I've only been driving a 944 for 1 month but have had no problem finding the perfect shifting points. In town, I shift under 3000 rpm. The car has plenty of legs at low rpms and runs very strong. There is no reason to push you car to 4000 or 5000 rpms when driving around town. Take it easy, enjoy the car, and watch the odometer click to 15K for the fourth time!!!! (I can't wait!!!!!!)

However, there is always room for spirited driving! :D

If letting the engine rev "2" 5000 rpm was bad, then the rev limiter would be set @ 4800 rpm. Use UR Head.

speaking of small, high rpm powerbands.. My suzuki is a dog below 9,000 rpm and on the race track I rarely get below 10,500 the redline is 14,500. Talk about piston speed.


Sarcastic Sergio

These cars ARE perfectly happy in their upper ranges of RPM. I think you might be scared to take the engine there because of how furious the engine rips thru the redline in first gear? If you're scared of exceding redline, just shift alil lower in first gear until you're confident in your shifts, say 6,000 rpm on your car since it's redline is 7,000. Yes, you do not want to blow a shift when you are at redline cause it is possible to do valve damage even with the rev limiter. As your speed increases in each successive gear, the engine doesn't run thru the rev's as quickly, it becomes more controlled and you can feel how well the engine works from 5,000 to redline. You should be able to shift at redline, without feeling too rushed, in 3rd to 4th and 4th to 5th (My 8v's 4th to 5th comes at just under 120 mph). Most people are alittle more confident of 1st to 2nd shifts and 3rd to 4th shifts because they just require you to pull the gear shift lever towards you, but the other shifts of 'up and over' for 2nd to 3rd and 4th to 5th just take alittle more practice.... don't be afraid ... it's fuuunnnnn!

when to shift
 

I had the same problem when I acquired my '83 944 6 weeks ago. I have been driving a Toyota Camry automatic (166,000 miles) and a suzuki GS1000G. Both enginews have a lot of torque at low rpm and get great gas mileage when shifted early. When I acquired the 944 it did not seem to like being shifted early. Yet, for most of my driving I am still interested in good gas mileage. I have one of those mpg gauges and I hate when it drops below 10 mpg. However, it definitely shifts smoother at higher rpm's, anything above 3500.

Wow - I really thought this was a stupid topic, but apparently this "when should I shift" thing is actually something people think about. I'm glad I didn't falter in in my decision of starting this topic.

I like the obsevation that people become more confindent when they shift in a downward motion - I'm like that my own self.

I also like it that 1.2gees said he was actually watching when he shifts after his first post - that's neat knowing he was thinking about it.

....and about the "U's" and "2's" - well, that is how I type and I can't change now - but I have decided that, from feedback, some people on this forum cannot tolerate such outlandish activity and that I must conform.....but I will not actually stop using "U's" and "2's" - instead, I'm planning on NOT using any words that require my "intricate code". When reading this post, all readers will notice a lack of the words "to" or "you" or any other words that fall under such category. I'm not actually typing any differently than I normally would, but it does take some extra time when I post because I will now avoid certain words. This effort is my way of saying that I want continued support and friendships......and I will put up with people's poor grammer and lack of ability when it involves capitalizing the letter "i". He he.

.....but seriously, if anyone catches me using another "U" or "2", don't hesitate in telling me I've relapsed. Also, if anyone see's the word's "you" or "two" being typed - inform me of that also because I state, as of this day of November 20th, that 944S Boyeee will never, and I repeat, NEVER use the words "you" or "two" or "before" or anything like that in any of my posts. It will become my "thing".

Enjoy.

PS - I started shifting in the 4000-4500 RPM range and now I have a bunch of Prelude and Civic drivers always thinking I'm initiating a race or something - the higher revs must scare them or something. I overheard a young "backwards ballhat wearing" fella just last nite say, "It's only a 944 - it's not a real Porsche, 944's have no guts". He must not have seen the "S" on the back of my car or something cause later on when I met him at the lights he revvvvvvved up his V-tec (or whatever they call them) and away we went. I was afraid of getting behind him in the early gears, but with the help of my Forun friends, I shifted at like 5500-6000 RPM and squeeled my tires in both 2nd and 3rd gears (I think this put him off a bit). We were pretty much side by side until we hit the first corner. I went in at like 130 KMS and didn't even squeel - but as I looked in my rear view, I swear I saw his tires on his right side lift up off the ground a bit. Needlessly said, once we got out of the corner and on the highway, I didn't see him till I came out of Burger King from getting my Double Bacon Cheeseburger (ummmmmmmmmm, Double Bacon Cheeseburger, best on the planet) when he said, "Is there chips or something in that car? Does it have racing suspension or something?". I simply replied, "No, it's "just" a 944 - and real Porsches drive like that, educate all the other Honda drivers."

I'm not one that initiates "racing", but when a lil' white guy who is wearing more gold than Mr. T and is dressed like he was given hand-me-downs by Puff Daddy calls my car "not a real Porsche", I must defend the 944 name, plus it was really cool!!! Weeeeeee!

Thanks again Forum people. I'm 1-0!!!!

Here I am worrying about "babying" my car and I'm flying at corners at 130 (not miles per hour - remember I'm Canadian) and getting her up around 210 on the highway. Something in that car made me do it!!!

........and I'm not complaining.

I typically shift at 3k...looking for a little bit more acceleration i shift at 3.5k to 4k....haulin ass acceleration i shift at 5.5k or therabouts...

Yahoo for defending the 944 name. :) This guy in an integra with a 8" wing revved at me...I was like....are you serious? I dont think it was a GSR...something like 8-10 or more carlengths to 110...

