|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
12-22-2012, 09:26 PM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 329252
Join Date: Aug 2012
Vehicle:2012 Subaru WRX |
Why are 1st and 2nd gear so terrible in these cars?
I've driven 2 wrx's (mine, 2012 and a 2013) and in both, 1st and 2nd gear never seem to go in smoothly. It just seems like it's rubbing on things when I put it into gear or something. No "knife through butter" feel.
Now, I've only driven ones with the spt short shifter so I wonder if thats the issue. |
12-22-2012, 09:29 PM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 336204
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: London, Ontario Canada.
Vehicle:1979 Z28 Camaro Burgundy |
I never had an issue(Only driven the STI 2013 though) Never had a problem getting it into gear/shifting. I have been told(By my friends) that the Subaru Short Shifter isn't the best and going to KartBoy would be the better choice.
Sorry if this wasn't spot on! Just giving my own experience, hopefully it has helped or shed some light on this question. |
12-22-2012, 09:32 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 7164
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Arizona Bay
Vehicle:2000 Miata LS Evo Orange Mica (1/644) |
Subaru MTs are notchy, but if you can't make a quick and smooth 1-2 upshift, your technique needs work.
|
12-23-2012, 12:04 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 89283
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Queens, NYC
Vehicle:2017 WRX Premium ISM |
|
12-22-2012, 09:31 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 339442
Join Date: Dec 2012
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: boreal forests of NA
Vehicle:2010 Impreza OBS Obsidean |
shift early.... 1st is just a granny gear... Does that help?
|
12-22-2012, 09:34 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 307359
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta,GA
Vehicle:'05 STi Stage II OBP |
On my 05 Sti with a Kartboy SS, second gear is pretty smooth, but 1st is ROUGH unless I am at a stop AND stomping on the clutch like I want it to go through the floor. It's even worse on cold mornings.
|
12-23-2012, 03:32 PM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 290896
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Phoenix, Az
Vehicle:2004 STi, FOR SALE PSM |
Blip the throttle slightly or when you're going to put it in gear and it doesn't go in, go back to neutral, take your foot off the clutch, and try again. I don't have this problem with my car unless the engine is still cold. However, my first car with a 5 speed had me do this everytime I went to first LOL.
|
12-23-2012, 03:37 PM | #8 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 307359
Join Date: Jan 2012
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Atlanta,GA
Vehicle:'05 STi Stage II OBP |
Quote:
|
|
12-22-2012, 09:44 PM | #9 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 329252
Join Date: Aug 2012
Vehicle:2012 Subaru WRX |
What's funny is my gears are WAY smoother when I first start driving it on a cold morning (maybe cause the fluid is still thick), but it starts becoming rough after driving and everything is warmed up
Wonder if I need a better fluid? Still using the factory fill. |
04-09-2015, 12:23 AM | #10 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 416450
Join Date: Mar 2015
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Vehicle:2008 Impreza 2.5i obsidian black pearl |
You can,use d.o.t3 brake fluid. It's a hydrolic fluid and is safe.
|
12-22-2012, 09:44 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 171948
Join Date: Feb 2008
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: new york
Vehicle:19 Sti Crystal white |
its notchy when new. mines better thats its older. i have a kartboy ss and bushings. also i changed to subaru extra-s gear oil at 30k in the tranny and rear diff. that made a nice difference in smoothness.
|
12-22-2012, 10:01 PM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 267996
Join Date: Dec 2010
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Near Montréal, Québec
Vehicle:2011 Wrx Rallye blue |
I got a 11 wrx, and 1st and second gear are smooth. I got the stock shifter with the kartboy bushing.
I can only compare with my old 07 civic and 04 civic. The 07 was harsher than my wrx. |
12-22-2012, 10:12 PM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 338099
Join Date: Nov 2012
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: US
|
i have the SPT shifter as well, and yeah, it kinda sucks. My problem is 5th. Maybe 1 out of 3 times it won't go through the gate at speed ... i have to backout .. pause .. rev .. and then it goes in.
