Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Newbies & FAQs

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-10-2018, 02:53 PM   #1
su23
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 487909
Join Date: Jul 2018
Default New to Manual sti

Hi guys,

It’s been a while since I drove a manual car.

I just got a new 2018 wrx sti. I know the basic of driving manual car but would love some help since this is my first turbo manual car.

I want to learn and know how to downshift properly and little advance stuff.

I’m from queens New York if any Subaru owners want to meet up and give me some tips and tricks

Sorry again because I’m new to this forums I’m not sure if I’m writing this in the right section.

Thanks guys !! I appreciate all your help
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
su23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 07-10-2018, 02:55 PM   #2
ilu002
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 460140
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: SOCAL
Vehicle:
2017 WRX Premium
CWP

Default

Congrats! Post a pic
I also second the downshifting tips, I’m newish at driving a manual too and my reaction time isn’t that great yet haha been conditioned to be lazy with auto
ilu002 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 03:06 PM   #3
MagicDoorHinge
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 481354
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:
2019 WRX STI
WR Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by su23 View Post
Hi guys,

It’s been a while since I drove a manual car.

I just got a new 2018 wrx sti. I know the basic of driving manual car but would love some help since this is my first turbo manual car.

I want to learn and know how to downshift properly and little advance stuff.

I’m from queens New York if any Subaru owners want to meet up and give me some tips and tricks

Sorry again because I’m new to this forums I’m not sure if I’m writing this in the right section.

Thanks guys !! I appreciate all your help
Fast hands, easy feet, at least until you get good. Don't be afraid to be quick with the gearshift; the only thing you have to be cautious about is being too quick on the clutch. Letting the clutch out too slowly is also a problem, but it only results in increased clutch wear, whereas letting it out too fast could result in halfshaft and propeller shaft damage (or anything else in your transmission).

Downshifts really just come down to knowing how much to blip the throttle, which comes with experience. To be safe, you can just blip the throttle a little more than you think you need, and just let the clutch out slowly. Your clutch should mate with your engine rotation speed pretty effortlessly as long as you get it close enough.

If you want to meet up in person you could check out your regional forum or board or whatever it's called and see when the next get-together is.
MagicDoorHinge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 04:14 PM   #4
su23
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 487909
Join Date: Jul 2018
Default

Thanks guys! I appreciate it

I just don’t want to destroy the car haha. I know I’m learning on it but these cars are built tough.

I get worried sometimes when I’m downshifting and also when to shift gears. I heard shifting too early is bad and shifting too late is also bad for engine so I’m trying to figure out the perfect shift points for daily driving and also when pushing the car.

I don’t know much about turbo and psi but looking and learning as I read more articles.

I sound like a noob.
su23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 04:27 PM   #5
MagicDoorHinge
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 481354
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:
2019 WRX STI
WR Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by su23 View Post
Thanks guys! I appreciate it

I just don’t want to destroy the car haha. I know I’m learning on it but these cars are built tough.

I get worried sometimes when I’m downshifting and also when to shift gears. I heard shifting too early is bad and shifting too late is also bad for engine so I’m trying to figure out the perfect shift points for daily driving and also when pushing the car.

I don’t know much about turbo and psi but looking and learning as I read more articles.

I sound like a noob.
Your engine was designed to operate at all RPM ranges below redline. As long as you're not cruising in 3rd on the highway at 6000 RPMs it will be fine.

As far as "shifting too early" being a problem, it's not one that I've ever heard of. It's a problem if you're on a drag strip, but just getting groceries or driving around town there's no problem shifting even at the 2-2.5k mark. Just don't try to go wide open throttle at low RPMs and your car will thank you.

In the RPM range, it's business down low, party up top.
MagicDoorHinge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 06:27 PM   #6
get_schwifty
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 485973
Join Date: May 2018
Location: In a house
Vehicle:
2018 WRX STI
Red

Default

Welcome to the awesome world of driving an STI!

