wondering how you guys drive your 8's. the manual recommends that gears should be shifted at around 3000 rpm. when do you guys shift? i was thinking that by changing gears at the lower RPM consistently, gas mileage would be better. i actually shifted as the manual recommended for a full tank of gas but seems like i got even less than usual.

 

between 5-7k

 

Keeping the RPMs too low, you could actually be lugging the engine. Personally, I usually shift at about 4000 or 5000 rpm for "normal" driving, and 7000-8000 for "fun". I usually select a final gear that gives me revs around 3000 at the desired speed on local streets.

 

wow, that's surprising. do u guys floor the gas each time too? so how many miles do u get on 1 tank of gas? when i first got my car, it was at around 200 miles when my light came on and now it's around 210-215 when the light comes on.

 

i have only 1200 miles, my last tank was 255 miles, with about 2.5 gallons to go. It all depends on how you drive it, 60% of the time I'll shift from 3-5rpms, but for the remaining 40% I'm cruising at a brisk 6-8rpms. Drive it like you stole it, as many members say here.
BTW I use 89 octane but I'll deviate to 91 every now and then.

 

shift under 3500 (to keep it on one pair of injectors) and I get ~200 to the tank. drive it like i want, ~200 to the tank.

needless to say, i get around :P

 

When the car is cold, I shift at 4k.

When the car is warmed up, I usually shift around 5-6k, except for 5th and 6th, they shift at lower rpm.

 

255 miles to the tank?? damn, tell me how i can go about doing that.

 

Most of the time, I shift when I feel it's right... when the engine is cold, I tend to shift 1-2-3-4 quickly at lower RPMS.

When warm:

1 to 2: 4500
2 to 3: 4000 - 5000
3 to 4: 4000 - 5500

Once in 4th, I shift to 5 if I'm going to be going over 40 - 45 MPH. I keep the RPMS at 4000 or less...

When I push the car, well, that's another story :D

 

A little bit off topic, but I have a question for you guys!
Do you feel differently when you shift at middle RPM, say 3-4 K, and high RPM, say over 7 K?
I feel a little bit of stiffer shifting when the RPM is high even though I floor the clutch pedal. I know there's some issue with pressure plate bolts on non proper torque for some 8s, but I am not sure whether mine is normal or it's due to the loosened pressure plate bolts.

 

Yep! I feel differently when I shift at higher RPMs than at 3-4k ...... I'm usually much stiffer because when I shift higher I'm usually going way over the speed limit and starting to sweat bullets that a cop's gonna' nail me :D.

Shifting at 3-4k, I'm not stiff because I'm not driving too fast, so it's more relaxing. ROFL!!! :D.

Sorry, I could not resist. Seriously, I've noticed my transmission doing what you described too.

 

The car seems to shift easier/better at high rpms. or maybe it's just my imagination, it could be that i just end up having more fun with the high rpm shifts.

 

I shift at 5000 rpm, routinely, but using gentle throttle. Once up to speed, I jump to 6th or whatever gear is appropriate.

Mileage--I average 20 in mixed city and rural driving.