Noobie advice: optimal shift patterns?
 

I'd like to get some advice on which RPMs to shift at and generally run at for both performance and mileage, along with some minimums for car health.

My BRZ is currently at 500 miles, so I'm trying to play nice for another 500. At this point my main worry is that I may actually be driving at too low of an RPM sometimes. My previous car was a MINI that was very happy to go up hills and generally drive in the city at 1500-2200... before that I had a Civic del Sol which was happiest between 2k-3k. The BRZ doesn't seem to like me very much below 2200, though, and when accelerating, below 2500 seems clunky. Is even that too low? Lately I've been trying to make sure that I only upshift above 2900 (so that I will be around 2500 after shifting) unless I have reached my cruising speed.

Maybe I'm treating this 4k cap as too much of a dampener across the boad, I dunno :P What would you say is the optimal shift pattern, and how should it differ during break-in? after break-in, is it normal to stay above 4000 quite often?

I've been searching around for info both here and on the internet at large, but this particular question eludes me :) I'm not too proud to take advice from the experts about my new car, so have at it...

I'm a noob too but before break in I always shifted at 2500 and I would stay at 3k up hill. And now I'm always at 4k. It's just more fun that way. But later when you wanna redline it you'll see how the car performs after 4500 rpm. It's like a whole nother car. :drool:

I shift when I see the red flashy light.

No but seriously, I shift dependent on what my needs are at the moment. Do I want to accelerate fast right now? Red light!!! Do I want to cruise, shift at about 3k-4k.

I red lined it after I got it off the lot.

You can turn on the gear indicator so it'll tell you when to upshift for optimal fuel economy.

If you're thinking about it too hard, you're doing it wrong.

For mpg, watch your MPG gauge. It's semi-accurate.

There are always exceptions, but as a general rule under normal driving conditions I use the window between 2,000 rpm's and 3,000 rpm's as my indicator for when to shift. If I get down to 2 I down shift. If I get up to 3 I will upshift. As I said, depending on conditons (uphill, downhill, etc.)

In traffic, I shift 1st - 2nd at low mph, and then drive regularly. Below 10mph you can easily shift to 2nd without needing much rev matching:


1st gear slowly engage clutch and just enough throttle to move with enough momentum past 7mph, clutch back in, shift to 2nd and ease it out, you should be at the correct RPM to shift at this speed without needing to rev match, and then drive normally.

What RPM should you shift at????

Ummmm, pick one.

I shift based off feel and sound... When I'm playing nice I shift earlier than when not but I couldn't tell you which RPM I'm shifting at regularly.