.

where in hell did i say i sit at a stoplight with the clutch depressed?

sometimes i have to stop or nearly so because of a stop light/sign or police. and in that case, i do have the clutch depressed because its a quick stop.

i dont just sit around jerking off with the clutch depressed all the time

[NyteEscape]

i would suggest neutral and brakes to stop. i would rather spend a bit to replace rotors/pads rather than a lot to replace something with the tranny...

on the street, i see no reason to require engine braking on top of the brakes...

[smarrick]

where in hell did i say i sit at a stoplight with the clutch depressed?

sometimes i have to stop or nearly so because of a stop light/sign or police. and in that case, i do have the clutch depressed because its a quick stop.

i dont just sit around jerking off with the clutch depressed all the time

Wow take it easy. Just a discussion. It made it sound like you said you only put it in first when your going to stop. It is pretty much pointless to engage first gear at 15 mph to slow car to 0 so i figured you meant sitting there like that.

[absolutegtr]

Only on AZ would there be a fight over how to drive a stick....(no pun intended)

[smarrick]

I agree. What else would be fun to read though.

[B6Lovin]

Wow take it easy. Just a discussion. It made it sound like you said you only put it in first when your going to stop. It is pretty much pointless to engage first gear at 15 mph to slow car to 0 so i figured you meant sitting there like that.

i think you guys have the wrong idea about putting it in first gear.... you don't put it in first to engine brake to a stop - you put it in first (with the clutch in) right as you're about to stop... keep the clutch in and stop (use your brakes) then just gas and go. i was never talking about using 1st gear to slow down, i just pop it in gear before i'm stopped instead of 2nd gear, neutral, stop, 1st, go.... for me it's 2nd engaged, 1st not engaged, stop, go. happens much faster that way

[Papachristou]

- you put it in first (with the clutch in) right as you're about to stop... keep the clutch in and stop (use your brakes) then just gas and go. i was never talking about using 1st gear to slow down, i just pop it in gear before i'm stopped instead of 2nd gear, neutral, stop, 1st, go....

thats exactly what i said too.

smarrrick, i dont care either way but its annoying when you put words in someones mouth. read what they say

[ThreePointOhh]

If I'm coming to a U turn on 2nd gear and I know I'll be coming too slow on the other side to keep on 2nd, I just rev up and put on first so I can come out fast on the other side.

Bu other from that I don't see a reason to engage 1st while you're moving.

i make U turns quite fine in 2nd gear. since i have a 6 speed, it is true that 1st gear is very short, but even if , the engines are torquey enough to stay in second, i seldom ever go into 1st gear unless it's a dead stop.

[ThreePointOhh]

i think we're straying from the point... the OP is wondering why he cant get into 1st gear smoothly and the answer is... becasue you shouldnt be at that point. Even with double clutching, it's just not neccessary if you're moving at certain speed.

[KPC1.8TQuat]

"Granny shifting, not double clutching like you should. You're lucky that 50 shot of NOS didn't blow the welds on the intake!"

[Don Supreme]

Hey i am recently new to driving stick and I just got and 03 3.0 a4 6spd. Everything is fine with the gears except 1st. When slowing to a stop if i try and put it into 1st while still moving it requires quite some effort. When I am stopped it goes right into 1st like butter (thats what she said)....Is this normal on all manny cars. Sorry for the newb question, but i am just making sure. Thanks

Thats normal -- don't force it.

[absolutegtr]

I guess the 6spd is indeed way different.

If I am at a 5mph roll, and I go into 2nd,the car will want to bog unless I slip the clutch

[smarrick]

thats exactly what i said too.

smarrrick, i dont care either way but its annoying when you put words in someones mouth. read what they say

You need to relax about a forum online, is what the annoying thing is. I was just putting in my 2 cents, thats what it's about. I misunderstood you and your a dick about it.