This is the 3rd vehicle I have owned with a 6-spd. The other 2 were F-bodies; and the consensus was 45-50 mph min for 6th gear cruising. I usually did 45mph at about 1000-1100rpm.

Now, with the Maxima, I catch myself cruising in 6th gear as low as 40mph....probably because it is pushing around 1500 rpm. The owners manual recommends 6th gear cruising at 50mph min. Anyway, even at 40mph it feels strong and if I mildly accelerate it doesn't seem to bog at all. Granted, my previous 6-spds were V-8's which are not a good comparison due to the difference in low end torque, but I don't see any actual problems with going as low as 40mph...

 

Crusing speed for me is 80mph on sixth Gear avgin 2500-2700rpms.

 

yeah same for me. i use 6th gear only on the freeway and i cruise at 75-80 mph and rpm are around 2500-2700 also. city i am usually in 4th and sometimes fifth gear.

 

So if i understand correctly, you guyz don't shift into 6th until you get to your freeway cruising speed (75+)? If you are on a city street at say 45-50, are you in 4th or 5th?

 

As I'm accelerating I can shift from 5th to 6th at 30-32 mph. By the time I'm in 6th I'm at 35 and can cruise even up inclines with little throttle. BTW I took about 200 lbs off my car and weigh about 130 myself. If theres someone else in the car Ill wait till about 38 before moving from 5th to 6th

 

so what kind of weight reduction?

 

I'm the same as the other guys, I only use 6th on the highway when I'm cruising at 70 or above. Otherwise I'm in 5th or 4th around town.

 

why do you shift into 6th so early ? 35MPH ? that is pathetic and you are getting worse gas mileage from luggn the engine at such low RPMs. This puts signifcant stress on the rod bearings, and connecting rods. And please tell us how you got 200lbs off your cars weight ? I have about 150lbs off mine right now, and I hardly doubt you drive around with no interior.

 

unfortunately i dont have the manual in this car, but if I did, I'd reserve 6th for the highway. 6th gear at 40mph -- that's a lot of shifting!

(you're making me itch for an auto-manual conversion again!)

 

I don't shift into 6th until at least 70mph.

 

I used to shift to 6th gear at about 60mph but now I shift at around 75mph. I got tired of the lack of umphh to get to my cruising speed (80mph). Of course this is highway.

Shifting at low speeds would get old real quick. Not to mention that it is making an engine work so hard. It's like riding a bike uphill in the largest gear. Sure Lance can do it, but us meer mortals...I think not.

 

your all making me want a manual tranny...?

 

your all making me want a manual tranny... a six speed.. but i need a 3.5l first... man my car would be soooo sexy.... i love my car.. but yea wow a six sped only imaginable...

 

I shift into sixth gear around 70-75mph on the highway otherwise fourth and fifth gear around the city.

 

Well its mainly rpm based. I always keep my cruising above 1800rpms at all times. If i'm cruising at 50mph and its below 1800 rpms i'll shift it up to 5th just to keep above that.

 

yeah i think im with the majority to i usually dont shift into 6th until around 65 to 70 mph there just isant enough go if you shift at any slower speed.

 

manufacturers actually gear 6th to be shifted into at a minimum of 48mph, and that is the speed (or close) and gear people are most likely using when they claim like 30-32 mpg. likewise most manufacturers gear 2nd to top out at 62 mph so that in 0-60mph & 0-100 kph the times only involve 1 shift.

 

Basically took everything behind the front seat out. It does not lug above 32 mph. If it did, I'd stay in 5th longer.

 

I tried shifting into 6 at around 50 mph as part of my gas saving quest, but still only got 21 mpg city.... so I'm gonna give that up and go back to my gas guzzling 18 mpg shifting at 3500.... its more fun that way....

 

the manual lists that as a recommendation for "best" fuel economy.

