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General Information => General => Topic started by: Vincent Waldon on September 28, 2008, 08:45:41 pm

Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Vincent Waldon on September 28, 2008, 08:45:41 pm
Now that we know enough about these diesels to make 'em scoot I miss some of the driving finesse that should come with it.

Specifically: I've not ever really been able to heel-and-toe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heel-and-Toe) reliably in an MK1/2/3 because of the way the pedal cluster sits.  Piece-o-cake in a Beetle !

My guess is that a spacer on the gas or brake pedal would help... anyone ever sort it out ??
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: FoXBoXRaCiNG on September 29, 2008, 12:22:57 am
Not too often you here of the old skool driving ways! Something I still do, was taught to drive, on a standard, by a racer at Race City (RIP)! She taught me the heel&toe on the ol Mazda GLC wagon (RWD), scared the shat outta me when I first ever drifted a corner  :wink:
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Op-Ivy on September 29, 2008, 12:38:33 am
I don't heel-toe necessarily, but I do match my rpm when down shifting. I just let off the brake and blip the throttle.
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Patrick on September 29, 2008, 03:04:32 am
Never tried it in a Jetta. Used to do it all the time in a V6 5 speed Pontiac Astre I built (That's a LOT of years ago!) Have to see if it's possible in the Jetta. My right foot will twist around at a pretty good angle..... :lol:
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: blkboostedtruck on September 29, 2008, 03:45:11 am
I used to do it in my type 3 a lot! when my idle was off!
but  is difficult in MK's unless the brake pedal works at a lower position!
but i have stayed away from that practice because of the instant brake light that comes on! the older master cylinders that were used in early vw's had a pressure switch and only came on with some pressure was applied!
Duane
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: saurkraut on September 29, 2008, 06:23:40 am
I have EEE width feet, so I brake with the left side of my right foot, and blip the throttle with the right side.

Its kind of a push and pivot.  Works good.

I do it all the time.
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: TedV on September 29, 2008, 09:01:21 am
Story from Randy Pobst who started racing with the Mk1 Rabbit Cup cars.  He would bend the gas pedal to the left to make heal-toe easier.  In 85 they switched to the Mk2 Golf. He picked the Golf, soon to be racer up at the port at night.  Drove a block away, reached down to bend the pedal to the left. Doing so he heard a SNAP. Turns out Mk2's use a plastic pedal  :shock:   he had to walk back to the guard, ask him for another pedal and a band aid.  Plastic can be sharp.  

 :lol:

Sometimes I left foot brake when I autocross
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: burn_your_money on September 29, 2008, 08:02:42 pm
I do as op-Ivy and RPM match. I've tried heel and toe but haven't ever successfully done it. My brakes come in too early so I can't hit the throttle.
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Vincent Waldon on September 29, 2008, 08:14:54 pm
Man you haven't lived till you're roaring down a winding mountain road in a 1969 VW van on road crush, rear end drifting out, heel-and-toeing as the apex tightens...


... passengers screaming....    :lol:
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: 1slowvw on September 30, 2008, 09:10:22 pm
I'm a big fan of rev matching, picked it up as a habit while dirtbiking when I was real young, and just transfered over to my driving everything else.

1SlowVW
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: vanbcguy on September 30, 2008, 10:51:17 pm
My 2nd gear synchro is kinda nasty so rev matching is almost a requirement, at least when it's cold.  I've never managed to figure out a way to jam my foot in there to heel and toe it though - not much room!
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Baxter on October 01, 2008, 03:24:15 pm
Double de clutch anyone?
i always have a throttle blip between gears, I also could never heal and toe to I was a left side right side kinda driver, same scenario just done different.
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: lord_verminaard on October 07, 2008, 01:10:35 pm
Ya, I've also had problems with it in most of the VW's I've owned.  The best part about my Camaro was the pedal arrangement.  I also had some nice aluminum pedals made that made it easier.  I have these nice pedals in my Scirocco: http://store.cdoc.com/detail.asp?id=13721&str=2000-0174&name=Pedal+Sets%2C+Dead+Pedals+and+Footrests#

They are the nicest I have ever stepped on, but the brakes do not engage high enough and I cannot swing my foot around to the accel pedal.  The Corrado isn't as bad, I suspect with proper pedals I should be fine with it.  In the meantime, I still RPM match downshifting most of the time, just not while braking.  :P

Brendan
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: smoken u on October 07, 2008, 05:27:30 pm
I double clutch most of the time, and heel toe occasionally, but like everyone says its not easy in the MK II, although I do brake boost very often while going around corners, find it makes it spool faster. :twisted:
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: Vincent Waldon on October 07, 2008, 08:54:55 pm
Great discussion guys... much appreciated.

Here's something (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iXu5_ty3Zs) to put you in the mood.

Here's a pretty good tutorial from a pretty good  car mag  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JliPGde8jMM).
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: 79rabbit4dr on October 09, 2008, 11:46:33 am
I tend to just leave my foot on the gas for a split second after pressing in the clutch, that lets the rpms bump a little until I get it in gear and feet back in position. I think I developed that habbit because I always tried to put my heel on the brake and toes on the gas, versus toe on brake and heel on gas like in the video. I'll have to try that, but conceptually it seems like it'd be much easier than how I always tried it.
Title: Anyone heel-and-toe anymore ??
Post by: SMOKEYDUB on October 19, 2008, 07:30:45 pm
in my mk2 i put the 10.1 inch passat front brakes on it with the stock jetta master cylinder and the brake pedal position is perfect for heel toe action.