How do yall heel toe?

[Tuxedo Mask]

My Type R is my first manual car. I've been driving around with the auto rev-match since last November, but I figured I'd start learning to heel toe myself.

I'm starting with just blipping the throttle when down shifting. The throttle feels a good bit further back from where the brake starts so anytime I tried to reach it with my foot on the brake, I'd brake a lot hard as a result.

I know some people are using the acuity pedal spacer to bring the throttle pedal up, but just wonder how you guys position your feet without slamming the brakes on the blip?

How my foot normally sits on the throttle

How I tried the first time, rolling my foot over the brake

When I got home and the car was parked, I positioned my foot in a traditional heel toe and the throttle feels so far back from the brake

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[julianobl]

the OEM pedal positioning isn't that great for heel and toeing, some aftermarket parts help with this: https://acuityinstruments.com/products/acuity-pedal-spacer-for-the-lhd-10th-gen-civic


i personally love and use the rev-match feature. for me it works amazing, particularly at the track

 

[bbrunty15]

The CTR is my first manual car as well. While I highly respect those who can heel and toe. However, I think the auto rev-match feature in the FL5 is so amazing that I am not sure I will even bother to learn it on this car. Mainly, because I doubt I will ever be better than the auto-rev match, especially on track. I would love to own something like an S2000 one day and maybe a car like that would be the one I'd learn how to properly heel toe on.

Just my thoughts! Good luck!!

 

[Rhorn]

anytime I tried to reach it with my foot on the brake, I'd brake a lot hard as a result.

Honestly thats kind of the point for heel toe downshifting, its an advanced driving technique kind of like left foot braking! I remember trying to learn how to heel toe downshift on the street and it felt so awkward. Had this same exact issue as you and got so confused. My first time at the track I tried again it and it only took me a few tries before I got it down. Honestly its SOOOO much easier to heel toe downshift when you can just slam on the brakes. On track you'll be flying and it'll be way easier to heel-toe because you be slamming on your brakes

I found that its way harder to do it on the street. Its awkward to be soft on the brake pedal and hit the gas pedal simultaneously. If I'm going really fast and on an exit ramp with nobody near me then I'll try it. I don't do it when people are near me because I'd be brake checking them lmao. I wouldn't stress about it too much, you'd learn it very quickly if you practiced it at a track, its meant to be used when you are going really fast and need to brake. Not when you are going 45MPH and approaching a stoplight or have a little gap to do a WOT pull.

 

[nawfoo]

i just use auto rev match. The last time I attempted a heel toe was in a 2004 WRX over 19 years ago while making a right turn. I nearly threw myself through the windshield because I braked too hard.

 

[TypeRD]

I agree. Heel-toeing is definitely a cool and fun skill to learn especially if you track the car or go out for spirited drives on backroads. But for daily driving in traffic, I wouldn’t sweat it, especially as the auto-rev match works so seamlessly. It’s great to be able to turn that feature on/off. Seems like the Acuity spacer is a super helpful tool and would aid learning to heel-toe a lot…especially if you want to go full heel-toe at all times.

 

[Starchland]

Much easier to accomplish while driving at speed since you will be into the brake pedal

 

[Tuxedo Mask]

The CTR is my first manual car as well. While I highly respect those who can heel and toe. However, I think the auto rev-match feature in the FL5 is so amazing that I am not sure I will even bother to learn it on this car. Mainly, because I doubt I will ever be better than the auto-rev match, especially on track. I would love to own something like an S2000 one day and maybe a car like that would be the one I'd learn how to properly heel toe on.

Just my thoughts! Good luck!!

Yeah, one of my justifications was "oh, someday I might own something older without auto rev match and I should learn now for that day." The reality is that that day isn't guaranteed with the way cars are going now lol

 

[Tuxedo Mask]

Honestly thats kind of the point for heel toe downshifting, its an advanced driving technique kind of like left foot braking! I remember trying to learn how to heel toe downshift on the street and it felt so awkward. Had this same exact issue as you and got so confused. My first time at the track I tried again it and it only took me a few tries before I got it down. Honestly its SOOOO much easier to heel toe downshift when you can just slam on the brakes. On track you'll be flying and it'll be way easier to heel-toe because you be slamming on your brakes

I found that its way harder to do it on the street. Its awkward to be soft on the brake pedal and hit the gas pedal simultaneously. If I'm going really fast and on an exit ramp with nobody near me then I'll try it. I don't do it when people are near me because I'd be brake checking them lmao. I wouldn't stress about it too much, you'd learn it very quickly if you practiced it at a track, its meant to be used when you are going really fast and need to brake. Not when you are going 45MPH and approaching a stoplight or have a little gap to do a WOT pull.

