i just got my 04 rx8, so i have a lot to learn
can someone tell me if it is good to change gear at low rpm, would it matter to the car?

 

When you're at a low RPM, you need to downshift if you want any sort of acceleration or torque. Is this what you're asking?

 

generally... dun let the rpms drop below 2k in gear... something like that. If the car is struggling, u will noe, thats when u downshift.

 

I was told by the dealer to Upshift 3 at 3k. and Downshift to 2 once it goes below 3k.
When do I use 4?

 

^sure, if you wanna drive like your grandma's mother. I upshift to 3 anywhere between 6k and 9.5k depending on the traffic (more traffic = 6). I downshift from 3 to 2 anywhere between 6k and 4k, 6k when i wanna pass and 4k when i wanna turn (sometimes a little lower if the turn is sharp).

Last night I downshifted from 4 to 3 at 5k which shot the rpm up to 8 and chirped the wheels. oh yeah!
Don't ever listen to dealers.

 

If you want to destroy your engine, then yes you should shift at low RPM. Plus, you will use a little less gasoline by doing so.

 

Our cars are designed to rev, rev, rev. Our 9K red line is real, you don't have to shift at 3K.
Normally, when I start up the car I keep the revs as low as possible, believe it or not I keep it below 3K, and I do this to let the car warm up. After couple of minutes, I either
a) redline the car, and start the fun
b) shift at between 5-6K for normal driving, and still have fun

 

^, i warm up too shifting at or below 4.5.

 

When cold, I shift under 4K. Normal driving 3-4K. But I make sure to go above 8K at least once everytime I drive to get rid of carbon.

 

... both j0eStER and redbear4013 seem to lack basic knowledge of driving stick shift... ask someone close to u to teach u well... its much easier in person. you should change gears when the rpms get 2 high, then shift to a higher gear, generally around 3 k 4 most cars, depending on ur car, (i use 3k rite now bc break in period, occasionally, 3.8k rpm) a rule is to not make the engine struggle, ( u will notice a change in tone in the engine's sound). Just get use to ur car... learn well... dun abuse, later learn to match the downshift if necessary (quite fun to do :-D)

 

Learn to shift well enough you don't stall starting off.

 

Yeah, there is nothing more fun than dropping down to 4th going 60mph and shooting past Hondas on the freeway! BEYAHHHHH!!!

 

try 3rd.

 

try 1st

 

try....oh wait....1st is as low as you can go. damn.

 

the beauty of a manual trans is you have absolute control over when you shift from gear to gear.

this motor likes to be revved so it really doesnt matter. shift whenever you want low or high.

 

I agree with Mac. Except that as of last week whenever I down shift from 3rd to 2nd (if I'm above 50 mph) the gears grind in, even with rev matching. Taking her to the dealer oin Monday

 

50 in 2nd puts you way up there, doesn't it? My bet is you may have a failing (or failed) synchro.

 

well the only thing they can do is tear down the trans and inspect, rebuild or replace the whole trans so the car will be down for a while if they go ahead and do that. there will be no checking it out, finding the problem and giving you your car back later that day or even the next.

 

Learn to double-clutch, and your synchros will last forever. But, that topic has been beaten to death already.

 

Gear selection is based on what you want from the car at the moment. If you're just poking around town, selecting gears for 2 or 3000 RPM are fine. But, if you're planning to pass a car on a two-lane road, you'll want to select a gear that places the engine somewhere close to the beginning of the power band, which is around 5000 or 6000 RPM. Example: you're doing 45-50 MPH and you're anticipating passing a car on a two-lane highway. Just prior to the passing lane going clear, select second gear. Once clear ahead, romp on it and then grab 3rd at 65 MPH. Max performance!

Until you get familiar with speeds in gears, I would suggest possibly placing a placard on your dash:

1st gear 39 MPH
2nd gear 65 MPH
3rd gear 89 MPH
4th gear 124 MPH
5th gear 147 MPH
6th gear escape velocity

-1.3L

 

Is it just me or does third gear seem to have nearly equal pull at 50 mph as 2nd gear does?

 

I tend to notice the same thing...I don't bother shifting into 2nd for passes at/around 50mph.

 

i don't think that would work so well.