i always use reverse just as the manual says. draws a lot of questions from passengers. anyone who had a cavalier at some point remembers they were the same way.

 

neutral, unless ur on a hill and the owners manual says put it in reverse.

 

the radar had been calibrated that morning and i was the first car it was used on (my good friend is a trooper). they are off +/- 1-2 mph. even if that is the case and it was off 2 mph then that would put my speedo dead accurate.

 

Dug this up...if my *calculations* aren't good enough for some of you, here is what Road and Track actually achieved on their test track.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...data_panel.pdf

If you guys are getting different readings, I would also suggest find an empty road, and gradually accelerate to redline in your gears. If you're flooring it, your speedo will not be reading actual speed, as the gauges tend to run just a little behind. (hence why you seem to hit the rev limiter at 6100 or so in 1st, and 6300 in 2nd) Again, not trying to be a smartass, but I will repeat that this is how the car was designed and built. Whatever your speedo or radar gun says, if you're on properly inflated stock tires and rims, you will be going that speed in that gear. Road and track uses GPS equipment to calculate test speeds and times, which is much more accurate than any radar gun. Only other exception I can think of would be a slipping clutch...I think most of us know that feeling by now. (not me though, knock on wood!)