If you're having trouble getting it into first when the car is stopped, the key is to put it into 2nd first, then 1st. Works every time, I had that issue real bad with my RS and then I read that, and problem solved. I believe I saw that on here, the post was something like: "when i drove trucks in the military, they taught us to put it into second first, then first." the worst thing you can do is force it in |
12-22-2012, 10:11 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 324808
Join Date: Jul 2012
Chapter/Region:
E. Canada
Location: Toronto, canada
Vehicle:2006 IWL Stg2 OBP |
yup. did a tranny oil change recently to motlygear 75w90 and it still has the 1-2 hardness like the oem fluid. so it's just the way it is. even the 08 2.5i MT feels like this. civic shifting is quick because their tranny is lighter and smaller probably. as for short shifters, some had synchro issues, some had more engine noise complaints, or w.e. the case is. you would be btter off using subaru spt shifters if you are under warranty.
|
12-22-2012, 10:12 PM | #15 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 293423
Join Date: Sep 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Western MA
Vehicle:2011 WRX Limited 5dr WRB SPT/Stock |
The SPT shifter was an improvement to me, the lifeless clutch and Hill-Assist are my biggest complaints.
|
12-22-2012, 10:12 PM | #16 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 329252
Join Date: Aug 2012
Vehicle:2012 Subaru WRX |
Is it easy to swap out the spt short shifter for a stock one?
|
12-22-2012, 10:14 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 304299
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Nor'East
Vehicle:2018 2018 sti, black 2014 Crosstrek, tangerine |
I have the factory short-shifter, Kartboy front and rear bushings, Cusco transmission mount, and Whiteline transmission member bushings. Definitely more NVH, but it shifts like sex.
|
12-23-2012, 12:21 PM | #18 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 341423
Join Date: Dec 2012
|
|
12-24-2012, 04:55 PM | #19 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 304299
Join Date: Dec 2011
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Nor'East
Vehicle:2018 2018 sti, black 2014 Crosstrek, tangerine |
|
12-24-2012, 05:28 PM | #20 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 9264
Join Date: Aug 2001
Vehicle:2016 BMW M235i 6MT |
Double clutching and a well matched rev makes getting into 1st from a roll relatively easy.
Subaru's aren't alone with 1st gear "lock out" either. My 96 Maxima 5MT was like this as was my 90 CRX Si. Every G35 and Nissan Z 6MT I've driven is the same way as well. My Maxima and CRX were pretty notchy as well, much like my WRX. My CRX was surprising since it was a cable shifter and not a direct linkage. The 6MT on the G/Z is really notchy, almost resistant going into some gears. If you want a buttery smooth shifter, you'll need to go looking for FWD cars with cable shifters. Most every FWD Honda and VW has super smooth shifting. It's also disconnected as hell too. |
04-09-2015, 08:09 AM | #21 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 391762
Join Date: May 2014
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: NoVA
Vehicle:2021 SQ5 2015 LE STI (gone) |
Quote:
The only possible time you'd want to double-clutch in any modern street car is when down-shifting and that's really only if you are making a large leap in RPM change. Even then it's not really any more effective than just rev-matching. Last edited by iainb; 04-09-2015 at 08:31 AM. |
|
12-22-2012, 10:28 PM | #22 | |
*** Banned ***
Member#: 263954
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Vehicle:2014 EVO X / 05 WRX Wicked White / Blue |
Quote:
Flame suit on! |
|
12-22-2012, 10:34 PM | #23 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 258219
Join Date: Sep 2010
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Greenville, SC
Vehicle:2011 WRX Limited WR Blue Pearl |
Sometimes mine shifts smoothly and sometimes it's tough, not sure why. Maybe it's better in warmer weather or after driving it a while? SPT shifter and Cobb bushings, BTW.
|
12-23-2012, 01:07 AM | #24 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 318736
Join Date: May 2012
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Vehicle:2013 WRX Hatch CBS (BLCK) |
I have the short throw shift also. Its a pain in the ass for 1rst sometimes it feels like its jammed. During winter season this gearbox suxks. Seems to freeze up on me. Eventually i will switch to kartboy amd see how that works out but right now i am hating on my short throw shifter.
Its not what car you drive. Its all the shifter. I cant blame the gearbox can you? |
12-23-2012, 02:09 AM | #25 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 331661
Join Date: Sep 2012
Chapter/Region:
Tri-State
Location: Utica, New York
Vehicle:2013 Impreza WRX Dark Grey Metallic |
First is tough on cold starts for me but reverse is always tough. I almost always have to go into gear then back into reverse. Is this just what makes a Subaru a Subaru? Lol
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|