Heel-and-Toe in TL
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Heel-and-Toe in TL
Hello again AZ!
I'm learning how to drive my TL a bit more aggressively, and heel-and-toe downshifting is a part of this process.
However, I feel like the gas and brake are a bit far apart in the TL, so I heel-and-toe with my actual heel and toe, not with the ball of my foot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuoZeuSgEj4
I have found this style to work for the time being, but I didn't know if I should give more effort to trying to do heel-and-toe with the side of my foot, like Ayrton Senna (may he rest in peace) does in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8By2AEsGAhU
How do you guys recommend doing heel-and-toe in the 3G TL specifically? I figure it's called heel-and-toe for a reason.
Where I'll be using heel-and-toe, if you're curious: link
I'm learning how to drive my TL a bit more aggressively, and heel-and-toe downshifting is a part of this process.
However, I feel like the gas and brake are a bit far apart in the TL, so I heel-and-toe with my actual heel and toe, not with the ball of my foot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuoZeuSgEj4
I have found this style to work for the time being, but I didn't know if I should give more effort to trying to do heel-and-toe with the side of my foot, like Ayrton Senna (may he rest in peace) does in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8By2AEsGAhU
How do you guys recommend doing heel-and-toe in the 3G TL specifically? I figure it's called heel-and-toe for a reason.
Where I'll be using heel-and-toe, if you're curious: link
#2
AZ Track Whore
iTrader: (4)
well as a long time track guy, I've been heel-toe shifting and left foot braking for years now and there is no "correct" way to do it really. It's all technique, what works for you and your car's pedal positions may be totally different than a different guy in a different car.
Personally, I tend to use the ball of my foot on the brake pedal and more or less the side of my foot on the gas pedal. With the TL's gas pedal hinging at the bottom, it's kinda non standard than what a lot of cars have, like my old RSX-s for example. And because of that, if you tried to use the absolute heel of your foot, it'd be so low on the gas pedal (right by the bottom) that it'd be harder to move the whole pedal anyways. Better to keep the side/heel of your foot a little higher up to give better feel/modulation of the gas pedal during shifts.
but once you learn how to do it, you'll never forget how to make it work for you. I heel-toe pretty much everything I drive on the street cuz it's just habit and is arguably easier on the car. Not huge downshift that are obnoxious, just enough to lessen the wear on the clutch.
Answer your question?
Personally, I tend to use the ball of my foot on the brake pedal and more or less the side of my foot on the gas pedal. With the TL's gas pedal hinging at the bottom, it's kinda non standard than what a lot of cars have, like my old RSX-s for example. And because of that, if you tried to use the absolute heel of your foot, it'd be so low on the gas pedal (right by the bottom) that it'd be harder to move the whole pedal anyways. Better to keep the side/heel of your foot a little higher up to give better feel/modulation of the gas pedal during shifts.
but once you learn how to do it, you'll never forget how to make it work for you. I heel-toe pretty much everything I drive on the street cuz it's just habit and is arguably easier on the car. Not huge downshift that are obnoxious, just enough to lessen the wear on the clutch.
Answer your question?
The following 2 users liked this post by vill0169:
mynameisraj (11-09-2011),
paperboy42190 (11-09-2011)
#3
the overexplainer
I find i use the side of my foot/edge rather than the bottom of my heel to modulate the gas as well.
i do have to say though its hard for me to perform a heel/toe unless i'm moderately braking, which gets me closer to the gas pedal. My old integra's brakes were so spongy i could heel/toe easily cause i could get closer to the gas pedal with the brake pressed.
I also double clutch the heel/toe which is what the first video shows in the second half.
i do have to say though its hard for me to perform a heel/toe unless i'm moderately braking, which gets me closer to the gas pedal. My old integra's brakes were so spongy i could heel/toe easily cause i could get closer to the gas pedal with the brake pressed.
I also double clutch the heel/toe which is what the first video shows in the second half.
Last edited by ez12a; 11-09-2011 at 06:49 PM.
#4
Instructor
Just takes practice. Heel-toe is actually a misnomer. Like others said your usually using the side of your foot to blip the gas. I have an automatic so I don't know the distance or debth of the pedals on the TL. Even if I did different people are going to have a very slight difference in technique. I do it in the NSX (and my old Saturn before I sold it) with out thinking about it.
Sit in your driveway and practice the motion. Afteryou get the hang of it go drive on a empty road and practice. You'll eventually get use to doing it with out giving it any thought. They key is timing the clutch release and gas blip and the amount of gas to give to rev match.
Sit in your driveway and practice the motion. Afteryou get the hang of it go drive on a empty road and practice. You'll eventually get use to doing it with out giving it any thought. They key is timing the clutch release and gas blip and the amount of gas to give to rev match.
The following users liked this post:
mynameisraj (11-09-2011)
#6
AZ Community Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
Posts: 32,488
Received 7,770 Likes
on
4,341 Posts
Watched the Senna vid. I think you need a pair of those Gucci loafers. That's the ticket.
