boltnut

My wife asked if the 03 had a shift light so she could feel better about what gear she needs to be in ( I agree we are both used to engines that make a lot more noise and tell you more about where they want to be) I discovered that the HUD does have a shift light but it only works in performance mode ? The manual says it lights up at 5750rpms.....I don't want to tell her thats when to shift I guess there is no way too set it for "normal" driving ?

jsbzoh6

Not unless there is some modification somewhere. How I taught my ex girlfriend was the goal was to keep it at 2000 RPMs. Shift accordingly on how to make that happen.

f6john

With the torque of these engines and the weight of the car it is almost a moot point, you can shift just about anywhere off idle and be ok. I never look at the tach while I'm shifting anyway the engine tells me what I need to know.

oh1vette

I did notice a "Shift Now" or something to that effect in 4th going 140 down ViR backstraight....

bumble-z

Install a shift light.
Lower left under the tach.

If she is starting out in third instead of first, I smell a new clutch coming your way... real soon


http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...t=100_0367.jpg

zwaldo

just tell her to go from first, third, to 5th. a lot less guess work then.

bumble-z

That's right.

boltnut

Thanks for all the input. Actually she is probably a better manual driver than I am. I still struggle with a smooth transition in and out of first gear. I shift without looking at the tach because I feel like I am smoother without the distraction of worrying about rpm range. I think the confusion came in when the manual stated pretty conservative shift points for best fuel economy. Keeping the car around 2k feels right. Although when I really get into the peddle I wonder how much there is from 4k to 5.5k RPMS. I have never shifted over 4k or so because the car feels kinda wound out by then....maybe I'm wrong. I like the idea of adding a shift light just for grins though. Thanks again for the help

_zebra

if your engine's done over 4k, you're either in 6th gear or have a dirty, sick motor. even bone stock, they'll pull to redline easily in 1-4 & should eventually make it there in 5th

boltnut

I guess im just being a *****. Haven't had it long. It will take me a little while to feel comfortable going all out WOT.

_zebra

just be careful & don't exceed where you feel comfortable. also note that you're gonna look down when you let off & be like " wait... i was going that fast?!" because it just don't seem like it & is pretty stable so long as the car's in good order