shifting technique in the twisties?

I left my 355 in second for most of the Dragon, worked fine. Because rpm is up and down, not really holding it at red line, had no overheating problems, etc.

 

Not sure how the 996s are geared (I drove a couple but mostly slogging through traffic), but I doubt you'd want to be lower than 3rd for any kind of acceleration/braking. It's not so much hurting the engine - although you are wearing it faster - as much as the drivetrain strain of accelerating/decelerating in 2nd gear.

The car should have adequate power that you could leave it in 3rd most of the time and have all the acceleration you need. The normally aspirated 996 is about 35bhp ahead of the Ferrari 328, about even with the 348, and 3rd gear in a 328 works everywhere for me except driveways. If the road is extremely twisty you won't want to be shifting much.

You didn't mention your speed (?)

 

As long as you watch the temperature, I think most cars should be fine staying near redline on twisty roads. When having fun, I usually keep my Vette in 2nd under 70 mph. I never really worry about the wear I'm causing, and haven't broken anything yet. The car is a toy. I figure I might as well use it to its full potential.

 

In MHO seems like Ferraris were meant to be driven in the higher RPM range to begin with, which seems to be the happiest. Shouldn't you consider the torque range of the particular car you are driving relative to the shifting ? Jimmy

 

Your road sounds similar to various in San Diego County. I usually do what you do, just shift back and forth between 2nd and 3rd as need be. If you are trying to maximize speed for the road conditions and be at or near the peak on the torque curve, that's was you have to do. If you look at inboard race car shots, you will see drivers shift even if they only need to be in that gear for 1 second; they are simply trying to maximize the gearing of the car for torque, balance, setting up the car for the next thing, etc. If you just want to cruise, then put in 2nd and leave be until you need to shift to avoid redline. No harm, no foul.

Enjoy it, those are my favorite types of roads, you are only doing 40 mph or something (I never really look) but it feels like 100.

 

Heel and Toe.

Do it, it's the right way to go on twistys.

 

One comment: the correcct sequence is: braking - downshift (with heel and toe if you know how to do it) - more braking (up to trail braking) - turning (balanced throttle so car does not accelerate but does not slow down either) - after apex unwinding steering wheel and putting foot down at the same time.

One shouldd not downshift into the turn: first of all it means you are doing it too late and also it unsettles the car as you are cutting traction while the chassis is loaded. Just untidy if you are not 100%, but car result in a spin or loss of control if pushing it.

 

+1 for Thibault's comments
It seems something does not compute on your speed/RPMs since top speed in 2nd (in 308 so 348 would have to be higher) is over 60mph so if you're talking about going into a 30mph corner, I can't imagine you're getting any where near redline coming out in 2nd? I drive lots of twisties and 3rd (with 4th on any longer bits between) covers pretty much everything except hairpins or off camber or a really steep rise at the exit.

 

This I have wondered also??? provided a say... 328 is well warm, both engine transmision etc say after 15-30 minutes of sedate driving up and down the gears etc. Is it good to go towards redline sometimes??? or better for the car to keep it at much lower rev range all the time.

Excuse also my total lack of mechanical knowledge but can water get into a 308/328 air filter if driving in heavy rain???

I ask this as I have just instaled new air trunking from side vent to air filter.

They say the only stupid questions are the ones not asked, I may however prove this to be untrue : )
Tone.

 

Italian sports cars were born to run. When I first bought my Alfa, I was taking it easy through the break-in period. After the first service, my mechanic scolded me for not revving it enough -- it was getting carbon deposits from running too low rpm.

The 328 loves to rev. The engine comes alive at 4K on the dial.

As to the water question -- I used to drive my 328 rain or shine, without a problem. (The wipers have a little trouble when the rain reaches monsoon levels, but the engine was fine. Once I replaced the VRs with S03s, the handling was, too.)

 

Cool, I respect all input and I do love the 328's sound, was scared I might brake her with highish revs.Thankyou!!!

 

Put 60000 miles on my 328 includin many many track days where my "enthusiasm" frequently saw 8000rpm +. Don't worry, rev the hell out of it, its essentially bullet proof. Can you have real fun bellow 4-5000rpm? I never could.

 

I have had the exact same question. I think we get in the habit of shifting at a lower rpm, and so I tend to want to shift at say 6k when redline is at 8. But I think it would be better to just leave it in gear, run it up and let it spool back down. It's much smoother on the drivetrain, and much less wear on the clutch. And it sure sounds good.

 

You did not mention (or I may have missed it) whether this was uphill, downhill, or mostly level. It it were the latter two, I for sure would go for the highest reasonable gear, and only to pull second uphill when really needed.

My tendency in either my 993 or the Testarossa (both have torque, especially the 12) would be working in 3rd with only an occasional trip down to 2nd. I guess everybody has their own style, but I just don't like to have my engine screaming its guts out for extended periods of time in a low gear. Also, if you are already at redline and past the torque peak, you are pretty much painted into a corner if you need a throttle correction to balance the car (always a possibility in a Porsche).

It's a public highway, for your own enjoyment, after all. I get more enjoyment out of precise steering lines and car placement than from high revs and heavy braking in these situations.

BTW Would you mind telling us where that road is? (or did I miss that as well?)

James

 

With a 355 redlining in second at about 70 mph, there are not a lot of straights at the Dragon where you can exceed that speed, or at least I didn't altho I was driving it for the first time and took it at about 80%. With 300+ curves in 11 miles, that averages less than 200 feet between curves. The distance between the time you come out of one and get to the point where you are full throttle, then to where you have to get on the brakes is mighty short. But a hellof a lot of fun! Agree with above poster that Ferrari engines were made for high rpm, they thrive on it.

 

"38 off" - is that a waterski reference?

OP-It sounds to me that the rev range you gave on your last drive was for the P-car. When you get the 348 out of the shop, try the drive again, as the gearing may be quite different. Also, I'll go out on a limb and say the P-car is probably quite torquey in the lower to mid range, and starts falling off as it nears redline. The 348 loves going to redline, listen to the scream of joy that it lets out when you do.

 

Driiving up HWY 1 (northward) in California to Pebble Beach, I noticed that the Boxster S has much more torque and horsepower than at home at 8,000 to 9,000+ feet above sea level. At high altituded have to keep the Pcar at 4k or higher on the tach. At sea level this is not so important. Works fine over 2k on the tach.

The 360 F1 Spider has much more torque and hp so driving at high revs not as important at high altitude. Thus, the Fcar is much more fun to drive IMVHO. Both are fun, but the 360 is a hoot.