Its been a half week since I got my car and im getting comfortable with the stick and clutch. I notice that at low speeds in first gear (1k~3k RPM) the car jolts and bucks really hard when I accelerate and decelerate within that powerband. Is this normal behavior for the tranny? I've got 500 miles on it now so could it be that the car isn't broken in completely?

Also, im gradually driving more aggressively shifting around 5k RPM now. My first to second shift feels really jolty like the car surges back then lunges forward, instead of instant acceleration after catching gear. Any advice?

 

Ease the clutch, don't let off on the gas too quick, and don't stomp it in a parking lot..

Your last car wasn't a honda was it...

 

Our cars are torque happy

 

That bucking you're experiencing in 1st gear is "normal", and most manual cars with respectable torque will exhibit this--it's the nature of the beast. As you get more comfortable with the car (and driving stick, I'm assuming you're just learning right now, right?), you'll be able to be more subtle with the gas, and alleviate some of that bucking in the low gears (2nd sometimes does it too, although not as much or as severely).

1 to 2 shift is somewhat tricky on this car, at least to me (I've been driving stick for almost 5 months now ). I especially get this joltyness when the car is still cold. The rpms do not drop as fast, the engine revs higher, and I end up getting some sort of a jolt. The cure--let the clutch up slower and don't feed in a lot of gas. Basically, while the car is still cold, just be easy and fluid with your clutch and gas. But I still get a jolt here and there when shifting from 1 to 2 even when the car is warmed up. I found that if you shift at higher rpms (2.5-3.5K rpms), the shift is smoother. But when I'm just casually cruising, I try to get out of 1st gear ASAP, so end up shifting at like 1.5-2K rpms, and that's when it can jolt a little.

 

The one thing I discovered about these cars (vs. my Acura Integra) is that you can actually start in first gear without even touching the gas! If you just let the clutch out gradually you'll find the grab point and start rolling - just like if you were to take your foot off the brake in an auto. It's been quite an adjustment driving this 5 speed over the Integra... I've also noticed that when shifting to 3rd I don't even need to touch the gas... just shift and it's smooth as silk.

 

I rarely touch the gas when shifting from other than 1st. For me, it's just a matter of timing my clutch release. Adding gas while letting up the clutch usually does more harm than good, as in creating a jolt.

As far as getting rolling in 1st w/no gas...you can do that, but it requires a pretty slow release of the clutch, and you have to be on a completely flat surface, w/nobody else but you in the car. Otherwise, you stall! (at least that's my experience). Plus, getting rolling in 1st w/no gas is usually too time consuming when taking off from traffic lights (I usually do this when in traffic, and want to creep up a little).

 

No never owned a Honda! I'll take note of all your suggestions and work on the clutch release. Damn right this car is torque happy, if i dont shift by 3k i just ride the surge to 5k, what a great way to break the car in.

 

I like the 3000K rpm power band... If you stomp the gas below that, your acceleration is pitful, then 3000 comes around and its like "hello! Where did you come from??!?"