My WRX is the first car that I have owned that was a manual, though I have had a fair bit of experience with a stick in college as one of my best friends car was a stick and I usually pulled DD duty since I'm not a heavy drinker. At any rate I have about 1200 miles on the car and I've found that down shifting into first gear is difficult if not impossible to do if the car is moving more than 5 miles an hour. From reading some problem threads on NASIOC it seems that this was a problem on earlier model year WRX's, but I didn't find anything about 2006 WRX's. Is this normal? Or should I mention it now to my Subaru dealership? I've been very gentle with the clutch and transmission during my re-learning period and the only reason I downshift into first is when I'm making a turn at a speed that is too low for 2nd gear.
let it break in i dont think you have a problem my speedo starts at 10 so i cant tell if im 5mph a 2006 with 2.5L theres plenty of torque for 2nd gear to get out of corner and still smoke the tires - give it more gas
Listen to this guy. 1st can be a bitch to get in if you are moving. The 2.5L will start to implant you into the seat starting at 2500ish and the fun starts at 3000. Subaru trannies don't get to shifting smooth till about 10K miles.
I have an '06 with almost exactly 10,000 miles, and yeah it has gotten better with more mileage. Also, I installed KB bushings and their SS and as soon as I did this shifting all around, including downshifting into 1st became much smoother.
I don't think it's a problem, the same thing happens in my 06 sti. I do know that you are not really suppose to down shift into 1st when you are moving anyways. But I think if you really want to you can double clutch and get it i there.
Yeah, I tried double clutching and it lets it get in there about half the time. Thing is, double clutching is a pretty new technique to me, so I usually forget to try it.
There is no reason to ever shift down into first unless you are stopped. Just give it more gas and let the clutch do the work. Its not like you are putting a large load onto the tranny. This is not a problem, it is normal. I wouldn't suggest jamming it down into first or "breaking it in" so it goes into first. Definitely don't use first if you are racing/autox'ing except for the very beginning when you are starting. I've seen people drive around in first for the entire course and the sound makes me want to cry.:wtc:
2nd to 1st does come into play when going slow into a parking spot, or going over a large speed bump(you can make it in 2nd if you want your car 2 make a "I'm sad noise".... My 06' doesn't have any issues with that shift though.
In all subarus I have ever had the pleasure of driving, each has the jedi block on 1st gear. This is completey necessary and helps promote proper driving
Yeah, tonight on my drive home I tested out exactly when 1st gear opens back up, kept very little pressure on 1st until at about 7 miles an hour it would magically open up and let me in.
Yeah I know with the 02-03 you have to match rpms (double clutching) to get it in unless your creeping, but they don't have synchros on the 1st gear. I imagine that later models are easier to shift into, but like evryone is saying, usually you shouldn't have to.
+1. Actually, when would you ever need to downshift to first, unless you're stopped or very slowly rolling?
I find myself having to do the 2-1 shift all the time. Kind of a pain when it won't open up for ya. I normally blip the throttle, and that makes things happier. just curious, does this plague the 6mt or has that transmission have full syncrhos?
My 06 Sti is the same way. You have to basically stop before you can get into first. I just use second gear at low speeds.
Message from Subaru...you don't need to be going slow enough to have to go in first except at the start! In all seriousness, this tranny is a bit dated. Mine does the same thing, except with some decent tranny fluid you can get it in first around 15 mph. Uncle Scotty's fluid recommendation is also supposed to help this.
I have an 04 and I have had to double clutch to get into first anything from around 10 and up. I have been able to do it on an autocross a few times doing heel toe and double clutching at the same time at about 18-20 but you have to rev the crap out of it.