Yeah, from the videos I've watched about heel toe shifting, it looks like everyone goes hard on the brake which indicates it's a technique for more dedicated driving. I'll leave the auto rev match on to account for any of my mis-blips while trying to just get the hang of rev matching where it's safe

 

[007]

I used to be all about heel-and-toe and manual rev-matching - the "cool" way to downshift. But times change. Modern manual transmissions with auto rev-matching have shifted my perspective.

Manual techniques, honed over years, have limits. Humans can't match a well-designed computer's consistency and accuracy. Yes, I turned off auto rev-matching to feel "cool" before, but I've moved on.

1. Consistency: Auto rev-matching ensures smooth shifts, something I can't do consistently. It elevates the driving experience.

2. Mechanical Care: Manual rev-matching can strain the transmission. Auto rev-matching eases that worry.

3. Peaceful Driving: I’m not a race car driver and don’t pretend to be. Auto rev-matching lets me focus on enjoying the drive, not perfecting the rev-match.

Auto rev-matching isn't perfect, but it's a valuable addition to manuals. My M2C and GRY have proven its benefits. It's not about giving up control; it's about enhancing the experience.

In short, I've shifted from manual purist to embracing auto rev-matching. It hasn't diminished my driving joy; it's enhanced it.

 

[Jester04]

I used to be all about heel-and-toe and manual rev-matching - the "cool" way to downshift. But times change. Modern manual transmissions with auto rev-matching have shifted my perspective.

Manual techniques, honed over years, have limits. Humans can't match a well-designed computer's consistency and accuracy. Yes, I turned off auto rev-matching to feel "cool" before, but I've moved on.

1. Consistency: Auto rev-matching ensures smooth shifts, something I can't do consistently. It elevates the driving experience.

2. Mechanical Care: Manual rev-matching can strain the transmission. Auto rev-matching eases that worry.

3. Peaceful Driving: I’m not a race car driver and don’t pretend to be. Auto rev-matching lets me focus on enjoying the drive, not perfecting the rev-match.

Auto rev-matching isn't perfect, but it's a valuable addition to manuals. My M2C and GRY have proven its benefits. It's not about giving up control; it's about enhancing the experience.

In short, I've shifted from manual purist to embracing auto rev-matching. It hasn't diminished my driving joy; it's enhanced it.

So I agree with this it does have its place and it will do it better than you. Its really helpful tech. I only a turn mine on for the track since it will do it better than me and it lets me focus more on my braking limits.

With that said I turned rev matching off on my car just to keep the habit of rev matching and practice consistently since I have older cars aside from the Type R that don’t have this feature. You don’t need to heel and toe every downshift driving around. I would focus on getting rev matching down and save heel and toe for the track. But you will not be better than the ECU doing it for you. The machine is just superior.

 

[Backmarker]

As others have said, it is a technique that is no longer needed with the auto rev match in the CTR. As a former ECHC H1 roadracer I think you are better off keeping your foot planted on the brake and focused on modulating brake pressure… and let the electronics blip the throttle for you

 

[mbaapk]

I love auto rev match to downshift to stop light with the Milltek exhaust

 

[PointByPatrol]

I can heel toe, but only when really getting into the brakes, otherwise it's clunky, but like others have said, the auto rev-match is a game changer. I don't have to worry at all about downshifting when I'm on track because the computer matches the shift seamlessly, and allows me to focus on threshold braking and trail braking. Is it kinda cheating.....i guess, but I don't feel like I'm cheating nearly as much as those out there with automatics or guys that are paddle shifting.

 

[Bazgab]

The Acuity gas pedal spacer has been a game changer for me. With the spacer the FL5 is the first manual car I have owned that I can easily heel toe. I do it for more driving excitement in my daily driving.

If I am doing any sort of performance driving (AutoX, HPDE, etc) I am just going to have auto rev match on. As others have said, doing it yourself is just adding more room for driver error when pushing the limits. Props to those who don't use auto rev match at all, but I know I need as much focus as I can get and using auto rev match helps remove a driving variable.

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