Scrib

Damn it! Ok, how you you stick drivers do it??? I mean, granted I've only been at this thing for a couple of weeks, but I was on the gas semi-hard and did the 3-2 shift. I caught it, and in fact that rpms only got to 5K. But still... Not very good on a 300 mile motor.

So... You 6-speeders. Is it just getting comfortable with the shifter and such? Or is there a method to shifting? I believe I shifted like I do from 1-2, thumb on the left side of the shift nob, which I think encourages a mis-shift going from 3-4. Perhaps by "back-handing" the shifter, you'd eliminate this possibility, as your wrist doesn't want to do backwards...???

Thoughts???

Loseit

iTrader: (1)

don't worry...it happens to everybody

you'll get better and better as time goes on.

DigiBox

I have the Z, so I would imagine our shifters are pretty much excact.

I tried to take of in 3rd two times!! LOL!! I found that when the shifter is in the neutral position, it tends to line up with 3rd and 4th.

It's all good now.. Just took some getting use to. I was using a 5 speed Integra to drive for about 4 months prior to getting the Z. There was a big difference between the two.

JakeCL

the cl six speed seems like it almost puts itself in the right gear as soon as the clutch goes in for me, when i first got it i did do a 5th to 2nd on the freeway when i was trying to go down to fourth i caught it so the rpms didnt shoot up too high but i think its a matter of feel youll get used to it

6speedctrlfreak

Never had the 3rd into 2nd problem but did do 5th into 4th (I think thats the most common mishift we most of us have had) but did catch it before letting it go all the way in to gear. Just keep saying to yourself "straight down, straight down" and it will be second nature in a few weeks

Zapata

You need to take it easy and be super paranoid. Don't feel relaxed......................EVER.

You grab it like you are grabbing a cane. Top of the palm goes on top of the shifter and then wrap your fingers around.

That g35 shifter has some pretty short throws....even shorter than the 6speed CLS so i can see where you might have some issues but go slow!

Scrib

What sucks is I was doing so well... This was the first time it's happened since I got the car. It makes me nervous that it's going to happen again, but with MUCH more severe results.

devnull

No dishonor dude. We have all done it...

(I did it on the way home (5-4 to 4k)... Oops.)

devnull

Nah. Once you get used to it, it will never happen again...

Smitty

Ditto... I had this problem for the first month.. I was so scared of hitting reverse while trying to hit 6th gear.. I downshift from 5th (55MPH) to 3rd and gun it all the time for fun... The high end of the RPM spectrum in our motors is just so addicting...., then I found out about the saftey catch that doesn't let you in reverse while moving forward.. i was so relieved to know that I was not going to accidently drop my tranny...LOL)

All I can say to you Scrib is don't try and force your shifts if you get excited.. let it flow nice and easy.. pretty soon you will be able to shift with 1 finger like the rest of the badass 6 speed crew...LOL.... I remember when I first started out (10 yrs ago), I would sit in the parking lot while waiting for someone to return from shopping and go through the gears with the car off.. going through all the motions.. Sort of like pratice.. it makes perfect....LOL... Enjoy.

Smitty

6speedctrlfreak

Yeah Smitty I do that too just shift through all the gears with the engine off really helps if anyone (like Scrib..hahahah) is having some 6speed anxiety issues.

Slimey

I barely use any muscle to shift. Many times, I really am only using a finger or two. Let the shifter do the work. The springs should take it through the gate easily. You should never have to force a shift.

Meth

Use a "pulling" motion vs. "pushing" into gear. Conceptualizing the "pulling" makes the gates seem clearer in my mind

BlueCLS6

Yeah I still do that damn 5-4 instead of into 6th! Seldom anymore though. The transmission is just so smooth! Just remember for 1-2, 3-4, & 5-6 shifts to move the shifter parallel to the car, not towards your body like your arm naturally wants. I use very little pressure shifting gears, just let the synchros do their work and the tranny will suck it into gear...

