I have a 6MT and I realized today that there is no way to go slow. I tried really hard but everytime I shifted to a higher gear, I just wanted to get it to the next I cant seem to keep my foot from pressing down, shooting those RPM's up and hearing the engine purr... Does anyone else seem to be having this problem?

 

Yep...

 

By the way - is it bad to go into 6th at a slower speed? I realize the car wont have any pickup at all but if your going like 40mph and you go to 6th, will that hurt the engine at all? When I tried it, it didnt sound right so I switched to a lower gear to get the RPM's higher up and it was fine. I was just wondering the answer from some guys that have been driving a manual for a long time. Thanks - PS this post is my 100th!!!

 

When the revs are so low, the engine will "lug". You can hear the vibrations. It is not good to run the engine that low.

 

I found a way. I got a ticket at over 140 and got suspended for 2 weeks. My foot aquired a governor that causes foot paralysis at the speed limit! :'(

 

OK thats what I thought but I have heard my friends saying that to get awesome gas mileage they shift to 5th as fast as possible no matter the speed. OK i wont do that anymore. thanks for the heads up.

 

I don't have this problem, but probably only because I don't have my car yet. ANY day now.

As for the lugging, its a balancing act. I'm no expert, i work with computers. BUT, for efficiency I keep it as high in the gear number as I can while giving the car some play for hills. If its so high (6th) that a minor grade change would cause the engine to sound like a diesel, it's probably too high. I frequently rode in a 40mph zone in 5th in my Integra, and while I couldn't make any sudden jumps in speed, I'm sure my MPG benefited.

 

I don't use 6th until I hit about 70MPH. You should avoid lugging the engine, it's like riding a bicycle from a stop in a cruising gear - hard on the engine.

Don

 

if it lugs, down shift

 

I think 6th is kind of an overdrive gear - I don't use it below 60mph. 5th gear is very versatile.

 

Why shift up into 6th when you can have the engine growl in the lower gears :P

 

Exactly. 60 mph is the lowest I use it. If there are a lot of cars on the road, but I'm going around 55, I leave it in 5th anyway, because I'll be consistently slowing down, then getting back up to 60. I'd prefer not to shift every two seconds. You have "decent" go in 5th from around 45mph on....

 

Premium gas costs $2.50/gal where I live.

 

I'm finding it exceedingly difficult to stay out of my car for an extended period of time.. then when I'm in it, i hate the first 2 gears... absolutely :p

 

OK thanks for your help guys - I only tried it once but thanks for your input. I'll make sure not to do it anymore.

 

If this is your perogative, that's fine. I find it hilarious when I see ricers around my neck of the woods downshift at an intersection into 1st at 40 so everyone can hear their fart can exhaust...

 

Read the manual. Clearly states what are the better shift points for gas millage purposes... IF my memory serves me right (too lazy to go get my manual): 4th-5th@41mph 5th-6th@46mph

 

I use 6th after 40 mph. No problems and gives me good mpg avg. If it lugs downshift.

 

Try driving a 450rwhp car without speeding. 60-110mph in a 2-3seconds LOL

 

Good advice.

Also, the tachometer is there for a reason. As long as you keep the revs in the proper range, you will know when you need to shift by looking at the tach, rather than waiting for those horrible noises that tell you the engine is lugging.

 

u have a '98 honda that's rear wheel drive? or Rx7? Just cuz u said honda is fastest.

 

lol Well the Honda is motorcycle. The 450rwhp is the Rx7.

 

drives my parents crazy when i drive them around town, because here in Calabasas you have your average SL55 AMG, or M3 on your ass once the light turns green at the stop light... On another note yea i have tried 6th at 35 mph (it was by accident) and that didnt sound too pretty, meant to shift into 4th. even with my agressive acceleration i still get 22 mpg around town with 800 miles on the car.

 

oh. i feel stupid, don't know much about bikes. I thought all the numbers and letters after honda was an aftermarket engine.

 

you can upshift into 6th early if you don't need to accelerate. The "lugging" only occurs if you try to get power out of it and you are in a bad ratio (6th gear at 50mph). If you are at your cruising speed, there is no harm in going to 6th if you are going to maintain that speed for a while. To "maintain" a speed, the engine exerts very little work.

But like is posted, if you need it and it lugs, you can just as easily downshift. It is an economy thing, notice how quickly the 5AT tries to get into 5th gear, even at slow speeds, but then it jumps right back down if you touch the pedal.