Paddle Shifting - What rpm, how high do you go?
 

Ok Just curious when shifting (including paddle shifting) how high do you go before shifting. I like the way it sounds at 3000 or 3500 but someone says thats too high? really? Opinions?

Looking forward to responses on this. I have been playing with this for a couple seasons now. If I feel like a spirited drive, I am shifting in the range you mentioned--pretty nice! If I am just driving around casually, I shift 1-2 almost as soon as I start moving, and then 2 and up at 1500-2000 keeping it very smooth. For downshifting, if coming to a stop I let it downshift on its own, if downshifting for curves I am usually in the 2-3K range. Took a while, but once it became a reflex it became really fun.


PS: A useful thread . . . LINK

Shifting at 3-3.5k rpm won't hurt anything. That is barely above where the vehicle usually shifts during medium acceleration. It's a sports car that is meant to be driven hard. Use it. These cars love playing in the power band. That being said if you are constantly hitting the redline everyday with big time up and down shifts yeah....you'll take some life off the engine. But a little spirited driving is why we by Corvettes.

Any where from 2K to 6500. Where ever it shifts when floored in auto mode. Doesn't matter. Drive like a standard and shift when you think you would shift a standard. Doesn't matter.

I like to push it to the 3-3.5. it sounds great to me. I've had sports cars but never one that sounds so good. We have two c7s one auto and one stick. I'm fine driving stick but when in the auto z51 c7 I still like to push things
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...71ede9434e.jpg

It depends on whether you are accelerating or cruising. Also how much acceleration are you looking for? For all out, hold it near redline. For cruising, rpms anywhere from 1500 to 3000 for most. If you like to hear the motor rev, go higher. As someone else mentioned, treat it as a manual.

Normal just calm driving I shift between 2-3k. If I'm in an aggressive mood it's anywhere between 3K and redline. The car can take it.

Who claims 3000 is too high?!

Probably people who see the auto in D slogging the engine along at 1500-200 in 8th 90% of the time.

Just got back from Ron Fellows Corvette Driving School. The instructors said around 5500 is the best shift point as much more really puts you out of heart of the powerband on upshifts.

5500!!! That seems real high? So yo take it to 5500 1 to 2 2 to 3 etc? I'm sure the car can take it but that seems high

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...93df66df45.png

C'mon. You don't believe that do you?

5500 rpm
For tooling around town... no.
For performance... yes.

I like 3000 -5000 rpm for power and sound points.

So your serious 5500?!! I dont know if I should take this as a joke. I may do the driving school at some point.

See that mark at 6500RPM? That is redline. And is that your car with the service rear axle notification?

Hell, go to Redline if you want to. The computer rev limiter will protect the engine on upshifts but maybe not on downshifts. Hold the down paddle and will put tranny in the lowest gear that is safe.

Oh This photo is from a few weeks ago, I have the axle module fixed

Watch a few of the track videos taken with the PDR on YouTube. Most of us are running right up to 6400 (the only point where you get all of the advertised Horsepower) at wide open throttle. Anything less in rpm or throttle opening is ho hum.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...bbf9271372.jpg

Notice on the LT4 power curve you have just about reached maximum torque at 3500 and are still way down on power. If you shift there it is more like driving a C5Z and shifting at red line.

If you do the same with an LT1 you get even less performance. If you want performance you need to be at wide open throttle and be able to take the rpms to the max. Anything less and you are just putt putting.


Bill

You can’t over rev the auto on downshifts. The computer won’t allow a downshift if the revs are too high.