No judging - how many can properly drive a manual?
12-30-2017, 10:42 AM
#1
No judging - how many can properly drive a manual?
I’m just very curious of the people here in a very simple format of yes I can vs no I cant where the definition of yes I can means:
- Can properly heel/toe
- Can rev match without the aid of auto blip features
This is not which is better but just I m curious about the demographic of GT community and who can actually properly drive a stick. By proper, I dont mean being able to drive a stick without stalling. My wife does that everyday. I mean it being able to drive a manual car, ANY car, just like PDK with perfect rev matches and heel/toeing.
- Can properly heel/toe
- Can rev match without the aid of auto blip features
This is not which is better but just I m curious about the demographic of GT community and who can actually properly drive a stick. By proper, I dont mean being able to drive a stick without stalling. My wife does that everyday. I mean it being able to drive a manual car, ANY car, just like PDK with perfect rev matches and heel/toeing.
12-30-2017, 11:18 AM
#5
Rennlist Member
Perfect rev matches and heel/toe? Not me, maybe better than now when I was driving a stick daily, but I was never "machine smooth." I've been driving manuals since I was 16 (41 now) so I guess that makes me unworthy to drive my incoming car? 
Maybe redo this thread as a poll instead?
Maybe redo this thread as a poll instead?
12-30-2017, 11:24 AM
#6
Intermediate
Join Date: May 2016
Location: CT
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No I can't, but I still love driving a manual sports car. I fell back in love with it in my GT4 and it was the main reason i am getting a GT3. Will I practice it and have fun doing it, you bet!
12-30-2017, 11:31 AM
#7
Perfect everything...no I’m not a machine. That said, have only owned manuals for dedicated track use in Porsches without rev match. Never blew an engine and turn pretty decent times, I’d say better than average. I am however moving to PDK on the GT3 for my next track toy - the PDK-S is just too good for the track and I am sick of hearing PDKs shift mid corner and cursing them - LOL. Keeping the spec Miatas however for when I want to drive slower, work harder but just as much rewarding.
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12-30-2017, 11:32 AM
#8
Rennlist Member
I can heel-toe "properly", but not PDK "perfectly". No one can. Heel toe done properly is one of the joys of driving a manual, but it's not the only one. Having said that, I did get PDK for my incoming GT3. Here's a video of me doing some properly but not PDK perfectly executed rev-matches, but before that, I second the suggestion to make this into a poll.
12-30-2017, 11:57 AM
#9
Three Wheelin'
Guess we will find out when Porsche denies warranty claims for money shifts?
12-30-2017, 12:06 PM
#11
Nordschleife Master
I always rev match and heel and toe, although in the 987 spyder, it's baby toe and brake.
not that I'm great at it, but it's one the joys of driving a manual.
not that I'm great at it, but it's one the joys of driving a manual.
12-30-2017, 12:16 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
I had no idea how to heel toe until going to Bondurant racing school a few years ago. Now I use it behind the wheel of my only manual, an 84 Camero I Race with Lemons and Lucky Dog.
Not the performance of a GT Car but racing wheel to wheel is a blast. No matter what car.
Not the performance of a GT Car but racing wheel to wheel is a blast. No matter what car.
12-30-2017, 12:40 PM
#13
Rennlist Member
I can, but I struggle with it.
I know folks say that you can practice this on the street, but I have found that I cannot use the same technique for all levels of spirited driving. For example, if I’m driving like a normal person - the way everyone else drives on the street, such as “normal” acceleration, normal braking, shifting below 3500 or 4000, the brake pedal doesn’t need to be depressed very far to heel/toe. On the other hand, driving spiritedly, and shifting at much higher RPMs, graciously using a good bit of throttle, the brake pedal is depressed quite a bit more for a heel/toe.
So when I’m driving “normally,” aka, slowly as far as aim concerned, I actually use my right foot to straddle and step on both the brake and the throttle pedals at the same effort and travel to brake and blip when shifting. But when driving aggressively, I stomp on the brake pedal and roll my heel to blip the throttle, a lot harder of course, to make it work.
So I find that lack of practice and having two techniques is why I’m not so great at it.
There have been other cars I’ve driven that allow me to shift without using the clutch, but these newer cars aren’t easy to do that with.
I know folks say that you can practice this on the street, but I have found that I cannot use the same technique for all levels of spirited driving. For example, if I’m driving like a normal person - the way everyone else drives on the street, such as “normal” acceleration, normal braking, shifting below 3500 or 4000, the brake pedal doesn’t need to be depressed very far to heel/toe. On the other hand, driving spiritedly, and shifting at much higher RPMs, graciously using a good bit of throttle, the brake pedal is depressed quite a bit more for a heel/toe.
So when I’m driving “normally,” aka, slowly as far as aim concerned, I actually use my right foot to straddle and step on both the brake and the throttle pedals at the same effort and travel to brake and blip when shifting. But when driving aggressively, I stomp on the brake pedal and roll my heel to blip the throttle, a lot harder of course, to make it work.
So I find that lack of practice and having two techniques is why I’m not so great at it.
There have been other cars I’ve driven that allow me to shift without using the clutch, but these newer cars aren’t easy to do that with.
12-30-2017, 12:41 PM
#14
Rev match, yes. Heel toe, no. I blame that mostly on having large feet. With a size 15 foot, rotating your foot to allow for a heel toe is not easy. I have tried using left side of foot to brake and right side to blip the gas, although I will end up applying more to the brake than the gas and it will screw up my blip.
12-30-2017, 12:45 PM
#15
Ok let me rephrase.... perfectly not in a sense like PDK does it but perfectly in a sense you dont ride the clutch or slip it and have a decent satisfactory result.
it is not easy to do this at 5000-6000-7000 rpm not to mention to do it right slowing down at a tight turn.
My feeling is a large majority of GT3 owners who drive a PDK and dont track their cars cannot drive a manual properly and had it not been for Porsche offering PDK, they wouldnt be able to manage a GT3.Driving a stick is one thing, driving it properly is an entirely different thing. Doing that with a GT3 is in another league all together.
it is not easy to do this at 5000-6000-7000 rpm not to mention to do it right slowing down at a tight turn.
My feeling is a large majority of GT3 owners who drive a PDK and dont track their cars cannot drive a manual properly and had it not been for Porsche offering PDK, they wouldnt be able to manage a GT3.Driving a stick is one thing, driving it properly is an entirely different thing. Doing that with a GT3 is in another league all together.