At what RPM's do you shift gears at?
 

With my 91 SE, I change gears normally at about 3K. I seldomly go higher than that. What does everyone else shift at? Does it hurt to shift at a higher RPM?

Re: At what RPM's do you shift gears at?
 

Someone else may answer your question better than me given i don't have exp. with a 91 but generally speaking:

1) Shifting at redline doesn't always mean optimum power is put on the ground. Some cars have their powerband trail off a few hundred rpms before hitting the limiter.

2) When shifting, also take into consideration where most of your power is made (which rpm). That way you can "over-rev" to a few hundred rpms above that (or not, just depends really) before you upshift. That way you're right *smack* back in the optimum power band in the higher gear.

My 2c.

- mike :)

i usually change cuz of the ratio difference
i shift to second at 3.5k, shift to third at like 4.5k, shift to 4th at like 3k, i usually goto a higher rpm for a higher throw, 1-2 and 3-4 are straight back pulls so there done in miliseconds, 2-3 and 4-5 are a lil longer so i go a lil higher on the tach .

Re: At what RPM's do you shift gears at?
 

I take it you have never had the joy of the 5th to 3rd shift then. :naughty:

Those with 3rd gens would know better than I where your powerband is at, but generally, you won't hurt anything by shifting at higher RPMs as long as you aren't into the red. That said, I wouldn't run at high RPMs for an extended time either.

VG's make 182lb-ft. at 3200RPM, 160hp at 5200RPM (I have a '91SE also, see sig). 2500-5500 is basically the torque curve, but the real powerband is like 3000-4500 (when I race though, I run between 3000 and 5000, I try to shift right before 5500). I shift at 4-4.5K RPM when I'm merging on the freeway, but I'm also in WOTA (Wide Open Throttle Anonymous, I have to frequently slow down to "freeway" speeds after merging). There's no real point in taking the engine up to or past 5500, as the torque curve drops off drastically up there. Driving around town,I wait til I pass 3000, I just like to feel the torque peak. Double-clutching from 5th-3rd is SOOOOO much fun. Hell, merging in 3rd is a lot of fun too. As long as you change your oil, revving high isn't going to kill you, but you have to take care of your engine. I don't take mine past 4500-5000 unless necessary or unless I'm feeling particularly delinquent. :devil: I've only taken the car to redline (6000RPM; 5500 is the hazard line) 4 times, and I hit the rev limiter (6500) once.

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I take it you have never had the joy of the 5th to 3rd shift then.

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Oh, I've done that plenty of times in my Toyota MR2. I'm a totally different person in that car. I've also owned it for 5yrs, so I know what she likes, and what she doesn't. hehe I've owned my Maxima for about 7mo now, so I'm still learning about what she likes. Since the Max is my daily driver, I want to make her last as long as possible, but at the same time, use the potential power. Thanks for the responses.

I shift at whatever RPM I feel like because I have a manual tranny and bloody well can do it :D

(this is an ex-auto driver speaking who hated auto ;))

Normally I shift at 3-4k during normal driving just so that I don't bog in the next gear after I upshift. The VQ has an insanely wide powerband though so it almost doesn't really matter where you shift for normal driving. It has serious pull at anything above 2000rpm so I try to stay around there or above that after I upshift.

I've got a 5th gen.

And I always shift at red-line! :D