Nothing wrong with 3k rpm. I usually am at 4-5k before I even realize it and chirp the tires a bit.
When do you shift into 2nd?
I've been driving my car for a bit. I'm still fairly new to manual cars and have learned previously. I'm shifting into 2nd at about 3000 rpm and just getting a slight jerk.
Just wondering what is your 2nd gear shift technique.
Just wondering what is your 2nd gear shift technique.
1 - 20 of 38 Posts
I usually shift anywhere from 3k and 5k. I rarely go pass 5k.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
With the cold snow and skinny snow tires I short shift all the time(about 3-4K) just to try to keep the avg mpg thingy at 30.. it's a game i play. and when I do get on it the darn thing lights up the tires in 3 gears
This of course changes under different circumstances.
Normal daily driving is between 3-4K.
However there are many times it is 6.8+.
Sent with my retro keyboard and mouse.
Dave
Normal daily driving is between 3-4K.
However there are many times it is 6.8+.
Sent with my retro keyboard and mouse.
Dave
The manual (written for fuel economy I presume) says the shift points are 12 mph, 23, 32, 43, and 44. I haven't referenced this to rpm yet. ..
BUT...
There have been studies done that show that you get better fuel economy with a "heavy foot" and shifting at redline, than you do with a very light foot and shifting at 2000 rpm! The best fuel economy is achieved with a heavy foot and short shifting, --2000 rpm or so. Its because the intakes, combustion chamber, spark timing etc, are all optimized for max fuel conditions, so at less than max, they are not as efficient.
These test were run by BMW and reported in Road and Track magazine back in the 1980s. They tested nine conditons, variants from light throttle, medium throttle and full throttle, .. early shift, middle rpm, and red line shift points. As a result of these studies, BMW actually introduced the 312 ETA, a car with the torque high at low rpms.
Bottom line, ... shift where YOU feel comfortable. based on road and weather and traffic conditions.... unless you are trying to optimize fuel economy, in which case, ... Why buy one of these cars?
BUT...
There have been studies done that show that you get better fuel economy with a "heavy foot" and shifting at redline, than you do with a very light foot and shifting at 2000 rpm! The best fuel economy is achieved with a heavy foot and short shifting, --2000 rpm or so. Its because the intakes, combustion chamber, spark timing etc, are all optimized for max fuel conditions, so at less than max, they are not as efficient.
These test were run by BMW and reported in Road and Track magazine back in the 1980s. They tested nine conditons, variants from light throttle, medium throttle and full throttle, .. early shift, middle rpm, and red line shift points. As a result of these studies, BMW actually introduced the 312 ETA, a car with the torque high at low rpms.
Bottom line, ... shift where YOU feel comfortable. based on road and weather and traffic conditions.... unless you are trying to optimize fuel economy, in which case, ... Why buy one of these cars?
Exactly. There's no set place that you must shift. Just shift when you feel you should shift or when you want to. It's all in getting the feel for it. It takes a bit to get used to driving a different manual transmission even if you've previously driven some before. I'm pretty good at driving my car with a manual, and going from my car to the Fiesta ST test drive cars was easy, but I wasn't perfect at it. It just takes a bit to get used to the feel. Once you get the feel you'll get the shifting down right.Bottom line, ... shift where YOU feel comfortable. based on road and weather and traffic conditions.... unless you are trying to optimize fuel economy, in which case, ... Why buy one of these cars?
If im trying to save gas aka normal driving then I try to shift when the shift light comes on
I shift into 2 when the shift indicator illuminatesI've been driving my car for a bit. I'm still fairly new to manual cars and have learned previously. I'm shifting into 2nd at about 3000 rpm and just getting a slight jerk.
Just wondering what is your 2nd gear shift technique.
Thanks for the responses. I think I've got it figured out, just needed some more time with my car.
This thing is amazing, I shift around 3K for for each gear. By the time I hit 4th, everyone is in my rear view mirror. Car's got cojones.
This thing is amazing, I shift around 3K for for each gear. By the time I hit 4th, everyone is in my rear view mirror. Car's got cojones.
Cojones is an understatement 
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
ff you're shifting at 3k, and think it has cajones, .....
