Don't shift into 1st Gear or else ...

[NoelPR]

I encountered this Reddit Post last night and was surprised by the number of people saying that downshifting into 1st gear while the vehicle (Civic SI in this case) moves will destroy the transmission.

When this myth became so popular?

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[lebadge]

To be fair..I've never done this in any of my vehicles.

But i mean it makes sense, 1st isnt really a gear besides starting lol

 

[CivicR38]

who downshifts into first gear?

 

[NoelPR]

who downshifts into first gear?

Non lazy people.

Out there many people truly believe that it will cause damage.

Driving a manual is an art that clearly not everyone dominates completely.

 

[lebadge]

Non lazy people.

Out there many people truly believe that it will cause damage.

Driving a manual is an art that clearly not everyone dominates completely.

terrible take, imo

 

[type r fanatic]

I shift down into 1st in order to get up my steep driveway... what else am I supposed to do? The rpms are too low in 2nd

 

[lebadge]

I shift down into 1st in order to get up my steep driveway... what else am I supposed to do? The rpms are too low in 2nd

I think what they are implying on "downshifting" to first is for example on a track or something and Downshifting into 1st.

I mean anything at low speeds I'm sure its fine, but there is a such thing as first gear lock out in some cars..hell Honda doesn't even auto rev match into first gear..

 

[Shankmeyster]

I downshift into first gear when I am at a complete stop or going extremely slow in traffic.

 

[Integra23]

It has a lockout that won't easily let you in gear unless your going less than 10mph or so.

 

[Robdog2232]

I'll do it if I'm getting too low in rpms going up my driveway, or parking, that's about it really. Only under like 10 mph max

 

[mbaapk]

It has a lockout that won't easily let you in gear unless your going less than 10mph or so.

This. Mine wont let me creep in until 6-7mp and is still tricky. Always hit 3rd and out while at a stop to realign components and then go into first smoothly to take off - always helps.

 

[chopsuey34]

I only downshift into 1st in a parking lot going like 6mph. I don't even do it in stop and go traffic. 1st is always too short. At those slow speeds I just coast in neutral / clutch in or stay in second gear.

 

[theycallmebutter]

Just because people can drive a manual doesn'tt mean they really know how to do it right.

 

[TheCanadian]

For the FK8 at least, it does not have a lockout in first. I let a passenger try 2>3 to feel the shifter, and they did 2 -> 1 instead. I was going around 50 km / 31mph.

(don't worry I did not release clutch and moved it to 3rd )

 

[Tickle]

I down shift into first when it makes sense to do so. I'm not sure I understand the post I guess.

Going off topic a bit. I tend to wind out first and second gear higher than other gears before the upshift. It feels more agreeable and smoother to do so.

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