 

Call me an a**hole, but I've only used 6th gear about three times since I've had the car. Under normal driving conditions, I'll be lucky to use five gears. On the highway, I'll usually keep it in fourth, so I can pounce if need be. Sixth gear is for the rare occasion when you want a near death experience/ adrenaline rush, and feel the need to go 130MPH+. I won't lie, we've all probably done it, but I try to avoid it on highways because there are too many drunks out, and it is rare that I have the highway to myself. One of my favorite things about our car is the 4th to 3rd downshift-fly around an exit-and back to fourth around 80 MPH. I live for that sh*t! But to answer the thread's question, I think I shift into sixth gear around 115MPH.(it's been a while)

 

wow three times?

 

I generally shift into 6th at 60mph city or freeway... when im going slower than that i'll typically be in 4th and 5th once i reach about 50-59mph. I get 22-24mpg city...

 

im usually doin 55 minimal when I shift into 6th.

 

as long as your rpms are slightly over 2k in whatever gear in the given speed thats a good cruising speed/gear with enough power to move around town without bogging the engine and worsening the gas mileage (IMO)

 

All of my other cars/trucks have been five speeds. I forget the other gear. I really never have to do much long driving stints. I'm usually around 70-80 on the highway if I have the room to play. I'm usually in four or fifth gear. I really don't like to be in sixth gear on the highway because if I have to downshift super fast to accelerate to avoid something or to dramatically stop/maneuver, it feels more natural to me to downshift from 4th to 3rd, or even from 5th to 4th. It's one thing to miss a throw when you messing around on the street, and it's another thing to miss a throw when your life depends on it. I've only used 6th when really letting all hang out on the highway, which is not something I do often.(I wish) Hey, I'll try it out more just to see what I'm missing. Maybe I'll have a different opinion.

 

I shift into 6th as soon as I can all the time city driving. If I'm cruising, then I'm cruising in as tall a gear without stalling as I can. I'm usually around 40mph+ when in 6th chilling. At least that's up until someone does a 'er flyby, then i'm downshifting and punching it.

 

Yea, i like going into 6th asap. Usually when i get to 40-45mph. Our cars aren't necessarily "bogged down" at that point, are they? I tend to think that i'm geting better mpg if i'm cruising @ 45mph in 6th gear as opposed to 4th or 5th.

 

I haven't experienced any bogging, and I do it for the same reason........better mpg.

 

I did it for a tank and it only gave me about 2 mpg more than when driving "normally", ie shifting at around 3000-3500, so I think I'm going back to driving "normally"...

 

Spirited driving is always fun filled. I need to keep grannying it though so I don't let this spray get me into trouble.

 

no matter how i drive my car, I seem to get about the same gas mileage. I drive an auto, but still...

 

is there any problem with putting it 6th when you're CRUISING at a steady speed of 40 or so? because that is what i always do, but if i want to accelerate i down shift....i never saw anything wrong with it, and the car seems fine with it...now accelerating to a higher speed, i dont shift until 3k....

 

I can't understand why so many peeps bought a 6-speed if they don't use it. I have a 5-speed that I wouldn't consider cruising at less than 45 mph with and am seldom in a position to do that. If I had a 6-speed and could knock my rpms back by 500 or so at 70 - 75 mph I would use it all the time, except perhaps on steep hills. Not only would the fuel economy improve, particularly on a longer trip, but so would the life expectancy of the engine one would think.

 

6th gear is supposed to be an "overdrive" gear... used for cruising on level roads/highways. It's there to help gas mileage.

If you drive in 6th and you "lug" it, then you're not getting the gas mileage and you could be hurting the motor, like BlackbirdVQ said.

 

I have a 5 spd only(89 max for now). I don't believe in rules like that(manual says blia blia). For me it's a common sense situation. You can always feel when the engine is struggling cause of the low rpms. What's the problem if I cruise constantly in 5th (or 6th) at 35 mph? I personaly can always feel when the car doesn't like it and I am sure that most of you know exactly what I mean. I have a heavy foot but I consistently get 400+ out of a full tank...just my opinion...

P.S.
I am sorry if i sound a little bitter. I am in a really bad mood folks. Don't mean to disrespect any of the members or this great site...

 

Depends on how u drive.