[Dazzler]

Things have gone a bit quiet so I thought I'd post a comment about the gear change ( I was only thinking about this over the weekend)

It has been mentioned b4 by myself and others that although the gear change may appear a bit notchy for the first few thousand kilometres it is excellent once the car is "run in"..

Because there is a gradual improvement I think we take some of these things for granted later on in the cars life....

My reverse is still a bit hit and miss (typical front wheel drive car  ) but can't remember the last time I grated the gears (touch wood) so must have my technique fairly right...

[Shambles]

Got to agree with the reversing selection... as you said though you do get used to the best way of "popping it in"

I also find I no longer do much engine braking, as changing down from 3rd to 2nd is so arduous; I find I can hardly select 2nd at all on the downshift.

[Dazzler]

I also find I no longer do much engine braking, as changing down from 3rd to 2nd is so arduous; I find I can hardly select 2nd at all on the downshift.

 

Thats strange mines easy up and down into all gears now (although you have to be going real slow to change back to first..)

Things have gone a bit quiet so I thought I'd post a comment about the gear change ( I was only thinking about this over the weekend)

It has been mentioned b4 by myself and others that although the gear change may appear a bit notchy for the first few thousand kilometres it is excellent once the car is "run in"..

Because there is a gradual improvement I think we take some of these things for granted later on in the cars life....

My reverse is still a bit hit and miss (typical front wheel drive car  ) but can't remember the last time I grated the gears (touch wood) so must have my technique fairly right...

Ok, I'll join in.

First, I haven't grated any gears since I was a boy.   
And secondly, I agree reverse is now much better, particularly since I always "spin the cogs" before engaging as discussed in another thread.

What I don't like any better than when it was new (because it hasn't changed) is the chosen ratios.  Third is too tall leaving a nasty gap between second and third.  I've always meant to do some calculations on the actual ratios but as I haven't I'm prepared to make this statement on how it drives.

Lastly, care to expand on the FWD affect on reverse gear?  Not a challenge, just never heard of this. 

[whitbomb07]

To be honest Dazz I love the reverse gear in the i30, I hardly ever have a problem with it *touches as much wood as possible* my old Pulsar was a real @#$%& to get into reverse and required alot of 'playing' to convince it.

I must admit the gearbox defnitely has alot more 'play' in it after doing 22,000km compared to brand new. 1st and 2nd use to be a real pain from time to time (normally only when cold)

I tend to use alot more engine braking rather than the brakes themselves, once the engine is warmed up. So being able to get into 2nd without a problem is great. It never ceases to amaze me when (I'm in a dual lane road and) people go flying up to red lights (or roundabout, turn etc etc) and then slam on the brakes just before they reach it, while I coast in from afar, changing down gears and gently coming to a stop (or even rolling start if the lights go green before I get there) as alot of fuel can be saved just by simple stuff like that.

Ok I'm not going to re write (I started writing while there was zero replies) but Shambles from what Dazz and I have said, for us at least, getting into second isn't an issue. I love using the engine braking. Hopefully it's making an impact on the longevity of the brake pads and rotors. (Still debating on an upgrade once these one's have had it)

Regards

Daniel

[Dazzler]

Lastly, care to expand on the FWD affect on reverse gear?  Not a challenge, just never heard of this. 

 

Hi Pip,

I'm no mechanic so can't really explain why but of all the cars I've driven in around 35 years of driving all the front drivers seem to be a bit iffy to get into reverse whereas several of the RWD models were real easy to get into reverse... That's why I made that comment..   

I don't really find the ratios that bad.. be nice to have a 6th gear pulling 2000RPM at 120 KPH 

...although you have to be going real slow to change back to first..

This is still my hardest gear to select when "on-the-move".  I double-shuffle if going any faster than a walk, else the syncro is just too stiff.  Not really surprising as the differential speed of the (first gear) cogs is relatively high and the first gear down-shift synchro gets very little use compared to the others because it is usually engaged from a standstill.

[eye30]

I can hardly select 2nd at all on the downshift.

You need to get it seen too ASAP otherwise you may find you loose other gears when shifting down.


I had this when I had my Accent and it's only the cables streching with use. Not a big job.

[Shambles]

Nah I'll just not bother downshifting. Going up is fine

[Lakes]

I think some i30 gear boxs must work better than others from the start, as the i30 CRDi i test drove were more possitive from the start than my car, one salesman was watching me put it in reverse and i think he was worried it would grate but looked surprised when i put it straight in and reversed out the parking space.
but now my car has over 35,000 its always possitive into reverse, if it does not seem like it went in i just put a load on the gear and push the gearshift and it slips straight in.

