Its my first time driving a 6 speed manual (before I had 5 speed) and I notice that when the engine reaches about 3000 rpm, it's incredibly loud. I know this is normal and this seems like a stupid question but:
I know it depends but,
1) On normal driving, which rpm do you shift at?
2) To have better acceleration, which rpm do you shift at?
3) Does it hurt the car to shift at really high rpm (around 5000-6000 rpm), its just that the engine is really loud and sounds like im hurting the car.
4) Is the shift really "stiff" from 1st to 2nd gear?

 

I'm no expert on the TSX 6-speed manual, but I had some of the same questions when I got my manual RSX. Since there's been 18 views and no comments, I'll add my 2 cents.

1) Normal driving, I would shift between 3K and 3.5K RPM. For "spirited" driving, closer to 4-4.5K.
2) The closer you get to the VTEC engagement spot (if I remember correctly 6K?, someone correct me) the more torque and horsepower you will feel. Therefore, for the maximum acceleration and pull, shift as close to the redline as possible.
3) I never hurt my RSX and it won't hurt the TSX. Do you regularly scheduled maintinance, make smooth shifts, and you'll be fine. The loud engine noise is normal, but it is not hurting your car.
4) When I shifted from 1st to 2nd, it would be notchy sometimes. It was an issue with the RSX.

Again, the TSX has a great engine and transmission. Drive it hard, but not stupid. To get the most out of the VTEC engines, you have to rev it higher than turboed or supercharged engines which will cause the engine to be louder.

Just my 2 cents...

 

I usually shift at 3000 RPM for normal driving, which is when the car is most fuel efficent. If you want to have fun (but waste gas), then you can shift as far as 7,000 RPM. That's when the TSX's full horsepower is available believe it or not. Vtech doesn't even kick in until like 5 or 6 thousand RPM, and I think full torque comes on at 4000. The car was designed to be operated at high revs, so it will not damage your engine to rev it far up in the tach's range. All you will do is waste obscene amounts of gas. So to answer your questions in the order asked:

1) I shift at 3000 RPM in normal driving.
2) For better acceleration I shift at 4-6 thousand.
3) It does not hurt the car to shift at higher RPMs. A rev limiter will kick in before you get to the point that you can hurt it.
4) The TSX shifter is smooth as butter anfd effortless during any gear change. Best MT I've ever driven.

 

To shift from 1st to 2nd smoothly, simply pull straight down on the shifter. I know its a bit weird because in my integra, i always had to pull and push the shifter down and to the left to go from 1st to 2nd. But someone on this board recommended pulling it straight down to 2nd. I tried it and 8/10 it doesnt feel notchy at all. Just try it, itll feel like you're going into 4th gear the first couple of times, but after that, youll love the smoothness of going from 1st to 2nd

 

Same here. Also the best MT I've ever driven.

 

OP, if you previously had a car with a larger displacement engine and more low-rpm torque, it's normal to feel like you're hurting a vtec engine to wind it to redline. These engines have a high specific displacement per liter, but do require high rpm's to take advantage of it.

The only way you could really hurt it (within reason) would be to mechanically over-rev it by accidentally downshifting from 6th to 2nd instead of 6th to 4th (what you intended to do.) If you do that on any car, it would force the engine to rev way higher than it's intended to and that hurts.

As mentioned above, the rev limiter will kick in in any gear way before it reaches it's mechanical limits.

 

I own 3 vehicles with manual transmission-a 05 hyundai elantra gt with 5 spd, the tsx and a 07 Mitsubishi Raider truck with 6 spd. The only problem I seem to have is remembering that the hyundai is a 5 spd after driving the 6spd vehicles more often. Luckily I catch myself and do not try to shift it to the non-existing 6th gear.

 

Good info, guys, thanks.

