When Do You Shift Into 5th Gear?

[ikarcuaso]

Do you have a rule-of-thumb you follow when deciding when to shift to 5th while driving your 911? RPM, MPH, traffic conditions, target fuel consumption etc.? Let's discuss.

[RWebb]

165

[old man neri]

Usually after forth, but that's just me.

Are you talking about a 915, a G50? A 3.0, a 3.2. I imagine each is a little different.

[teamfee3]

5th gear? only extended highway use with light traffic otherwise you need to be ready to go - you never know when some retard in a dropped Civic with primered bumper covers and a coffee can for an exhaust will tailgate you............

[Pazuzu]

I haven't been in 5th in months. Only if I'm cruising on the highway for more than 30 minutes or so. 4th gets me up to stupid speeds on the road, and gives me the freedom to downshift and get around that slow car.

[ramonesfreak]

almost never. if im goin for along distance trip on the highway ill use it. otherwise, i never do. i hate the down shift from 5th to 4th. much of the time on the highway, i actually stay in 3rd. i love 3rd gear in this car.

[TARGAJACK]

127 MPH or 6500 rpm

[purplehaze]

When I'm done with fourth......

[KFC911]

I did back in '05 (or was it '06?). Seriously, I rarely see 5th as my car usually doesn't see the Interstate very often, and if I'm cruising at 80+, I'll shift into 5th just for gas mileage purposes if I'm on a long haul. I've only checked my mileage once, and got 27+ mpg over a 500 mi trip going 80-90 the whole way (as I recall, the rpms were around 3200 or so). Typically, driving the "back roads" as I usually do, I normally don't get out of 3rd, and keep her around 3500+ rpms. 4th is "lose your license" territory, so I don't go there (often) .

[robert walsh]

Typically anytime I'm going over 75 mph I through it into 5th. I don't think it is reqiured, it's just what I have always done.

[Flieger]

I regularly use 5th, even on city streets. I am in 5th before even getting on the freeway.

Then again, 5th in this car will accelerate up a canyon through 90mph and pull 4000 revs at 70 mph on the freeway. ("Waht did you say?!- Engine sounds great?! )

I think it tops out at 140 and 7300 rpm, never tried it though.

[repp]

when the cop turns on his red & blue.
see ya.

[robert walsh]

Found 85 in second and 135 in fourth

[GH85Carrera]

I use 5th regularly on the interstate. Once I get above 3500 RPM in "normal" driving I usually shift. I don't ever street race so I could not care less about some ricer with a fart can. At the DE after Parade on Charlotte Motorspeedway I really enjoyed running through the gears, I would upshift at 6,000 from 4th to 5th. It is a blast to stick in in 5th while in triple digits and stand on it for most of a turn and all the way down the straight.

[4flyboy]

I like it on California freeways in light traffic and I love sitting at 85 on cruise control going to Vegas. I don't get a second look from CHP cause there are fools going by me like I'm standing still..............Now that doesn't mean I don't pick my spots and stretch her out a bit and become a
fool myself! I get great gas mileage, no tickets and a 4 hour ride to sin city.
I do plenty of canyon driving in Malibu and on Mulholland to get my jollies.

Scott

[robert walsh]

Let it all go or never let it go, they were meant to be driven.

[carrue529]

whenever I get the chance and open space

[DSouth]

If I'm cruising on the freeway at 70-75 MPH, I'm in 5th.

[Paul K]

When the stupid little light comes on!

[berettafan]

probably just about any time i'm on the highway at 60mph and i have a long boring ride ahead.