Highbeamz

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.

Mazdaboi318

really low lol....

like 3000 for the 1-2 and lower for the rest.

Bl4des

iTrader: (4)

3 grand every gear

Highbeamz

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!

SSsteve

x2

berto

Well when i cruise i shift at 3k but when i race i shift at 5,500rpm

Highbeamz

When I race I try to shift at 6000 to use NLS

JPizzle

Just granny driving it around, from 1st-2nd, I usually shift right at 3,000 RPMs.

marcusicp

3,000-3,200.

M88ArRamadi

When I drive nicely i shift at about 3000. If I race....8000-8100 rpm

chris88z24

2500-3500 for daily driving.

D4u2s0t

first gear i usually take to about 4,000 rpms or so. after that less than 3k usually.

jvc06sc

iTrader: (1)

2500 i drive like a grandma though

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...

bumm81890

I shift at 2K in every gear it doesn't bog and it gets halfway decent gas mileage that way

D4u2s0t

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

DGAF260

4,500 to 5,000 1-2 then 3,000-3,500 rest

Joemann892

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.

Zander916

2750-3250 usually. Once in a while I'll go as low as 2500 or high as 3500. All daily driving.

cereal83

I shift at 2000 rpm usually. You guys shifting at 3.5 and 4 must get great gas mileage.

umrdyldo

iTrader: (1)

Usually around 12,00RPMs

Nah 3 is about normal for daily driving.

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

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.

BowTieTillIdie

usually 3k

SSpdDmon

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.

FWIW - I get best mileage on a flat surface going 40~45mph in 5th.

TrevMo

I get best gas mileage going any speed down a hill in neutral...hahaha...just kidding...