Quick question for you folks, When do you usually shift to another gear, I have found that I'm shifting around 4500 to 5000 rpm's in "normal" driving. Was curious what others were doing, or if shifting at 6000 to 7000 is more normal, or is 3000 to 4000 more normal. I know it's driver preference, but was just wondering what others are doing. (or if I'm just being too gentle since it's still new to me).
Normally, when the car is cold, after a short warm up, where I live, down the drive and onto the street to the first corner is all down an incline and I usually go from 1st to 3rd to 4th or 5th, then onto the flat road and repeat the process until the engine/gearbox gains some temperature. After that around the Burbs/city 3-4-6000 depending on the situation. But on the track or around a mountain having some fun over six is normal. MG
I find that I used to shift around 2-3k like my other cars...then I find shifting at over 3-4k is a good point. If you want sound, I rarely shift above 5k. I try not to torture the gear box or the engine. This is all when the engine is warm, of course. Ace
I mostly shift around 5k (FULLY WARM) unless I'm playing when I'll often hit 6 or 6.5 Probably more often than 'minimal wear' would dictate, but it's what I do and it's my car When cold I shift 1>3 and keep the revs at 3k max for about 8 minutes at least. Jedi (328 not 308, but same thing)
I shift DOWN at 4500 rpm. Up-shifts anywhere between 6000 and 7000. If I want to cruise, I take the Bimmer. The F is for Fun!! But then, we've got a very active bunch of FChatters here and hence I rarely drive without a flock of other F's around me anyway. And they're not exactly slow drivers. Having the oldest car of them all by a margin of 12 years (and the newest being a Scuderia 16M), I could use the hp... (or... I got beaten in the age department on our run last Sunday. JazzyO bought himself a 330GTC. Awesome!! And pre-dating my car by 8 years...) Oh, and to add something marginally useful to the discussion: My girlfriend has a US spec 328 with Tubi and kat, while mine is a 74 Euro spec GT4 with webers, X-OST and no emission stuff whatsoever. While the engines themselves differ only in details (16 valve versus 32 valve, fuel delivery, kat), they seem to be totally different animals. The GT4 seems to be MUCH happier at higher revs and is somewhat of a pig low down. Keep it above 4500, driving it on the main jets of the webers, and she shines. The 328 is more the other way around: It seems to prefer the lower revs and starts to sound a bit tormented higher up. When driving that one, I really have to tell myself that this engine likes rpms just as much as my own one does, but just doesn't show it. I could very well understand how anyone would stick to the lower revs with an engine like that. I can also very well understand the resulting discussions on how the performance of these cars doesn't really stack up against its looks or the prancing horse reputation. This while they still kick ass. They really need the revs to perform.... FWIW
I use mine on the track. Needless to say that it is always fully warmed up, but then redline is the change point. Video coming soon. Steve
My 308 seems to have a decent amount of torque so no need to wind her out during normal driving - usually upshift around 3,000-3,500rpm. The gear ratios are pretty modest so the rpm drop when upshifting isn't that dramatic (thus I'm still getting decent torque). I tend not to take the engine above 5,000rpm - just trying to minimize chances of skipping over a tooth on the belts or sheering a tooth off. Seems to me it would be more likely to suffer one of these situations when revving the engine regularly to anywhere near redline (or, in Italian cars, yellow line....)
my 308 - just out enjoying her shifting is around 4-4.5K. When I'm really driving her, it's around 6.5K with a very occational redline shift
Around 4k during normal driving after a good warm up. I don't slam into the next gear as if trying to simulate an F1 (paddleshift) gearbox. Instead, after pulling the shifter out of the gear its in, I put pressure on the shifter in the direction of the next gear and let the gearbox decide when it is happy going into the next gear. Quick shifts on the street don't accomplish more than putting money in some mechanic's wallet (and in Maranello's spares budget). FWIW, on the track I have routinely seen 9k at some portions of the track (amazing - or ruthless - as that might seem).
Wow...i doubt you're gonna hurt the engine or gearbox shifting between 5-6K. Once warm, i'm usually shifting above 5K. Sounds like many on this thread do...
First drive I ever drove my 308, seeing 8500 coming up so fast and easy was pretty amazing. 6K was well into the don't-do-it every-day zone of the 330 2+2's 12. I mostly use first, second and third for around town, generally shift around 4-5K, or will drive in third at 5-6K if I'm particularly enjoying the exhaust melodies, hardly ever exceed 7K any time. Clean downshifts and rev-matching are very easy, but I limit them to 5-->4 and 4-->3 at high revs
In the 82 Mondial 8, Before fully warmed up 2/3 throttle and upshift at 3500 Warm water and oil upshift 4500-5000 and down at 2700 if taking it easy. I have found that much running under 2500 tends to foul the plugs. If if spirited mood upshift 7000-7500 downshift at 3400 to keep on the power band. The I get in the Dodge truck and hit the rev limiter on the V-10 at 4600--grrrrrrr.
When I am having fun redline area is just fine. Ferrari motors are designed to see this vicinity and there is usable life up there. We did a recent FCA ride & drive and found this area regularly. Jeff
Yep its been a couple of months since the meeting, but I have my own video post production facility so I am giving it the whole hog. Hopefully finished in a couple of weeks, 7 laps, 6.2 kms/lap, about 22 mins worth and a few different camera angles. I'll let you know when it is up and available. Steve
These things were designed to rev high. If you have it tuned and maintained properly, when it is all warmed up and running nicely, taste the redline and beyond! Yee Hah!
..........................................................Hell Yeah ! , its a Ferrari , anybody shifting under 6 K , really no offense but should be driving something else, I hated when people at Hot Rod night thought my GT4 would be slow because its a Ferrari,then I would leave at the same time as a Mustang or once a Cobra Snake , and I would smoke them shifting at redline,Enzo is tossing and turning in his grave when people are babying thier cars,Downshifts on the other hand under 6 K is O.K., I think over 6K on a downshift could be called Abuse. Although my car was carberated,I think the FI cars should still preform as intended .
Redline? Need to re-read my manual... It's seen 8500 many times, the sound is just beautiful, although you feel the powerband disappear behind you. It can take it easy though, and it's way too much fun not to do it. I just musn't think about the original sodium-filled valves in there.
Start a NEW THREAD when you do - I'm sure a LOT of folks who aren't in this thread will want to see it... Don't let us down Jedi
There was a previous thread on this which caused me to think a lot about it and I realised that I pretty much unconsciously shift around whatever is going to be my terminal speed/revs for relevant top gear for that section of the drive - ie leaving home in suburban street I'll be right down around 2k (50km/hr limit), as I get onto the main road it'll come up to about 3k(80km/hr), onto the freeway will go up to around 3.5 -4k (110km/hr) and only on track etc will I actually go near redline to shift. Just don't think it's good to attract the attention revving out brings. Also always double-de-clutch and since my clutch is as good as new after 7 years and around 70,000k's I reckon treating this gently does have some benefit.
