just a general question out of curiousity, how many of you guys use 5th gear (or 6th for the SVT's) on the streets for city driving? notice any gains or loss in fuel economy? i use 5th in the Focus...seems to help a bit in fuel economy but yeah what about you guys?

 

I never do, I hardly even use it on the highway, the only reason I go into 5th, very honestly is when I'm not in the mood to drive fast

 

Think of it as overdrive; if your not going over 55mph you dont need it.

 

The only time I use 5th is on the freeway, but mines not a daily driver and I don't really pay attention to mileage in it. I just like the way it feels in 4th better when cruising around.

 

i use 5th all the time, it's there so why not?

 

It's the natural progression of gears for me. I'm almost always in it.

 

A lot of the roads I'm on are 2 lane curvy and hilly roads where the limit is 40-55 so 5th really lugs and is clunky feeling. I like the throttle response and engine braking feel of 4th.

 

Only about 2 miles of my 14 mile daily commute is city driving, 3 miles are country roads (55 mph limit), and the rest is 65mph 3-lane freeway. I'm in 5th gear most of the time, no matter which of our four cars I'm driving, even in the city, assuming there isn't a lot of traffic, and I can go at least 40 mph for a little bit.

 

5th gear on the street would bog the hell out of the engine.
Bogging an engine is pretty ugly, on the highway of course 5th at anything about 60.

 

never use 5th, seem like I should be cruising at 90+ in 5th

 

The question is really centered around "city driving" 5th or 6th gear is primarily for fuel economy. That's what O/D is all about...Reducing Engine speed 30-35%...Typically in the Cobra I never see 5th gear until I hit the highway or 50+ mph zone. Your going to get tons of different answers, as we all have our own style of driving...Not to mention finding the right RPM that makes the exhaust sing a tune!

 

nice name

 

A lot. If I'm cruising at 35 mph I'm usually in 5th. Hell I pop it in 6th if I'm above 40. No reason to keep the engine wound up if you're just putting along.

 

Same here -- I'm stuck behind soccer mom in the 5000lb SUV cross over or grandma in the old Buick all the time, so I'm not going anywhere fast, why waste the gas? A downshift is just a clutch pedal and wrist flick away...

I get into 5th as soon as possible to try to offset the frequent blasts to redline in 1st and 2nd. Often skip 3rd straight to 4th or 5th, or else I'm in "go directly to jail" territory pretty quick. But for me it's the gas cost savings (not the actual amount of gas, couldn't really care less, I'm doing my best to offset every pompous Prius owner I can).

 

I tend to keep my car around 1500 rpm (or as close as I can get) when I'm just putting along so whatever gear gets me there.

 

The drone in my car at 60-70 mph in 5th is unbearable. For short runs on the highway, I stay in 4th. Fortunately I don't have to go on the highway much....or these Flows would go.

 

I have a tendency to notice that bogging the engine down around 1500 does not save gas, it uses more. I like to keep it in a nice peppy zone above 2500 I get the most MPG I can ever get. I also just like driving the car and don't pay too much attention to gas in this car. If I worry about it I take the Scion.

 

I think what uses the most gas is any pressure on the gas pedal...

I find if the revs are TOO high, you have to constantly feather the throttle to keep from getting engine braking. I tend to coast alot and use the torque at low revs for adjusting speed.

 

I agree with above post... Pedal pressure vs rpms. If I am holding 1/4 throttle and revving at 3000 rpms and doing 60 mph in 4th that is using less fuel than 3/8th throttle in 5th to hold same speed.

 

With my 4.10's is pretty easy to stay in 5th around town. I try to stay in the highest gear I can without feeling like I'm taxing the engine. That is usually the best mix of MPG's and driveability.

Thou now on the highway I wish I had a 6th gear...