 

Sorry to revive this thread lol, but im pretty new to driving MT too, besides the few times a year i gotta drive my drunk ass room mate home in his MT precidia, but compared to that this thing feels smooth as butter. But is it just me or is my shifting still slow? I try to shift at 3,000 rpm most of the time but i notice starting from the light im really slow lol, and minivans and most cars pass me, assuming they are automatic. Coming from a 2000 AT prelude it feels like im going really slow lol. I notice that i have to shift so quickly from 1-2-3 when i shift at 3,000 rpm... opinions?

Any tips to help with my shifting, most of the time im pretty smooth, unless im not really concentrating. I do notice that first and second can be kinda notchy is that just me? I'll try ur tip by just pulling down directly from 1st cuz right now im pulling down and left.

I also notice alot of the time when shifting i release the clutch till friction point and then i start applying the gas, is that wrong?

Also wuts ur opinions on downshifting vs braking... im getting alot of mixed opinions from google. Thanks for your help guys

 

You can shift wherever you want. Just shift and drive in a way that accomplishes whatever it is you're trying to do. I drive pretty lazy and I don't even reach 3k rpm before I shift out of first. I just don't like to hear the noise of the engine revving in everyday driving, and I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere. It doesn't bother me that minivans out accelerate me from a stoplight. However if I want to keep up with them and drive "normally", I do have to let the revs go to about 3500 to keep up in the first few gears.

I just try to be nice to my car since I intend on keeping it a long time. Someone asked about downshifting vs braking.... I don't downshift very much because it wears out your clutch faster over its lifetime the more you do it. Personally I'd rather wear out the brakes because those are cheaper and much easier to change than a clutch is.

No it doesn't hurt to shift at near redline. I think the point to keep in mind is that the more you "abuse" the car, the shorter its life. If you don't care that much about life of the parts, if you're leasing, etc...then it really doesn't matter. The car is still reliable enough to not worry about it under most circumstances.

 

I try to be nice too, but I downshift frequently, and with good double-clutch rev-matching I don't think it wears out the clutch prematurely at all. I got 136,000 miles on an original Saab clutch, and it still felt perfect.

Problem is, I'm finding heel-toe downshifting difficult in my 2010 TSX, mostly due to pedal position, but also to the quick-revving motor and closely spaced gear ratios. The gear ratios are so close that you don't need to blip the throttle much at all to match revs on downshifts, and the engine zings up the tach without much pressure on the throttle. This makes even regular double clutching more difficult than it was in the Saab, but I'm getting the hang of it. It just requires a lighter touch.

 

I don't see the point in double clutching on new cars with syncros tho... the only time i can see double clutching is when ur jumping gears say 5-> 3 or 4 -> 2 when the syncros arn't matched. I just think its more work.. that just might be because im lazy tho. Just this week i got used to rev matching and im pretty consistent with it, i usually downshift at about 2,000 rpm and then blip the throttle up to 3,000 rpm and my downshifts are smoother than my upshifts lol.....

 

I have variable shift methods, but usually shift between 3-4,000 RPMs instead of what I would call a standard 2-3,000 RPMs. Personally I don't really think it matters.

I was always told that Acuras and Hondas were made to be "wound up" and shifted at higher revs, particularly the S2000...

 

i donno.. it just seems at like 3,000-4,000 the engine is making so much noise lol... seems like its just eating my gas, oh well i love the sound near redline !!

 

I'm just too lazy to do all that pedal play LOL I'd rather just leave it in neutral and let it coast or hit the brakes!

 

I shift around 4k about half the of the time and 6,500-Redline the rest of the time.
I have bounced off the rev limiter a couple of times, no harm.
I love to hear the engine sing it's sweet song!
The TSX has a great revving engine and super smooth transmission/shifter.
I REALLY enjoy driving my 6MT TSX! I look at any extra gas cost from my driving style as "entertainment" costs. One of the most fun sub $30k mid-size sedans to drive IMO.
:

 

Is there anything I should know about the break-in period of the 6-speed TSX as opposed to the AT? The MT I ordered should come in any week now and want to take the proper precautions when driving it. I am also fairly new to driving a stick (learned on girlfriends '03 Civic).

