I have a manual '05 Mustang GT.

I was just looking for a few opinions on this question - what's the lowest RPM you start out in a gear?

For instance, say you're shifting into third... what's the lowest RPM before you start to burn the clutch/lug the engine? My father says never to go below 1500, but I think 1200 is all right for this car. What do you guys think? 1500? 1200? Even 1000, maybe?

 

Are you talking about slowing down in a particular gear then accelerating without downshifting? Otherwise, while accelerating I haven't had that problem.

 

I think that you never want the rpms to be to low when shifting, you need to be in the rpm range that will give you the most momentum in whatever gear you are in, if you go to low as you describe you might wind up getting embarrassed and stall youre car..IMO..

 

No, no... not talking about stalling. Besdies, it's VERY tough to stall this car once you get moving as we have GREAT low-end torque

I'm just curious as to how low you can get the RPMs in any given gear before it becomes uneconomical fuel-wise, you lug the engine, or burn up the clutch. It's just a debate between me and my father... nothing more.

 

I always keep my motor above 1500 rpm. It feels like it lugs a bit anwhere lower than that. Hope that helps.

 

lol i admit on the parkway i forgot to take the car outta gear while at the tollbooth and i stalled. i did it 2 times. but the car did forgive me and i launched and got up to 60 fast and caught up to my friends who went thru EZPass

 

You can start out as low as you want as long as you don't stall. If the clutch pedal is out, it is fully engaged, so there is no slipping or burning of the clutch going on. This engine, like many modern engines, is very tractable at low rpm. At some point, the rpm will be so low that you will get a "chugging" kind of response, but it has to be pretty low for that.(below 1000rpm) Just push in the clutch to alleviate the chugging. Your father my have a preconceived rpm "set point" from experience with carburated cars that were not as tractable as this car.

 

You hit the nail on the head, smitty! I've been trying to tell him that. Engines these days are completely different beasts, but he's a 58 year old ex race driver... he still sticks to his 1500 rule. Old habits die hard and all that.

 

i always shift at about 3500 for normal everyday driving lol

 

yeah, I usually launch at 2000-2200,
shift at 3-3500

And I'm guilty of the occasional chugging for being to lazy to change a gear...specifically, in stop go traffic....1st is sensitive

 

1st is very sensitive..people think im reving my engine, cuz of the the 1500rpm jerk.

 

So how do you burn the clutch when shifting too low???????? Bog the engine, yes, burn the clutch, impossible. Unless of course you are a complete idiot and rev the motor between shifts (at low speeds).

I can't explain it on a keyboard. I know I didn't buy the 05 for fuel economy, I drive it to enjoy the power, so I shift when the engine says "okay, that is enough"! Unless I am just cruising and then it is still around 3000-3500RPM.