Anyone else find 3rd gear redundant?

[SkAsphalt]

3rd gear, my homie.

[TM]

I always downshift to 3rd when taking turns.

[nalc]

I don't get much use out of third either. I'm only using it from like 20mph til maybe 28mph when I go into 4th. So on the road use is when I am in a 25 and I don't want to go too fast, or when I'm in a wide empty parking lot doing faster (I'd normally use 2nd in a crowded parking lot).

This car has enough power to weight to sit in a tall gear on the highway, I wouldn't mind a bit wider ratios resulting in a taller 6th (similar to the 6AT twins) to pick up a couple extra highway MPG.

[1086]

LOL. 3rd gear kicks ass. GG take a seat \_

[ST185RC]

Stingray probably has enough torque to start in 6th so I guess 1,2,3,4,5,7 are all redundant gears too then.

[-Ozzy-]

I wake up early to plan my gear order for my daily travels. Then I write it on a sticky and put it on my windshield to make sure I only shift to the gear that I predetermined.

Wait no I don't, I shift from one gear to whatever friggin gear makes sense based on speed, desired fuel economy, and desired acceleration.

[Target70]

I downshift from 6 to 3rd, when passing, or 4th to 6th when crusing. I am still more used to my 5 spd.. and end up leaving it in 5th for a few minutes before I remember I have a 6th some times, never skip 3rd though.

[OrbitalEllipses]

3rd gear is one of my favorite gears to rip it in; you sir are driving this car wrong. You keep on driving your 4 speed, I'll drive my 6 speed.

[strat61caster]

I feel the same way about 5th, but I appreciate the choices, I don't think any great sacrifices (aside from a couple pounds) were made to get the 'extra' cog.

*waits for geezers to chime in about how their 3-speed transmissions were plenty*

[Mister]

Originally Posted by NOHOME

For day to day driving, with shift points at 5500 rpm, the most effective shift pattern seems to be 1-2-4-6. the 2-4 shift has become so much the norm that I do it pretty much subconscious now.

Thank you for reminding me why I have a personal policy to avoid buying used import sports cars.

[Bonburner]

lol I use all gears most of the time but fifth gear is the one that feels pointless as a dd .. probably even as a track car unless you're ridiculously good (I'm guessing)
1-4 shifting around 3100 rpm brings you up to speeds of freeway so no point in doing fifth.
local streets 4th almost feels out of place but varies by streets.

I still like having the fifth even though I don't use it to pass or anything - it's probably used when I need to get to faster highway speeds on the on ramps

[86-tundra]

Originally Posted by Bonburner

lol I use all gears most of the time but fifth gear is the one that feels pointless as a dd .. probably even as a track car unless you're ridiculously good (I'm guessing)
1-4 shifting around 3100 rpm brings you up to speeds of freeway so no point in doing fifth.
local streets 4th almost feels out of place but varies by streets.

I still like having the fifth even though I don't use it to pass or anything - it's probably used when I need to get to faster highway speeds on the on ramps

I would say this. If any gear feels useless, it's 5th. but I wouldn't say it's useless

[wheelhaus]

I'm IN 5th for a large part of my commute.

[1Cor10:23]

Originally Posted by trevorovert

I would say this. If any gear feels useless, it's 5th. but I wouldn't say it's useless

Agreed, not 'useless' as it's necessary as a transition gear but pretty useless in Canada as 80K hwys are rare. Most common travel speeds for me are 40/60/70/100

+ I just hate it with a passion as it's hard to find. Squeeled my tires twice on the freeway and probably freaked out the guy behind me as I was still getting used to the car and missing 5th by hitting 3rd on the upshift not fun.