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What RPM do you shift?

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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:52 PM
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What RPM do you shift?

So I'm still getting accustomed to having a 4cyl car again. I was used to my old 5 speed 3.1L Cavalier from a few years ago, which I would shift no higher than 2500rpm under normal driving. Then there was the Grand Prix, it was auto, but I was used to seeing the revs at 1500 at cruising speed.

Now I find I need to get accustomed to shifting at higher than 2500rpm, mainly because I find coming out of 1st at 2500 leaves you at about 1000 in second...then you have to pin it to get any throttle response, which causes the boost to kick you in the ass and sometimes spin your tires, especially if you're going around a corner while doing this.

So my question to you is where do you find it most comfortable to shift? I'm starting to like about 3000-3200 from 1 to 2, about 2800 from 2-3 and pretty much anything above 2500 from 3-4.
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:54 PM
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really low lol....

like 3000 for the 1-2 and lower for the rest.
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:54 PM
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3 grand every gear
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:55 PM
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The way I figure it, although the RPM cutout is 6300, I think shifts at even 3500 aren't that unreasonable...4 cylinder cars are made to rev...especially imports!
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Bl4des
3 grand every gear
x2

Last edited by SSsteve; Feb 18, 2009 at 11:57 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:58 PM
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Well when i cruise i shift at 3k but when i race i shift at 5,500rpm
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Old Feb 18, 2009 | 11:59 PM
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Originally Posted by berto
Well when i cruise i shift at 3k but when i race i shift at 5,500rpm
When I race I try to shift at 6000 to use NLS
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:00 AM
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Just granny driving it around, from 1st-2nd, I usually shift right at 3,000 RPMs.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:29 AM
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3,000-3,200.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Highbeamz
When I race I try to shift at 6000 to use NLS
When I drive nicely i shift at about 3000. If I race....8000-8100 rpm
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:36 AM
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2500-3500 for daily driving.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:36 AM
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first gear i usually take to about 4,000 rpms or so. after that less than 3k usually.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:41 AM
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2500 i drive like a grandma though
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:47 AM
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2000 rpm still only an average of 18.9 mpg with the most ridiculous granny shifting you'll ever see... going 35mph im in 6th gear at 1200rpm its basically idling haha

sorry i will contribute to this thread lol... In my ss/sc I used to shift at 3500-4000 for the 1st to 2nd shift then 2500-3000 for all other gears. I found that it would bog out a bit if you shift below 2500 for 1st to 2nd shift...
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 02:24 AM
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I shift at 2K in every gear it doesn't bog and it gets halfway decent gas mileage that way
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by eckow8
2000 rpm still only an average of 18.9 mpg with the most ridiculous granny shifting you'll ever see... going 35mph im in 6th gear at 1200rpm its basically idling haha

sorry i will contribute to this thread lol... In my ss/sc I used to shift at 3500-4000 for the 1st to 2nd shift then 2500-3000 for all other gears. I found that it would bog out a bit if you shift below 2500 for 1st to 2nd shift...
you're bogging the engine and making it work harder. that's why. there's more involved in getting the best gas mileage than just having the lowest rpms
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 08:59 AM
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4,500 to 5,000 1-2 then 3,000-3,500 rest
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 10:48 AM
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try to rev match a bit before u raise clutch... my rpms dont drop entirely that much when i change gear, i shift out of 1st at about 2500-2700 and can catch second at about 1800. and i dont ride the clutch either.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 11:22 AM
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2750-3250 usually. Once in a while I'll go as low as 2500 or high as 3500. All daily driving.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:11 PM
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I shift at 2000 rpm usually. You guys shifting at 3.5 and 4 must get great gas mileage.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:13 PM
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Usually around 12,00RPMs

Nah 3 is about normal for daily driving.

Originally Posted by cereal83
I shift at 2000 rpm usually. You guys shifting at 3.5 and 4 must get great gas mileage.
You must have terrible bogging cause I would think you would be pretty low in RPM's for your next gear if you shift at 2k

Last edited by umrdyldo; Feb 19, 2009 at 12:13 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cereal83
I shift at 2000 rpm usually. You guys shifting at 3.5 and 4 must get great gas mileage.
i'll say it again. there's more to getting good gas mileage than how low the rpms are. you can get better mileage at a higher rpm. many times at lower rpms, even going up a slight hill you will be boosting. so what's better, 2k rpms and 5 psi or 3-4krpms and vacuum.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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usually 3k
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 01:40 PM
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I don't really pay attention to RPM. It's more of a sound/feel thing when I'm just putting around. I can tell you though that once I hit 45mph, I'm in 5th.

So, I'd say @ 15mph I shift into 2nd, @ 25 I hit 3rd, @ 35 I hit 4th, and @ 45 I hit 5th.

When I'm racing, 6100~6200 is when I shift.

Originally Posted by D4u2s0t
i'll say it again. there's more to getting good gas mileage than how low the rpms are. you can get better mileage at a higher rpm. many times at lower rpms, even going up a slight hill you will be boosting. so what's better, 2k rpms and 5 psi or 3-4krpms and vacuum.
FWIW - I get best mileage on a flat surface going 40~45mph in 5th.
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Old Feb 19, 2009 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by SSpdDmon
FWIW - I get best mileage on a flat surface going 40~45mph in 5th.
I get best gas mileage going any speed down a hill in neutral...hahaha...just kidding...
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