I'm not entirely new to stick either, but the STI is a new kind of experience to me too, so you are definitely not alone. It is definitely trickier to drive than my previous BRZ and Mazdaspeed Protege (both of which were 2wd and not as powerful, had a lighter clutch, and had a lot more 'play' area prior to full clutch-flywheel lockup [probably not the right vocab there].) I hope you are finding the learning process as much fun as I am!

I could never heel-toe very well on either car...I think this was largely due to pedal placement. I'm getting reasonably good with the STI just a month in, although sometimes I get a little overly ambitious with the throttle and someone next to me probably thinks I am revving on them. The STI seems to have different pedal angles and spacing or something, as it's easier to do with my foot. It may also be in part that the car's civility seems quite a bit more brutal without heel and toe and its forced me to put more effort into learning?

I assume you have already read this but this car really dislikes lugging, arguably more than most turbo cars already do. It's not going explode with light acceleration when at lower RPM obviously, but going WOT below 3-4k is generally not an ideal situation.

My mind gets blown here every day. For example, even though my MSP was a turbo car, I had it for a brief period and admittedly I did not understand the difference between turbo lag and boost threshold before visiting this forum...
get_schwifty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 06:29 PM   #7
Wappit
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 487203
Join Date: Jun 2018
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Alberta Canada
Vehicle:
2018 WRX STI
WR Blue

Default

2nded for not going WOT at low rpms. Lugging your engine is bad in gereral and even worse for a turbo car. Always downshift for passing on a highway. In gereral when you wa t to floor it 3 and 4th gears above 3.5k rpm is the safest.
Wappit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 07:26 PM   #8
Stanley
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 7374
Join Date: Jun 2001
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: Gold Country
Vehicle:
2023 MAGA Hat Model3
grey, or is it gray?

Default

I read this 15 or so years ago, and still recommend it to anyone looking to become better at driving a stick shift:
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/shifting/index.html

Roll on the throttle so as not to go WOT at rpm's which are too low. Wait for the engine to rev down on up shifts (due to emissions mapping, it is not uncommon for there to be a "rev hang" on most turbo charged cars). Get to know your gear spacing and have fun trying to be as smooth as possible.
Stanley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-10-2018, 07:55 PM   #9
BHOD
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 463264
Join Date: Feb 2017
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Location: Québec
Vehicle:
2018 WRX sport, 6MT
crystal BLACK silica

Default

There is also some bad habits a lot of people have:

- The shifter stick is not a hand rest.
- The clutch pedal is not a foot rest.
- You should be always in gear except at rest. Some people (who learned from "uncle") are coming to a stop from 30mph, third gear, pressing the clutch and the break to a complete stop.
- At rest, you put neutral and keep foot on brake. No clutch.

Ultimately, you should always be on the right gear for your speed or load.
BHOD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 02:05 PM   #10
SirBrass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 207263
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Indianapolis area
Vehicle:
2019 WRX Limited
World Rally Blue

Default

Gas savings comes from downshifting first, braking afterwards. Especially when doing so to reduce speed on the highway. Brake when you need to slow down rapidly AND drastically or need to come to a stop. Otherwise, rev-match downshift through the gears. Skip a gear if need be (just be sure to give a harder throttle blip).

As long as you don't lug the engine, upshifting early isn't an issue, and downshifting early as long as you're not going to whack the rev limiter isn't an issue either.

You will need to learn the turbo's powerband, however, as it doesn't hold out all the way to redline.
SirBrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 02:18 PM   #11
sleepyGV7
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 314360
Join Date: Mar 2012
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: PA
Vehicle:
2021 STI
ISM

Default

that poor clutch, lol.

good luck with it bud. all of these posts are great points, but the real way to master it is to just do it. Repetition is key.
sleepyGV7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 03:31 PM   #12
btort27
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 465501
Join Date: Apr 2017
Default

And don't ride the clutch or else your TOB might wear out early
btort27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 03:42 PM   #13
SirBrass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 207263
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Indianapolis area
Vehicle:
2019 WRX Limited
World Rally Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by btort27 View Post
And don't ride the clutch or else your TOB might wear out early
It'll wear out early (between 50k and 60k) regardless. Not riding it will delay how long it'll take before it breaks up, but it'll wear out before the clutch disc does for sure anyway.

