Preferred gear shift MPH/RPM for up shifting/downshifting the RX-8....
 

Please post by answering the following:

Transmission Type: (MT/AT)

(## MPH or RPMs - Please note)
Accelleration:
1st to 2nd:
2nd to 3rd:
3rd to 4th:
4th to 5th:
5th to 6th:

Passing:
6th - 5th:
5th - 4th:
4th - 3rd:
3rd - 2nd:
2nd - 1st:

Entering a Curve (or other decelleration situations):
6th - 5th:
5th - 4th:
4th - 3rd:
3rd - 2nd:
2nd - 1st:

My reply

Transmission Type: MT

Accelleration: Usually between 4000-4500 RPMs
1st to 2nd: 15 MPH
2nd to 3rd: 30 MPH
3rd to 4th: 40 MPH
4th to 5th: 50 MPH
5th to 6th: 60 MPH

Passing:
6th - 5th: Any speed > 60 MPH
5th - 4th: 50-60 MPH
4th - 3rd: 30-50 MPH
3rd - 2nd: 0-30 MPH
2nd - 1st: NEVER GO IN FIRST WHEN STILL MOVING

Entering a Curve (or other decelleration situations):
6th - 5th: Any speed > 65 MPH
5th - 4th: 55-65 MPH
4th - 3rd: 40-50 MPH
3rd - 2nd: < 40 MPH
2nd - 1st: NEVER GO IN FIRST WHEN STILL MOVING

For entering a curve, it depends on the bend of curve. An extremely tight curve would require me to go from 6th to 3rd (or even 2nd if I am slowing down to under 20 MPH)

These are only approximations (or more like averages)

Just curious what will get posted for these

I usually shift b/n 5-6k rpms, all the time. :D I don't really pay attention to speeds or the rpms, but shift when it feels right. I downshift when I need the additional speed and rev-match. Don't know if this helps your thought process any.... :o

3,500 to 4k shifting

downshift as smooth as possible

Transmission Type: AT - 100% tiptronic

(MPH or RPMs - Please note)
Accelleration:
1st to 2nd: 3500 RPM, 5000 RPM for spirited driving
2nd to 3rd: 3500 RPM, 5000 RPM for spirited driving
3rd to 4th: 3500 RPM, never have enough room to go above 3500 in 3rd really

Passing:
4th - 3rd: N/A, only time I ever even need to do a 4 -> 3 for power is when going up a hill at 50 MPH
3rd - 2nd: 45 MPH
2nd - 1st: NEVER WHILE MOVING

Entering a Curve (or other decelleration situations):
4th - 3rd: >50 MPH
3rd - 2nd: >45 MPH
2nd - 1st: NEVER WHILE MOVING

honestly, while driving i never look at the speedo...just the RPM gauge.

normal driving, 5k is the mode of my shifting pattern. 9k on occasion.

I hope you are being "sarcastic" and really don't shift ALL the time at 9000... :rolleyes:

Just wanted to see if people go more by RPM than MPH and what the preferred RPM is.

Mine seems to be between 3000 (regular putzing around) and 5000 (fun driving)

However the owners manual guages by MPH. I found that strange since I was taught to shift based on RPMs

Seems though I shift at higher RPMs in this car than I did in my Mustang.

But then the redline is at 9000

JOY :D

Transmission Type: MT

Accelleration:
1st to 2nd: 15 MPH
2nd to 3rd: 30 MPH
3rd to 4th: 42 MPH
4th to 5th: 55 MPH
5th to 6th: 65 MPH

Passing:
6th - 5th: never
5th - 4th: never
4th - 3rd: 30 MPH
3rd - 2nd: 23 - 27 MPH
2nd - 1st: never
(added) 6th - 4th: 70+ MPH
(added) 6th - 3rd: 65 MPH

Entering a Curve (or other decelleration situations):
6th - 5th: 70 MPH
5th - 4th: 50 MPH
4th - 3rd: 45 MPH
3rd - 2nd: 35 MPH
2nd - 1st: never

i usually shift at 2.5k-4k... i feel guilty and my wallet seems to grow thinner when i shift at 4k+

of course when i feel spirited i tend to shift in the 7k 8k at times...
but at least once a day i redline to u know "clean" out the rotors of any unused gas

The 6-speed is there for marketing reasons. The engine's torque curve is so flat that 4 or 5 ratios is plenty.

