[Eastereggmini]

Shift points.

i have a 05 mcs. i learned how to drive standard when i bought it a couple months ago. I know this seems like a stupid question!!! but here it is? when do you all shift in daily driving, and when you're pushing the car. I asked a few people this weekend at the pulley party and wanted some other opinions as well, so i can come to some sort of concensus on this. i am shifting at 2000 right now in daily driving...because i thought that was best for fuel economy. i am shifting at 3500 when pushing the car...but i know it can do a lot more. anyone know what is best for fuel economy, and for getting some power in daily driving. I've driven standard for a short time now, and i want to start getting the most out of my engine when needed, and gas tank when getting to work and such. thanks.

EasterEggMini

[Bhozar]

I get 220miles from my tank before the light comes on.

I shift at 6500rpm when flooring it. I will often only do this for a couple of gears before changing through all of them to 6th once I am at cruising speed.

I shift at 2500rpm when driving through town.

I shift at 4000rpm doing normal driving and want to grin like an idiot because of the exhaust noise (I need to do something to keep me amused on my daily commute)

[holdenontoit]

hey Joel! there are no such things as stupid questions but there are a LOT of stupid answers. You are right that lower shift points will conserve the heck out of fuel, but if you look at torque curves of a MCS there is a point around 4k where the torque band really takes off. The ecu rev. limiter is about 6800 RPM, so there you have it : 4-6.8K is the most fun you can have. There was a billboard around in '02 that stated:

ON-RAMPS ARE FOREPLAY. ( )

These are about the only places I feel confortable really opening up the car and I still back off at or near the speed limit once out onto the highway, but I get there reeeeeeeeeaaaallly quickly. Sometimes in tunnels I will drop down to a lower gear because I just love to hear the Remus talk to me.........tee hee.

Don't listen to Josh when he pipes up about idling in 6th gear.

I once complained to my MA about having to restrict the revs during break in, to which he replied "4400 RPM in sixth gear is about a hundred and fifteen miles per hour.Do you think you can live with that?"
I'm sure you will get a lot of different answers to your question. The bottom line is that you will come up with your own preferences in time.
Pulley on, Dude!
Jock

[dracmanf]

Hi Joel:
I shift around 2500rpm when driving through town and the engine isn't up to temp yet. Once it's up to temp the shifts are like 3k - 3.5k

When I push it through twisties I like the 5k to 5.5K range in gears 2-5. I only use 6th when I'm highway cruising above 60.

It's a beautiful day.... think I'll go for a crusie thru the Bolton backroads.

John

[jwardell]

I haven't tried idling in 6th!
But I definitely idle along in 1st (5mph) 2nd (8mph) and 3rd (11? 13? I forget..that's rare) when I happen to get in traffic moving at just that speed. So in that case, my shift point is 800rpm

Normally I shift between 2k and 2.5k.
Fun driving around 4k-4.5k (why the heck did I pay for that trick intake if I'm not letting it open?)
Once in a while, or while racing, I'll take it up to red. I have no problem with it, and you can let it bounce off the limiter. Nice solid cast iron engine will take whatever you dish it

[GBMINI]

I generally shift between 2500 & 3000, although with the GP there's a lot more shifting up at 5000-7000!

Your overall driving style will make a lot of difference too - accelerating hard, even if you shift at 3000, will consume more fuel than accelerating softly.
Avoiding braking is key too - plan ahead and ease off the gas rather than driving hard up to lights / traffic / etc then braking hard.
Of course, these comments are subject to fun factors!


GPMINI has averaged around 29 from new; when I headed up to the pulley party this weekend I was up around 31 for that trip.
After Joe borrowed it to try, the OBC average had dropped to 27!

[Bilbo Baggins]

Pretty much what everyone else said. Around town 2,500 - 3,000. Entrance ramps 5,000 - 6,800. Auto-X 6,000 - 6,800. Fun back roads 4,000 - 5,500 and forget you have a 6 speed, the lower 4 gears do a great job of keeping it in the fun zone.

For maximum mpg keep shifting at 2,500 - 3,000 all of the time.

GBMINI, ever have any interest in doing some Auto-X. The C.A.R.T. group runs some events in Bristol, CT (OK, not really close to you). There is one this weekend. More information @ CARTCT.com

[jwardell]

Bilbo I auto-xed down there with you guys once long ago, CartCT was a nice group! Are you still doing the snow-cross?

[retsej]

According to my tach redline is at 6750 but, the rev limiter doesn't step on you till 7250 so I usually pull the trigger at 7000. When I'm driving my Mini, I'm beating him.

Remember if you want an excuse to buy more parts, you gotta break a few.
Just a thought
Pat

[herbie hind]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eastereggmini (original)

Shift points.

i have a 05 mcs. i learned how to drive standard when i bought it a couple months ago. I know this seems like a stupid question!!! but here it is? when do you all shift in daily driving, and when you're pushing the car. I asked a few people this weekend at the pulley party and wanted some other opinions as well, so i can come to some sort of concensus on this. i am shifting at 2000 right now in daily driving...because i thought that was best for fuel economy. i am shifting at 3500 when pushing the car...but i know it can do a lot more. anyone know what is best for fuel economy, and for getting some power in daily driving. I've driven standard for a short time now, and i want to start getting the most out of my engine when needed, and gas tank when getting to work and such. thanks.

EasterEggMini

usually around 30 mpg . but that's easily ruined ha! shift mostly according to road situation but generally between 3 and 4 000 but then sometimes when traffics not moving well and i'm sick of the whine i'll short shift. just do what ultimately feels ....right . but i must say the torque falls off after 5000 so what's the point in going up to 6000 ? unless you're racing.

[Theo]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Bilbo I auto-xed down there with you guys once long ago, CartCT was a nice group! Are you still doing the snow-cross?

Bilbo -

Yeah, what Josh said...except I did CART events in 1987-1990...before New Departure. How many MINIs show up at your events?

Ooops! Hijack! sorry....

Theo

P.S. Josh - if you're interested in going sometime, I can meet you on I-84.

[R1]

Town around 3500, normal around 4 - 4500, speed work 6500.