Hi Ladies and Gents,

I just ordered my Mustang GT manual, but here's my problem. I've never been really good at manual shifting. Mostly because I've never owned a manual car, I've only driven a few friends car, and I 'm ok, but there's a few things I don't understand. I've tried reading online guides on manual driving, but they don't really talk about how one should shift. For example, I hear the power band is where the engine has the most power. On the mustang GT is this where the Torque is the highest or the Horsepower? Should I shift and try to keep the torque at the highest if I'm trying to accellerate fast?

Also, to conserve gas, does that mean I should try to keep the RPMs relatively lower? For normal driving should I shift below peak HP, or torque? I know these questions probably sound dumb, but I want to learn how to drive correctly from the beginning. Will all this just come to me after driving a few weeks? Thanks.

 

I'll chime in, since I was in the same boat as you just a few weeks ago before I picked up my Mustang. I had driven manual a few times but this is my first manual car.

Regular driving;
What I do when I am driving around and want to conserve gas is I shift at the reccomended speeds in the owner's manual for maximum efficiency. If you shift an sooner, the engine will vibrate which is not good. Keep an eye on your tach and shift at around 2000-2500.

The best people to reccomend shift points for "spirited" driving would be the drag racing guys. I try to shift at around 5000 or so.

Good luck with the Mustang, it is really easy to drive stick on this car.

 

First of all the powerband is what describes how much power an engine makes at a certain rpm. It's not really a tangible thing. So it's not where an engine make the most power. For the most part the 4.6l motor's power smoothly increases for idle to redline. So at what rpm you shift depends on how fast your trying to go. For drag racing shift just befor the rev limiter kicks in at 6000 rpm. For normal day to day drivng 2000-2500 works just fine. For spirited driving and having fun, shift some where in between. IMO once you get the hang of it there is nothing like the control a manual transmission allows.

 

Steve,

Thanks, I see we have the same tastes. Unfortunatly I couldn't get sonic blue, so I went with vista.

 

The key will be to get used to the sound of the engine as the rpms increase, it will let you know when to shift. In time you'll be able to tell what rpms the engine is running at any gear without looking at the tachometer.

Your main concern will be not to ride the clutch. If I were you I would rent a car with a manual transmission for a weekend and drive it five or six hundred mostly in city driving so that you get use to it.

 

Chuck,

George is right... if you can rent an manual car, that would be great practice, altough I have never found a rental place that has a manual.

One thing that I did when I got the car was initially I avoided driving the car in traffic, hilly areas, etc. I kept driving my beater and drove the mustang around when traffic was lighter to get a better handle on driving. Once you get used to the feel of a clutch, you can begin harder tasks like driving on hills.

Once you get a grasp on the fundamentals, then start working on other concepts, like matching revs when dropping gears, etc.

 

for fun "spirited" driving as I guess we are calling it (or if you want to smoke that ricer that revs on you: as it certainly will) Shift at 5300 rpms, the rev limiter kicks in around 56-5700 rpm (cant remember) for stock GTs but the computer starts to close down the throttle body at 5300 rpms and so its best to shift there because waiting your accelration will be slowed, so throw it into the next gear and get more of that torque and power back.

You'll get the hang of it real quick, if you are going to be doing some more "spirited" driving I would recomend the Steeda Triax shifter, much more accurate and easier to get through those gears, lot less slop then stock, but you do get the louder noise (not too bad) but I like that, sounds more racelike. I would obviously recommend other mods if you want to really get into the acceleration and speed but if just for occasional use of power the shifter is a nice addition.

Good luck, have fun and play safe.

 

you generally want to shift around redline for max acceleration. the goal is to go thru the power band in one gear and shift so that the rpms in the next gear begin where horsepower is beginning to spike and torque is leveling off at its max.

 

just shift at 5000 rpms and you will be at 60 half way into second; wow, what a ride; i LOVE it; lol

 

It would make more sense for him to learn to handle the car before he tries to beat the 13s.

 

The idea of 'keeping it in the powerband' is that part in which the car makes a GOOD ammount of juice.....

Look at someone dyno graph, you'll see where the power is on which rpm.
When shifting, you want to keep the maximum ammount of power you can.

So that when shifting, and the RPM drops, its not outside this 'window of power'

You won't make as much power at 2000RPM as you will at 3000.
So when you are shifting from 1 - 2 (spirited driving), and you want to keep going fast, the higher you shift, the higher the RPMS will already be in the next gear (staying in that magical range of HP/TRQ goodness) same with the next gear (2-3) and so on.