I don't use 5th even once a month. Shifts are often 1-2-4, 1-2-3-6, and always 4-6 when I'm transitioning into cruise.

Shift points range between 5000 and 9000 depending on what's happening.

Four speeds at the current ratios plus a fifth about 10-15% longer than the current 6th would be ideal. Cruise 70-75 at about 3000 rpm. But the buff books would hate it so it will never be done.

if you shifted at redline in first you'd have a hard time getting into second.

i dont have any grindage problems when shifting at 4k in first.

Really? I've found that fifth is my second favorite gear after third.

I normally drive betwen 4k and 6k. Up shift at around 5.5k (by ear, don't really look at the gauges). Downshit with a quick tap to the gas, so it normally goes above 6k then engage the down gear and release clutch at around 4.5k.

At least once a day I try to go 1,2,4,6 then 6,5,3,2 at the high ratio (6.5k to 8k). will get the 9k at leat a couple of times a week.

Gas milage is not an issue. I used to get 12 to 14 mpg on my 911 so no big deal.

I'm new to driving stick, but it seems to me why not downshift to 1st when you're creeping very slowly, like 1 or 2mph? That seems to me that you're almost at a stop... I blip the throttle before engaging 1st in that situation.

For me the highest speed I would engage the first gear is 4 mph. I think there will be no harm for the tranny if you downshift to 1st at this speed, especially if you blip the throttle a little bit to rev-match.

Cops must hate me, I have never rolled the stop sign in RX-8 :D. I almost always wait till the car stops completely and zero is on the speedo :p

I never roll to a stop either, especially when the transmission is cold. I can't shift into first unless I'm at a complete stop. It pisses a lot of people off in their oversized SUV's, but I'd rather them be annoyed by an extra 5 second delay than unnecessarily punish my car. Come to think of it, they usually get pissed off at me when I pass them at 55 or 60 in a 40. It's like every bad, angry, and inattentive driver buys an SUV so that they can feel "safe". Oh well, I guess there's no sense getting upset over something I can't change.

regular driving:
upshifts 2.5k -3k rpm
downshifts into 4 at 30mph
into 3 at 20mph
into 2 at ~12mph
into 1 at ~5-6mph
(note, i don't hit all those gears when slowing down, just the which gear i go into based on need and what speed i'm traveling at)

spirited driving:
upshifts ~6.5k rpm
downshifts depends on reason. double clutch rev match and choose the gear i want

passing at ~40mph -> 2nd
passing at ~60mph -> 3rd



:confused:

Hardly ever look at the tach, I just go by sound and feel - too busy watching my line in and out of curves. A heads up RPM readout would be nice to have on the windshield though.

Nah, you'd still go by sound and feel. Anyone driving a stick for a few years does that.

Yep, doesn't make sense to memorize a bunch of shift-tables. Just drive; you'll figure it out.

Stop teasing the spies! :rolleyes:

Hmm interesting. I employ technique where I go to the stop and can completely stop for an instant (zero reading on the speedometer) and then go without ever going into first.

However, if I do make a complete stop, I use first to get going again.

I don't seem to like the feel of the transmission from 1st to 2nd. Seems that the car doesn't have enough pep when going into second unless I push it in 1st to around 5000 RPM. But then, I still get a smooth almost undetectable shift into 2nd (esp uphill).

This technique is a great way to turn you 238hp (or whatever) car into a 140hp car.
-R.