downshift in Ps test

[blingbling121]

hey guys just got a manual car after being on auto Ps for six months. ive heard from mates that i should only downshift in the test? (ive been doing this) so no 4 - 2 shifts or i fail lol? and also is rev matching going to lose me points? cheers guys

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

IMO go and do a lesson with a driving instructor in a Manual car and let them tell you what you are meant to do and not do for the test

[Lukey]

IMO go and do a lesson with a driving instructor in a Manual car and let them tell you what you are meant to do and not do for the test

good advice.

[migoreng]

hey guys just got a manual car after being on auto Ps for six months. ive heard from mates that i should only downshift in the test? (ive been doing this) so no 4 - 2 shifts or i fail lol? and also is rev matching going to lose me points? cheers guys

i would just downshift through the gears.
shows that you have control of the car :P 4th to second would jolt the car and bring the revs up high...the tester probably won't want to hear the engine get loud...
rev matching?
i don't think heel and toe can be learnt in a few weeks.
i say 6 months or so to get it perfect...
lol

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

...if you dont feel like going to a instructor i vote drive like a grandma :p

[Lukey]

Just make sure u dont stall, they would prefer u over rev than stall.

[soulchild_19]

i downshifted in my test, got mine first go.
it generally gives you a smoother ride, especially when you're just starting out.
after lots of driving practice and experience you will be able to just change from 4th to 2nd almost as smooth as if you were to downshift.
good luck with it ;)

[mrwillz]

IMO go and do a lesson with a driving instructor in a Manual car and let them tell you what you are meant to do and not do for the test

exactly what i did

going from auto to manual

[jeffreymui]

well i just wait till i got my green P and just drive manual

[Q_ball]

well i just wait till i got my green P and just drive manual

You can do that, but thats not going to make you drive manual any better!

Best way IS to take lessons from an instructer as they are less likely to teach you their own "bad habits" like;
Clutching in and leaving it in whilst braking.
Clutching in whilst going through a corner.
etc

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

...if you've got a Auto license and driving around in a Manual you do know its illegal right?

Sure you can get off the first time by pleading ignorance or lack of time but if you drive around you are bound to get caught (like a guy i know)

[blingbling121]

nah ive been driving with red ps on and with with my dad (full licence)

[RtN]

Well I just got my Manual Red Ps.. 1st go =]. umm well you have to downshift and you lose points for keeping ur hand on the knob... according to my instructor.. he pointed it out coz was my habit but yeh. umm also yeh you can stall... but lose points. I can't confirm this coz I didnt stall. Sydney btw. And what I did for the test for slowing down for turns was.. just slow down quiet a bit say 30km/h? clutch in then shift 4-3-2 then let go of clutch now you should be like 20km/h or so (not sure abt numbers), all of this shud have been done about 5m before turn and you shouldnt jerk or anything since your gonna go slowish speed on turn during the test. this is bad english but yeh typing as im going. And yeh coming to a stop similar to the turn except when u have nearly stopped clutch in then when completely stopped put it into gear 1 keep clutch in. And I think you are allowed to put it into neutral at lights.. but didnt risky trying.. kept it on gear 1 at the lights.. Thats just my experiences with the test so yeh.. after you get it.. do the style you're comfortable with. Oh yeh when they ask you to turn engine off remember to turn off signal before engine off and put in gear 1 after engines off even if it's not on a hill. Hope you pass!

[xenonkuraz]

you are not allowed to stall in Melbourne...

[croatiaboi]

when i was getting lessons from my instructor he told me not to downshift.. his advice was that it is cheaper toreplace ur break pads then using ur gears to stop u, so basically on my testi didnt down shift at all when stoping just put it in neutral n let the breaks slow me down n i passed no worries

[vinnY]

^ bad practice, big no-no to coast to a stop
should always downshift gears so you're always in control if need be

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

Yeah actually my driving instructor said the same thing...

It is not good but you know

[migoreng]

braking in neutral..no good...
what happens if you lose control and you are in a rwd car?
:P

[croatiaboi]

yeah its no good i dont do it anymore, but just for the test and while i was learning to drive i used to do it, just give them what they want on the test then once u got ur license u can drive how u like i guess.

[Limbo]

got to always be in gear. Usually you down shift to third and then to second.

I got away with having to do the manual test lol, i got my license long time ago

[sassy_fit_vtit]

IMO go and do a lesson with a driving instructor in a Manual car and let them tell you what you are meant to do and not do for the test

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I Agree... There is no point asking ppl on the net because they can't show you what you are doing right and wrong. Pay an expert to observe your driving style, correct any bad habits and mistakes you are making.

[94dc2tegz]

from what i think they want you to do is just granny drive it

drive upto where ever you need to go, say a turn or whatever. Slow down to a safe speed and early on select the correct gear (usually 2nd) engage it and allow the synchro's to do all the work and ease it in.

imo rev matching is too risky (either u do it well and they like it or they think your a douche and that gives a negative feel about you so why bother - you have nothing to prove cept that you can drive correctly like everyone else on the road and not like a race car driver)

as RtN mentioned above (i don't know about anywhere else but in melb) do not leave it in N at the lights. It's clutch in, 1st gear and foot on the break ready to go when it goes green.

but yea, get an instructor - they can pick little things that you don't even realise that your doing wrong - ie bad habits you've picked up and don't even think about anymore.

[lil_foy]

Just drive like a normal day to day person

i.e: Dont double clutch, rev match, etc.

My test is in 3 weeks, I admit I like to rev match when driving with dad but in my lessons I just have some self control and please the instructor.

