Topic: Starting out at 2nd gear

[sandeater]

My dad drives my car a lot and he starts off at 2nd gear on a dry, flat road. 

Does anybody know if this is really bad for the car?  I think it is (there's a reason for 1st gear) but I can't find anything on the web that supports what I think.

Btw, I drive a Mazda3 Sport GT so it isn't anything torquey.

[mdxtasy]

I start out in 2nd when it's slippery out.  Aside from having to ride the clutch a bit longer, I don't see any major problems with what he's doing.  He's probably avoiding the 1-2 shift by doing what he does.

[wing]

2.4L?  probably torquey enough, but yeah it might just wear the clutch sooner.

[JD]

I've driven the Mazda 3 with teh 2.3L, and 2nd gear is short enough that it's a non-issue to start out in it.

[David Mac]

I do it about 1/2 the time and rarley use
the clutch to shift gears once Im going.
240km with no problems.

[articsteve]

I do it about 1/2 the time and rarley use
the clutch to shift gears once Im going.
240km with no problems.

rarley use
the clutch to shift gears once Im going.

   

Someone call the 

[articsteve]

My dad drives my car a lot and he starts off at 2nd gear on a dry, flat road. 

Does anybody know if this is really bad for the car?  I think it is (there's a reason for 1st gear) but I can't find anything on the web that supports what I think.

Btw, I drive a Mazda3 Sport GT so it isn't anything torquey.

Does anybody know if this is really bad for the car?

YES, wears the clutch plates and stresses the crank.  Tell him to stop or take away the keys. 

[barrie1]

Yes he is stressing the clutch, which wear out earlier then it would otherwise. Its also not the best for the engine with lugging it on a constant basis when he starts to take off. The main bearings of the engine will not like this habit  for many years either. Changing from 2nd to 4th is easier on the engine and the clutch then starting off in 2nd gear all of the time. 

[Snowman]

There is a good reason for first gear.

[sandeater]

Yes he is stressing the clutch, which wear out earlier then it would otherwise. Its also not the best for the engine with lugging it on a constant basis when he starts to take off. The main bearings of the engine will not like this habit  for many years either. Changing from 2nd to 4th is easier on the engine and the clutch then starting off in 2nd gear all of the time. 

I thought so.  I'm planning to keep this car for sometime so minimizing wear is a priority.

[Panzer]

Its also not the best for the engine with lugging it on a constant basis when he starts to take off.

Especially if he gives a lot of gas at low speed once the clutch is fully engaged.

[David Mac]

I guess you cant match rpms to shift
sans clutch.

[haris]

Your dad should get an automatic if he's too lazy to shift.

[barrie1]

Actually you can match the shifts with the RPM"s. Its not advisable to do this but old time racers used to do this years ago. Now that the tranny have more syncromesh systems in them they probably would be easier then the older ones. It takes a lot of practise to do this and is not the best thing to do for the tranny at all. I know many big rig drivers do this but I think the clutch should still be used.