[2i30s]

i found some times my car jumps out of reverse[first 800kms] when letting out clutch,i found if you hold gearsticit wouldnt jump out.ive got 1400kms on her,it hasnt done it for the last 500 to 600kms. i found on down shift if you give a little rev between third to second it goes str8 in,and the same for second to first.

[Doggie 1]

My diesel has done 4500 kms now and I occasionally have the issue with reverse, not going in properly, but not much now cos I know it's a bit iffy.
The gear change is already better than when new, nice & positive changes, but 1st to 2nd can be notchy, especially when cold.
2.0 litre 6-speed would be nice though........

[Dazzler]

The gear change is already better than when new, nice & positive changes, but 1st to 2nd can be notchy, especially when cold.
2.0 litre 6-speed would be nice though........

 

I think you will find by 10 or 15K 2nd will be as smooth as silk...

as far as the 2.0 ltr diesel goes I would like to drive a 2.0 ltr diesel Sonata if they ever get a demo model down here...

[Doggie 1]

Yes that's a good idea. I considered a Sonata CRDi due to the 2 litre & 6 speed being available on it, but decided it was bigger than I really needed, plus there is a new model coming.......

[eye30]

Gear shifting is a known problen not only with i30's but all the hy range which use the cables.

Now surely there are boffins in Korea who can sort out the gear change mechanism to produce a smooth gear shift!

Gear shifting is a known problen not only with i30's but all the hy range which use the cables.

Now surely there are boffins in Korea who can sort out the gear change mechanism to produce a smooth gear shift!

Yeah, just junk the cables.  They do have the advantage of isolating the engine movement/vibration from the gear-stick but I'd prefer a little stick sizzle to the spaghetti bowl we have to use to get that benefit.

Actually, I'm being fussy... it ain't bad really.

[GordonG]

My Accent was bloody awful - at times. The only car I've ever driven where I've regularly crunched the gears, and I've driven some wild machinery in my time. My i30 doesn't seem to have the problem... 

My Accent was bloody awful - at times. The only car I've ever driven where I've regularly crunched the gears, and I've driven some wild machinery in my time. My i30 doesn't seem to have the problem... 

I either drove or had a car once with cables and for the life of me can't remember what it was (something small and Japanese?) but the memory of it worried me when I went for a test-drive with the i30 as I knew it was cable linked.  The test drive positives totally overshadowed the gear change feel which was marginal but I expected it to improve... which it has to a bit above marginal in 10,000Km

[Doggie 1]

This is interesting, cos as I said other than sometimes a bit notchy between 1st & 2nd when cold, I actually find the gear change nice, light & positive. Much better now than when new.
My daughter has an '06 Accent which has a great gear change & is fun to drive. Getting back into my V8 manual is actually like driving a heavy race car, nowhere near as pleasant to use to be honest & takes a bit of getting used to after the i30.

[Dazzler]

There must be quite a variation between individual cars .. Like DB's mine is great now....

[eye30]

When I had my Accent it was sometimes an effort to select 2 from 3 and 1 from any, unless stopped.

I knew the i30 had the same cable layout and I expressed my concerns to the dealer.
The dealer told me that Hy had "sorted" out the gear selection issue for the i30.
No crunch, no problem with selection.

Just a dream to drive.

[pixsta]

Hello,

Do you also have problems switching into the first gear (when the car is standing)? I have often problems to get the first gear in - people are hooting behind me because I can't start driving which is also very anoying. All other gears work fine.

I have a 6-gear CDRI, approx. 1000km.

Regards,

[Shambles]

I have a 6-gear CDRI, approx. 1000km.

The gear selection will improve as the kms get added. I do know what you mean though... I found myself occasionally having to set off in 2nd gear but eventually 1st became "relaxed" and easier to select.

Are those 6 forwards gears (+reverse) or 5+reverse (=6)?

(PS, it's CRDI not CDRI , or is that a new Austrian thing )

[pixsta]

No, it's CRDI  - no special Austrian thing -  and yes, it's 6 forward gears + 1 reverse.
The dealer also said that it will get better, but 1.) I never trust a dealer, 2.) until now I could not see an improvement. But in the next weeks  I will drive 2-3k km.

[SRT Metro]

Hi!
Don't worry...
Your gearbox will get better and better....
But your gearbox needs about 5000 km before it feels really good.
Your engine is so strong at low revs, so you can start in second gear with no problem if you need it.
I often start in second gear, then 4 then 6.

[ozsnowman]

Never had a problem with first gear, but second can be really hard to downshift into when the gearbox is cold, otherwise ok when warmed up

[Lorian]

Do you also have problems switching into the first gear (when the car is standing)? I have often problems to get the first gear in - people are hooting behind me because I can't start driving which is also very anoying. All other gears work fine.

Try quickly shifting to 2nd and back to 1st whithout de-clutching.