[danny_2132]

hey im in sydney ive got my first car 2-3 weeks ago and dat was da first time i drove manual... and ive got my manual test at da end ov dis month... do u fail if u do a jumpy downshift? and im reli shit at reversing uphill got ne tips?

[sassy_fit_vtit]

^ I'm not sure abt nsw, but in qld you don't get marked down for a jumpy downshift (unless you stall it as well).

As for reversing up hill do a hill start. Hand Brake up, Clutch out, gentle acceleration until you feel the car is starting to launch and slowly put the hand brake down whilst accelerating.

[RtN]

Ahaha i was same situation as You.. used my BC Reared Honda car for Ls, umm well yeh anyway on to point.. no you dont lose points for jumpy shifts... just probably if you grind your gears? lol yeh wat sassy wrote, same as starting up hill mate !

[Crapdaz]

for the test;
ride your clutch a tad more to keep it smooth, and gently transition the clutch + throttle rather than letting it off too soon.
hill start is your best friend, as sassy_fit_vtit said.


^ I'm not sure abt nsw, but in qld you don't get marked down for a jumpy downshift (unless you stall it as well).

As for reversing up hill do a hill start. Hand Brake up, Clutch out, gentle acceleration until you feel the car is starting to launch and slowly put the hand brake down whilst accelerating.

[woteva82]

its pretty easy, i just got my manuals,its better to be safe just downshift every gear but when you go to a full stop always put it on gear 1.

[Limbo]

hmm i should go do a Ps test, i never had to do the manual test as i'm old ;p
i wonder what the tester would do if i double clutched around corners (keeping at 60km) and not using the brakes that much .... hehehe

[migoreng]

you are on your Ls and you can double clutch/heel toe that good?

do the driving test normally. use the syncros, engine brake slowly using the clutch and whatever
no need for fancy stuff

[lil_foy]

I got my p's yesterday ^____^ woo first go!

Like I said in my previous post, I didnt rev match or try to engine break to much.

Just drive smoothly, they dont want someone focusing on gears more then on the road.

[danny_2132]

cant waitt till i get my p's its on the 29th of dis month... ill let uz know if i pass or fail. :)

[lil_foy]

cant waitt till i get my p's its on the 29th of dis month... ill let uz know if i pass or fail. :)

Just be responsible man, talk to the instructor but just pay attention aswell.

Also if you do get it, try not to speed to much on your first day.

Sitting on vtec wastes soooo much fuel.

[trezmoc]

oldish thread i know but if anyone is reading 4 tips...

the instructors dont care how u downshift as long as u dont coast. i always would just roll in the current gear (say fourth) and then brake for the corner or lights and only change (straight to second (or first if im stopped)) when im about to accelerate. no need to run through every gear when braking. just makes ur ride jumpy and wears ur clutch.

also dont take corners in third - its usually to fast for their liking and dont worry about stalling 2 much. as long as ur flow is good (eg. start it up again quick and get going again) they dont mind.

Last thing HEAD CHECKS HEAD CHECKS HEAD CHECKS

[T-onedc2]

Way back when I got my P's we went straight from L's to P's and that's all. I did my lessons in a manual Barina, and when coming to a stop, the instructor expected me to leave it in the current gear (eg, 4th or 5th) until just before the car begins to shudder due to too low revs, then clutch in.

As already said, coasting in neutral is the biggest no no of all.

[Petronas]

As already said, coasting in neutral is the biggest no no of all.

Agreed..

When I did my test... At the stop lights my left leg kept getting tired on the clutch so every now n' then I would let the clutch out for a second (Obviously taking it out of first and into neutral) and then back in... The instructor didn't mind...

[aaronng]

If you don't want a jumpy downshift and don't want to rev match, then let the clutch out slowly.

[Lukey]

If you don't want a jumpy downshift and don't want to rev match, then let the clutch out slowly.

i do that

[ek4-guy]

i was told "you don't have to down shift in the test and you shouldn't because if you get it wrong it will count against you"

but then was told "if your confident go for it"

[Lukey]

well you shouldnt roll up to the lights in neutral or with foot in the clutch imho.

and if youre not confident of downshifting in the test, you shouldnt be doing it

[ek4-guy]

^ bad practice, big no-no to coast to a stop
should always downshift gears so you're always in control if need be


well you shouldnt roll up to the lights in neutral or with foot in the clutch imho.

and if youre not confident of downshifting in the test, you shouldnt be doing it


i was told to leave it in what ever gear and brake then clutch in just before it wants to stall

and while you have the clutch in put it in 1st and wait to take off again

[Lukey]

i was told to downshift thru the gears

[peeweechik]

well i took my manual ps end of last yr and yes you will fail if to go from 4th to second, you have to dwn gear to 1 if you slowing down soo dont go straight to neutral . you can only go to neutral if you are at a COMPLETE stop
dont forget all you traffic check so when your at the traffic light or driving pass a traffic light make sure you look left right ALWAYS

[xQuizit]

^^yep shes right always downshift from 5-4-3-2 then at complete stop 1, never put clutch in netural alwasy leave it on a gear

[flipfire]

I downshifted 5-4-3-2 too on my manual P test. I got all 105 points on the test :D . Rubbed the score sheet on my sisters face afterwards.

I believe if you stall, you lose a dramatic amount of points.

[JDM.Power]

i stalled straight from the start ahahahha, got in..leaving, stalled

the guy was a sick guy tho, his like take your time with it, start fresh ahahah..then from then no problems at all, better off downshifting driving like a granny, best way.
and use your handbrake when you go for your exam, if you dont feel confident use it. find friction point first then slowly release the handbrake n gas it while clutch release.