Neutral gear

[MaxAf2]

Why can't we turn on N-gear on any car with sequential gearbox not in any game in the series? I wonder what kind of world PD lives.

 

[Pizzapants]

You do a lot of racing in neutral?

 

[jonoholland29]

I mean - even in real life, the only reason I can think to do this is if you're towing? Unless I'm missing something...

 

[Tommy_D]

I mean - even in real life, the only reason I can think to do this is if you're towing? Unless I'm missing something...

What about sitting at a stop light?

 

[Meythia]

What about sitting at a stop light?

Maybe depends on the car, but in those I drove I was always pressing the clutch pedal while standing and waiting.

 

[TumeK5]

I was always pressing the clutch pedal while standing and waiting.

That's bad practice...you should always go to neutral.

 

[AmyUD06]

What about sitting at a stop light?

You should be in gear in case you need to get out of the way quickly.

 

[Talon16]

I see this going well...

 

[Tommy_D]

You should be in gear in case you need to get out of the way quickly.

Ehh, I drove stick for 15 years and never had any issues with hanging out in neutral at stop lights. Usually other cars would pull up behind me, so they became buffers. I drive an electric now so it auto-holds when stopped which is nice. Reminds me of my stick-shift days not having to hold down any pedals at the lights.

 

[Mirai]

Why can't we turn on N-gear on any car with sequential gearbox not in any game in the series? I wonder what kind of world PD lives.

I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to be able to access Neutral on a sequential transmission under normal circumstances

 

[BangsMcCoy]

I’d say the main reason is that neutral isn’t a gear, and there’s nothing to “turn on” for neutral, it’s just a position where no gears are engaged.
Another reason could be that Kaz doesn’t want you doing neutral drops in his cars.

 

[jonoholland29]

What about sitting at a stop light?

Yeah in a stick shift. But he said a sequential box and typically I don't shift a car with a sequential box into neutral

 

[Pigems]

Technically the only times you’d really need neutral while racing would be standing starts, or turning yourself around after a spin(or pit stops if they were done manually in GT). Holding the brake in GT basically acts as the car being in neutral though, lets the engine rev free of the gearbox, if neutral drops are your thing.

 

[jonoholland29]

Technically the only times you’d really need neutral while racing would be standing starts, or turning yourself around after a spin(or pit stops if they were done manually in GT). Holding the brake in GT basically acts as the car being in neutral though, lets the engine rev free of the gearbox, if neutral drops are your thing.

Again I doubt that - more likely you're disengaging the transmission with the clutch. Definitely want to be in first for a standing start

 

[Pigems]

Again I doubt that - more likely you're disengaging the transmission with the clutch. Definitely want to be in first for a standing start

Yeah, you’re right. I was thinking about a clutch button/pedal for the standing start, to leave it in gear and rev the engine free of the gearbox. Heck, for turning yourself back around too actually. My bad.

 

[Tommy_D]

Yeah in a stick shift. But he said a sequential box and typically I don't shift a car with a sequential box into neutral

You drive a lot cars with sequential gearboxes? I've never driven one, but my motorcycle has a sequential gearbox and I do shift that in to neutral while sitting at lights.

 

[AmyUD06]

You drive a lot cars with sequential gearboxes? I've never driven one, but my motorcycle has a sequential gearbox and I do shift that in to neutral while sitting at lights.

Motorcycles are completely different since they have an actual user-controlled clutch. In a road car with a sequential manual, such as Audi's DSG, you just keep your foot on the brake at a stop, just like an automatic.

 

[Tommy_D]

Motorcycles are completely different since they have an actual user-controlled clutch. In a road car with a sequential manual, such as Audi's DSG, you just keep your foot on the brake at a stop, just like an automatic.

Audi's DSG transmissions on their road cars aren't sequential gearboxes, I don't believe. 1) They don't have all the gears lined up on one input shaft (sequentially) and 2) they use helical cut gears not straight cut gears like a sequential gearbox. They are a dual clutch system vs a torque converter system. Basically, they are a fast shifting automatic.

Edit: Sorry made edits to my post while others were replying.

 

[Dave A]

How do you go into neutral on those cars? You just select neutral like you would in an automatic?

The gearbox selects neutral automatically for you. Theres no need to change into or out of neutral when you stop at lights.

 

[jonoholland29]

Audi's DSG transmissions dont use straight cut gears like a sequential gearbox.

In the Audi there’s a button you could press to go into Neutral. But the only time I ever put it in Neutral was when I needed a tow.

BMW I think was a position with the stick shift from memory - but it wasn't my car

Maybe my mechanics or terminology is wrong - but sequential to me meant you had to shift sequentially. i.e. Can't go from 5th to 3rd. Not that the gears are aligned sequentially. Even my motobike gearbox which was a typical 1 N 2 3 4 5 shifter didn't have the gears in the gearbox sequentially

 

[Pizzapants]

It’s a racing simulator, not a car wash simulator.

 

[Tommy_D]

It’s a racing simulator, not a car wash simulator.

I thought it was a towing simulator.

 

[Pigems]

I thought it was a towing simulator.

Naw that’s iRacing. 🤣

 

[AmyUD06]

Audi's DSG transmissions on their road cars aren't sequential gearboxes, I don't believe. 1) They don't have all the gears lined up on one input shaft (sequentially) and 2) they use helical cut gears not straight cut gears like a sequential gearbox. They are a dual clutch system vs a torque converter system. Basically, they are a fast shifting automatic.

Edit: Sorry made edits to my post while others were replying.

If having all gears on one shaft and using straight cut gears are you requirements for what constitutes a "sequential manual" transmission, and doesn't count things like Audi's DSG or BMW's SMG, then pretty much no mass-produced car has ever had a "sequential manual" by your definition.

 

[Famine]

If having all gears on one shaft and using straight cut gears are you requirements for what constitutes a "sequential manual" transmission, and doesn't count things like Audi's DSG or BMW's SMG, then pretty much no mass-produced car has ever had a "sequential manual" by your definition.

That's correct. A sequential manual is a very specific type of transmission; DSG is a dual-clutch automatic, and SMG (despite the name) is an automated manual.

Actual sequential manuals are rare on road cars because the shifting mechanism is so violent and (also because) they have very short operational lifespans. Just about all the ones I can think of are track cars - Ariel Atom, BAC Mono, and I think the Ascari A10.

 

[Grayfox]

Neutral does some what exist.
I have entered it, while the transmission was showing what "Gear" i was in, when I applied throttle the car just revved

Maybe depends on the car, but in those I drove I was always pressing the clutch pedal while standing and waiting.

While I avoid this, this is what will happen to the throw out bearing if you do that.

 

[jonoholland29]

That's correct. A sequential manual is a very specific type of transmission; DSG is a dual-clutch automatic, and SMG (despite the name) is an automated manual.

Actual sequential manuals are rare on road cars because the shifting mechanism is so violent and (also because) they have very short operational lifespans. Just about all the ones I can think of are track cars - Ariel Atom, BAC Mono, and I think the Ascari A10.

Everyday is a school day.

Therefore I have never driven a car in real life with a sequential gearbox