Clutch Users?

Point of Thread: To see who uses the clutch, and help those who don't.

Ok, so who uses the clutch?

It is estimated that on a standard length track, you can gain around 0.300 seconds, just on the gear shift. Thats alot of time to be had!!!

If you don't use the clutch, mainly because you struggling, then here's my top tips

Firstly, practice makes perfect. It's like driving a car. At first, you have to think about changing gear. After awhile, you do it without thought. So, for those first few attempts, expect your lap times to drop, as your taking focus off of the turns, and into your gear changes.

Next, is the technique. In real life, you have to first lift the throttle, hold the clutch, change the gear, release the clutch, get back on the throttle. With this game, you can sort of 'cheat'. The easiest way I have found for changing gear is this. Firstly, change the gear (without use of clutch). Then immediatly afterwards, hit the clutch. The quickest way of doing this I found is to change the clutch button to 'A'. That way, using your thumb you can click 'B' or 'X', then straight away hit the 'A' button.

To lift or not to lift, that is the question....

I found that it is actually quicker to keep the throttle down, and not lift when changing gear. Yes, you do get the the nasty noise as you over rev, but it doesn't seem to slow you down as much as lifting for the split second.


Anyway, who uses clutch? And what tchnique do you use?

I probly will have a go at using the clutch when I get the full game but what I found on the demo was that when changing up I didnt lift off from the throttle and it didnt seem to make that horrible grinding noise. And when down shifting I just lifted off once and changed down a few gears then went back on the power and seemed to work good, so hopefully I will get better with it using that technique.

too hard to use the clutch on the M$ wheel, its possible to use it, but it just seems pointless without a clutch pedal.

nicky wrote:too hard to use the clutch on the M$ wheel, its possible to use it, but it just seems pointless without a clutch pedal.

Yeah thats exactly what I found so I just don't want to use it again.

The clutch is a half second faster in the half mile drags than not using the clutch. With my controller setup, it isn't practical to use the clutch and downshift so I don't use the clutch for online racing other than drag.

whats your set up?

yh i use it. and it about 0.200 fast depending on track though.

I'd love to use it, but its just too far out of reach to be useful. I know I could change the controller setup, but considering Im fine with everything else, I dont plan on changing.. Might give it a go eventually, im just trying to get used to Forza 3.

Are any of you thinking about the fanatec wheel with the clutch pedal? I know its hugely expensive but the realism looks pretty much worth it. Thoughts?

Thats like 2 months pay for me, i just cant afford it