The following users liked this post:
mynameisraj (11-09-2011)
#7
Instructor
Trending Topics
#9
I can't heel-toe very well, but I don't find it necessary in street driving. I would recommend though (if you haven't already), perfecting seamless double-clutch downshifts.
Preserving our fragile honda synchronizers takes priority in my mind over braking and downshifting simultaneously.
Now for the real reason I'm commenting on this thread. Please don't drive aggressively on the first 3 miles of Flagstaff Road! It's a cool road with lots of technical turns, and it would be sweet if it was closed off from all traffic. In reality though, it has more bicycle and hiking traffic than any other paved road I can think of! During daylight hours, it is pretty much impossible to drive the first 3 miles (up) without passing 5-10 cyclists. Even at 10:00 at night, I've seen some idiots riding up in the dark.
The hiking trail crosses the road frequently, and a lot of the crossings are directly after blind curves.
If you want to drive aggressively on windy mountain roads, choose less populated areas. Farther up Flagstaff is cool, and comes to a fun dirt road eventually, which leads out to Gross Reservoir.
My favorites close to Boulder are: Sugarloaf rd (off the canyon/hwy119), Sunshine Canyon, Lefthand Canyon and Lee Hill rd.
None of these are as technical as Flagstaff, but they're also far less populated.
I don't mean to sound critical, just trying to make sure you stay relatively safe out there.![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Just remember every time you're in the mountains, Boulder is a cycling, running & hiking mecca. Any great driving road is also a great cycling road.
Preserving our fragile honda synchronizers takes priority in my mind over braking and downshifting simultaneously.
Now for the real reason I'm commenting on this thread. Please don't drive aggressively on the first 3 miles of Flagstaff Road! It's a cool road with lots of technical turns, and it would be sweet if it was closed off from all traffic. In reality though, it has more bicycle and hiking traffic than any other paved road I can think of! During daylight hours, it is pretty much impossible to drive the first 3 miles (up) without passing 5-10 cyclists. Even at 10:00 at night, I've seen some idiots riding up in the dark.
The hiking trail crosses the road frequently, and a lot of the crossings are directly after blind curves.
If you want to drive aggressively on windy mountain roads, choose less populated areas. Farther up Flagstaff is cool, and comes to a fun dirt road eventually, which leads out to Gross Reservoir.
My favorites close to Boulder are: Sugarloaf rd (off the canyon/hwy119), Sunshine Canyon, Lefthand Canyon and Lee Hill rd.
None of these are as technical as Flagstaff, but they're also far less populated.
I don't mean to sound critical, just trying to make sure you stay relatively safe out there.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
Just remember every time you're in the mountains, Boulder is a cycling, running & hiking mecca. Any great driving road is also a great cycling road.
#11
i've started to try it on the TL this morning because of the extreme confidence I was inspired by when I drove my friends 300zx NA the day before, I can race that car like a madman and HTing is so easy it inspires confidence and bliss. MIss the easiness of it such as on my old integra
I tried braking w/ my foot higher on the brake pedal so my heel can be towards the middle of the gas pedal on the TL. I'll give it another go tomorrow when ever i want to stop, the slight jerks are pissing me off when i try it in the tl due to the pedal config =(
I tried braking w/ my foot higher on the brake pedal so my heel can be towards the middle of the gas pedal on the TL. I'll give it another go tomorrow when ever i want to stop, the slight jerks are pissing me off when i try it in the tl due to the pedal config =(
Last edited by DC2many; 11-10-2011 at 01:38 AM.
#13
Yes, the larger throttle-by-wire pedal Honda is using now is quite different. Especially since it's hinged at the bottom instead of the older cars that are hinged at the top. I have big feet (12-13). I just roll over the side of the brake pedal to blip the throttle with the right edge of my foot.
One thing I do like about the throttle-by-wire pedal is that you can kinda use it as a footrest. If you put your heel right at the base of the pedal, you can take a lot of strain off your leg. Really helpful on long drives. This doesn't help with heel-toe though. Mainly just freeway cruising.
One thing I do like about the throttle-by-wire pedal is that you can kinda use it as a footrest. If you put your heel right at the base of the pedal, you can take a lot of strain off your leg. Really helpful on long drives. This doesn't help with heel-toe though. Mainly just freeway cruising.
#14
Chapter Leader (Southern Region)
#15
its harder to heel toe on the tl due to the "slight" lag with the dbw.
its best with a throttle cable because there is no lag
i tend to do a 6-5-4-3-2-1 on m friends s2000 just because i miss driving a car with a throttle cable... dbw ftl
its best with a throttle cable because there is no lag
i tend to do a 6-5-4-3-2-1 on m friends s2000 just because i miss driving a car with a throttle cable... dbw ftl
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
kixo
2G TSX (2009-2014)
6
09-05-2015 08:54 PM
chungkopi
Car Talk
47
05-22-2010 02:40 PM
S A CHO
Console & Computer Gaming
18
10-05-2006 09:44 PM
gavriil
Automotive News
9
03-15-2005 06:14 AM