Curious to know about other 2k2 6speed driver shifting patterns. For example,

1st - 15mph/2000rpms
2nd - 25mph/2500rpms
etc.

Would like to understand how other 2k2 6spd drivers shift during normal and agressive driving situations. Also, would like to know at what speed do you shift to 6th?

Thanks,

 

For the most part, I don't pay attention to speed when shifting, just RPM. Non-aggressive driving, I shift at 3500, and shift into 6th at around 65mph. Aggressive driving, I shift first at as close to redline as I can manage; by the middle of 2nd gear, I have usually won (in a stoplight drag), and I short shift into fourth or fifth gear. Okay, okay, I've ALWAYS won so far, but that's just because I haven't come up against anything better than a Mustang GT as of yet.

In a freeway situation where I'm on the onramp trying to merge, I'll wind it out through most of third, by then I've usually got my merge spot picked and I'm traveling around 80mph, and I'll short shift into sixth.

If I need power for a pass while cruising from 70-80, I'll hit fourth. If I'm traveling less than 70, I'll hit third; 40 or less, second. Rarely do I come back down to first unless I'm about to stop (my old NX2000 had a granny first that you couldn't even get into unless you were traveling less than 5mph, old habits are hard to break).

 

Thanks Chance for your feedback. It's very helpful. I assume that when you say "short-shifting" you're bypassing a gear or two in the shift sequence. Correct?

 

Yes, that is what he means.

 

Since we're in the topic, could you guys tell me what the top speed in all 6 gears is...I am going to get a 6spd soon, and since all my friends have 5 spds, I wanna know the top speed of each gear on the 6spd.

 

I take it you have not had the car long, huh?

Well, be they 5 or 6 speeds, manuals tend to grow on you and you drive more by feel than anything else in a short while...

You can tell when you start getting to the redline by noise, etc., so you shift. How often, where in the rev band...hey depends on mood, conditions, etc.

CHANCE summed it up well, but I just wanted to throw in there to FEEL the car and not overanalyze shift points, just keep it under the redline. For instance when I don't have passengers, my launches are definitely at a higher RPM, shifts quicker and wound out more to redline. When I have people in the car, for their comfort, I kind of become an auto tranny myself...very even shifts, easy throttle, etc.

Baseline: ENJOY and find what works for you!!!

 

are you saying your 6-sped doesns't have a granny 1st gear? I can't put mine into 1st over 5mph

 

Well, relative to my old car it doesn't seem as bad...even at 5mph it took some serious effort to select first and would quite often grind; after awhile, I just stopped trying and wouldn't shift into first unless I was at a full stop.

On the Max, though, I know I've shifted into first at 10mph, and maybe even a bit higher. There was very little effort to select first, and no nasty grinding. I have about five miles of stop-and-go freeway traffic in the mornings, where I have just shifted into second and everything slows down, and second seems a bit tall for the speed I'm going so I'll shift down to first.

 

I have several modes of driving:

granny: very light on the throttle, shift at 2000rpm
normal: shift at 2500rpm
spirited: shift at 3000-4000rpm
ballz out: shift at redline

Basicaly, if I'm in normal or granny mode, I go into 6th as early as possible. I'll even drive around in 6th at 50-55mph on a flat road (engine turning about 1500rpm). This engine has enough torque so that I can make it pull smoothly from 1100rpm going around corners.

I'm in granny mode until the engine gets up to operating temp. Then I switch to normal. I try to limit the other modes... keyword... try!

 

I was that way too for the first month or so, and then I read several posts here that said it was bad for the engine (not enough oil being supplied at low RPM, or something like that), and bad for mileage too (apparently 2200rpm is optimal for mileage purposes).

I understood the oil issue, but the mileage comment seemed contrary to common sense. However, I started trying to keep no lower than 2200rpm, and my mileage indeed went up. I'm still not sure whether it is due to my new driving habit or just the engine breaking in, but I'll take any excuse to drive at a higher RPM

 

1900 rpm was 'optimal' for mileage... either way it's around 2000 rpm.

I have 2 driving modes:

1. whatever the '10s' number is on the speedo, that's what gear I'm in. 2nd at 20mpg, 3rd at 30mph...

2. near redline.

I don't redline often because I like good mileage, but I do race it every once in a while.

 

Interesting. I've never heard of a car having an optimal rpm for mileage. And it does seem weird that a higher rpm will result in better mileage. Having said that, my mileage certainly sucks, but I'm also just barely past break-in. I'm switching to Mobil 1 synthetic at 3000 miles. I'll see what the mileage is by then and if it's not as good as I want it to be I'll try cruising around at 2k.

 

The owners manual gives some speed point to shift pattern's for efficient,ans slightly asgresive. 2000/2200 rpm /mph 16,27,36, 40,50 for 6th.

 

WEll these will be rough estimates. 1st about 40, 2nd about 60, 3rd about 85, 4th about 100-05, 5th around 120 then you hit 6th and at 120 your at 4000 rpm. Which raises a question on 6th top speed. In 6th at 2000 rpm your doing 65 and at 4000 rpm your doing 120 does this mean at 6000 rpm youll be doing 180?