By the way...the 944S isn't that much quicker than an early '44...thats what I've read anyway..

Boyee: Nice to see another canuck on the board... I was up in PEI in the summer visiting my sister (and totalling her 924, thats a long story)......was in Nova Scotia for a while (my brother in law is from there)..... either way ...just thought I would say hi.

Back to the topic.........

uhmmmmm this post made go look at where I shift...

when cold.... 2500-3500

when hot .....3500-4500

when having fun 4000-6000 ** I just don't like hitting the rev limiter it just makes my stomach queezy....

with ice on the road ... no more than 3500 cold or hot! Unless you want to hit the ditch

on the highway 2500-3000

Once you get over 3500, the car just wants to pull, and it seems smoother over 3500.

?? uhmmm any of you turbo guys drive in the snow? curious if it kicks its rear end out once the turbo spools up?? I can't imagine driving that 500 hp 944 on the ice....
??never thought my 944na would have upside to having low torque and hp??? :)

ae1969-

To answer your question on the snow driving: my 951 spins once the turbo spools up on dry pavement (well, in 1st and second gear) :)

It's all over on snow or rain. I believe that if my wife were to race me (her in her Sentra, me in the 951) on a wet or snowy road, she would win. It is pretty hard to modulate the throttle well enough to get down very much power without spinning. It sure is fun though. ;)

Dave

Adrial - I'm not sure about the difference between a 944 N/A and a 944 S - speed-wise, that is. I've never driven a 944N/A. I did, however have a video tape sent my way that "showcased" a 944N/A and I noticed a considerable difference in the sound the engine gives off when the car is pushed. No offence directed at the 944N/A owners, but the "S" sounds a lil' bit smoother and it doesn't sound like it's trying as hard. I watched the RPM on this 944N/A when the guy was on the highway and also noticed the "S" gains speed faster in the higher gears. I don't think the speed difference is that noticable, but the "S" does seem like it pulls a bit stronger and has more pick-up on the highway. There is an extra 25-30 horsepower, so it must have some improvement over the 944N/A performance. I know there is a considerable jump between the "S" and the 951. That is my next car, the 951.

ae1969 - how's it goin', eh??? I'm just a-boat almost packed, I'm taking a trip over Calgary way in hopes of catching a Flames game (I swore that if they start playing well, I'd go see them - so, now is that time). What province in this fine country is the one ae1969 calls home?

hey boyee.......

I am from edmonton....... and I never thought I would see the day again....when edmonton and calgary would be leading the pack in the NHL.......(a sign of the end of the world...LOL)

Its going to make for some good hockey here in the Province of Alberta............

Just saw the Blues get their ass kicked here on Tuesday......man they looked sad...... Tkatchuk, Pronger and weight were invisible.....

Are you originally from out west?

Shift points are really a matter of driving style and conditions. I have mixed driving every day. When the car is cold and driving in a congested area, I generally shift at about 3K. As it warms up and traffic eases, I'll shift later at about 4K. When it warms up and traffic opens up, I'll shift at about 5K in the higher gears. When driving in a "spirited manner" I'll shift at about 6K. On a 951, torque starts to fall off a bit then. Enjoy your 944S, it's a great car.

Dave951M

Thanks Dave951M - I will enjoy it - as long as my wallet stays closed a while (lol)!

ae1969 - it is amazing that Calgary AND Edmonton have become one of the "elite". The world, sadly, will end because my dream year is coming true (get a Porsche AND the Flames have a winning record, and the top scorer in the league) - I was even going to go as far as painting a huge "C" on the hood of my car if they made the playoffs (not the Porsche - my Sidekick, I'm not that silly). Yup - St. Lou, Colorado, Dallas, New Jersey and Washington all look pretty bad - it's a nice change. Edmonton and Calgary both continue playing "all out, every shift" hockey and I love it!! As per norm, I'm not a huge Oil fan, but I must respect what they have done. It's gonna turn out crazy come seasons end I'm guessing. All we can do is watch, enjoy and prey!! As a matter of fact, the Flames play Ottawa at home later tonite on CTV Sportsnet - I'll be home wearing my Flames shirt, hat and socks, while drinking from my Flames cup that sits on my Flames coaster! This will be a tought test for them tonite - Ottawa is hot at home right now. Fingers will be crossed.

I'm 100% a Maritimer thru and thru - I do (as all Martimers) have relatives in Calgary, Ontario, B.C., etc. - but have yet to see a Flames game in person. Hopefully I will be heading Calgary way soon to catch a game.

As to why I'm such a huge Flames fan - as I young child my dad sat me down and said, "Son, you have to pick your favorite sports teams and stick with them forever - it is your duty as a Canadian boyeee". Being very young, I picked the teams with the most colorful jerseys - thus the (at that time) Atlanta Flames (glad Vancouver didn't have those crazy "V" muti-colored shirts back then) and I picked the Houston Astros in baseball (remember those old super colorful striped jerseys they had? And those silly "Pittsburg Pirates" style flat top ball hats?). So, to this day, I'm a Flames fan and Astros fan - I stuck with those cities in most sports (Stampeders fan, Rockets fan - although, the Raptors are starting to change that view - old Football Oilers fan - but now a Vikings fan....an old Viking coach was a friend of my dads). So, I have tried to stick with my original choices as much as possible. You can only imagine my delight when the Flames finally hoisted the cup (in Montreal, mind you - the only team to EVER raised the cup in their old rink). I hope it's not to long before I get that delight again. Hey, at this point, a playoff birth will do!!!!

If they win the cup this year (a big "if", I know - but it's not impossible) I WILL paint a huge Flames "C" on the hood of my Porsche, as a show of my unfaltered support!! I will send picks to this forum.