Third Gear

Nice. I've found that 2nd gear seems to be my favorite in my 300zx Twin Turbo. Rolling along at 20mph and then downshifting to second...push the pedal down...3,000rpms pass by...boost climbs to 15psi...you are going 75mph before the red line (which takes all of 3 seconds to reach). It's truly amazing. I can't get enough of it. But I'm sure a rush like that is ten times more enjoyable in a Ferrari

 

Bart,
In my lowly Mondial 3.2, third is my favorite as well. Ferraris have great torque. Even with just 8 cylinders. Shifting all the time is hard work. I guess i'm getting lazy in my old age.

 

In my Mondial QV, I find that 3rd gear is my favorite, but once I get moving, it's 4th. Tend to keep it in 4th when cruising for that extra HP/torque, and only go up into 5th when I'm up at speed on the highway. Second is almost useless -- I should shift directly from 1st to 3rd.

 

Intresting, in the TR I find 2nd as the best gear. Drive around town and even on the highway at full throttle taking me up to 110km before hitting 3rd, and staying there at 110km in 3rd

 

Funny you bring this up...just the other day I came to the same conclusion about 3rd gear in my TR. It is great for the 35-50 mph zone w/ very quick accelleration. The TUBI sound doesn't hurt either!

 

I love third gear too!

Especially while cruising along about 60 on the freeway in fifth... when a tailgater suddenly zooms up on my rear....

I drop it into third gear and nail it to redline and into fourth. The car behind me has suddenly turned into a tiny little speck in my mirror.

Man, that flat 12 feels good!

 

Amen !! Third gear is where I find all the fun !

 

2nd gear in my mr2 gt. 3rd didn't have enough torque - but in 2nd the boost came on fast and gave you 4 or 5 seconds before you hit redline. Even when overtaking a car - going from 80 to 120kph - I'd cut down into 2nd (with a big whack of doubleclutching) - blast up to 110, shift into 3rd - and then keep going.

3rd wasn't really "fun" - I only used it lots when speeeeeding. I guess it's different when you go from 200hp to 450hp.

B)

 

I like 3rd around town too in my V8. For commuting 5th is required to hear the radio. Someday I'd like to get a taller fifth to lower the RPM on the freeway

 

hey, at least you still have the passion to drive manual. all these clowns nowadays are getting there F1-equipped machines and saying to hell with it.

p.s. to F1 drivers,

please dont take this personally!

 

I'll let you know about my 328. 3rd in my Datsun 240Z w/ the 350V8 is wicked on the street. I blow by everyone w/ just a touch. Then again, if I floor it in 5th, it slams me back.

 

How mild/wild is that 350? That engine could have anywhere from 185 to 700+ horses, so I'm just curious ?

 

Carb'd 308 is best in 3rd, and believe it or not, so is the Boxster S.

3rd is for on ramps, off ramps and vaporizing idiots who are wandering around in their lanes in front of me.

However, I do like 2nd for a certain Traffic Circle in Long Beach.

 

Doug,
LOL. F1 is just a high-tech name for automatic transmission.