Rev-matching vs not matching downshifts?

[MirageRally]

Thanks Mark and Loren...you are correct...performance driving...l have learned pretty well to rev-match my downshifts and l have to say they feel very smooth...drove out and past Johnny Mullets house in jefferson to just "putt around" for 3 hrs and was scared at first but Loren it is so much fun downshifting...that Weighted shifter is going to be here Monday and l can't wait as the Mirage is not a performance car the gearing is just like l said before "forcing it into gear", lt still takes a second to engage 2nd gear and now l think l know why: The plate inside when shifting through gears feels like it has "come loose" as l constantly get stuck shifting to 2nd then feeling like l'm stuck on the gate...Any thoughts on that?

[Loren]

Very likely nothing wrong with your transmission or shifter. That's just the way the Mirage is. It has a super-light plastic shift knob, and what you're feeling is the synchro "working" to get the gear up to speed. If you push a little harder, it will happen a little faster, but that's where that "forcing it" feeling comes from. A shift knob with more mass allows you to naturally apply just a little more force, but without "forcing it".

Or, you could just be a little off with your stick control... or it "could" be that your shifter is slightly out of adjustment. But, that doesn't seem to be something that people complain about on the Mirage. (mine is, and always has been a little hard to get into reverse, but otherwise fine) Unless you've been really man-handling it, your shifter should be fine.

So, either you're trying to grab 2nd and not quite lined up, which will feel very "solid", like you're hitting a gate, as you said. Or, you're just feeling the synchro, which will feel a little "softer", but still not wanting to readily slip in.

Be sure that you're not trying to maintain full control of the shifter. By that, I mean, remember that it's designed to easily fall into a gear. If you're "hunting" for it, it will be that much harder to find. It's spring-loaded to center, so if you're going for 3rd or 4th, your movement is simply a palm upward, or fingertips downward, no side-load. If you're going for second, your movement is diagonal. On an upshift, it's straight down from 1 to 2 with a very slight left "guide" touch. On an downshift, 3-2, don't try to "find" 2nd. Just pull diagonally from 3 towards 2. As you slip out of 3rd, it will notch toward 2nd and fall right into place. Learn to work with the shifter, and it will do a lot of the work for you and you'll have a lot fewer missed shifts.

Like with everything else when you're driving manual trans... it's about learning to drive by feel without thinking about it. You want to understand how it works, but ultimately, you want to do everything automatically without thought.

[dspace9]

Dropping your Mirage into second when going at any speed, and you're gonna go vroom. That's just how it is with manuals. My Mirage is tricky to get into Reverse too sometimes.

Mirage's clutch is short, and light, compared to old cars, like say 80s VWs. Short throws right up the gears. Nothing to it 5 speed manual. And I'm sure there are shorter throws. I know someone with a newer Camaro who went with a short shift, did it himself one saturday.

Edit sorry overall I love manuals, you are more engaged with the car. If Steve can get half a million KM's on his Mirage, I hope I can do the same. And not get tempted by the other good looking cars they make nowadays.

[MirageRally]

Sounds good, thanks guys and l know what you mean Dspace9 plenty of cars out there.

[dspace9]

Sounds good, thanks guys and l know what you mean Dspace9 plenty of cars out there.

I wanted you to see my old VW I use to have. Good car, was 4 speeds and my Dad made it 5 speed manual. GTi engine, red block and I wish I had a photo. No power steering, so much harder to drive for a daily driver. Nice on the freeway though.

[MirageRally]

I wanted you to see my old VW I use to have. Good car, was 4 speeds and my Dad made it 5 speed manual. GTi engine, red block and I wish I had a photo. No power steering, so much harder to drive for a daily driver. Nice on the freeway though.

l thought that was your dream car...4spd to 5sp, GTI engine, and no power steering...interesting...they don't make them like they used to haha, my dream car is a 1988 lincoln town car V8....but thats why l'm trading my Mirage in three years bc it's easier to find a 2012-14 Toyota Camry V6 than it is to find a 1988 lincoln town car V8

[dspace9]

l thought that was your dream car...4spd to 5sp, GTI engine, and no power steering...interesting...they don't make them like they used to haha, my dream car is a 1988 lincoln town car V8....but thats why l'm trading my Mirage in three years bc it's easier to find a 2012-14 Toyota Camry V6 than it is to find a 1988 lincoln town car V8

That white car there is my actual first car. I took the photos from the night before my old vw Cabrio was sold. 1985 VW Rabbit cabio manual.

