shifting points

GraimeG · 03-11-2005, 11:50 PM

All to often I find myself downshifting into 2nd and 3rd for corners and when I exit the corner my rpms are below 2000. Do many people experience this? There is no shaking of the car, or sound of it struggling, but still...below 2000 rpm? Will this affect my gas mileage? I heard that if the rpms are to low for a gear, it will actually use more gas in order for the engine to get back up to optimum power band range.
Another thing, what is the best point to shift when just driving around town. I shift at 3k rpm, but that's just because it's half of the 6k redline

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RodimusPrime · 03-11-2005, 11:59 PM

Yes I was actually wondering about this too - it seems like sometimes it is "too slow" for 2nd, yet too high to shift it into first while still moving. So then I shift into second and I can feel the car struggling a little till it's over 2000 rpms. I just don't want to force it into 1st...

I think for fuel efficieny around town anywhere between 3000-4000 rpm is a good bet.

Crash477 · 03-12-2005, 01:12 PM

If im cruising around a I shift at abotu 4k, but most of the time its between 4-5.5k

mofugga · 03-12-2005, 01:19 PM

have you thought of just turning faster???

RodimusPrime · 03-12-2005, 02:29 PM

^^haha that would be one way to fix the problem

GraimeG · 03-12-2005, 02:42 PM

haha, I could, but then everything inside the car, including the passengers gets all plastered up against one side of the Impreza :-P

Crash477 · 03-12-2005, 04:05 PM

sounds like you need suspension mods then

White2.5GT · 03-13-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash477

sounds like you need suspension mods then

Now that's funny...

jasona · 03-13-2005, 03:35 PM

I shift at 2000 around town...

jamesonc · 03-13-2005, 03:39 PM

Yeah, 2000-2500 is good around town shifting. Maybe 3000 going up a hill.

Nicklbrso · 03-13-2005, 04:03 PM

I shift at 2500-2800 when cold. 3000 90% of the time when the car is warmed up and 3500+ every once in a while.

rsracer2005 · 03-13-2005, 06:17 PM

you ppl are nice to ur cars. 3000. yeah right. maybe id do that if there was a liek a cop next ot me or somethign lol.

GraimeG · 03-13-2005, 06:17 PM

so people's shifting points seem to range from 2k to 4k around town. and everyone experiences good gas mileage?

live- · 03-13-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasona

I shift at 2000 around town...

That sounds awfully low, isn't it? Shifting at 2000? I try and cruise between 2000 and 3000, shifting at 3000. I shift at 3500-4000 when going up a hill, and it normally drops back to just about 2000.

anonymous_wolf · 03-13-2005, 07:12 PM

my mechanic friend suggest the following to me:
when cruising always keep the engine speed above 2000 rpm
when going up hill always keep engine speed above 2500 rpm

now i usually shift around 2500-3000
i used to shift around 2000-2500

not sure about the milage coz i just shifted to 89 octane fuel recently...
(89 octane gives much better fuel efficience)

RodimusPrime · 03-13-2005, 09:53 PM

Well, back to the original question asked - what is the proper technique for entering and then exiting a turn around town? Because I definitely agree with GraimeG - when I exit a turn in 2nd the rpm's are often below 2000 rpm, and the engine struggles.

With our transmissions, we don't want to be putting it into first, right? That's only from a stop?

Crash477 · 03-13-2005, 10:20 PM

simple, keep the rpms up.. go faster.

Storm · 03-13-2005, 10:28 PM

You can either downshift and brake to a point where the lower gear doesn't seem like you're trying to burn through the corner......or just take the corner a bit quicker and not downshift. Under 2k is too low for your car.....Might as well downshift and power out at an RPM that'll make power more efficiently. If you know this corner well and take it regularly, you should be able to find an optimum speed, gear, braking point and accel point to suit your mood or pace.

Jay Storm

thump.thump · 03-14-2005, 10:39 PM

My $.02
Go faster around the corner...they put "Holy ***** Handles" in the car for your passengers...I figure if they're not trying to hold on to something I'm going too slow! Driving should be fun...for the driver! And frightening for the passengers!

