When do you usually shift?

[dorschman]

I have an 87 coupe. Stock motor, pretty much stock everything.
The owners manual talks about a light that will come on to tell me when to "optimally" shift. The light does not work.

For average driving (starting out from a light in the city or something like that) when do you guys typically shift? 3k- 4k- something else?

Is there a problem if I want to typically upshift at 3.5 to 4k rpm just to enjoy the engine? The car seems to get pissy if I try to accelerate anywhere below about 2.2k.

just curious as to how others drive their cars in everyday situations. I have no comparison as this is the only sports car I have ever owned.

thanks.

[svandamme]

22k, 35k , 40 k rm???

you better call the f1 teams and have em slap a price on yer head
coz i'm sure they'de like to know how you make yer 87 911 do 22000, 35000 or 40000 rpms...without blowing it up....


just kidding , i guess you mean 2200 , 3500 and 4000 rpm

porches like redline rpm
just give em time to get used to it
make sure they are warm before redlining
and if you have a lazy engine , train it slowly towards redline....

4000 is not the shift rpm
it's the rpm you get AFTER you shifted.... ( exagerating now , not all 911's will arrive at 4000 after you shift at redline ) , but you get the idea...these are not V8's , these engines like, require, deserve the occasional redline shift

[anthony]

For normal, everyday driving I shift around 3.5-4.5K rpms. IMO, 3.5K is the minimum shift point because the rpms drop to 2.5K after the shift. Below 2.5K feels like I would be lugging the car.

[Por_sha911]

I'm with svandamme, my car really seems to run better after I beat on it a little. Wait until your temp is above the big white block and then have at it. In town I guess 2-3k is OK to putter around the neighborhood but if you want to enjoy driving it, don't be afraid to get it in that 4000-6500 rpm range where it will perform at its best. The main this is to not stomp on it cold.
After you push it for a spirited drive, you will notice how much nicer it idles and runs at lower rpms that day.

[oneblueyedog]

After the rebuild with upper end timing- around town a sedate 4500. On it with a big smile- 6000. The US SC is geared with a second gear that really has to dip low into the r.p.m.s as compared to the other gears. At least that's how I feel.

1st to 6k 35mph
2nd to 6k 58mph
3rd to 6k can't say for sure:}

It's a revvy car now. It kicks in at 4500 to redline or just a tad into redline before the limiter kicks in. I expressly had Walt install racing springs when he did the valve job. It has Elgin cheater cams too. I don't race the car though. The car seems to be getting quicker at a little over 25k on the rebuild. Followed Wayne's book.

16 mpg city
20 mpg highway

[Joe Bob]

When the rev limiter kicks in....

[mkimber]

I have a stock '87 Coupe also. I generally shift around the mid 3.5ks in city driving. But roads permitting with the engine warm (about 20 minutes), the car loves to be redlined and I more than happy to accomodate it. Forget the Casio light; it's for "optimal" shifting for fuel economy.

[tdatk]

Originally posted by mikez
When the rev limiter kicks in....

That scares the shift outta me

[NY65912]

As high an RPM as allowed by conditions and traffic. No not really....Redline baby!

[S2GART]

With the eng. cold, I slowly take it to 2500-3K. Once she is warmed up, traffic permitting. 3500-5K. I have yet to take her to redline.

[Pat Crellin]

I wish my shift light didn't come on.

rust never sleeps

[S2GART]

Take the bulb out, problem solved.

[masraum]

Originally posted by S2GART
With the eng. cold, I slowly take it to 2500-3K. Once she is warmed up, traffic permitting. 3500-5K. I have yet to take her to redline.

Holy crap!! Dude, what's wrong?? "have yet to take her to redline." OK, you have a supermodel wife, but you don't actually have sex with her?? NO, so then, take your car to redline. These things build peak power at 5800 rpm. Porsche designed them to redline safely at 6500 rpm for a reason. 3.5-5k is great for regular cruising, but at least once per day or per drive you should hit redline.

I suppose at least you are getting to 5k, we've had some members that set their own personal redline at 4k. After we talked some sense into them they came back from several hour drives, changed their shorts, and then thanked us.

[Weaver]

Originally posted by S2GART
I have yet to take her to redline.

Masraum, look at the cars in his "Collection", two turbo diesels. Redlining one of those is like be@ting off, you got the desired results, but so what, its not very satisfying!

[JR_NYC]

3,500 to 4,000 is best when just driving around. Unfortunately when driving anywhere in the NY metro area going beyond that in any gear but 1st means that I'm going too fast when I hit the next expansion joint/pot hole and the SC moans. Driving the SC around makes me feel like I'm four wheeling in a dune buggy. I think the solution is to jack up the SC, remove the deck lid, put flood lights on the roof and make it like a VW Baja.

[yelcab1]

In my Porsche SC and BMW M3, I try to keep the rev above 4K, that means shifting at 6-7K. A few times, the rev limitters did the reminding.

[86 911]

I usually shift at around 3.5K-5K. I take the car to redline every couple of days. I have noticed that the more/harder I drive the car, the better the engine sounds too. Why is that?

[rnln]

Normal, slow, driving = between 2.5k to 3k.
Little agressive = 3.5k to 5k.
That light is way to early, I think, and it's on and off itself for fun :lol:

[KCinBR]

Normal driving around town 3~4.5 ......having fun 4.5 ~6, I have yet to bump the rev limiter.

I will have to agree with those who say thee harder you drive it the better and smoother it runs.

Last Nov I took 2 trips to Gatlinburg TN. about 150 miles each way 75% interstate driving. I noticed after the trip she ran like a different car.............cant explain it but it works

[dorschman]

thanks for the input guys