 

Im New MT driver too, i'd personally just reccommend driving ur gf's car for a week to get the hang of it. I practiced on my sisters fiance's 3 series, and it was a pretty good transition over, didn't work the TSX tranny too hard.

I also notice today.. when in hilly areas and such, i notice i sit in 5th gear when going up hills at 80kmh, usually revving at about 3000.. shud i just shift into 6th or stick in 5th??

Also i noticed today that yea its very difficult to heel toe in this car... the break pedal is so much higher than the gas pedal.. any suggestions?

 

Just keep low rev's for the first 1000 miles... and definitely don't redline during this period as well.

Just my .02 cents.

I was new to driving stick when I bought my '09 TSX last December. Don't worry, it's a very easy and smooth clutch.

 

i dont have any problems heel toeing in the vehicle, I rarely need to do it though unless i'm racing around people.. which i guess is more often then not lolol also the vehicle doesn't need to be broke in despite popular belief but its still a good idea to keep it low revs untill your first oil change, which I'd reccommend not waiting 10k miles to do. Also the manual says shift at 16 26 36 47 and 59 or some shit like that, which turns into 3500 rpms .. this is the reccommended shift level for the vehicle when driving in normal conditions. Personally I used to shift a lot sooner or later when I first got it ( my first six speed ) and then I did this at 3500 and I noticed the head bob go away almost immediately. Be soft with the clutch its very forgiving and you only need to press it a little pass half to be completely depressed. Don't get too comfortable with this though or you'll let off the clutch before its all the way in gear and it will grind and kick you out. ( you're not killing your transmission when you hear grinding.. but you're definitely not preserving it :-P )

just be kind to the car untill you get to know it is the best advice anyone can give you, especially if this is your first manual. remember you can't effectively drive with just the clutch in this car because of the gear ratio so a little bit of gas will always be needed, just be soft on the gas pedal and don't rev it up to 2k before you let go of the clutch, just keep it at 1200 or below rpms and apply pressure to the gas pedal as needed. Once you get used to it you'll stop looking at the rpms and you'll be fine. I say once you drive it about 5k miles in stop and go traffic you can start having fun with out fear of destroying too much. Everyone grinds a gear everyonce in a while so don't feel like you're a horrible driver. Also I noticed when I first got the car and I've heard from a few others that third gear is a bitch during the transmission break in period, so don't worry if it takes a little extra effort every once in a while to stick it to third, let the shifter guide its self into gear, just pull down and push up the car knows what gear it wants to go into it, you need to give it very little assistance, just a slight nudge when goign to 5th and sixth

remember COMPLETELY stop before you put it in reverse, the car is squishy and will grind if you're ven slightly rolling forward. Take care of the car and it will take care of you. Drive it like a granny for the first 1000 miles to prevent looking like the jack ass jerking the car back and forth and of course to get used to the transmission. Every car's MT is different then the next, they all have there own quirks you'll learn yours, but untill you do don't beat it down too hard!

 

also to appreciate how great your transmission is and clutch i'd recommend driving someone elses car thats a MT after you drove yours for a while, when you get back into the tsx and put it into first you'll fall in love with the car all over again. If you listen closely in the tsx when you depress the clutch, it clicks when it is fully engaged, little helper i guess if you're new

 

Thanks for the advice. My girlfriend traded in her Civic for a CR-V and she misses driving a manual. Since I don't have an MT to practice in now, I'll take it really easy when I finally get the TSX.

 

Yep yep! It's your car and probably wil be for quite some time, so treat it well! Remember if you do down shift, to rev match or you will wear your clutch out real fast.

Depress the clutch while lightly pressing the glass to raise your RPM's a bit higher then what they are to prepare for the downshift, then release the clutch and gas at the same time. Will keep your car from jerking when you do this, and prevent you from having to ease off the clutch so slow.

