Ok. Here's one for everybody.

If I were going to race to full speed, what would the shift points be for every gear?

Thats not good advice, you should only redline first and then in second through th rest shift around 6700, power drops off really bad, although you must shift quickly or you will find bog, but an accomplished driver can easily keep it on boost

1st redline
2nd 6.5
3rd 6.5
4th 6.0

There was a thread about this about 2 weeks ago.

I think the consensus for a stock WRX (not that I've done this, mind you) is to take 1st to redline, 2nd to 6.7k, 3rd to 6.5k, and 4th until redline.

--jeff

You mean to tell me that the WRX will go to top speed in 4th?

Originally posted by MrAceman
You mean to tell me that the WRX will go to top speed in 4th?


No the rev limiter kicks in about 125. But I change arround 118-120

well, for stock I'd say a tad before redline (other than 1st) and when you get a boost controller, shift at redline in each gear, as there actually is top end power.
hth, -C

Shifting point depend on your usable powerband and every car has a different powerband, unless you are comparing cars with identical mods.

I shift at redline all the time, but thats becaure my power doesn't fall off at all.

No the rev limiter kicks in about 125. But I change arround 118-120
The *rev limiter* kicks in around 7300rpm, dependant on tach accuracy. The speed governor is set at 130, and only the automatics have governors. MT's can co as fast as you can push them. Redline (7krpm) in a wrx w/stock tires is 128mph in 4th, and around 169mph in 5th.

Has anybody checked what speed their car is at every redline?

For example, I think I read in a thread somewhere that redline in 3rd was about 93/94 MPH.

yup :-) I finished my 1/4 mile at redline and my trap speed was 92.x I was just at the point where I was pondering an upshift but i held on till redline....

I've checked, and cross checked w/2 gps units. 1st is 36mph, 2nd is 64mph, 3rd is 91mph. I won't admit to checking fourth, and I haven't checked fifth;)

Originally posted by Austin

The *rev limiter* kicks in around 7300rpm, dependant on tach accuracy. The speed governor is set at 130, and only the automatics have governors. MT's can co as fast as you can push them. Redline (7krpm) in a wrx w/stock tires is 128mph in 4th, and around 169mph in 5th.

Stupid question, perhaps, but what do you mean by "169mph in 5th?"

I was under the impression that the WRX's top speed is 141mph.

If this wasn't a typo, can you explain what you mean?

Thanks,
David

he probably arrived at teh top speed by doing the math.

that would be how fast you could go if you had enough power to hit redline in 5th gear

Okay, thanks.

Can you imagine a 169mph WRX? Now that would be something!

Bradus

Originally posted by jmott
he probably arrived at teh top speed by doing the math.

that would be how fast you could go if you had enough power to hit redline in 5th gear
Yup, that's it... I might have been around 150/155 mph before, and the rpms might have been consistent w/a top speed around 169. I'll bet any of the guys running around w/280hp could hit redline in fifth.

In all the articles that I've read, the WRX is drag limited at around 140. Is that not the case?

Drag limits come into play if you have a lack of power to push the car faster. If you had infinite horsepower, the only thing determining top speed is tire size and gear ratios.

I'm not too sure about that.

At some point, the structural stability of the car has to come into play.

I understand what you say about more HP overcoming the initial drag limit. But I would guess that the WRX is not built to go, for example, 200mph.

That brings up an interesting question.

What's the fastest that anybody out there has gotten their WRX up to (obviously under legal conditions);)? And what mods do you have that allowed it to reach that speed?

Originally posted by MrAceman
In all the articles that I've read, the WRX is drag limited at around 140. Is that not the case? yeah, a stock wrx will top out at about 140, but with more power 150 or higher is possible

Originally posted by MrAceman
But I would guess that the WRX is not built to go, for example, 200mph.
Correct. With a 5th gear ratio of .74:1 and a final drive ratio of 3.9:1 and 205 55 16 re92's on 16x6.5 wheels, assuming unlimited power, the wrx tops out at just under 170 at redline in 5th. (Not that *anyone* should be going that fast on re92's!)

What about the STi?

How fast will it go (stock)?

Bradus

I plotted the stock wheel hp curve from TurboXS vs. speed for each gear.

Optimal shift points should be where the power lines cross.

1-2, 7000
2-3, 6300
3-4, 6250
4-5, 6150

There will probably be some wheel power loss with each higher gear so the best points may be a little higher.

I also did a quicky wind resistance vs. wheel power curve and got 145 mph as the max. speed, although I didn't have good numbers for the tire rpm/speed ratio. This is in 5th. at around 5600 rpm just past peak power and is based on 180 hp peak at the wheels.

Originally posted by Bradus
What about the STi?

How fast will it go (stock)?

Bradus
I have no idea.

Thanks.

I just went here: http://www.fantasycars.com/sedans/html/wrxnewsti.html and found out.

152mph top speed, in 6th gear I presume.

Bradus

Makes sense, with the close ratio tranny. I bet *they* have enough power to push all the way to redline...