Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Transmission / Shifter question

[Dave Craig (dave.craig]

So, I was talking to a Ferrari certified mechanic this week (about
transmissions and related problems) and he asked me if I drive around with
my hand on the shifter.  I said sure, sometimes I leave my hand on the
shifter.  He said this is bad and to stop.  Your had should only be on the
shifter during a gear change (according to this mechanic).  He indicated
that the pressure of my hand on the shifter would put a load on the shifting
forks and thereby increase the wear on the synchronizers. This is actually
the first time I have ever been told that leaving your hand on the shifter
is a bad thing.  Heck that is some of the fun of driving a manual
transmission car.  

I trust this guy a lot and he has proven to be very knowledgeable about
Ferraris.  So, has anyone else been told this?  Is this just a Ferrari
thing?  Or is this common knowledge and I was just not informed?

Anyway, since this was new information to me, I wanted to pass this along to
others.

Thanks,
Dave Craig