I just picked up a 6-speed tonight. I drove a 5 speed corolla for almost 10 years but have driven an automatic for the last 2 years. My corolla didn't even have a tachometer so I always went by sound and speed to know when to shift. So far I've been shifting at about 3000 RPM for "casual" driving and was wondering what RPM you guys shift at for just normal "casual" driving? The Maxima's engine is so quiet and smooth (and the Bose is up so loud) that I can't really hear the engine very well to know when to shift so I've been relying mostly on my tach. Thoughts/advice?

 

I've had the same problem , damn motor so quite it's hard to tell when to shift. I came out of a accord 5 spd , I could shift that car by sound , I killed the maxima at the stop light on the way home , I had to bump the accelerator to see if I needed to restart it!

 

i've been driving my maxima for a while now and after a while, you can tell by the slight vibrational feedback from your engine to your accelerator (as opposed to sound) when to shift. For casual driving i usually shift from 1st to 2nd at 3,500, from 2nd to 3rd at around 2,500-2,800, from 3rd to 4th anywhere between 1,500 to 2,500, and 5th/6th gears are so variable that you can drive in either gear at 45 mph.

 

I'm not sure how you're doing that with a drive by wire setup. There's no real mechanical connection from your gas pedal to the engine.

To the original poster I'd suggest shifting by the tach until you get the feel for the car. You might not be able to hear the engine, but you'll be able to feel how fast the car is going.

Stereodude

 

I know itz all electric but i can REALLY feel the engine vibrate through my foot. maybe the engine causes the whole interior to vibrate.. i dunno.. but i can really feel it

 

Shift at that little red line. You can't go wrong.

Honestly I shift at around 2500 out of first (first is very short in this car), 3000-3500 out of 2nd, then 3k for the rest. Sometimes I go to 3500 in second and go right to 4th. It saves gas and saves a shift. I generally try to be in 6th by 50 MPH.

 

I'm having the same trouble myself. More than once, I've found myself hitting the gas in third while merging, and all of a sudden I look down and see I'm turning 6000 RPM. It spools up so quick that it kind of sneaks up on you if you're not paying close attention.

 

How about turning off your Bose,roll down the window if you have to,and listen to your shifting.You can drive without your stereo on, right?Or are they connected?