I had to learn heel and toe as I was learning to drive as the 500 isn't synchro, so I just naturally do it in any manual car but, interestingly, my brain seems to switch the action off in an automatic car!
Luckily. I have been with people whom think they are in a manual (when driving an auto) and so punch the clutch to change gear...except that's the brake pedal!
Driving Gizzy's lovely 456, I noted the firm feel from the gear lever - you can sense the resistance of the fork moving the synchro ring from one gear cone to the other, so it's natural to double clutch on down shifts. A 575 has the same gearbox but the hydraulic actuator slams each shift in fractions of a second. Go figure. Possibly not having to overcome the resistance of the gear linkage cables is the difference?
Gee this seems to be a hot topic. From the Emira forum where this has been going on for days Image Unavailable, Please Login
I went for a ride in Miles converted 575 during the week. I actually like the F1 but the manual was like being in a completely different Ferrari model. Very impressive
A heel and toe downshift has these advantages: 1. The possibility of the vehicle being destabilised on a downshift is eliminated. Whilst this would almost be impossible to achieve in a straight line, it does come into play should you need to make an evasive maneuver as you downshift. An example would be making a downshift, then having to swerve in order to avoid a car the shoots through a stop sign. Or braking late into a corner. Especially if it's wet. 2. High reverse loads are eliminated on the drivetrain and chassis. When the clutch is released on such a downshift, the kinetic energy of the engine must be overcome to bring the engine up to speed of the drivetrain. It places excessive load on the clutch, engine mounts, differential, tyres, suspension bushes and transmission. Just a simple well executed heel and toe downshift eliminates all the above. 3. The synchromesh rings. Most of the Ferrari synchromesh rings are sintered bronze and they are not designed to have the gear lever "rammed" home on a downshift, especially from high rpm and/or when cold. 308s are excellent examples of increased synchromesh ring wear depending upon how the gears are selected. A good analogy would be an aircraft touching down at 150kts, the wheels stationary. It's takes a second or so to bring the wheels up to the speed of aircraft. Now imagine that scenario with the wheels connected to an engine at idle. Bouncing gear changes off the rev limiter and going sideways are not related to heel and toe gearchanges because such a gear shift is interdependent of how, what, or where you are driving. There's no good or bad, you can do what ever you like with your car. In my case, I don't particularly like exposing my cars to unnecessary loads nor to I find changing synchromesh rings that thrilling either. I also find gear shifting particularly pleasurable and matching the revs on a downshift is satisfying to me. I also left foot brake, and in an automatic, should I select a lower gear on the move, I "blip" the throttle as well.
I think you'll have fun. You can practice a downshift without braking first. Just row up and down the gears on a straight and open piece of road. You'll surprise yourself how quickly you pick it up. With your aviation skills you'll be doing it seamlessly in 10 minutes. Under brakes you'll be using muscles in your right ankle you haven't used for a while, you do need to roll your ankle to the right, if it's troublesome at first, it's just practice and exercise.
You guys have missed the point. That video was not showing the correct technique. He was not double declutching, so basically useless. Sent from my SM-F711B using FerrariChat.com mobile app
I used to enjoy heel-toeing when I drove my Ferrari when I first got it. Did it just for fun. Drove my car a lot when I first got it, I wouldn't say I was good at heel-toe, but every now and then I would nail it and it was awesome. Same as nailing a quick 2nd to 3rd shift, the car would go like a rocket. I wear size 13 shoes, so it's very easy to just flinch my right damper foot over to do it. I don't remember ever over-revving the engine like Steve's Brother did in his car, but a lot of times while trying to do it I would accidently mash the brake pedal down too hard and almost snap my neck in half in the process while trying to heel/toe lol. Fun times.
Bargain bucket 80s 911Targa https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/1987-porsche-911-carrera-manual/OAG-AD-23390905 Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
Perhaps, I just look at the pretty pictures [emoji851] (I wonder if the roof leaks Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat
