4K UHD : How to rev match a downshift in a Fiesta ST180

Do you want to learn how to heel and toe? Have you tried but can't get it right?
In this video I take you through the first stages of what you need to do and how to approach it...stick at it and in no time at all you'll be down shifting quicker and smoother than ever before.
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[@HollowSensei]

I just bought an 18 Focus ST2 and i can up shift no problem, this tutorial was spot on gonna practice practice and practice...the ST is my first manual car!!

[@nakre15]

God luck!

[@oscarmorales1621]

Same

[@allanlai_]

Excellent tutorial. I esp like your clarification on throttle response and how that affect how much to blip, and also the timing of the blip depending on speed of shifting. I had a hard time initially doing rev matching because of those two things. Thank you!

[@MarkCup70]

Thanks Allan, I'm glad you found my lengthy ramblings useful!

[@shankly1985]

Simply the best video I have watched on KZbin so far.

[@zekee1848]

I’m so glad I found this video. I just bought a 2014 FiST, and I’m new to manual transmission. I was having a really hard time rev matching 4th to 3rd and 3rd to 2nd until I found your video. Didn’t know I had to rev so high on those gears. Definitely takes practice bliping up to 3k and 4k. Still a little jerky when I do but it wasn’t as bad as when I started. Will be practicing a lot. Thank you!

[@jnonyx]

ive watched many rev matching tutorials, nothing beats this one hohohoho! thanks man!

[@sauloaugustomartino803]

I like how calm he is. I actually came here cause I own a Ka, and it seems similar on the configuration, albeit less powerful.

[@calinputiciu]

I learned this and heel to toe techniqoue with a lot of practice around town, i'm glad i'm doing it correctly. It's true i do it best in my car. I enjoy doing it while driving outside of town, quick down rev matching before a take over feels nice and it's also effective and elegant. Also i don't enjoy automatic transmissions in cars under 200-250 hp and i know because i owned like 3 automatic bmw's, it does not feel good. Good video also.

[@JeandrePetzer]

I got a 2013 Fiesta ST 2 weeks ago. I completely get what you mean and how the car feels if you just shift gears. I'll admit it i've been doing that but I've got absolutely no experience with cars. You've earned yourself a sub :)!

[@theblackmanarmedwithacamera]

I'm soooooo glad that I found your video. Hands down the best tutorial. You explain it so easily. Good clarity. Great camera footage throughout! Definitely subbed. Great job!!!

[@domenax812]

WOW! this is pure gold! Happy I found this gem by accident. thank you!

[@Nyz1ro]

Thank you very much for this video, very good info for my upcoming car (st200) - Cheers!

[@MarkCup70]

You are welcome! I'm trying to arrange a drive on an ST200 myself soon and will make a video comparing/contrasting it with my RS. Watch this space...

[@SLIPKNOTmaggot262]

Awesome video, Mark. I love your appreciation for the driving experience of a manual gear box. Thank you

[@MarkCup70]

You're welcome! It's a skill and 'art' that could well be on the way out...but I do enjoy being an essential contributing part of the car.

[@ChristopherWoods]

I thought I was suddenly really good at HT downshifting. Then I realised that the engine and ECU know that I'm downshifting. It's helpfully retarding the throttle to assist with rev matching on the way down when I blip the throttle. You still need to approximate the correct amount of throttle, but it "damps" your throttle input so you can slip into the lower gear more smoothly. Watch the RPM indicator and listen to the engine as you downshift, you can slip up and down the gearbox with almost no effort while cruising. Amusingly, third, fourth and fifth gears' ratios are spaced such that they sound like a major chord if you shift up and down at a constant speed. I do miss a more responsive throttle. Both my 13 and 16 STs have been the same. When mine is out of warranty, it'll be the first thing I try to remap out. My 13 was earlier than yours it seems, it just had metal pedals with no rubber grips on them and I had a couple of VERY scary moments with feet slipping off pedals!

[@JulianKapa]

That's interesting to know. I have tried low RPM rev matching, and I think I felt like I blipped too early, but it ended up matching it at the right time. Edit: Maybe it's just the slow throttle response? Had no idea that they have a third type of pedal setup - would never have thought any manufacturer would do that. Did they have any bumps or indentations? Maybe the rubber was removed? I've seen 2 types - the one in this video (same sized rubber dots on all pedals) and the one I have on my August 2014 (German built too, not the American/Mexican built one, but I don't know if that matters), which has no rubber on the accelerator and tiny rubber dots with a piece on either side.

[@BlueSkyCrystals]

Fantastic video. I just bought a silver 2015 FiST, my first manual after owning two automatics, about two weeks ago. I can take off from a stop and deal with hills and traffic fairly easily now, but I’m still inconsistent in terms of shifting smoothly. I have some great ideas now from watching this that I’m eager to try. Thank you.

[@GS-je9db]

This is the best tutorial in KZbin by far! Thank you

[@corky9127]

Great video. Best explanation of rev matching I've seen so far.

[@kirstyfox5090]

Going to give it a go in. My ST.☺

[@chrishallatt]

Brilliant vid, never new the ST held revs going up and down the box, impressive stuff

[@mattcarling1999]

Chris Hallatt same for me, I thought my car had developed an issue when I first noticed it

[@bennyherdewyn434]

Good instruction and good you split up rev matching and h&t. Same ST since a month and indeed revs rise not that fast. Thx

[@MarkCup70]

Thanks Benny! Glad I could help 👍

[@Shiro_Mazoku]

Excellent video Mark. Making my commitment to doing it daily! Thank you !

[@AnthonyArmstrongFiesta]

Well done, by far the best heel/toe video I've seen on KZbin. And in a wicked nice car :) I can relate about the throttle response on my 1.6L naturally aspirated Fiesta. It's interesting to see the ST throttle response so close to mine. It's a function of the software I guess, right? I've gotten so used to it I barely notice anymore (2 years of owning my Fiesta) and the throttle response / rev drop when shifting up gears in my friends Mazda 3 caught me off guard, it felt like I was driving a Ferrari or something the way the revs shot up haha...

[@kilianhoskens6499]

Finally someone who is keeping it simple. Thanks a lot!

[@shaficimadar2037]

Thank you very much best video ever I understood clearly everything I will practice

[@mightyrs4221]

I really miss my Clio 182 for the down shifts and the amazing exhaust choices, now have a st like on the vid, it doesn't feel right on the little ford, but I'm practicing, i though it was funny when you mention the 172 redline haha......good video mate

[@MarkCup70]

The throttle response is what I miss the most. The lack of low down torque is not missed at all though!

[@mightyrs4221]

MarkCup70 i agree, the low end torque is great, although i did enjoy keeping the Clio on the boil...i really love both cars

[@Matdamwam]

Amazing video, extremely helpful.

[@mattlm64]

I tend to just press the accelerator before lifting the clutch. I don't blip it, I hold it down as I raise the clutch. Maybe that's bad for the clutch discs but it's easy and makes for smooth gear changes.

[@cynicalpenguin]

That's what I did when I self taught, guess it's not the right way, gear changes will still be smooth if you do it as shown in the vid

[@mattlm64]

@@cynicalpenguin Well it's easier to just hold down the accelerator slightly instead of doing some elaborate dance with your feet.

[@cynicalpenguin]

@@mattlm64 that's true but I wouldnt say it's so much a dance with your feet. I was practicing it on the way to work this morning and I was getting it right after half a dozen tries, if you've got the basics down all you need to do is lift your foot off again after you've applied the throttle just before you release the clutch and you're sorted. I'm no mechanic so idk if what we're doing damages the car, I just figured I'd aim to do it the same way as a guy who seems to know what he's talking about

[@PointNemo9]

A very good tutorial

[@furrycat1000]

In order to avoid the whole dropping of revs and necessity for blipping a better technique is sustained rev gear changing. There is no need to get off the throttle when changing gear, the clutch is disengaged so there is no need to be off the throttle. If you shift swiftly the revs will automatically rise to match the lower gear requirement if you hold the throttle position steady. Get your breaking done before the corner so you're on the throttle in the corner, which you should be anyway.

