Later, while consciously trying not to run over manholes, I approached a traffic light that was already red. I shifted into N (neutral) and coasted to a stop.
Then, the car in front suddenly turned on its hazard lights and stopped abruptly, so I slammed on the brakes, shifted back into first gear, and stopped at the red light. My husband said,
That’s no good. If you’re going to shift into N, you have to do it just before stopping, when the car in front has already stopped and you’re about to stop too. You shifted into N way too early.
So when the car in front suddenly stops like that, you can’t apply torque and can’t react quickly.
I said, “Yeah, I get that, but it’s such a hassle to downshift 3 → 2 → 1 every time I stop, and I worry about shift shocks, so I just shift to N as soon as I see a red light.”
He replied,
You don’t have to be so strict about downshifting 3, 2, 1. You can slow down in 2nd or 3rd gear and press the clutch just before the engine struggles. Shifting into N too early and coasting isn’t good.
If you forget you’re in N and press the accelerator, you’ll rev the engine wildly and panic. So don’t rely on that neutral strategy.
Well, I had no comeback for that ( -_- )
A few days later, my husband said,
There’s going to be a Porsche Track Experience at the old Nanki-Shirahama Airport site in Wakayama. Mina, you should join with the Boxster.
…Ehh!!! No way, no way (ﾟдﾟ)!
I said, “No way! I’d panic and probably break the clutch or engine, and people would be like, ‘Hey, isn’t that the Boxster driver foaming at the mouth and rolling their eyes?‘ So absolutely no!”
He said,
Mina, you slip into that neutral strategy when you’re not paying attention. If you want to master driving a Porsche manual, you have no choice but to go to the Porsche Track Experience (PTE). I’m free that weekend too, so I’ll come along with the kids.
(By the way, here’s an article about when I joined warmup+ with the Panamera before)
I thought, “But isn’t it super popular and always waitlisted since it’s held at an old airport site?” But when I checked the site, there were still spots open just this once… (lol) So I signed up for the Precision (Level 2) course on Saturday, November 23.
I wonder if any readers are signing up for the same session… If I were driving a BMW 320i, I’d feel confident about handling the challenges, but it’s the Boxster GTS… well, I’ll do my best.
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