Driving in 3rd gear
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
Sure it's OK to drive on the freeway in third gear. However, your mileage is going to go down the drain. Instead of 30MPG, you're going to be getting around 20 or less! If responsivness is that important to you, go for it! Me, I leave mine in "D" all the time. Except maybe when going over a steep mountain range. When on the freeway, if I need full power, I just "nail it" and it automatically kicks down to 3rd gear.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Winter Haven Florida
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,134
Likes: 24,733
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I'd use 3rd in town, but out on the highway, it would be in "D".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,490
Likes: 2
with a just a cat back... must leave in 3rd entering the highway with the blose off. Do not go to OD and turn on Blose until you have reached crusing speed. Soon you will realize you need headers
Seriously though it sounds awkward in OD at low speeds. Put it in OD at a low speed and the sound of the car just tells you somethin ain't right. Oh well, next generation has only paddle shift and M6 so we wont' have to worry about it.
Seriously though it sounds awkward in OD at low speeds. Put it in OD at a low speed and the sound of the car just tells you somethin ain't right. Oh well, next generation has only paddle shift and M6 so we wont' have to worry about it.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 1
From: Ellettsville Indiana
CI 7-8-9 & 12 Veteran
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I recently ran my 03 in 3rd gear at RPMs ranging from 3000 to 5500 RPM in 20 minute intervals. I did this four times over the course of the day. Of course I was running a road course (Gingerman Raceway) and wasn't too concerned about fuel mileage!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
But with and A4, you can always pull down into third manually anytime you need extra oomph without floorboarding.
