phil996cab99

I've been struggling for awhile deciding between 1st and 2nd gear for tracking out of street turns. I think I've found my solution, and I welcome other members' experiences.

If your approach is below 15 mph, 1st gear is the only choice, and it sucks, but 1500 rpm would be lugging in 2nd gear.

If your approach is between 15 mph and 35 mph, downshift into 2nd just as you enter the turn. This accomplishes a weight shift to the front tires, which helps you turn safely without the understeer. You track out in 2nd gear.

If you're already in 2nd gear approaching the turn, just "lift" to accomplish the aforementioned weight shift. You track out in 2nd gear.

porschemikeandnancy

I agree - in fact it's also an issue when approaching a light that has just turned from red to green. If the cars starting to accelerate from their stopped position - often I'm unsure whether to down shift to 1st - or "lug it out" in 2nd. Due to the known issue of IMS failure, I try not to use any relatively open throttle below 3000 rpm. So when approaching the light under these conditions I either use 1st - and apply as much throttle as I like, or use 2nd and very gently accelerate until the rpm's are close to 3000.

frompub2dub

Ive never tracked my 911 although I have lots of autox and highway exit experience but I just feel the car out, I hate downshifting into first with a passion. If you plan way ahead of the turn you can easily get away with not shifting into first...the momentum of the car if done right should give you plenty of speed throughout the turn to avoid letting rpms drop too low in second

Trimsarctic996

I agree with pub, downshifting into first is just painful. A short amount of time lugging in second couldn't really hurt the car could it? I mean after all it's a Porsche I don't mean idling around the neighborhood under 3K, but just the short time to get with the flow of traffic. (Disclaimer, I could be totally wrong though)

jim

Hurdigurdiman

The only time I use 1st gear is below 3mph or from a stop. If I feel I would lug the engine in 2nd then I would rather ride the clutch for a couple of seconds as the alternative. I do actually change down from 3rd to 2nd when turning at right angle to the road I am leaving. I will use 3rd as high as 50mph in preference to 4th to prevent a drop in oil pressure. I like to keep the revs at 2500 or as near as dammit is to swearing at all times all though that is not always possible. I drive watching closely my revs and oil pressure and work around those 2 gauges. I would rather use my gears than my brakes in a lot of situations.

dporto

Under-steer at 15 - 35mph? Really? On ice maybe...

Sneaky Pete

I would seriously consider some seat time at an AutoX or a track weekend. Learn your car there and not on the street.

Oh......and get off my lawn!

rymerc

I would not recommend shifting into 1st gear at 15mph, you'll lose as much time shifting down then back up as you would if you just stayed in 2nd. Not to mention the massive wear increase on the trans, which is pretty expensive.

If I have a course with a tight low speed turn, you can unweight the rear and get on the throttle hard while the rear is light to get the inside tire to spin up. You'll get more RPM to keep from bogging driving out of it. It's hard on the tires, but for me much faster than adding 2 shifts and having to rev match into 1st, etc.

phil996cab99

"Yes." Feel free to add more detail on how to unweight the rear.

frompub2dub

Removing the engine is one way 😂

phil996cab99

To prevent short term damage or long term?

5CHN3LL

Unsolicited "goody two-shoes" answer: I don't generally drive aggressively enough on the street to need to worry about how to maximize blasting out of each corner - I've only spun a car once on the street - about 30 years ago, Good God - and I'm in no hurry to repeat it.

Stuffing the car into first is hard on the transmission unless you heel-toe to blip the throttle during braking. If you heel-toe and get your blip right, there shouldn't be a weight transfer during the corner - your braking is already done entering the corner, and the setup is getting through the corner and starting to lay power down on the track out. If you're using engine braking to effect a weight shift, in my opinion you're doing it wrong.

"Lifting into a corner" is also called "coasting" - real men don't coast.

Sue Esponte

Hold on. Forget the street vs. track question for a minute. Yes, there's always a racing line and weight shift, etc. but, at 15mph on a street, are any of you really worried about spinning out on dry pavement? I feel like we're considering the benefits of a rear wing spoiler at 15mph.

-Eric

JayG

Hold on a second Batman.
Street driving is not racing

You are "tracking out" in a turn in street driving? Trying to do a high performance turn on the street at 15 mph?

Stay the hell out of my neighborhood

As Pete said, go do an Autocross or HPDE event and keep the streets safe

Quadcammer

+1

accelerating gently in 2nd gear at 1500rpm is not lugging anything. Its completely normal for street driving, which it appears is what we are discussing.