Key Points
- If the gas is too responsive, it’s time to up shift
- If the gas is hardly responding, it’s time to down shift
- Downshift if the RPM drops below 2000 while driving or slowing down
- Take your time. There is usually a lot of time to downshift
- Come off the clutch much slower when down shifting
Introduction to Down Shifting
Down shifting is a little different than shifting up in gear. Downshifting is useful with sudden slow downs and speed ups in day to day traffic. The main difference between down shifting and up shifting is the engine power.
Down shifting goes from low engine power to higher engine power, meaning more response from the engine. More response means the car is going to react more abruptly. The best way to avoid the abrupt reaction is to smooth the transition into the lower gear. Come off the clutch slower and softer than an up shift. That will solve that problem and make down shifting better.
When to Down Shift
If you’re slowing down for any reason, it’s a good idea to consider down shifting. If traffic ahead is slowing down, you’re coming up to a sharp turn, or you’re approaching an exit from the highway, it’s a good idea to consider down shifting.
It’s a good idea to experiment with different gears at different speeds. The more experimenting you do, the better and quicker you can grasp the concept of down shifting.