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In the manual it says to let the clutch out slowly, but after some 30k km on the car I've kinda "perfected" my shifts. I can basically let the clutch out as fast as I push it in (and I push it in as fast as I can), and the gears will engage perfectly : the car won't jolt at all and you can't feel a thing, other than the engine RPM being changed.

Now giving that I'm not doing what the manual recommends, am I asking for trouble?

I also hear the gears engaging with my window down, is that a good thing, because I can't really hear them if I take my time and feather the clutch.

 
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The impression that i'm under is that the faster you let the clutch out, the less wear on the clutch. If it's not jolting, then I don't think there's anything wrong with letting it out fast. Of course if there's a lot of jolting I don't think that'd be very healthy for the clutch.

 
Rep Power: 302

The manual is a guideline for many. If you are used to YOUR car, and shift smooth, you are doing it right. Letting the clutch out slow just wears it more.
But if your gears crunch when you shift, that's NOT good. You should not hear your gears. Also, a good downshift should be heard, (RPM) not felt.
I let out clutches very quick. Only 1st is slower. Result: Last clutch on my nissan was still perfectly good after 160,000 miles. I changed it anyway when a bearing got noisy in the tranny. All the gears looked like new.

 
Rep Power: 336

i feather when in 1st and thats about it with a short shifter. as long as you don't jerk, your cool. and if you shift fast enough, the rpms will match perfectly no matter how fast you shift. as long as you shift right. meaning
1. clutch in all the way
2. shift out of gear into nuetral
3. shift into next gear
4. let go of clutch
5. get on gas.(optional lol)

 
Rep Power: 338

haha.... if you tried that on my car, that would absolutely KILL my tranny. Also, it might not be jolty to you b/c youre the driver.... try having a passenger thats sensative and see what they say.

 
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Quicker shifts do wear the clutch out, but that's more of how close you're allowing the RPMs match than how quick you lift you foot off the clutch pedal. Basically the more the syncromesh has to match RPMs, the more strain that gets put on the clutch plate. If you drop the clutch at the exact RPM that matches the gear, then technically there'd be no wear at all, no matter how fast you let go of the clutch pedal. But that'd require waiting a second to allow the RPM to drop to match the next gear.

 
Rep Power: 338

^^^^ he's right.... when youre upshifting and release the clutch at the right RPM, there is in theory, minimal clutch wear..... and also, it's possible to get it into gear without stepping on the clutch at that matched RPM as well..... but dont try it.
If youre shifting fast and not letting the engine RPM's drop, it's like dumping the clutch at that RPM, but not much force compared to 1st gear 0MPH.

 
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i've done 3-4 and 4-5 shifts without the clutch before. i find them to be smoother than using the clutch, but i suck at standard.

 
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Hey, I was curious.

 
Rep Power: 336

ok to be honest, ive went from neutral to second without puttin down the clutch before. thats cause the synchro did the work for me. but that is a joke right? i don't believe it

 
Rep Power: 338

hmm... I heard it from zzyzx and tried it, I can sometimes sense it happening as well, unintentional though....