On my 08 WRX (where I did ride the clutch too much b/c I was re-learning stick), TOB gave out around 52k. In my BRZ (which I absolutely did not ride, and knew how to rev match, etc), I had the TOB replaced around 62k and the clutch disc had about 15% life left on the material. TOB on BRZ had seized but had not yet disintegrated.

Both gave out before the original clutch disc did.
SirBrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 04:18 PM   #14
rtv900
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 428511
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: philadelphia
Vehicle:
2016 STI

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MagicDoorHinge View Post
Fast hands, easy feet,
^this

also, buy high, sell low, that's my motto
rtv900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 04:52 PM   #15
Charlie-III
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 30669
Join Date: Dec 2002
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: USA, North NJ, 07456
Vehicle:
1998 Legacy 2.5GT
Silver Sleeper BK, 5MT

Default

No comments on some previous posts.

It's a MT.

Don't be stupid on a MT.

Turbo, smooth is likely below any real boost, fun is within any real boost.

Beyond that, it's a MT........drive it as such.

I am not far away, willing to help you out if need be.
You get here, maybe beer/Svedka money I will work with you.

Otherwise, it's a MT.
Charlie-III is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 04:55 PM   #16
SirBrass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 207263
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Indianapolis area
Vehicle:
2019 WRX Limited
World Rally Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie-III View Post
No comments on some previous posts.

It's a MT.

Don't be stupid on a MT.

Turbo, smooth is likely below any real boost, fun is within any real boost.

Beyond that, it's a MT........drive it as such.

I am not far away, willing to help you out if need be.
You get here, maybe beer/Svedka money I will work with you.

Otherwise, it's a MT.
True, but shifting from a stop or downshifting without stalling is a bit different than properly shifting a car. And working the powerband in a turbo is different than in a rev-happy NA car.

Yeah, MT is MT, but when you're new to MT and only know the basics, you've got two different practical things to learn: good shifting skills and how to use your powerband with the turbo in the loop.
SirBrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 05:02 PM   #17
Charlie-III
NASIOC Supporter
 
Member#: 30669
Join Date: Dec 2002
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: USA, North NJ, 07456
Vehicle:
1998 Legacy 2.5GT
Silver Sleeper BK, 5MT

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SirBrass View Post
True, but shifting from a stop or downshifting without stalling is a bit different than properly shifting a car. And working the powerband in a turbo is different than in a rev-happy NA car.

Yeah, MT is MT, but when you're new to MT and only know the basics, you've got two different practical things to learn: good shifting skills and how to use your powerband with the turbo in the loop.
OK, agreed.

But, Queens NY, not much chance to get on it locally (notice I am in TriState, have time on the "island").

Driving is one thing, running boost is another.
I am sorta going by the OP post.

As an aside, brakes are cheaper and easier than a clutch or trans. So, using brakes in the NY metro area is likely cheaper than downshifts, although I can handle that.
Charlie-III is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 05:03 PM   #18
mcursch88
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 483138
Join Date: Mar 2018
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: CT
Vehicle:
2015 STI
Crystal black silica

Default

hey man, congrats. I was right there with you for the first 2 months I owned my car. I am feeling way more confident with downshifting and smooth takeoffs/upshifts.

the clutches on these cars are crazy. I had a stage 2 south bend in my old GTI that I could shift with my pinky, not the case here.

