What's up,

I was rolling around last night in Tyson's Corner, VA when a white Ford Probe rolled up next to me at a light and started reving his engine; I had my friend in the car with me (2000 5sp SE, stock), but I decided why not; the area was pretty congested (there was only about 1/8 mile of open road before we would hit traffic. I got a good launch and I had him beat the whole time. However, I only really began to pull on him once I got into third and then we ran out of space. I think I may be shifting to early (high 4's). I beat a Mustang a couple of weeks ago (had to be an auto) and I think I was shifting higher then. What RPM's do you guys shift at when you're really pushing your max hard?

Thanks,

T

 

I don't have a stick, but my auto (when running hard) will shift at 6000. Try it sometime on a lonely country road.

 

In a 2k 5-Spd, hold those shifts until 6.5k rpm. The peak hp number doesn't happen until 6.4k, so you're not "maximizing" your performance by shifting at 4k.

...and learn how to powershift. It may shorten your clutch-life, but you'll open up a 1/2 car length every time your competitor lifts off throttle to grab the next gear.

 

Power shifting your manual is probably just as bad for your tranny as a neutral drop in an Automatic. I snapped the main shaft in my 89 P-Lude powershifting it 1st to 2nd. That move cost me 3 grand, it distroyed the entire tranny, even damaged the case to the point I couldn't even reuse that.

 

I never said it was good for the tranny

It's a fact of racing, though. The guy next to you, stock versus stock, will ALWAYS be quicker powershifting while you're "granny shifting."

This does assume, however, that you are well-practiced at powershifting. It's not impossible to fry a clutch while learning the technique.

"Speed costs. How fast are you willing to go?"