I'm not sure how bad it is to do that but I've been told many times it is, but we all drive our cars diff but if not using first gear is how you drive then that's your personal preference. I personally use first gear

 

my car wont take off in 2nd..

im a LIFT addict..

 

im not sure how it would be bad, our car has enough torque to get us through all five gears. I can basically move my ride at 5th. Plus 2nd gear takes no effort to get off the line, I know for a fact im not stressing my motor or gear because i can take off on 2nd before the RPM even reaches 2.

 

With a vehicle equipped with a more stout clutch/trans skipping gears isnt too bad, but with the tc? I wouldnt make a habbit of it.

It isnt a Peterbuilt, first gear isnt there for towing only and it isnt supposed to be optional, lol. Its bad enough it its only a 5spd, you want to make it a 4spd?


I shift at whatever I feel like, dont really look. Probably around 3-3200

 

People barley ride on first gear for more then a few seconds. I understand if our ride was an Honda with high RPMs but its not. Toyotas never came with much RPMs to begin with. I would think riding on first for 2/3 of a block is much more harm then starting out on 2nd. First is very short for our ride.

 

i have a 8400rpm redline i have a toyota...

 

LOL your tC also was used as a boat correct? JK

 

I guess the way I look at it is that rolling in 2nd gear can decrease gas mileage because you are giving more gas, and also causing your car to stutter and choke. My assumption is that you are constantly riding the clutch so that can cause the clutch to go out faster, but again thats my assumption.

Also, one other way I look at it is why would they make it a 5 speed if they didnt want us to use 1st gear, and why not make it a 4? I'm sure there are engineers out there that figured this out for us, and which is why a 5 spd tc came out not 4 lol.

 

Its ok that you thought I rode on my clutch but let me be clear that I didnt. I can take off in second under 2 RPMs which is not riding the clutch. Second just because someone makes something does not mean it needs to be used on all occasions. We need first gear for many situations like going up hill or towing something. I just prefer not to use it when I dont need it. Its my preference, ya can use your fifth gear all you want. Maybe I would use it more if I had a turbo but I dont so its smooth sailing for me.

 

Yeah I completely agree with you, you don't have to use it, but again its all personal preference.

 

i use all 6 of my gears... esp on highway to save gas.. premium is expensive

 

matrixes come with 6 gears? ooo that's awesome!!!

time to swap trannys. lmao

 

Only on the previous gen. Matrix XRS with the 1.8L VVTL-i has the 6-speed manual. Wasn't there a thread talking of an attempt on the transmission swap? BTW, if the tC is stock it's pointless shifting after 6,000RPM(when doing spirited driving). Check a stock tC dyno sheet there's no power made going past those RPMs.

 

yea i have a 6speed i shift at 4-6k unless im driving spiritedly then i shift at 7-8200...

in the tc i usually always shifted between 3-4k... unless im hving fun then its at 6k...

 

I love shifting so i use all my gears, both upshifting and downshifting, a lot depending on the situation.

If i'm in the mood to make mpg records i shift at about 3000, maybe less.

 

I shift when the light goes on!

 

^^ LOL the Type R version hahahah, it's more JDM to have the Autometer Monster tach LMAO

 

i agree the first gear is useless, but i still use it. usually take it to around 2.5k in first then around 3 in second and third, then when i reach 30 i plop it into fifth.

The best part of first is the pull, start driving slowly in an empty street then be like, "do you hear that noise coming from the engine bay? move closer to the dash." then let off the gas, floor it and watch em fly back in there seats. lol

 

While that may be true, sometimes you shift a car past it's power peak so that you're at appropriate revs for the next gear you're shifting to...it all depends on the gear ratios.

 

OWNED! LMFAOOOOOO!!! OMG THIS MADE ME CRACK UP!! sorry jonathon LOL