The turbo is just starting to kick in, and you are at the bottom of the power curve....
Most usually a tranny is set up so that if you shift at peak horsepower, you will drop to peak torque...
Experiment.... there is a rev limiter to keep you from over reving the engine...
Drive and enjoy.
The turbo is just starting to kick in, and you are at the bottom of the power curve....
Most usually a tranny is set up so that if you shift at peak horsepower, you will drop to peak torque...
Experiment.... there is a rev limiter to keep you from over reving the engine...
Drive and enjoy.
I always shift at 2k or lower around town.
I shift into second pretty much as soon as the car starts moving without lugging the engine. First gear is really short!
Shifting is art and comment on life at the moment as much as science and tech. Within broad ranges, as long as one's not lugging or over-revving the engine, all is good. Over-revving is hard in the FiST, as there's a limiter and sudden drop in power and torque at about 6500; if you take the revs up past that, you'll probably not hurt anything, but the car will try to sit down on you. (This is with a stock tune, BTW--not applicable should one mod the tune.) The only complaint I've got at all about the car has to do with shifting, though--it's simply not as smooth as it could (and I think should) be. I've been spoiled by Honda and BMW shifters in the past, perhaps, but my FiST's shifting is not it's strong point. Oh, and 6th could stand to be a bit taller, too, but that's another point.
I think as a new manual driver you may be best served with not focusing so much on rpm, rather just feeling through the gear box and clutch pedal. In time, your left foot and the clutch will get familiar with one another to reduce those harsh shifts.
When you hear a very audible blap blap blap under full throttle... Shift right befor that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had similiar problems as this was my first manual car. just had to work on getting the ballance right between clutch and gas inputs (mainly smooth clutch engagement). Everything is going good and shifts are smooth. now just working on downshifts and preparing for heel toe action.
Any advise on how to achieve smooth downshifts?
Heel toe practice tips?
Any advise on how to achieve smooth downshifts?
Heel toe practice tips?
Have you started on just basic rev matching yet?I had similiar problems as this was my first manual car. just had to work on getting the ballance right between clutch and gas inputs (mainly smooth clutch engagement). Everything is going good and shifts are smooth. now just working on downshifts and preparing for heel toe action.
Any advise on how to achieve smooth downshifts?
Heel toe practice tips?
around town?
1st to 2 to 4th to 6th. 6th at around 35mph unless im going up hill. i have shifted from 1st to 4th to 6th.. when i turn i downshift to 3rd, not 2nd.
i love this car but i think it needs a much higher 6th for highway cruising.
it has perhaps the easiest shifting tranny of any car i have ever driven.
this replaced a honda fit. i had similar 'complaints' about that car. it didnt need 1st in most cases, you can easily start in 2nd unless going up hill. the fit replaced a CRX HF and that car's 5th gear was so tall if the motor could have been wound out it would have been doing 200 mph before it reached red line. and it got nearly 50mpg on the highway. i wish the fist had a 6th about that high, the car would easily do 35 mpg or even better if it had that. 5 tight gears for performance and a 6th for cruising.
1st to 2 to 4th to 6th. 6th at around 35mph unless im going up hill. i have shifted from 1st to 4th to 6th.. when i turn i downshift to 3rd, not 2nd.
i love this car but i think it needs a much higher 6th for highway cruising.
it has perhaps the easiest shifting tranny of any car i have ever driven.
this replaced a honda fit. i had similar 'complaints' about that car. it didnt need 1st in most cases, you can easily start in 2nd unless going up hill. the fit replaced a CRX HF and that car's 5th gear was so tall if the motor could have been wound out it would have been doing 200 mph before it reached red line. and it got nearly 50mpg on the highway. i wish the fist had a 6th about that high, the car would easily do 35 mpg or even better if it had that. 5 tight gears for performance and a 6th for cruising.
1 - 20 of 38 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Ford Fiesta ST Forum
A forum community dedicated to Ford Fiesta ST owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Top Contributors this Month
View All
davidbfrink
5 Replies
ValiSingleton
5 Replies
ScotyOwens
4 Replies
Recommended Communities