Crash477 · 03-14-2005, 10:52 PM

good point

Handsdown · 03-14-2005, 11:00 PM

driving on a track should be exactly as described... or on a closed course... but not ALL driving.

shift points for the best fuel efficiency and engine longevity are in your subaru owner's manual

ssbonline · 03-15-2005, 11:49 AM

I find myself shifting around 3500 - 5000, I feel the car was build for this

powerlabs · 03-15-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssbonline

I find myself shifting around 3500 - 5000, I feel the car was build for this

I agree.
When passing on double lane roads I downshift into 4rth and ride 4rth into 6000RPM or so. I usually go into 6000RPM when trying to accelerate quickly to merge with traffic, etc... I figure the main point of having a car that can accelerate halfway decent is to enjoy that acceleration once in a while

live- · 03-15-2005, 03:53 PM

So let me get this straight - you guys think anything under 2000 RPMs is choking our engines? Because it is very hard to downshift into first (its basically locked out until you are almost stopped, at least on the stock shifter). I have only had my RS for about a month, but I have felt nothing wrong when coming out of turns in second at 1500 RPMs - Subaru couldn't have designed these cars thinking that everyone driving an $18k RS would either be taking corners at 20+ miles an hour or stopping almost completely for every turn. I'd find it hard to believe coming out of a turn at 1500 RPMs in second is really hurting the engine.

Crash477 · 03-15-2005, 03:56 PM

it doesnt hurt the engine, it just isnt fun. lol.

03-11-2005, 11:50 PM	#1
GraimeG Scooby Newbie Member#: 64865 Join Date: Jun 2004 Vehicle: 1993 Impreza L AWD	shifting points All to often I find myself downshifting into 2nd and 3rd for corners and when I exit the corner my rpms are below 2000. Do many people experience this? There is no shaking of the car, or sound of it struggling, but still...below 2000 rpm? Will this affect my gas mileage? I heard that if the rpms are to low for a gear, it will actually use more gas in order for the engine to get back up to optimum power band range. Another thing, what is the best point to shift when just driving around town. I shift at 3k rpm, but that's just because it's half of the 6k redline * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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03-11-2005, 11:59 PM	#2
RodimusPrime Scooby Newbie Member#: 82118 Join Date: Feb 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2005 GD6 2.5RS Crystal Gray Metallic	Yes I was actually wondering about this too - it seems like sometimes it is "too slow" for 2nd, yet too high to shift it into first while still moving. So then I shift into second and I can feel the car struggling a little till it's over 2000 rpms. I just don't want to force it into 1st... I think for fuel efficieny around town anywhere between 3000-4000 rpm is a good bet.

03-12-2005, 01:12 PM	#3
Crash477 Scooby Guru Member#: 49881 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Knoxville, TN Vehicle: 2006 Subaru STi 1989 BMW 325is	If im cruising around a I shift at abotu 4k, but most of the time its between 4-5.5k

03-12-2005, 01:19 PM	#4
mofugga Scooby Specialist Member#: 19540 Join Date: Jun 2002 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Clearwater, FL Vehicle: 2000 old skool RS BRP	have you thought of just turning faster???

03-12-2005, 02:29 PM	#5
RodimusPrime Scooby Newbie Member#: 82118 Join Date: Feb 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2005 GD6 2.5RS Crystal Gray Metallic	^^haha that would be one way to fix the problem

03-12-2005, 02:42 PM	#6
GraimeG Scooby Newbie Member#: 64865 Join Date: Jun 2004 Vehicle: 1993 Impreza L AWD	haha, I could, but then everything inside the car, including the passengers gets all plastered up against one side of the Impreza :-P

03-12-2005, 04:05 PM	#7
Crash477 Scooby Guru Member#: 49881 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Knoxville, TN Vehicle: 2006 Subaru STi 1989 BMW 325is	sounds like you need suspension mods then

03-13-2005, 03:35 PM	#9
jasona Scooby Specialist Member#: 11786 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Arkansas Vehicle: 02 TS Black on White	I shift at 2000 around town...

03-13-2005, 03:39 PM	#10
jamesonc Scooby Newbie Member#: 49629 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Southern Maine Vehicle: '87 Dodge Ram 50 Black	Yeah, 2000-2500 is good around town shifting. Maybe 3000 going up a hill.

03-13-2005, 04:03 PM	#11
Nicklbrso Scooby Specialist Member#: 44887 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: ME Vehicle: 00 GC6 Silver	I shift at 2500-2800 when cold. 3000 90% of the time when the car is warmed up and 3500+ every once in a while.

