Celica Forums General Discussion General Shifting

I know that the sportshift doesn't actually shift gears but can I shift from gear 1 to 2 while standing at a red light? Lol, it's just a habit I have and was just wondering if I was damaging something by doing this.

no the manuel says that is ok but it really is just for towing something and sport shift does actually shift gears by the way thats why you see the #s change on the dash but starting out in 2 does not help your speed it actaully makes you slower-i have tested this in races

Someone told me in another site that the sportshift doesn't actually shift gears, it's something else, but I already know that you start off slower on 2, what I'm saying is is it damaging or not to the car if I keep changing from 1 to 2 while siting idle, I always start on 1. Also, I know that in a manual you have to shift down as you're coming to a stop but do you have to on an sportshift? I know it does it by itself(it goes from 4 directly to 1 if I don't do it myself) just wondering if I have to shift down or not.

just shift regularly so you don't screw your tranny up.

it's useful to downshift when slowing down because if you're going ten miles an hour in 4th gear and the light turns green, you'll have to downshift anyway. I would advise against engine braking by downshifting at higher speeds - there's more engine wear, you burn gas, and i'm not sure how healthy it is for the tranny. when I did it on my cousin's car it was really choppy and didn't feel good. I only downshifted if I was going to be below 3K RPMs.

you technically don't need to downshift in a manual either, you could just put it in neutral and use your brake to stop, but once again if the light is green and your going 10 MPH you wanna be in a gear with some pull to it.

Starting off in 2nd is good for better traction while driving in snow.

Lol, live in Calif. Also has anyone noticed that you feel engine breaking less if you've unbolted youre exhaust?

Believe it or not, it does snow in some parts of CA.

talkin about starting at 2. its good if you dont wanna burn out tire, it gives you more traction as it takes acceleration power. this is good on slippery road or if you just wanna accelerate slow while driving somewhere cautiously while you have ur foot on the pedal.
as for shifting by itself, i really have no idea cz i never driven a sportshift gts.
as of downshifting, i dont think its a good idea if you cant rev match, and i dont think you really can rev match on a sportshift. first of all, when ppl say that rev matching is better than braking and stopping cz it saves brake pads, thats kinda bs. ur not eating brake pads, but ur burning gas like crazy, and putting pressure on the engine all of a sudden especially if you downshifted and revmatched at a high rev. i think thats more harmful than brake pads or brake rotors. but it is useful somtimes to downshift and revmatch, and brake at the same time cz im sure itll get you stopping quicker and easier.

lol, yeah I know but I live in Long Beach, although it did snow a few years back...

I heard on the radio show car talk that if you down shift for a stop light then you're just wearing your clutch out (slowly but eventually) faster. Just shift into netural and brake.

Also They were saying that it's not good to sit at a light with your clutch in.