Need help learning to drive manual

[Rotary Junkie]

With most stuff in GT4 I just shift whenever I have to in order to prevent bouncing off the limiter and still be ready for the next few corners; on straights I actually pay some attention to what it's winding out to and try to shift for optimum acceleration.

 

[imtheleprechaun]

As a rule of thumb, you'll get a lot more effective braking in game if you downshift steadily, beginning just after you start to brake, and continuing at evenly-spaced intervals as you continue to brake. You should arrive at the recommended (or chosen) gear just as you let off the brakes. Changing down too quickly can definitely unsettle the car on approach.

Best description I could have hoped to think of.

After a lap or two I have a good idea what gear I need to be in, or if I need to downshift at all, through most corners on a track. I count downshifts in my head sometimes, but it doesn't take too long before you develop a good sense about when to stop downshifting. If you time it correctly, doing what Duke described results, most of the time, in you being in the correct gear when you stop braking and go for the accelerator (less of the time however with really slow cars that stop on a dime, need to be careful not to go too far with those, if you've gotten used to faster cars).

 

[SRinc.]

Best description I could have hoped to think of.

After a lap or two I have a good idea what gear I need to be in, or if I need to downshift at all, through most corners on a track. I count downshifts in my head sometimes, but it doesn't take too long before you develop a good sense about when to stop downshifting. If you time it correctly, doing what Duke described results, most of the time, in you being in the correct gear when you stop braking and go for the accelerator (less of the time however with really slow cars that stop on a dime, need to be careful not to go too far with those, if you've gotten used to faster cars).

yes Duke made it as plain as it can be rendered for GT manual driving. im just at aw over your or the "counting" the downshifts. theres no counting or anxiety when im approaching a corner of "oh man which gear should i be in" or speed or how much or little brake to appky. now i think if Sony and PD threw in a clutch in Gran Turismo 4, then this thread for manual driving in GT4 would be of importance and of some reference for the driver wanting to know or needs help with driving a manual in the game. i personally just dont see it as that much of an arduous task.

I use the tacho sometimes when i'm really trying to push it to the point where it stops accelerating, but i think i usually just do it by ear now.

yea thats the way to do it