[@MarkCup70]

Agreed that this is an alternative technique but I've always found it quite tricky to master 'holding' the revs at the right level so as not to make the car lurch and upset its balance. As this video was intended as a precursor to my heel and toe tutorial demonstrating the blip was necessary as that's what you must do when H&T shifting on the brakes.

[@furrycat1000]

MarkCup70 Good shout. I missed the point there

[@barristanselmy2758]

Its just as smooth by feeling the clutch and bring in the right rev range, the blip is not really necessary. You only get jolty changes by not feathering the clutch properly.

[@meganjay30]

I do blip the throttle on down shifts a lot and still don't always get it right but all the times i do get it right it feels really good and smooth... also I'm doing this without ever looking at the rev counter as I'm always looking at the road... might have to start looking down there more if i can..

[@WookieJebus]

From my driving position, I find the Fiesta's gas and brake is offset so far that it's quite hard getting to the gas while on the brake. Also, the 3rd-2nd gap is a lot wider than any other gap, so even if you get it perfect, the shift feels a lot more violent

[@MarkCup70]

Watch my other Heel and Toe video which shows you how to get your foot onto both pedals as once. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3yZiXlngsp8jJo

[@mohammedalrefaei7460]

Thanks you make it simple

[@MarkCup70]

You're welcome Mohammed! Keep practicing.

[@Statimtek]

Great Tutorial. I am learning rev matching and worry about doing serious damage to my car when I make a mistake ( I accidentally went into second rather than fourth when downshifting on an off ramp a few times ) other times it can jerk some.Would you rev match on any car with a manual even if it was say a regular runabout, or even an estate?

[@MarkCup70]

Statimtek selecting the wrong gear is often the result of poor hand positioning on the gear lever/shifter and trying to force or rushing out into gear rather than letting the gear box find its own way in. It doesn't matter what car you're in, if it has a manual 'box you should rev match. Most importantly, keep practicing!

[@Statimtek]

MarkCup70: Thank you for your reply. Can you please elaborate on the poor hand positioning on the gear lever? Where should the hand be? On the top?On the front, pushing? I watched the second part to this video and found it quite informative even though Im not there yet.Thank you.

[@MarkCup70]

Use the self centering action of the gear lever to let it find its way unless you need to give it pressure. Example; going from 5th to 4th, pull it back but let the spring action take it across the gate to line up with 4th. If you try and move it across yourself you risk moving it too far and selecting 2nd gear in error...that can be a costly mistake to make! In summary and in a LHD car; 1st to 2nd, palm facing away, with pressure to find 2nd, from 2nd to 3rd push forward, let the spring bring it across, 3rd to 4th, pull back, 4th to 5th palm toward me to bring it across the gate, 5th to 6th, same, palm toward me to hold it across for 6th. Going down, same for 6th to 5th, pull back only from 5th to 4th and let the spring do the work, push forward for 4th to 3rd, palm away and pressure for 3rd to 2nd, same for 2nd to 1st.

[@Statimtek]

Thank you again Mark for your detailed answers and explanations to my questions.I found them to be most informative, more so than I have been able to get in the past from other sources.

[@streaminguide]

40-60 km/h for third gear speed. When we drop 4 to 3 speed while rev match, speed should be 40-60 and then downshift?

[@monte2512]

Boss you are a Genius.

[@MarkCup70]

LOL that's a bit strong but thank you!

[@danieln2707]

I'm struggling to get used to pulling away in the st and changing from 1st to 2nd gear it seems to always jerk a lot and pulling away in first gear is weird

[@MarkCup70]

That sounds a little odd Daniel. Standard car?

[@danieln2707]

MarkCup70 hi sorry for the late reply yeah it's completely standard don't know why it does it only way I can change with out a jerk is to do it really slowly

[@ChristopherWoods]

Daniel N first is a very short gear and there's a big rev difference between first and second. Try changing out of first earlier, around 2500 RPM, and easing second gear in more gently.

[@owenmclain3327]

I rarely come to a full stop were I have to drop into 1st gear unless it's a traffic light I can't slow until the light changes were it's one of those long light changes. I don't downshift either, just run high gear to a stop and disengage the clutch before it stalls and sit in neutral at a light. Saves clutch life, and prevents premature wear like downshifting causes. Brakes are a lot cheaper to replace than a clutch.

