There’s a company based in Phoenix, Arizona, that makes a little magic box called Auto-Blip. Basically what it does is sense when you are downshifting and gives your car the necessary throttle blip automatically, without throttle pedal input by the driver. Purists may scoff, but this is could be a good way to trim lap times. To find out exactly how this magic box works, we hooked it up to our project Mustang GT.
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We do this as an option in our reflashed Miata ECUs. Takes a lap to get used to it, but it works well. I don't think it has any real effect on lap times if you can already heel-toe, but it does force you to use a consistent rhythm when shifting.
The flat shift is pretty fun too.
Didn't the 370Z come with an automatic heel-toe system from the factory?
My Evo X MR does it, but its a DCT, not a manual.
I was expecting this to be a discussion on heel-toeing an automatic. I am slightly disappointed.
^^^ yeah, the 370z had a similar system. It did a pretty good job of blipping the throttle when you wanted it to. I found it kind of annoying since I regularly heal and toe without really thinking about it. Fortunately you can cancel it and turn the option off--- so no harm. Use it if you want, don't if you prefer to dance on your own.
I prefer to do the old heel-toe dance by myself. I could see this being useful if you cant move your foot that way though.
tomtomgt356 wrote: I was expecting this to be a discussion on heel-toeing an automatic. I am slightly disappointed.
It's totally do-able if the trans isn't too smart (the smart ones tend to get confused by a throttle blip combined with a manual downshift). But why heel and toe when you've got 2 pedals and 2 feet?
rslifkin wrote: But why heel and toe when you've got 2 pedals and 2 feet?
Because you need your left foot free to control the emergency brake when you try to power slide while heel-toe downshifting in your parent's mini van with your girlfriend in the front seat (not that that ever happened nor would I ever recommend it).
tomtomgt356 wrote: emergency brake... power slide... mini van
Yeah, that's not a power slide. Power slide is RWD only, as it involves kicking the tail out under power. If you're using the e-brake, it's a drift, but specifically not a power slide.
In reply to rslifkin:
My adult self knows that. My 16 year old self, not so much. Note the operative word "try".
In reply to tomtomgt356:
You were 16, in a mini van with your girlfriend, and you were in the front seat?
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