Sweet RPM spot/range for gear shifting in the NA8

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:47 am

Hi guys and girls,

I'm still trying to find that sweet spot on the tachometer for upshifting (and downshifting) in the 5MT gearbox of my NA8 Clubman. I usually shift anywhere from 2500 - 3500 rpm to keep the transition smooth (and more economical fuel wise?)

I'm getting more and more used to listening

When do you usually upshift (or downshift) in your MX5?

FYI, my Clubman is stock (engine/suspension/transmission/drivetrain wise) and I've not done any mods to it.

kitkat · Postby **kitkat** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 9:53 am

in our NA6...

Accelerating from stop....
1st gear to 4000rpm
Leave it in second for another 500rpm... 3rd same then slip it into 5th.
This is with about 1/4 throttle.

fish · Postby **fish** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:06 am

2500 to 3500 .....come on it doesn't start to make power till about 4 or 5 I think i change around 4000 on road and about 7500 to 8000 on track

sirbob · Postby **sirbob** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 1:36 pm

I tended to let the rev limiter tell me it was time to shift...

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:10 pm

sirbob wrote:I tended to let the rev limiter tell me it was time to shift...

I usually shift a little before the rev limiter! Maybe 4000 in 1st, another 500 in second then into 4th. 5th only above 60km/h - so not in stop start traffic at all.

Boags

green_comet · Postby **green_comet** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:45 pm

if you listen to your engine, it will tell you when its time to shift..

Andy Wana · Postby **Andy Wana** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 3:52 pm

green_comet wrote:if you listen to your engine, it will tell you when its time to shift..

That's very romantic ...

fish · Postby **fish** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:00 pm

I am sure my engine would be screaming at me to shift waaaaay sooner then I do .... :mrgreen:

MasterZ · Postby **MasterZ** » Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:25 pm

i usually shift
first gear 6000rpm
second 6000rpm
then i skip 3rd and forth and i put it in 5th and cruse cause im already doing around 80-85

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 12:57 am

if you are going hard......around some twisty mountain rd......in 2nd going to 3rd. there is a fantasic sweet spot at around 6200 rpm. you have to shift very quickly.(not ram it though.) & it gets you into the power band at just over 5500 somewhere in third. I've never been able to catch it with sight on the rpm guage. Its especially noticable around a long sweeper on the straight. Like green_comet, I always drive to the sound of the engine. just get a feel for it. these rpm no's are estimates

going to the rev limiter is pointless in my opinion....but hey....its fun. :mrgreen:

(race track is a bit different)
I usually aim to change gear before 6500. (and that doesn't always work :lol:

) but that's just my style of driving.

best part about it is...you get to experiment...... :mrgreen:

how cool.

Postby **Okibi** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:56 am

If you're going drag racing shift just before the rev limiter, you'll have passed the \"sweet spot\" a little but your revs with stay in the powerband when they drop as you select the next gear.

AJ · Postby AJ » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:01 am

Andy Wana wrote:
green_comet wrote:if you listen to your engine, it will tell you when its time to shift..

That's very romantic ...

and also very true........with any vehicle

JSE · Postby **JSE** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 6:36 pm

my car starts shaking & rattling really violantly after 6500...like its some histerical contestant from the Price is Right

Boags · Postby **Boags** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:12 pm

JSE wrote:my car starts shaking & rattling really violantly after 6500...like its some histerical contestant from the Price is Right

That can't be good?

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:21 pm

Boags'MX5 wrote:
JSE wrote:my car starts shaking & rattling really violantly after 6500...like its some histerical contestant from the Price is Right

That can't be good?

talk to fuzzlet.....his was doing something like that.......can't recall what it was but it was something vibrating in the engine bay......CAI maybe?

should be nice & smooth