997 Pedals
- Thread starter mbrands
- Start date
Yes...
I think that I am more at risk of getting shot down over this than you [
], but ever since I got the hang of it, I kind of got used to doing it - I struggled for months when first learning it, years ago.
I don't do it on every single downshift, but often enough when driving a little bit spiritedly. That is, until the 997 nobbly brake pedal made me fumble like a beginner again. I've got the hang of it now, but it's not as sure-footed, and I need to almost make a consious effort not to slip off the brake pedal, which suddenly makes the whole thing a bit of an effort.
But regardless of whether you do it all the time or once in a blue moon, it's just one of those things I've always taken for granted that the pedal layout on Porsches is perfect for heel & toe. Now all of a sudden the pedals seem inferior in this department.
However, I have not seen this brought up anywhere in the motoring press (especially in the beginning when they were contrasting the 997 a lot with the outgoing model) or anywhere else, so I was wondering if anyone else had the same experience, or if it was just me.
], but ever since I got the hang of it, I kind of got used to doing it - I struggled for months when first learning it, years ago.I don't do it on every single downshift, but often enough when driving a little bit spiritedly. That is, until the 997 nobbly brake pedal made me fumble like a beginner again. I've got the hang of it now, but it's not as sure-footed, and I need to almost make a consious effort not to slip off the brake pedal, which suddenly makes the whole thing a bit of an effort.
But regardless of whether you do it all the time or once in a blue moon, it's just one of those things I've always taken for granted that the pedal layout on Porsches is perfect for heel & toe. Now all of a sudden the pedals seem inferior in this department.
However, I have not seen this brought up anywhere in the motoring press (especially in the beginning when they were contrasting the 997 a lot with the outgoing model) or anywhere else, so I was wondering if anyone else had the same experience, or if it was just me.
jasonld
Member
It's basically blipping the throttle inbetween gears on a downshift while your left foot is pressing the clutch (because you're shifting gears) and half your right foot is pressing the brake (to slow you down for the upcoming corner) whilst the other half briefly jabs the accellerator to blip the throttle. (sounds more complicated than it is)
The process where you are using your right foot to brake and simultaneously blip the throttle is called heel and toe (I don't know why its called heel and toe, for me it's more like left edge and right edge of right foot).
The reason why you'd want to blip the throttle on a downshift is to raise the revs so that the engine settles into the lower gear smoothly. This saves a lot of wear and tear on the transmission (esp the clutch) and also keeps the car stable and smooth as you arrive at a corner. If you don't blip, the clutch takes all the strain of whipping the engine revs back up when you release it after having selected the lower gear.
Most sportscars will have the pedals arranged close enough together to accomodate this. It's clumsy to learn at first (like many things) and took me a while to get the hang of, but it's pretty satisfying (in a nerdy kind of way) once you finally start getting the hang of it. It definitely improves smoothness and mech sympathy - to the point where the other day I let a mate of mine have a go in my car, and half the time I was wincing, not because he was giving the car some stick, but because he was just letting the clutch up when down shifting without blipping the throttle first.
Anyway, I'm off to sleep now...
The process where you are using your right foot to brake and simultaneously blip the throttle is called heel and toe (I don't know why its called heel and toe, for me it's more like left edge and right edge of right foot).
The reason why you'd want to blip the throttle on a downshift is to raise the revs so that the engine settles into the lower gear smoothly. This saves a lot of wear and tear on the transmission (esp the clutch) and also keeps the car stable and smooth as you arrive at a corner. If you don't blip, the clutch takes all the strain of whipping the engine revs back up when you release it after having selected the lower gear.
Most sportscars will have the pedals arranged close enough together to accomodate this. It's clumsy to learn at first (like many things) and took me a while to get the hang of, but it's pretty satisfying (in a nerdy kind of way) once you finally start getting the hang of it. It definitely improves smoothness and mech sympathy - to the point where the other day I let a mate of mine have a go in my car, and half the time I was wincing, not because he was giving the car some stick, but because he was just letting the clutch up when down shifting without blipping the throttle first.
Anyway, I'm off to sleep now...
Michael Downing
New member
So it doesn't involve heels or toes? Maybe that's why I've never managed to get the hang of it!
I've always had to settle for "heel then toe" - brake, brake, brake, blip, brake brake ...
I've always had to settle for "heel then toe" - brake, brake, brake, blip, brake brake ...
Combine it with "double-declutching" for a really smooth change...[8D]
Michael Downing
New member
I'm driving, not dancing....[]
]
I have never tried this, but from what I understand is that it is similar to heel & toe, except that it includes an additional step. Instead of going say from 3rd straight into second gear, you go from third to neutral, let the clutch come up, blip throttle in neutral, then depress clutch and select second. It is more difficult, because you have to accomplish an extra release-and-engage-the-clutch-step in the same amount of time that it takes to do the regular heel & toe.
Can someone explain why double declutching is even better than simple heel & toe ? Why is it not good enough to just blip the throttle while you've got your foot on the clutch. When I heel and toe, the timing of my blip probably occurs as the gear lever is in the neutral zone, so the only difference should be whether the clutch is in or out.
And also, does anyone else find the 997 pedals not as good to use as the 996 pedals ?
Can someone explain why double declutching is even better than simple heel & toe ? Why is it not good enough to just blip the throttle while you've got your foot on the clutch. When I heel and toe, the timing of my blip probably occurs as the gear lever is in the neutral zone, so the only difference should be whether the clutch is in or out.
And also, does anyone else find the 997 pedals not as good to use as the 996 pedals ?
Michael Downing
New member
Double de-clutching was essential before the synchromesh was invented. So I suppose it's better because
(a) it's an old technique therefore better than these lazy new-fangled ways
(b) if the synchromesh is there to avoid the need to double-declutch, then not double-declutching must use the synchromesh and therefore wear it out, therefore double de-clutching reduces wear on the synchromesh. Ta Dah!*
*of course, you could just take the synchromesh out and reduce weight!!!
[]
(a) it's an old technique therefore better than these lazy new-fangled ways
(b) if the synchromesh is there to avoid the need to double-declutch, then not double-declutching must use the synchromesh and therefore wear it out, therefore double de-clutching reduces wear on the synchromesh. Ta Dah!*
*of course, you could just take the synchromesh out and reduce weight!!!
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