There is a lot of great information in this thread alone to become a better driver. Just be confident and don't live in fear of blowing up your motor for the first two months of ownership like I did!
mcursch88 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 05:27 PM   #19
MagicDoorHinge
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 481354
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:
2019 WRX STI
WR Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcursch88 View Post
the clutches on these cars are crazy. I had a stage 2 south bend in my old GTI that I could shift with my pinky, not the case here.
Never heard of clutch grip affecting shifter feel.
MagicDoorHinge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 05:36 PM   #20
SirBrass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 207263
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Indianapolis area
Vehicle:
2019 WRX Limited
World Rally Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie-III View Post
OK, agreed.

But, Queens NY, not much chance to get on it locally (notice I am in TriState, have time on the "island").

Driving is one thing, running boost is another.
I am sorta going by the OP post.

As an aside, brakes are cheaper and easier than a clutch or trans. So, using brakes in the NY metro area is likely cheaper than downshifts, although I can handle that.
Yeah, I'd be crying my eyes out if I had to drive in NYC.

Thankfully I live in NEPA and work in the Southern Tier. I'll have FUN drives to work when I get my WRX (had a BRZ that was totaled right before we moved from CA and right around when we have to replace my wife's malibu... we have to save for a bit first before I get my sports car again).

Yeah, in Stop and Go traffic, MT is MT: pain in the ass. If that was the majority of my driving, I'd get myself a Prius since there's zero chance of getting to have fun with a car in that city.
SirBrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 06:48 PM   #21
WRCArt
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 406088
Join Date: Nov 2014
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Van Nuys
Vehicle:
1998 Impreza WRX STI
White

Default

Also, make sure you're sitting comfortably where you can push the clutch in all the way to the floor. Try to not listen to music while driving so you hear the motor until you're confident. Most importantly, just drive the car, it's the only way you're gonna learn manual because it's all about feeling the car.
WRCArt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2018, 06:55 PM   #22
silentbulletswrx
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 485435
Join Date: May 2018
Default Take it easy

You definitely don't want to replace the clutch after 10k miles. Take it slow until you feel comfortable and slow shifts. The STI transmission can handle alot of punishment so dont beat yourself up if you make a mistake every now and again.
silentbulletswrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2018, 08:05 AM   #23
SirBrass
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 207263
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Indianapolis area
Vehicle:
2019 WRX Limited
World Rally Blue

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by WRCArt View Post
Also, make sure you're sitting comfortably where you can push the clutch in all the way to the floor. Try to not listen to music while driving so you hear the motor until you're confident. Most importantly, just drive the car, it's the only way you're gonna learn manual because it's all about feeling the car.
Agreed. It's interesting how much of the "butt dyno" is linked to what we hear.

After a while, you'll "feel" the engine's response underneath the music. But at first you'll have to hear it.

Also, as opposed to an AT/CVT, the most important instrument on your dash is your tachometer, not your speedometer. You can get away with only occasionally glancing at your speedometer as you'll figure out generally how fast you're going simply by looking at the tach and knowing what gear you're in.
SirBrass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-12-2018, 06:00 PM   #24
humpthebobcat
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 443793
Join Date: Mar 2016
Vehicle:
2016 WRX m6 ISM
2005 F-150 FX4

Default

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=587096

That thread help me a lot learning from scratch 3 years ago...a great driver once told me the difference in someone who can drive a manual and a great driver is the same as a weekend hack golfer and a professional golfer, I feel this is true.

Best advice I can give is learn to feel when the syncros let the shifter in gear while up shifting and don't over power them...two controversial points I believe are correct is giving a little gas to get going, not just using the clutch, and learning to double clutch downshift (since I was learning from scratch I decided to learn the hard way/right way/better way)
humpthebobcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-13-2018, 11:08 AM   #25
Wappit
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 487203
Join Date: Jun 2018
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Alberta Canada
Vehicle:
2018 WRX STI
WR Blue

Default

I'd also add that first gear in my STI is not like any other first gear I've driven. In most other cars first gear is only used to get the car moving from a stop, whereas it seems the first gear in the sti is almost necessary when you are doing slow speed driving.
Wappit is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.