Hello Gang, Since I am a relatively new C5 owner I have a couple questions?

- Last week-end I took a drive to up state NY. At 70 miles per hour I found it hard to decide which gear to use. 70 in 5th is about 2200 rpms. I wanted to slow the engine down just a bit but when I slid it into 6th the rpms are 1400 at 70. So I increased speed a touch to about 78, 79 and the rpms were at approx 1650 to 1700. This seems to me also like you are lugging the engine. Didn't want to do that for hours on end so every now and then I would slide it back to 5th just to get the rpms up awhile. So if I'm doing 75 the rpms are at about 1600. What do you say, is this lugging it too much?

- Also, does the reverse gear have a lock out that you can't accidentally hit reverse when shifting at speed? Since I don't drive this vette that much, I'm not used to the close shift pattern. I am evidently not keeping enough pressure on the shifter to the right side of the pattern when going into 5th or 6th. I have accidentally gone from 6th to 3rd, when intending to go into 5th. And from 5th to 4th when intending to go into 6th. Good thing i catch it just as I am lifting the clutch. I can't believe how smoothly it goes in. I am really afraid of hitting reverse when looking for 5th. A reverse lock out would put me more at ease.

Thanks for any and all facts or opinions.

 

Reverse is locked out if there is forward motion on the vehicle.

 

There is an electronic reverse lockout solenoid that prevents shifting into reverse. I believe it activates at speeds above 2mph.

 

I'd say anything below 1000rpms is lugging it in these cars. Anything above that and my car seems to be ok.

 

You'll be fine in 6th at 65MPH and above.

Members of the Corvette club I caravan with to distant events run 6th gear on the interstate and get 33MPG with the cruise control set.

My A4 (3:15 rear) gets 26 - 27 MPH on the same trip.