I've ordered a v6 with manual transmission. I test drove one over the weekend for the first time. I noticed that when in 5th gear, the car is slow to accelerate. Does that mean when passing, you would downshift to 4th gear? If that's the case, when would you use 5th gear?

 

5th is definitely a cruising gear.. use it as such

 

it's an overdrive gear to save gas at high speeds, not meant for acceleration. at about 60, it'd be a sweet spot to dowshift to 3rd and get some good passing done

 

so far ive only taken it to about 95 in 4th gear then switch on over to 5th to about 110 before slowing back down. smooth acceleration and at high speeds its very nice. plus mine seems to handle very nicely going between cars in moderate to low traffic at high speeds. only thing i would like to add to mine now is cold air intake system and maybe a front spoiler.

 

how many revs are you turning in 5th gear? an old rule of thumb with gearing/revs/ and maximum engine speed is at 60 mph the revs should be half of the max rpms for the engine; generally around 2800-3000. i'll bet you will find that in 4th gear you'll be turning right around in that area. 5th gear will probably be around 2400 at 60 mph....not good for acceleration, great for fuel economy. the suggestion of downshifting to 3rd is the trick!! practice your double clutch and blipping the throttle while you shift into 3rd....great way to surprise someone coming up on your tail. jackg 90seville 97k

 

My fav is downshifting to 2nd at 40mph, that really suprises people

 

You'll get some neck snapping acceleration there, but you won't be in that gear long since it tops out at about 60.

 

I was on the highway about a month and a half ago, I had a some rice come up on me as I was doing about 80mph. He came up on me fast after I had past him so I'm think he was running some mods. When he got to my back bumper I just pushed down on the pedal ( in 5th gear) and left him in the dust.

Yeah 5th is really a cruising gear at highway speeds, but it all has to do with how you control the pedal.

 

40-60 in a couple seconds is all that RSX next to you needs to realize he dont have a chance.

 

80mph is not a "cruising speed"...that's going fast in my neighborhood. at that speed, and i'm geusstimating here, you're probably turning 3400/3500? that's right around the peak of the torque curve and that's perfect for rapid acceleration.

take your same scenario at 60 mph (you're turning 2400? or there abouts in top gear) and it would be a different outcome.

don't get me wrong: the tall 5th gear is perfect for what it's intended for; great fuel economy...but, if somebody is coming up your rear and you're doing 60 or so, be prepared to double clutch and down shift to 3rd and you will have a fighting chance. jackg 90seville 97k

 

Since you were just guessing and I was curious I took a look when I was on the highway. 60 mph in 5th gear in a V6 with manual is about 1800 RPM. Couldn't get it up to 80 (traffic and police presence) but I would guess that it is still well short of the 3500 RPM torque peak.

3rd gear is good for over 90 MPH so a down shift to 3rd and then a shift to 4th if needed would be the way to go. Just don't forget to match revs!!

 

yeah, that's what i thought...i couldn't remember the revs in top gear, but i knew they were quite low...it's strictly an "economy" gear. the transmission is really a four speed with overdrive.

the real "secret" to this thread is to go out and learn about your car and it's characteristics; really go out and stand on the brakes, activate the abs (if it's so equiped) and learn how the car behaves. try downshifting at various speeds, in various gears and see what the revs are. take it through the twisties and see how she handles, in WET and dry conditions ,especially in the wet, so when you really need all the performance of the car, you know what to expect. when the sxxt hits the fan, sometimes there isn't time to find out what the capabilities of your car are...by then it's too late. jackg 90seville 97k

 

Just make sure you don't get caught. I went to an empty parking lot during the first snowfall after I got my focus and did some hard braking. I wasn't there but 10 minutes and BAM. Cop gives me a ticket for failure to maintain control of vehicle. I was in the car alone and explained what I was doing. No good.

I did fight the ticket and got it reduced to a non-moving violation, still the full fine. Still a bunch of BS if you ask me. I was trying to make the roads safer.

 

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good point, the only sure way to explore the limits of your car's handling and braking is going to a track and letting it all hang out there, under somewhat controlled conditions and of course, not on public roads or parking lots. we should live in germany where for the cost of a decent meal you can go out on the nurburgring (sp?) the classic 14 mile (i think) race track where the speed limit is how white can you get your knuckles. ANYBODY with a driver's license and take their street machine out on the track. jackg 90seville 97k