shiftin in racing
ok so far ive raced an probe, lancer, integra, and civic, beat them all but when getting up to harder cars what would u guys suggest on shifting. what mph should i top out in 1st, 2nd, n 3rd. cuz most likely the race is over after 3rd. and also in moving races what would be a reasonable amount of speed i should drop into 3 and take off...? id really appreciate it but this whole stick thing is new to me...haha
you beat a lancer? Thats awsome, i cant wait to get mine! So how is the speed? How fast have you had it? As you know i ordered the exact car you did so sorry about all the questions, lol. Is it quick in acceleration?
^ ^ lancers are pretty heavy suckers, just don't mess with an EVO.
The shift point on a car is dependant on the car, so the best people to tell you would be other 2.2L cobalt owners. But i guess since you are one of the few, that dosn't help you much does it?
My advice would be to vary your shift patterns and watch your speedo so you can see how fast your speed rises. Also use your "butt dyno" the more you feel your back against the seat, the faster you are accelerating. If the roads are dry you can also use the sound of your tires breaking lose: if you spin for more than 1/2 - 1 second then you are wasting time and not building speed. You should hear little chirps of your tires when you launch + feather the cluch out, and chirp betweenyou first shift, maybe your 2nd as well but i doubt that you have enough power for that.
The shift point on a car is dependant on the car, so the best people to tell you would be other 2.2L cobalt owners. But i guess since you are one of the few, that dosn't help you much does it?
My advice would be to vary your shift patterns and watch your speedo so you can see how fast your speed rises. Also use your "butt dyno" the more you feel your back against the seat, the faster you are accelerating. If the roads are dry you can also use the sound of your tires breaking lose: if you spin for more than 1/2 - 1 second then you are wasting time and not building speed. You should hear little chirps of your tires when you launch + feather the cluch out, and chirp betweenyou first shift, maybe your 2nd as well but i doubt that you have enough power for that.
yeah dude, i swear this cobalt has *****. i know for a fact its ecotec engine is built right and better then the other ecotecs. such as the grand ams and cava-qweers. haha
but yeah dont be suprised when ur kicking the **** outta ralliarts. integras, civics, n even eclipses. cuz i just went out last night and whipped up a eclipse gs and an auto GTS (THE V6) hahaha...i love stick. dont u all?
Originally Posted by co-yellow-balt
yeah dude, i swear this cobalt has *****. i know for a fact its ecotec engine is built right and better then the other ecotecs. such as the grand ams and cava-qweers. haha
but yeah dont be suprised when ur kicking the **** outta ralliarts. integras, civics, n even eclipses. cuz i just went out last night and whipped up a eclipse gs and an auto GTS (THE V6) hahaha...i love stick. dont u all?


1) Neon (Not SRT-4)
2) Sentra SE-R
3) Scion TC
4) 02+ Civic Si
Just wanted to know how fast the base is ....
Originally Posted by cs_88
can u race these cars for me??
1) Neon (Not SRT-4)
2) Sentra SE-R
3) Scion TC
4) 02+ Civic Si
Just wanted to know how fast the base is ....
1) Neon (Not SRT-4)
2) Sentra SE-R
3) Scion TC
4) 02+ Civic Si
Just wanted to know how fast the base is ....

Uhrm, shift when your RPM hits the redline, not before then.
As for when to downshift to third, depends on what speed your going, you dont want to be going to fast so that you end up having to shift into 4th soon after you downshift, and you dont want to downshift to low into the RPM, although I cant imagine that being a problem.
Figure out what RPM you are in 5th gear, then estimate 1000 RPM per gear and go from there.
As for when to downshift to third, depends on what speed your going, you dont want to be going to fast so that you end up having to shift into 4th soon after you downshift, and you dont want to downshift to low into the RPM, although I cant imagine that being a problem.
Figure out what RPM you are in 5th gear, then estimate 1000 RPM per gear and go from there.
no use trying an SRT unless your a ss/sc. i was on the fence for quite a while deciding between the ss/sc or an SRT. i went the SRT route due to chevy dropping the ball on getting the car made. i lined up with a white ls about a week ago in VA Beach from a red light. i hit hte rev limeter in first and still had 1.5 to 2 cars on it by the time i shifted to 3rd. Not here trying to brag just letting ya know. (if that guy is on these boards "hello")
good kills either way... domestics unite!
good kills either way... domestics unite!
Originally Posted by co-yellow-balt
yeah dude, i swear this cobalt has *****. i know for a fact its ecotec engine is built right and better then the other ecotecs. such as the grand ams and cava-qweers. haha
but yeah dont be suprised when ur kicking the **** outta ralliarts. integras, civics, n even eclipses. cuz i just went out last night and whipped up a eclipse gs and an auto GTS (THE V6) hahaha...i love stick. dont u all?


