Change in my driving style and I can't fix it

Change in my driving style and I can't fix it

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jtoro

Original Poster:

7 posts

60 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
I've noticed since last week that when upshifting, my car will rev about 1K RPM for about a second before dropping back.

It was really bugging me and I've now realised that it's due to pressing the accelerator whilst my clutch is down.

I don't know if I'm subconsciously trying to rev-match or get more power out of my car. I drive a 1.2 corsa and am sick of it's slowness... so feel that maybe this is something to do with it.

I've tried consciously not pressing the gas whilst my clutch is down - which works when driving at very slow speeds, but when upshifting around 30+ mph I'm struggling to not get this rev increase.

This probably sounds so stupid but I'm sick of it and confused as to why I can't sort it out!

Edit: 1K RPM

Edited by jtoro on Thursday 24th June 17:59

Monkeylegend

27,210 posts

238 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
jtoro said:
I've noticed since last week that when upshifting, my car will rev about 10K RPM for about a second before dropping back.

It was really bugging me and I've now realised that it's due to pressing the accelerator whilst my clutch is down.

I don't know if I'm subconsciously trying to rev-match or get more power out of my car. I drive a 1.2 corsa and am sick of it's slowness... so feel that maybe this is something to do with it.

I've tried consciously not pressing the gas whilst my clutch is down - which works when driving at very slow speeds, but when upshifting around 30+ mph I'm struggling to not get this rev increase.

This probably sounds so stupid but I'm sick of it and confused as to why I can't sort it out!
10000rpm on a 1.2 Corsa.

I think you may be exaggerating a little bit.

It is easy, left foot down, right foot up simultaneously, left foot up, right foot down simultaneously. If you can't master that maybe you should buy a bicycle, that will teach you how to do it. If not I would stop driving.

Or maybe you are just trolling smile

Quattro Formigine

440 posts

47 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Buy an automatic .

jtoro

Original Poster:

7 posts

60 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Monkeylegend said:
10000rpm on a 1.2 Corsa.

I think you may be exaggerating a little bit.

It is easy, left foot down, right foot up simultaneously, left foot up, right foot down simultaneously. If you can't master that maybe you should buy a bicycle, that will teach you how to do it. If not I would stop driving.

Or maybe you are just trolling smile
1K RPM, my bad.

I've been passed for about 7 months and this hasn't been an issue until last week - so I had mastered the clutch/gas really well. Never had an issue with hillstarts or stalling.

Just genuinely looking for people's thoughts on why my driving style has changed in this manner and how I can fix it.

I'm pretty sure when changing gear I do depress the clutch and release the gas simultaneously.

jtoro

Original Poster:

7 posts

60 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Quattro Formigine said:
Buy an automatic .
Definitely not, thanks.

Olivergt

1,649 posts

88 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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How long have you been driving?

In theory, yes you should be trying to rev match, but that can be difficult.

The simplest way to change gear is to lift off the throttle when you press on the clutch, so as one foot goes down the other goes up and then when you release the clutch, you go back on the throttle, so again when one foot is going up the other is going down.

You probably need to exaggerate those movements for a while, until you do them automatically.

REV MATCHING
You don't have to do this and it can be quite difficult.

When your foot is coming off the clutch you need to gentle squeeze the throttle so the revs come up a little and then squeeze harder once the clutch is fully up.

Notice I said squeeze not press, this is important, don't press the throttle pedal, squeeze it, it's not an on/off switch, squeezing gives you a lot more control.


jtoro

Original Poster:

7 posts

60 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Olivergt said:
How long have you been driving?

In theory, yes you should be trying to rev match, but that can be difficult.

The simplest way to change gear is to lift off the throttle when you press on the clutch, so as one foot goes down the other goes up and then when you release the clutch, you go back on the throttle, so again when one foot is going up the other is going down.

You probably need to exaggerate those movements for a while, until you do them automatically.

REV MATCHING
You don't have to do this and it can be quite difficult.

When your foot is coming off the clutch you need to gentle squeeze the throttle so the revs come up a little and then squeeze harder once the clutch is fully up.

Notice I said squeeze not press, this is important, don't press the throttle pedal, squeeze it, it's not an on/off switch, squeezing gives you a lot more control.
I passed in December so nearly 7 months.

I think (or thought!) that was what I was doing. Perhaps I'm not releasing the gas early enough. I initially thought it was something wrong with the car - as there was such a sudden change, but my dad had a ride and there wasn't an issue.

Thanks for clarifying rev matching. I thought it was something different!

Monkeylegend

27,210 posts

238 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Try sitting stationary in the car with the engine running, your right foot holding the revs at 1000 rpm and push your left foot up and down on the clutch and maintaining the revs at 1000rpm.

Keep the gear lever in neutral smile

Practise makes perfect.

Haltamer

2,554 posts

87 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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If you're thinking about it, you're doing something right:- It'll just get better with time and practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4rs09AKBc8

Give that a watch and you'll get some basic techniques and tips, and conciously employ them until they become unconcious habit smile

A tiny fraction of trailing throttle can help you hold the revs up for the new gear if you're making a leisurely change (i.e. RPM has already dropped below that of the new gear), so it isn't always a terrible thing to use a touch of power on the way to the new gear.



Edited by Haltamer on Thursday 24th June 20:17

Om

1,922 posts

85 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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Have you taken to wearing high heels or perhaps flip flops of late?

Monkeylegend

27,210 posts

238 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
quotequote all
Om said:
Have you taken to wearing high heels or perhaps flip flops of late?
One of each probably.

h0b0

8,182 posts

203 months

Thursday 24th June 2021
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Your clutch is on its way out so the biting point has shifted not you.

_Neal_

2,781 posts

226 months

Wednesday 7th July 2021
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What happens if you slow everything down a bit/lot i.e. come completely off the throttle before even touching the clutch (rather than trying to do throttle off/clutch down simultaneously)?

That's where I'd start - separate the two complelely then gradually bring the throttle off/clutch down closer and closer together until they are timed together correctly.

Blakewater

4,369 posts

164 months

Saturday 17th July 2021
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Om said:
Have you taken to wearing high heels or perhaps flip flops of late?
In all seriousness, footwear can make a difference. It's best to avoid wearing thick soled shoes so you can feel what you're doing and not depress pedals without realising, especially if you have large feet or a car with a small footwell.

DannyScene

6,897 posts

162 months

Tuesday 27th July 2021
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jtoro said:
Definitely not, thanks.
Guessing you're quite young?

I had the same feeling towards auto's when I first passed, I've just borrowed a DSG Passat estate for a month from work and I don't think I actually want a manual for daily duties anymore, auto is just better in 99% of driving situations