You'll also notice that sometimes a cars power may level off from say 5500-5700,
so shifting then is better, than bringing it to 6000 RPM. (running out of steam)

Mind you, day to day driving..this will KILL you're gas mileage....

 

... Reeeeeeeeeally?
Thanks Boomer!

 

Shut it 'Mr. I have more HP than you can dream of'

 

Pete, so is the power band where the torqe is the highest or the horsepower is the highest? I know they are different. I believe hp is highest around 5000 rpm, and highest torque is around 4500 rpm.

 

The power band may be getting ahead of yourself.

Make sure you learn the basics first:

1. When you're stopped, if you're in gear, you have to have the clutch pushed in. If you're stopped, in gear, and release the clutch, the car will shoot forward (not pretty)

2. When you get the car, practice shifting in an empty parkin lot someplace. It's not that difficult, but like most other things, it's all about timing and repetition

3. Also, find a hill someplace to practice on. Until you're sure of yourself, shifting when you're stopped on an uphill incline can be pretty indimidating.

4. When in doubt, more gas is better than not enough. Too much gas may squeal the tires a bit, but not enough may end up stalling (how embarrassing!)

5. Shifting into 1st, and from 1st to 2nd are the toughest. Luckily, the Mustang has a pretty good 1st gear - I've had manuals where you have to shift out of first almost immediately. You can go a good 40-50mph in first gear with this car.

Anyway... enough of the public service announcement... back to the power band...

 

This car makes its HP peak at 5750 (close to redline)
The Torque is in the 4500 range....if I remember correctly...

The higher you shift, your closer to your 'power' range when the next gear clicks in.
If you shift lower, your RPMs will be farther away from that range.
When you are gunning it, you want to maximize that time you are in that said range...

Thats all it is...

 

the first thing you do to learn more about your engine is find a site with the hp and torque power graphs for the 4.6. there is definitely a power band for every engine ever made and you need to know exactly what it is for your motor. this will help you understand where to shift in the rpm band. after time and lots of shifting, you shouldn't need to look at the tach: you will be able to listen to the motor and know when to shift.

jackg 90seville 97k

 

Thanks for starting this thread cyoon. I'll be in the same boat when my '06 arrives, I have limited manual experience, and on a truck. I expect the Mustang to be much easier, but still requiring time to master completely. And thanks all for the very informative and kind replies. I have a few questions though - RMac says:

"1. When you're stopped, if you're in gear, you have to have the clutch pushed in. If you're stopped, in gear, and release the clutch, the car will shoot forward (not pretty)"

Is "riding the clutch" and having the clutch "pushed all the way in" the same thing? About how long can the clutch be pushed to the floor at a stop before it becomes dangerous? Would it be better then when stopped for long periods to put the car in neutral with the clutch out, foot on brake, and then engage the clutch & accelerator when you are ready to accelerate from the stop?

A related question is when is the best time to put the car in neutral when coming to stop (if at all) ? As soon as you anticipate having to brake to a stop? In some cases, like a highway off ramp, couldn't that be a few hundred feet?

I remember reading that "coasting" in Arizona where I live is actually against the law? In a manual, isn't there a greater opportunity to coast out of gear when decelerating to a stop? Is that good practice or poor?

 

This has been a helpful post....my GT will be my first manual transmission also..

 

"Riding the clutch" is typically when someone has the clutch partially pressed in when they don't need to... for example, as you go through your shift progression, you have the clutch partially pressed in the whole time. It's unnecessary, and will just add to the wear on the clutch.

I typically shift into neutral as I approach a light/stop sign/slowed traffic, etc. and then just use the brakes to slow down. I then stay in neutral until I see the traffic stopping the other way, then put it in gear. You can also downshift to help you slow down, but I prefer not to. It really doesn't matter either way, but neutral plus braking typically results in a smoother stop, and puts less wear on the transmission.

In terms of neutral vs. being in gear with the clutch pressed (when stopped), it's really all a matter of personal preference. If I'm not familiar with an area, I may stay in gear at a light, since I don't like to be "surprised" by a green and then have to quickly shift into gear (I've revved it in neutral before in a situation like that, which is always fun, especially when the people behind you hear the exhaust, think you're moving forward, and nearly slam into you).