 

Just few thoughts about TSX manual transmission

1) Yes, third gear is jerky at times. esp when u first start the car.
2) Yes, heel n toe is a bit difficult for this car due to the brake being a lil higher than the accerlation. However, not possible. I usually do it with comfortable shoes (running shoes or driving shoes).
3) I really don't find it necessary to double clutch downshift. WHY DO YOU DO IT?
4) You are NOT going to be much faster (possibly slower) than other TSX with auto-trans unless you are a good and faster shifter and rev at much higher rpms. I usually shift at 6500 rpm if i want to pick up speed. Hate to say it but this car is not build for speed at all.
5)Anybody wanna add?

Just my opinion....

 

only reason I down shift is out of habit. Assisting the car to slow down easier. I've been trying to stop but when I'm on the high way or something I don't like lighting up my brake lights repeatedly so I'll down shift and drift 90% of the time, or if I ahve time to drift with out downshifting i'll do that. Nothing irritates me more then un needed brake lights on the high way, braking excellerating braking excellerating.. annoying.

Cars not built for acceleration no, but it is fun as hell at 130 + mph hell its fun 100 + mph.

and again with the heel toe I don't really have an issue with it being difficult, I do it with boots shoes whatever I'm wearing I only got size 10 feet lolol

Regardless of the cars engine capabilities or fwd set up, the set up of the overall mechanical control over the vehicle still makes it enjoyable to drive aggresively at will, so to do things that help but maybe not much are still entertaining so there for worth doing in my book. Plus it might suck straight line but I enjoy it on back roads, I enjoy it in traffic, and I enjoy it on an open highway when i got time to cruise for a couple minutes in the tripple digets.. Its a fun car and there is no reason to not use it as such!

Thats my opinion

 

Double-clutch downshifting isn't necessary, but it's satisfying and fun, and allows better control in some situations, e.g., when you want a lower gear without engine braking. So why not? Plus, I still think it's a little easier on the clutch, even with synchros. I could be wrong about that, but it feels like it should be easier.

 

The TSX MT is very fun and rewarding to drive "fast" and smooth. Agreed not the fastest car, but how fast do you really need, seriously? Any faster would be too fast for public roads. I am not into racing, I do not stop light race, just like to drive quickly and smoothly. The TSX's strength is that it is a well balanced, good handler, smooth rev happy engine with a great manual which all adds up to a very FUN to drive sedan that still returns good fuel average economy. There are a few twisty roads that rarely have anyone else on them by where I live/work. I love to run up and down the gears on these twisty roads. It is the highlight of my commute!

 

There's plenty of mid range torque in this thing. I drive 1, 3, 5, 6 90% of the time. Less shifting and smooth getaway.

If it's new, just don't flog it for 500-1000 miles.

 

Hey i was wondering wut are ur RPMS when in 6th gear going 100kmh (60mph) ??

 

I think its around 2-2.5k in sixth not too sure because I don't drive on the highway as much as I used to.

 

80 mph is 2900 or almost 3000rpm on this car with stock tires.

I distinctly remember the 99 Si turning 4k at the same speed.

 

hrmm.. is something wrong with my car then? at 60mph im at like 2900rpm.. at 120 km/h im over at like 3100rpm...

 

I think you're ok... mine's right around there too...

no worries.

 

Damn, sorry y'all, I swear I thought it was turning 3k @ 80 & I spend a lot of time on the highway.

Sorry bout that.

/board slaps HD with a trout.

 

yea confirmed im doing 3k at 110km/h

 

I don't believe there is an exact shift RPM because the amount of power you need going into the next shift varies depending on how hard you're accelerating and the incline of the road, whether the car has to climb a hill or is coasting down one. The objective is for you acceleration to be smooth and uniform. If you shift at too low of an RPM then it will lug and acceleration will suddenly decrease. If you shift at too high an RPM you will lurch forward too fast and you might overshoot your cruising speed. After a short time all of this becomes second nature like riding a bike.

 

I know on the highway for me my rpms are always upwards 4k in 6th gear :-\