Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 901
Likes: 83
From: Los Angeles
Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ?
I have been downshifting into 4th at 70-80 mph and thats really great but the manual says that you can downshift into third anytime under 101 mph !.....is a downshift to third while doing 80 recommended.....i hope so but i have not tried...not to sound like a sissy but i went through 3 trannys in the C4 and am a bit gun shy......what do you guys say about the 70 mph + downshift into third ?!
It sounds like alot of fun......
It sounds like alot of fun......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,084
Likes: 0
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (Mirek)
Anytime I'm racing below 85 I downshift into third. It's quite the kick in the pants, but your tires will get loose. It's really not necessary if you're just passing someone. At all. ;)
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeland MS
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (The DBK)
Just blip the throttle to match revs. You don't want to just throw it down in 3rd and jump from 1500rpms to 4000. Then floor it! You will be at 100 in a snap. Not really ideal for passing. 4th or even 5th is more than sufficient, but it sure is FUN!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (ruking1)
It's quite the kick in the pants, but your tires will get loose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land, TX USA
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (Carsnob)
Just blip the throttle to match revs. You don't want to just throw it down in 3rd and jump from 1500rpms to 4000. Then floor it! You will be at 100 in a snap. Not really ideal for passing. 4th or even 5th is more than sufficient, but it sure is FUN!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,084
Likes: 0
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (NYtoCA)
Wow, you must have some serious HP! With NOS i have 500rwhp and i wouldn't be able to break lose at those speeds....Must be fun! :yesnod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (The DBK)
Well i have 3.90's so 80mph might be to high for 3rd in my car but when i had my 3.42's theres no way i could spin at 80mph.....I wonder if people exagerate (sp?) when mentioning how easy they can spin the tires or else theres something wrong with my car. On top of that, i have stock runflats :eek: MMS tuned my car on motor and on nos and from what i hear he's one of the best at tuning so i'm alittle confused :sad:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,312
Likes: 399
From: North Haven, CT
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (NYtoCA)
3rd gear all the way!!! :yesnod: :smash: I have 4.10s and I still go to third at any speed below 70 if I'm gonna race... or just want to get past somebody really bad. :D :yesnod:
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 570
Likes: 1
From: Las Colinas, Texas
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (Mirek)
Mirek- 50mph or less I use 2nd and 50-75 I downshift to 3rd. Just easy numbers to remember. Tires breakloose in 3rd at 80mph and really break loose if car gets light as if going over a slight rise in pavement or whatever. I have 3:42 rear gearsand always turn off A/H T/C. Good luck :yesnod: :)
[Modified by Sack Rat TT, 5:14 PM 3/10/2003]
[Modified by Sack Rat TT, 5:14 PM 3/10/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 0
From: Boulder, Colorado
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (The DBK)
You're telling me that without matching revs, shifting into third at 80 miles an hour you can't get your tires to spin? :skep: Are you sure you're hitting the gas on that thing?
If you are dropping the clutch at 80mph when the rpm is like 1500, then your tires are skidding, not spinning.
:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
From: Celina TEXAS!!!
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (NYtoCA)
Wow, you must have some serious HP! With NOS i have 500rwhp and i wouldn't be able to break lose at those speeds....Must be fun! :yesnod:
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Summerville SC
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (Mirek)
i try to not slam the car too much on the downshifts, but...
under about 50 - go to 2nd, very sweet spot for my car, pulls like a frieght train
under 80-85 - go to 3rd, the thing you have to watch (especially dropping to 2nd) is the rpm come up very fast, yes theoretically you can drop to 3rd at 95, but as soon as you let the clutch out, you will be putting it back in to go to 4th
just my .02
under about 50 - go to 2nd, very sweet spot for my car, pulls like a frieght train
under 80-85 - go to 3rd, the thing you have to watch (especially dropping to 2nd) is the rpm come up very fast, yes theoretically you can drop to 3rd at 95, but as soon as you let the clutch out, you will be putting it back in to go to 4th
just my .02
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster CA
Re: Freeway Downshift -- 3rd or 4th ? (Miles in Michigan)
If you are dropping the clutch at 80mph when the rpm is like 1500, then your tires are skidding, not spinning.
:cheers:
:cheers:
I drive a lot of 55 mph posted back roads so I do use 3rd frequently to pass. At 55 2nd is possible but, that gets a little crazy and hard on tires.
The manual also warns agains down shifting more then 1 gear at a time. Expierment with your car on back roads with no one around. Learn how much you have to blip the throttle to match R's in each down shift. Some day you'll be glad you did.
You can figure roughly 1k rpm's per shift. 6th to 5th is one, 5th to 4th is two and, 4th to 3rd is three. Add 3000rpms to your starting rpm in 6th. Roughly 4400 from 60 in 6th. Tire smoke may occur as you are hitting the fat part of the TQ curve. BE CAREFUL, it can get loose real quick.
:cheers:
[Modified by scool93535, 9:07 PM 3/10/2003]
