My tC is the first manual I've driven, so please forgive the n00bness....

a few questions:

When down shifting, the shifter is very stiff unless I've slowed down to <1500 RPM. Then, its buttery smooth to downshift. Is that normal? Is that like a way to prevent people from downshifting too soon and potentially redlining? (and yes if I downshift before coming down to 1500 RPM or less, I do revmatch. in fact I revmatch regardless)

so will a new short shifter w/ upgraded bushings & bearings make the shifter feel crisp & stiff no matter what RPM you downshift at?

oh, and has anyone ever mis-coordinated their shift, where you release the clutch before you put the shifter all the way into gear? and then you get that awful noise from the shifter stick? once in a while, that happens to me when I shift into 3rd. Will a short shifter improve that?

 

Short shifter will make the distance you move the handle to shift shorter and make the shifter feel tighter, that is all, It wont stop you from mis-shifting. Everyone does it sometimes, just take your time and you'll do it less as you get better.

I dont know about the downshifting part, I've never had it feel stiff as I go to downshift, I would think it shouldnt though, I dont really look at my tach often, so I have no idea what rpm I'm downshifting at, I just feel it out.

 

that's just user error, you'll do that with or without a short shifter. i do it when im not paying attention

 

for me, it's only stiff when i try to downshift into first, like when i come to a stop sign, and i try to put it into 1st so that i cud quickly get back up to speed. the short throw will reduce the amount of shifting you need to do, make the shift a lot crisper and a more sure feeling, and will reduce a lot of the play the stock shifter has when it's in gear.

 

short shifter + bushings makes shifting much crisper and tighter. highley recomended, i couldnt see driving my car without it anymore.

as for downshifting, you should pretty much always rev match. 1. it makes your downshifting so much smoother. 2. it puts less stress on your tranny and most likley in the end, keep it running in better condition for longer

 

the only gear that should give "problems" is 1st, above a certain speed, it will be locked out and the gear cant be selected. For the most part, downshifting to 1st in the tC seems a bit unnecessary.

 

Dont downshift into 1st, its a bad idea and doesnt help much at all, and if i'm rolling slow and need to go again I use second, cuz cars dont like to start in first when you're rolling.

 

i try to use 2nd as much as possible when in a parking lot or whatnot. as for downshifting, brake pads are cheaper (and easier) to replace, so i just use engine braking and the brakes when needed.

 

hmm yeah, i dont think down shifting into first would be such a great idea. puts alot of strain and in the long run damage your tranny