Shift Patterns
 

Yes, I just read the "Where do you shift thread."

If I am cruising in New Jersey in congested traffic between lots of lights, I usually skip 3rd gear.

If I am getting on a highway and want to redline it, I usually hit the beep on 3rd and go straight to 6th.

And you?

What do you do if you're cruising someplace other than New Jersey?

I always go up through the gears. The car is such a pleasure to shift I just don't want to shortcut the experience.

Ken

i go through all the gears reguardless

^as do i.

If I am driving on a "regular road" (i.e. not getting up to 50mph and then stopping immediately. see: Jersey, New), then yes, I shift up through all the gears.

But If I am getting on I-95, hit 85 in 3rd, and want to cruise around that speed, why shift to 4th? What are you going to do there?

And if I am in New Jersey with tons of cars on my ass, I will take 2nd gear up to 6k rpms, at which point I can see the next light and will put it in 4th and cruise around 42-ish. Doesnt make sense for my clutch to go in to 3rd and immediately in to 4th. Maybe its just me

I skip 5th if I'm just pootling around at highway speeds. Sixth is almost like an overdrive gear, anyway.

I find that reverse is an under appreciated gear. I use it every day, and I never see it mentioned in these "gear" threads, so I am officially giving props to REVERSE!

Enjoy the engine tone, the difference from what it was in 3rd. Then enjoy 5th on the way to 6th. And also enjoy those two extra flicks of the shifter.

If you had a fine guitar or violin, would you use only one string?

Ken

If you hit the beep merging into traffic on a highway in 3rd, then yeah throw it into 6th when you're cruising. There's no point going through 4th and 5th unless you want to waste gas or go even faster than 80mph.

No, but I always wouldnt play them needlessly if they weren't a part of the note I wanted. (sorry, dont know how to best express what I am trying to say with the guitar analogy)

It might sound like I am being facetious, but I really want to know if there is a reason to go in to 4th gear in this situation. I taught myself stick on this car, and everything I know/do is based on how I understand the mechanics (theoretically) and what I have garnered off this forum. Maybe I dont have as much natural appreciation for the gears as some of you, but if you could enlighten me...

You redline 3rd gear at 82 or whatever,
You shift in to 4th
You _____________
You shift in to 5th
You _____________
You shift in to 6th going 82 mph and cruise down the highway.

i do the same when getting on the freeway. i usually stay in 3rd on the roundabout (<---dunno what theyre called) onramp, take it to redline or close to redline, at which point im usually fully merged into the traffic and then throw it in 5th or 6th unless im going to be changing lanes etc.

I vary it for fun.

First, Third, Sixth.
First, Third, Fifth.
First, second, fourth, sixth.

Who cares, lol. Does it really matter? Just dont make HUGE gear changes (First to sixth) and you'll be fine.

Only time I use 5th is when I stop and think.. when was the last time I used 5th?
I dont know why this car isn't just a 5 speed.. I really wish 6th would spin about 3k RPMS at 70mph.
Then I might stop and use 5th more often, but I've never had a problem passing anyone in 6th on the expressway. I even find my self going around 30mph in 6th in traffic.

I use 4th, and sometimes will shift 4-6. Most times I use 'em all b/c I just want to, and tend to spin it up & then let it coast to cruising speed.

Um.... almost?

Was just looking for some vindication, cause the initial response was that I was crazy for skipping gears?

Consider yourself vindicated. There's nothing wrong with an occassional WaahBeepWaahBeepHummmm from a stoplight going 1st, 2nd, 6th and you're now doing 60. If you're merging onto the freeway, you'll probably need 3rd. At least we do in CA since everyone is going 75/80 most of the time. If you're lucky, you'll find traffic doing 80/85 when you leave a light and get onto the freeway and you can go WaahBeepWaahBeepWaahBeepHummmm, at which point you're doing 90.

The piston engine goes "boing, boing, boing" but the Mazda goes "WaahBeepWaahBeepWaahBeepHummmm"



/obscure?

You can do whatever pleases you. Seriously - put it right into sixth, or go through fourth and fifth. Depends entirely on your mood. No right or wrong.

The usable RPM range on this car is so wide that there is huge overlap between gears. Use what you want when you want it.

Ken

Au contraire. More like being too sensible. :)

Ken

What about coming back down - do you go through the gears, or straight to the one you need? I have one very sharp turn on the way in. I'm cruising in 6th, get to this turn, mash the brake and do a 6 to 2 downshift, turn the corner and go.

Anybody else?

My automatic prevents me from shifting from 6th down to 2nd... So I just dont slow down until i need to stop. :)

My wife and/or I have owned eight manual-transmission cars--two Miatas, an MG Midget, a Pontiac 2000, a VW Passat TDI, a Saturn SL2 and my current vehicles--the '06 Copper Red Shinka and an '06 Tundra pickup (my wife now has a Tiptronic Passat TDI). The ONLY car I've ever skipped gears upshifting is the RX8. If I keep my car four years, 5th gear MIGHT have 1000 miles on it!

As for downshifting, I've skipped gears in all my manual trannies . . . just don't overdo it; I did snap an axle in the MG once going from 4th to 2nd. 'Course, that might have something to do with mid-seventies British metallurgy . . .

exactly. i was wondering about reverse just the other day. i thought it would be cool if i knew how many miles i've put on the reverse gear. i use it multiple times a day. i probably use it more than i do 6th gear. just yesterday i hit 35mph in reverse.