03-13-2005, 06:17 PM	#12
rsracer2005 Scooby Newbie Member#: 72326 Join Date: Oct 2004	you ppl are nice to ur cars. 3000. yeah right. maybe id do that if there was a liek a cop next ot me or somethign lol.

03-13-2005, 07:12 PM	#15
anonymous_wolf Scooby Specialist Member#: 57780 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Richmond B.C. Vehicle: 2000 RS sedan, GC6 Blue Ridge Pearl	my mechanic friend suggest the following to me: when cruising always keep the engine speed above 2000 rpm when going up hill always keep engine speed above 2500 rpm now i usually shift around 2500-3000 i used to shift around 2000-2500 not sure about the milage coz i just shifted to 89 octane fuel recently... (89 octane gives much better fuel efficience)

03-13-2005, 09:53 PM	#16
RodimusPrime Scooby Newbie Member#: 82118 Join Date: Feb 2005 Chapter/Region: MAIC Vehicle: 2005 GD6 2.5RS Crystal Gray Metallic	Well, back to the original question asked - what is the proper technique for entering and then exiting a turn around town? Because I definitely agree with GraimeG - when I exit a turn in 2nd the rpm's are often below 2000 rpm, and the engine struggles. With our transmissions, we don't want to be putting it into first, right? That's only from a stop?

03-13-2005, 10:20 PM	#17
Crash477 Scooby Guru Member#: 49881 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Knoxville, TN Vehicle: 2006 Subaru STi 1989 BMW 325is	simple, keep the rpms up.. go faster.

03-13-2005, 10:28 PM	#18
Storm Scooby Guru Member#: 5218 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: SAUL'S Motorsports Vehicle: 96L Most Over- Developed Beater	You can either downshift and brake to a point where the lower gear doesn't seem like you're trying to burn through the corner......or just take the corner a bit quicker and not downshift. Under 2k is too low for your car.....Might as well downshift and power out at an RPM that'll make power more efficiently. If you know this corner well and take it regularly, you should be able to find an optimum speed, gear, braking point and accel point to suit your mood or pace. Jay Storm

03-14-2005, 10:39 PM	#19
thump.thump Scooby Newbie Member#: 62912 Join Date: May 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: 604 Vehicle: 2004 2.5 RS Java Black	My $.02 Go faster around the corner...they put "Holy ***** Handles" in the car for your passengers...I figure if they're not trying to hold on to something I'm going too slow! Driving should be fun...for the driver! And frightening for the passengers!

03-14-2005, 10:52 PM	#20
Crash477 Scooby Guru Member#: 49881 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Knoxville, TN Vehicle: 2006 Subaru STi 1989 BMW 325is	good point

03-14-2005, 11:00 PM	#21
Handsdown Scooby Guru Member#: 29355 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: seattle Vehicle: 2003 GD6 Hate chall but i'mma maintain	driving on a track should be exactly as described... or on a closed course... but not ALL driving. shift points for the best fuel efficiency and engine longevity are in your subaru owner's manual

03-15-2005, 11:49 AM	#22
ssbonline Scooby Newbie Member#: 58705 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Philadelphia Vehicle: 2005 wrx - 5 speed Silver/Premium package	I find myself shifting around 3500 - 5000, I feel the car was build for this

03-15-2005, 03:53 PM	#24
live- Scooby Newbie Member#: 80775 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Baltimore Vehicle: 2005 2.5 RS Wagon Black	So let me get this straight - you guys think anything under 2000 RPMs is choking our engines? Because it is very hard to downshift into first (its basically locked out until you are almost stopped, at least on the stock shifter). I have only had my RS for about a month, but I have felt nothing wrong when coming out of turns in second at 1500 RPMs - Subaru couldn't have designed these cars thinking that everyone driving an $18k RS would either be taking corners at 20+ miles an hour or stopping almost completely for every turn. I'd find it hard to believe coming out of a turn at 1500 RPMs in second is really hurting the engine.

03-15-2005, 03:56 PM	#25
Crash477 Scooby Guru Member#: 49881 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Knoxville, TN Vehicle: 2006 Subaru STi 1989 BMW 325is	it doesnt hurt the engine, it just isnt fun. lol.