Originally Posted by Nocturn
Uhrm, shift when your RPM hits the redline, not before then.
As for when to downshift to third, depends on what speed your going, you dont want to be going to fast so that you end up having to shift into 4th soon after you downshift, and you dont want to downshift to low into the RPM, although I cant imagine that being a problem.
Figure out what RPM you are in 5th gear, then estimate 1000 RPM per gear and go from there.
As for when to downshift to third, depends on what speed your going, you dont want to be going to fast so that you end up having to shift into 4th soon after you downshift, and you dont want to downshift to low into the RPM, although I cant imagine that being a problem.
Figure out what RPM you are in 5th gear, then estimate 1000 RPM per gear and go from there.
Not nessecarily. During my test drive I didn't find alot of power over 6000rpm. Going all the way to 6500rpm might be futile.
Some cars are quicker if they are shifted before redline. Only way to know for sure is take it to the track.
Originally Posted by avro206
Not nessecarily. During my test drive I didn't find alot of power over 6000rpm. Going all the way to 6500rpm might be futile.
Some cars are quicker if they are shifted before redline. Only way to know for sure is take it to the track.
Some cars are quicker if they are shifted before redline. Only way to know for sure is take it to the track.
say 1st gear is a 3.00 gear, and 2nd is a 2.75
290* 3.00=870
300* 2.75=825
You can see how the force of the car is lower despite the engine making more power.
Hey... nice thread going on here...
I haven't pushed my car yet.. I am driving it agressively.. but doing it slowly a little bit at a time...
I DID CHIRP 2nd. gear... And the car feels like it can chirp 3rd... ((Have to try that next)) lolol
And for the new people that don't know.... I have an LS Coupe!...
And yeah... They have some ***** on them!
I haven't pushed my car yet.. I am driving it agressively.. but doing it slowly a little bit at a time...
I DID CHIRP 2nd. gear... And the car feels like it can chirp 3rd... ((Have to try that next)) lolol
And for the new people that don't know.... I have an LS Coupe!...
And yeah... They have some ***** on them!
Originally Posted by CoolCobalt_NY
Hey... nice thread going on here...
I haven't pushed my car yet.. I am driving it agressively.. but doing it slowly a little bit at a time...
I DID CHIRP 2nd. gear... And the car feels like it can chirp 3rd... ((Have to try that next)) lolol
And for the new people that don't know.... I have an LS Coupe!...
And yeah... They have some ***** on them!
I haven't pushed my car yet.. I am driving it agressively.. but doing it slowly a little bit at a time...
I DID CHIRP 2nd. gear... And the car feels like it can chirp 3rd... ((Have to try that next)) lolol
And for the new people that don't know.... I have an LS Coupe!...
And yeah... They have some ***** on them!
Originally Posted by avro206
Not nessecarily. During my test drive I didn't find alot of power over 6000rpm. Going all the way to 6500rpm might be futile.
Some cars are quicker if they are shifted before redline. Only way to know for sure is take it to the track.
Some cars are quicker if they are shifted before redline. Only way to know for sure is take it to the track.
as for the down shiting part of your ?, i have cars pull up on me all the time on the free way and 40-50+mph roads.
What i usually do is atleast down shift one gear. even if your in 5th and the RPMs are low if you floor it your not going to have the RPMs to accel the car, if im at like 3-4k rpm ill usually down shift. if higher i really down shift.
as for speeds to shift at, only time i ever look at the speedo in a race is when its over, the RPM gauge is the one you want to be watching, its the one that will bog your car down if you shift early and if you shift to late well you migh need a tow truck....
GL hope to race a LS coupe soon in my car, then beat the crap out of my friends in a SS as soon as they have some here.
What i usually do is atleast down shift one gear. even if your in 5th and the RPMs are low if you floor it your not going to have the RPMs to accel the car, if im at like 3-4k rpm ill usually down shift. if higher i really down shift.
as for speeds to shift at, only time i ever look at the speedo in a race is when its over, the RPM gauge is the one you want to be watching, its the one that will bog your car down if you shift early and if you shift to late well you migh need a tow truck....
GL hope to race a LS coupe soon in my car, then beat the crap out of my friends in a SS as soon as they have some here.
Originally Posted by osmose
My advice would be to vary your shift patterns and watch your speedo so you can see how fast your speed rises. Also use your "butt dyno" the more you feel your back against the seat, the faster you are accelerating.
I found a good write up on a 300zx forum about choosing shift points. Ive been searching for it but to no avail. There are two ways to do shift points. One for the feel and one for the speed. To accuratly choose and appropriate shift point, you need a dyno of your specific car.
To get the "seat of the pants" feel, youll want to shift where your HP is at its peak or just before so it "feels" like there is a lot of power. However, to get the speed shift points, you want to shift where the HP will be the best when at the top of the gear and at the bottom of the gear.
It had all these fancy formulas where you put in the gear ratio and rpm with HP and what not and you would see where you would be shifting at. I really wish i couldve found it because that was a damn good article
Originally Posted by co-yellow-balt
ok so far ive raced an probe, lancer, integra, and civic, beat them all but when getting up to harder cars what would u guys suggest on shifting. what mph should i top out in 1st, 2nd, n 3rd. cuz most likely the race is over after 3rd. and also in moving races what would be a reasonable amount of speed i should drop into 3 and take off...? id really appreciate it but this whole stick thing is new to me...haha 
Step #1 is buy a car worth "racing"
Originally Posted by Boosted
You have an LS.
Step #1 is buy a car worth "racing"

Step #1 is buy a car worth "racing"
By the way what kind of car do you drive....a geo prizm


