308 GTS city driving

New 328 owner here, same gearbox...

I sure wouldn't enjoy driving this car on our crappy city streets, stop and go at 10-20mph. The usual rules apply: don't 'lug' the engine in the wrong gear, try to match revs on a downshift keep off the clutch and overall treat it with respect. I'd think 3rd gear would get used, nothing higher.

I take my Jeep downtown. It's an automatic, and you can park in the cheap lots.

 

Just like any other car.
I am more worried about big SUV's not seeing me in traffic.

 

If fine in traffic. Sure the coolant/oil temps might climb up a bit due to no airflow, but is fine. As for shifting, i usualy leave it in 2nd or 3rd depending on how crawling the traffic is provided it is slow and constantly moving.

 

You've got power all the way from 2800 to 8000 RPM so you don't have to shift too often. Just use 2nd and 3rd and all of the powerband that you feel comfortable with.

And yes running at too low RPM (lugging) is more harmful than running at high RPM. The engine is happy at higher RPM, the oil is flowing good, water is flowing good and all is right with the world.

 

Keep your foot off the clutch at stop lights.

 

Why do you say that?

 

Keeps pressure off the throwout bearing, thus increasing its life.

Seamus

 

I'll use mine as a daily driver for up to two weeks at a time. I've driven it in the rain, hauled stuff from Home Depot and done 240 mile road trips in it. Like others said, 2nd and 3rd gears, watch the throwout bearings and match revs. It's also a great excuse not to have to answer the cellphone while driving.

The one thing I will not do is drive it in stop & go traffic when its more then 85-90 deg.

 

I considered this issue myself. I even thought about putting one of those off road flags on a pole off the rear bumper. Then I felt like if I did that, then I may as well suction cup a big windup key handle on the rear bonnet too.

No, I think we'll just drive it and have fun.

Bob

 

I even saw a television show that suggested "don't blip the throttle at red lights, every RPM you save today will be added on to the end of your engine life".

Personally I think that is a little extreme. But I like the idea of keeping it in nuetral. I suppose that should reduce clutch wear as well.

In Michigan lights are short (30 seconds) but recently I was in Vegas and Phoenix in a rented 360. Man those lights seem like 5 minutes.

 

ANY manual transmission should be left in neutral at a stoplight; the main reason is to save wear on the throw-bearing, as posted above, but also so that you don't accidentally pop the clutch and stall or worse.