Then I had a 90s era Ford Escort wagon auto for 7 years. And now my Mirage since 2014.

So only 3 cars ever. I definitely like economy cars, whether by choice or by need I am not sure. I don't like spending all my money on my car that is for sure. I like basic transportation. I don't feel the need to show off. I did almost buy a Mazda a few weeks ago as you know but I resisted and will stay with Mirage camp.

My driver's ed car was a 1999 Toyota Corolla. Old cars like that are more like a Mirage now. New Corollas are nice, but looking way upscale.

[MirageRally]

That white car there is my actual first car. I took the photos from the night before my old vw Cabrio was sold. 1985 VW Rabbit cabio manual.

Then I had a 90s era Ford Escort wagon auto for 7 years. And now my Mirage since 2014.

So only 3 cars ever. I definitely like economy cars, whether by choice or by need I am not sure. I don't like spending all my money on my car that is for sure. I like basic transportation. I don't feel the need to show off. I did almost buy a Mazda a few weeks ago as you know but I resisted and will stay with Mirage camp.

My driver's ed car was a 1999 Toyota Corolla. Old cars like that are more like a Mirage now. New Corollas are nice, but looking way upscale.

Yea, l know what you mean...plus Toyota is going to CVTs and ECVTs...ugh...Side note: l'm on day 4 of my month of water fasting and l will say it's pure H#LL....l'm doing it for spiritual reasons as well as weight loss and man...it's rough We burn plastic at work and l literally thought "the burning plastic smells like a McDonald's McDouble with fries (l could practically smell the salt) and l remember distinctly smelling ketchup on the McDouble...what does that tell you? That the body is tied with food...l hope l can go 3 weeks...we'll see...

[dspace9]

Yea, l know what you mean...plus Toyota is going to CVTs and ECVTs...ugh...Side note: l'm on day 4 of my month of water fasting and l will say it's pure H#LL....l'm doing it for spiritual reasons as well as weight loss and man...it's rough We burn plastic at work and l literally thought "the burning plastic smells like a McDonald's McDouble with fries (l could practically smell the salt) and l remember distinctly smelling ketchup on the McDouble...what does that tell you? That the body is tied with food...l hope l can go 3 weeks...we'll see...

I have 2 mcdoubles with no pickles every Friday night after work. I mean every week the same.And once a week is keyword there. I think you have to be careful with what you are doing. I mean, I get everyone wants to be healthy and have the great looks etc. Myself I am pretty healthy they say "fit as a fiddle" a few years ago with the nurse and my blood pressure is low. I'm around 150 lbs and 6 feet tall and I was way lankier. I like to cook and bake too so I think half the issue AMerica and Canada has with diet is they can't cook anymore, let alone grow grass and make flour. Everyone is detached like an Auto in a car to a Manual.

I wouldn't starve yourself like Bobby Sands died a few weeks after in Ireland hungerstriking so be careful. Your body needs sugar to function, but it all depends on if you get that from a coke, or from a longer-braking down sugar.

I think for fitness and health you have to balance it. I try to have the odd bag of chips, but I eat way less processed stuff. Especially processed bread is bad, store bakery white bread is better than dempsters. It's little details like that. But beer is giving me a little gut!!!

[MirageRally]

I have 2 mcdoubles with no pickles every Friday night after work. I mean every week the same.And once a week is keyword there. I think you have to be careful with what you are doing. I mean, I get everyone wants to be healthy and have the great looks etc. Myself I am pretty healthy they say "fit as a fiddle" a few years ago with the nurse and my blood pressure is low. I'm around 150 lbs and 6 feet tall and I was way lankier. I like to cook and bake too so I think half the issue AMerica and Canada has with diet is they can't cook anymore, let alone grow grass and make flour. Everyone is detached like an Auto in a car to a Manual.

I wouldn't starve yourself like Bobby Sands died a few weeks after in Ireland hungerstriking so be careful. Your body needs sugar to function, but it all depends on if you get that from a coke, or from a longer-braking down sugar.

Don't worry Buddy, l ain't going over what my body can manage Last time l water fasted l made it 5 days before l got Horrible acid reflux...lt seems like all l see is men with 6 packs and women with Abs, Personally-l don't think it looks healthy but l'm an old soul Just trying to lose the "gut" l have....l did weights for a year as well as jogging and fasted 16/8 where you eat in the 8hr window and nothing...l primarily eat Vegetarian foods and occasionaly l eat MorningStar...this is kinda like last resort...