[@NuvolariF1]

I just don't care about the assisted clutch feature. Again it is for the semi skilled drivers. I prefer the all mechanical non electronic clutches, all driver, pure skill and driving enjoyment. Thanks for the vid.

[@AlexTroulanGuitar]

What is your opinion on doing this and braking in the middle of gear changes? So not quite heel and toe but the next best thing i guess

[@MarkCup70]

I cover all of that in this video; kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3yZiXlngsp8jJo How to heel toe downshift :D

[@i4me2001]

Nice video! Just shocked your average MPG is 43.2... I thought mine was good at 35!

[@tmistro5768]

I rev match my focus st 225 it sound amazing

[@MarkCup70]

With that epic 5-pot it's rude not to!

[@Real-MEM]

👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

[@josephauler6165]

Do you always rev match when downshifting? When should you do it and when do you not need to?

[@MarkCup70]

I rev match every single downshift Joseph. Without doing it you're prematurely wearing the clutch, putting unnecessary shock loads through the drivetrain and causing uncontrolled weight transfer, all things you want to avoid!

[@mark-1rc502]

I hate manual now !' Especially with the clutch on my ST. Driving in London isn't really enjoyable unless your out n about early hours of the morning .

[@AlexanderBushi]

Thanks...

[@Gronkhsau]

I already can revmatch... I just can‘t heel toe downshift... because the pedals are so close together and there is no space for my feets to do it

[@josephauler6165]

Geile Potsau I’m not flexible enough for heel toe. What tips do you have for rev matching downshifting? Just got a 2019 Fiesta ST 😬

[@Gronkhsau]

@@josephauler6165 Normal revmatching is actually not even that hard. Everytime you wanna go down a gear you press in the clutch and at the moment where you choose the gear you give the gaspedal a little tip, so the rev's increase. Just do it once in a while and you will get used to it pretty chickly and than the revmatching gets smoother and smoother. Practice is all...

[@ianhay2724]

For us older one's , that's double clutching or if even older double de-clutching LOL

[@AzNightmare]

*Video is a bit long, I just wanted to get to the part where you cover Heel and toe. What time stamp does it begin?*

[@MarkCup70]

Can you rev match already? If not you need to watch this and practice it! There is no heel and toe in this one...it's about laying down the foundations to be able to heel and toe smoothly and successfully. By all means give this video a miss but you will then find the process of learning heel and toe much much harder.

[@AzNightmare]

+MarkCup70 *No, I can rev match already. I was interested in heel & toe since that's what the title said. So I thought there would be heel & toe included in the video. Will you eventually make a heel & toe tutorial?*

[@MarkCup70]

Ah, understood, good! I'm filming part 2 this weekend...all going well I should have it edited and uploaded in a week.

[@AzNightmare]

*Thanks! Can't wait.*

[@ProJanitor]

Seriously, Ford? What's with that dinky-looking screen? No Sync 3???

[@JeandrePetzer]

You get an Android Radio upgrade for these cars that dont come with it stock like mine.

[@lodgehexi]

Yeah, this car has very heavy flywheel.

[@MarkCup70]

It certainly has...but it's also the mapping that's at fault. The manifold throttle body is so slow to react to the throttle pedal...painfully slow as shown.

[@meganjay30]

Mark, is that slow reacting throttle body like some kind of restriction or ford just didn't care about it???

[@R3RLEE]

what rubbish you get a jolt coz your letting the clutch up to quick heel and toe lol i dont get a jolt in mine.

[@cynicalpenguin]

And his clutch will last years longer than yours, and he'll be faster

[@ianhay2724]

DOUBLE CLUTCH, FFS, bet that's what you were told, when you learned to drive

[@MarkCup70]

Double clutch? Where? What? Eh?

[@subaschen8595]

So if I were to be rev match downshifting and nothing else (no heel-toe), I wouldn't have to touch the brakes and the car would be just fine?

[@cynicalpenguin]

That depends whether you're heading in a straight line or towards a corner or a wall? Rev matching is for dropping gears while maintaining speed, heel and toe is for dropping gears while braking