AaronT

the backhand method helps alot in reducing the chance of going into 2nd gear when you intend to goto 4th. You're not pulling down towards your body where the slight angle of the arm cause you to go towards 2nd gear.

darrinb

i need to learn how to drive a stick.......

it seems like fun

Doc.Booty

Darrin, if you do, you won't go a day without wishing you had a 6 speed CLS.

darrinb

i better not learn then cause this car his here to stay, i dont think i'll like it for everyday use, prolly just weekend type shit,

i had the choice to get the 6speed when gettin my car, i didnt even really think of owning a manual at the time. plus the headers for the 6speed cost 700 more so i would be quicker w/ the my auto!!!

gate shift it baby

oonowindoo

dont worry... this happens to everybody =)


i did a 5-2nd a few weeks ago cuz i was fukin buzzzzed... *ATTENTION*.. WHAT I DID is WRONG... !!!!!

bullaculla

Haven't missed a shift in a long time. you need to pay attention all the time! but be relaxed. it kind of goes where it need to go itself. from fifth, i just pull right to the middle and it hits fouth.

Scrib

Thanks all!

elliot

6 speeds are definitely fun sometimes.. you'll regret it sitting it traffic though.. but for many people (and most people on this board I assume) the suckyness of having a stick in traffic is no worse than the high you have while driving a stick under the bright sun and swerving in and around traffic as everyone stares at you..

i debated getting a stick.. but my dad told me when he was young, his car was stick and he broke his right wrist and therefore couldnt drive his car.. when i get a second car (when i get a wife perhaps?) then ill get a stick for myself.. but with one car, i dont want to risk it.. and it's funny, because my good friend just broke her ACL, and she drives stick, and she's stuck for 6 months.. she may have to rent an automatic.. she's kicking herself now.. but of course that's not the case for most people.

good luck scrib!!

joeandcarol2

If you have only been doing it for a few weeks maybe you should take it easy and slowly work up to those speed shifts. The alternative is your valves looking like bent spagetti.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I found the shifter will guide you into the right gear, if your light on the shift. The only time I force, or maby put some pressure on the knob is going into 5th. My arm doesn't reach well that far in my driving position. If I don't I wind up in 3rd.

Scrib

Yeah fortunately, I'm not out of the breakin period, so I wasn't on it all that hard. I think if I just would have "let it go" I wouldn't have hit the red line, but that's not a risk I was willing to take.

I just started feeling more confident in my abilities. I guess I'm not ready to get called up to the majors, quite yet.

rickm

Relax, it all becomes second nature in time. I've been driving a stick for 20 years and there are some days when you dont' want to drink a cup of coffee while I am driving or you'll wear it and others where you cant' feel my shifts at all.

dfreder371

Scrib buddy: At least in the CLS6, for 1 and two, exert positive left pressure (it doesn't take much). For 3 and 4, let the gearshift center and push forward or back. For 5 and 6, use some right pressure.

The same was true in the RSX-S, but mine was really tricky to engage in fifth. Bear with it, you'll get it.

Crazy Bimmer

yea just relax... i always mess up if i THINK about shifting... but if you just do it without thinking... then everything goes smoothly.
Also i just shift as far to the right as i can, i rather upshift too much than downshift. Did that make sense?

Remember, i learned on my 330 :o

Crazy Bimmer

oh and NOW i will come with you to the race course

synth19

I agree with BlueCLS6, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 are the easiest shifts to make as long as you remember they are inline to each other respectively. The thing that helped me alot was looking at the shifting diagram, it makes sense if you follow that. When I got my Z I missed a shift, going from 4-3, instead of going to 4-5. RPM's jumped, but I didnt get to redline luckily. The method I use is hand fwd for 3/4, towards you with 1/2, and backhand method for 5/6

bullaculla

I learned on my CL
now its just natural. I don't get pissed in traffic anymore cause I got stuck in traffic driving my sisters porsche.:o what a difference!

dfreder371

Scrib: You cant go wrong with this. Stay AWAY from DOWNSHIFTING until you have UPSHIFTING perfectly mastered.

You never go wrong selecting first gear when you are at a dead stop now, correct? Common sense.

JRock

3-2? That's weird. You really have to TRY to do that since just pushing it straight back will get you 4th.


I just learned stick last week and was driving an integra for a few minutes today.

Joe5.0

I've been driving manual trannies for about 2 years now, and I will never go back to a slushbox if I don't have to. I din't spend a ton of time in stop & go traffic, but it doesn't bother me one bit. If you think it's hard learning on a CL-S, try learning on a 4 banger Ranger. :o

And Darrin maybe sometime if we are Milan I can show you some 6 speed skills.

I don't know about everyone else, but the shifter and clutch in the CL-S felt ungodly to me. The shifts were short as hell, and it clicked into every gear. I even did some powershifting and it was a breeze. Maybe the CL felt so good because I'm used to my grabby clutch and high effort shifter in my Mustang.