LiL BenNy

just curious on daily basis what rmps do you shift at?

i ususally shift at 5k for first second and third. then then 4k for fourth fifth and sixth..

LiveBlues

It really depends on the situation for me. If I don't need the extra acceleration, I usually shift around the 4-5k range.

PaulieWalnuts

Funny. I was thinking about this earlier. If I go through all the gears I hit 5K in 1-3 and then 3K-4K in 4-6. The gearing is really short so most of the time I do 1-3-5-6 or 1-2-4-6 where I'm shifting a 3K each time. Does this thing really need a 6 speed?

tania

Depends if there is an ugly Civic sitting next to me...

zoomed

1-2-3-6 ... do 8-9+ in first and second, then third and slow down if needed then sixth.... fifth is good for top speed runs where it redlines around 151... gotta keep that rotary in shape...

rx8wannahave

I've updated my shift points since I finally started relaxing about fuel economy.

I shift: (my normal driving)

1 & 2 (4.2-.5K)
3 (3.5-.7K)
4 (3-3.5K)
Then jump to 6th for cruising at 47+mph

So far my average in mainly city driving is 19.2mpg...so I'm sticking to that shift pattern. From my un-scientific testing...it seems that the 8 likes to shift at a natural point instead of keeping it under 3.75K to save gas. It seems that it actually saves more gas if you spin it up a bit more. In this instance...the too conservative approach seems to waste a little more gas, strange....

Wurmfist

I take it to the beep in first and second as much as possible, but I usually try to shift a little higher at around 6 or 7 when driving normal. My mechanic said that would keep the engine happy.

rx8wannahave

Taking it to high RPM's is something you should do, but not at every shift point? My LORD...you must get 10mpg or something. If Mazda did not tell us to do that (while I know hiting 9K cleans...or so I hear, the rotary) then why would a mechanic tell you to do that?

Sorry, but I don't think that's good advice...but what do I know...

Genesis

I don't really worry about shift points or gas burning implications for that matter, I just drive this lovely rotary engine car. It's all about getting the rotary up to revs before the next shift so when the revs fall back during upshifting, the revs still kick. That usually means around 6k before every shift so when the upshifting revs fall back to 4.5 to 5k and hold the torque, I can hit 6k or more immediately before the next shift. The 6MT car rocks

valpac

iTrader: (2)

right after the beep.

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

I've got the AT...always drive in tiptronic mode though, so 3.5k, which is the shift point the AT uses when in automatic mode. I usually don't go over that for everyday driving around other people. They're already all so tuned to hearing automatics shift at 3k or so that if I went any higher, they'd probably point and go "OMG HE'S PLAYING 3 FAST 3 THURIOUS ON PUBLIC STREETS!!!!"

army_rx8

shift? we are supposed to do that?

kellybrf

iTrader: (2)

usually around 6k, but i run it to redline often too

RX8-CARL

Anywhere between 1000 rpm & 9000 rpm

Ford_owns Mazda

and thats how many Full Tanks fill a day?

3 times?

Aseras

I honestly think now after my first 3000 miles that the car runs way better if you run it at or near redline under a heavy load for a little bit.

I drove 110 miles to my uncles with cruise on at 75 MPH ( it's florida it's flat and straight ) and it used more than 1/2 a tank. I drove back and I was in a hurry so I hit it and I know I went 137 ( near redline in 4th ) when I looked down and shifted to 5th and then went to 6th and zipped that 100+ miles home in 50 mins. I only used 1/4 tank coming back. I started with a topped off tank too. so I should have had the exact opposity occur since I overfilled it.

that was one of my highest mileage tank. I did 240 miles and still had over 1/4 a tank.

Aseras

do 1-2-4-6 most of the time. what I want is a 6th gear overdrive that is actually tall, so on the highway I can keep my rpms in the 2500 range rather than 4k+

zoomed

er.. not far off... fuel is close to the car payment... but hey... I think the insurance is less than a vette....?

crosswound

shift whenever it feels right to in the car thats how i do it.

Tirminyl

Amen.

Luftwaffle

LOL. :D

I shift around 4k myself. The engine seems happiest around there, but the mileage becomes "teh suck." So, I've been trying to do 3-3.5k as smoothly as I can. I think 4k is better though. 9k is best. :D